Every year as summer draws near, America’s craft brewers roll out their summer seasonals. The modus operandi generally is to produce beers with light body, low alcohol and refreshing flavors. Often such beers emphasize lightness too much for my taste – too often they are also light on flavor. Usually, when I’m looking for something more delicate, I’ll pass on the “summer beer” and go for maybe a Pale Ale or an IPA. This is where a beer like the Breckenridge Brewery Breck IPA comes in handy.
The brewery has dubbed this their new mainline IPA. The strong hoppy bitterness (66 IBUs), which comes from Mosaic and Cascade hops, is nicely complimented by the added roundness of Full-Pint malt (a new two-row variety), softening the hoppy edges. Floral and fruit aromas offer refreshing citrus and slightly spicy notes. There also are malty notes, which show up in the firm palate and crisp, spicy and slightly bitter finish. Overall, it drinks nicely balanced even at 6.3% ABV. Not too heavy, not too light, it is just right for warm weather sipping.
[Note: All Photos are courtesy of Breckenridge Brewery.]