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We finish off the spooky beer reviews with the appropriately ghoulish label for Institution Ale Co. and their Fall Seasonal IPA which has been given the three descriptor treatment as Dank, Citrusy, Balanced.
Pours a very clear Halloween orange in the glass. First notes are of fruit punch and softness on the palate. The aroma is very, very red berry. Tastes much less than 7.1% abv for sure. Tilts more pale ale to me. There is a bit of woodsy, earthy bitterness in the background like a scarecrow.
This month, instead of a style or loosely tied together theme, I will pick three beers from one brewery. The new Wagon Wheel Brewing in Oxnard.
LIGHT – 6%
Salsera Sour – “A bright, sessionable fruited Gose. This sour ale is packed to the brim with Strawberry, Raspberry and Lime for a huge juicy kick. Finished off with sea salt to create the ultimate beach beverage. This fuchsia drink is ideally served in a glass. Tajin and Chamoy on the rim are encouraged.”
MEDIUM – 6.5%
Swanky Bear Hazy IPA – “Swanky Bear is our first Hazy Single IPA featuring Simcoe and Citra hops. Soft citrus and stone fruit flavors pair well with the silky mouthfeel of this crushable Hazy IPA.”
BIGGEST – 6.7%
Switchback West Coast IPA – “This West Coast IPA is light, pale and dry. Nelson, Simcoe and Chinook hops leap from the glass with pineapple and grapefruit aromas balanced with a crackery malt backdrop. This IPA is fruity and dank with a lean but expressive bitterness.”
My love / hate relationship with Black IPA’s continues with the 2021 Fall Seasonal from Institution Ales.
It pours a dark brown, near black with a light tan head. It has a spiced coffee latte aroma. Not PSL but nice. The balance is tilted more to the malt side. Quite bready and filling. The bitterness is more of a counterpoint. I like the re-emerging trend back to this style but I just wish the hops would be more assertive.
Sierra Nevada Brewing has sidelined Anniversary Ale and instead will use the fall release slot for Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale later this year when the leaves are turning brown.
It appears to be part of the strategy that heralded Glissade in spring to bookend the tremendous 30th Anniversary brews. The second of which, the Imperial Helles, should be on finer beer store shelves now.
Out here in Los Angeles, we have just started getting Magic Hat. Actually, all I have seen is #9. I had that in 2009 so it was verboten for the challenge. But thanks to Bruisin’ Ales, check Vermont off. I had their fall seasonal, Roxy Rolles
Here is the review…
