The Beer Babe's Page

There is a definite reason I chose this brew out of my "to be reviewed" fridge. It's been sitting in there lonely for a while, but I think its appropriate to review now.

I just came back from one of my summer classes, Alpine Flora, where I climbed to the summits of Mt. Adams and Mt. Jefferson in New Hampshire to study the plants there. While that's far from as much of a feat as climbing the rockies, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. So, a rocky mountain IPA seemed a great toast and a great celebration for the accomplishment.

This pours a dark copper with a strong hop smell right out of the bottle. The taste is sharp but not grassy, and spikes quickly then fades smoothly. I really like this one because its, for the lack of a better word, bright, and really clears your palate quickly so you are not contemplating bitterness for a long time after.

Because of its short and crisp hoppy taste, this is one IPA I could strongly recommend to go with a meal. It isn't lacking in flavor so it is a nice complement, but it doesn't taint your palate for the entire meal either. Nor is it weighed down with malt. It is very drinkable and refreshing, and I wish I lived closer to a place where I could get this more frequently.

Oh, and just a warning. If you go to the Fort Collins Brewing Company's website, and click on the IPA, it brings you to a page that has a sound file of a trumpeting elephant, to match its label. So no visiting this site in the middle of the night with your sleeping roomate in the room unless you turn your speakers down, ok?