This is the 2nd year their 5 year contract for creating a unique beer for the competition. Last year they brewed the pretty dang great Inspired Artist Black IPA so what they would come up with this year, like everything Founders makes, was something to look forward to giving a taste.
Pours a rich golden slightly bordering on orange in color. It was a soft pour brought a one finger head that faded fairly quick but made a ring that left enough for spotty lacing behind through its drinking.
Very crisp scents of grapefruit peel, lemon zest, some green bud and fresh ground pepper all intermingled on the nose in the top. The malt hold it all up in the background providing some honey and warm biscuits to the smell. There's quite a few levels of complexities actually which is interesting due to the fact that there only being one singular hop and malt used. Founders are masters at pulling every nuance out of a variety of hops they use and so far, as the smell goes at least, it they've done all kinds of magic again.
The flavor is similar to the aroma. Lots of citrus and tropical fruit such as mango and pineapple along with a sour candy such as Spree's impart at first. Some pine qualities along with some grassy (as both in some lawn AND some primo weed), green grapes and blueberry notes then begin to waft through in the middle. If this was all the tastes the beer had to offer it would be enough to compare it to a super great harvest ale but, as a TV pitchman would put it, "Wait! There's more" as the malts come out in the end weaving things together with some fresh out of the oven wheat bread thing happening. The finish is peppery and piney but in a way that is very refreshing and not sticky.
Of course this is a limited run and stock is running low on how much is left. I've picked up a couple six packs of it now and will continue to do so when I spot it around at stores til it's all gone. I'm not going to hoard it all though because I enjoy sharing beers with friends. Yes, this beer is for aficionados but is also a very flavorful and palatable one to turn on a neophyte to as well.
www.foundersbrewing.com
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