\n\t 
I spent most of the day cleaning up and setting up my kids new Christmas presents, so I was ready for a good beer. This one came highly recommended, so I picked up one in a mix-a-six. The bottle says, “Celebration ale is a special ale for the holidays. Featuring the first hops of the growing season, this pioneering IPA is full of complex flavors and aromas from the generous use of whole cone American hops. 6.8% ABV”
It was amber- orange in color, clear, with a lot of carbonation in it. The head was thick, creamy, and off-white, and it left some great lacing on the glass. There was a very nice piney and citrusy hop aroma to it.
The body was light-medium and it was crisp, yet smooth drinking. The citrusy hop flavor was noticeable right up front. The middle had a bit of a honey and light caramel maltiness before a nice big hop flavor comes in during the finish. The hop flavors were big, smooth, citrusy and slightly floral, and were at just the right strength.
As far as a food pairing, I think it would go perfectly with holiday cheese and crackers. The cheese would go well with the citrusy floral flavors, bringing out the richness in both.
This was a tremendous IPA with a great hop flavor. While it obviously leaned to the hoppy side, it was the right balance of a honey-caramel maltiness with a great citrusy hop flavor. I wish I would have gotten a 6-pack this year, and next year you can be guaranteed I will.
My Rating: 
Reader Ratings[five-star-rating]
Recent Comments