New Belgium Ranger IPA

I was not terribly impressed with this beer at first. Oh, another pine-grapefruity IPA. But over time, this beer has grown on me.

Guess its a good thing I picked up a 6-pack.

Here's a quick rundown of New Belgium's Ranger IPA statistics:  ABV = 6.5%.  IBUs = 70.  Hops consist of Chinook, Simcoe, and Cascade.  Malts are pale malt and Caramalt 120L.

Here's what I've come to enjoy about this beer:



1) It is a bitter beer, but it doesn't present itself as such. There is such an overwhelming presence of aroma hops that the smell offsets it. I can even hold the beer in my mouth, breath in through my nose, and smell the hop aroma.

2) The beer has a slight maltiness and a strong crispness.

3) Too much simcoe hops can lead to catty flavors. This beer avoids that pitfall.

4) It's lightly carbonated. Hold it up to your ear and you can hear a soft tick-tick-tick.

5) And the lacing was quite unbelievable, looking like the stiff peaks of merengue.