Na Zdravi !: Thru the Haze IPA

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Thru the Haze IPA

"This deliciously crushable IPA emphasizes all the awesomeness of Vic Secret, Citra and Hallertau Blanc hops, paired with a dry malt profile. Grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas set the stage for a huge citrus explosion of flavor on your taste buds, without all the bitterness."
Huh. A Bear Republic beer I like ... go figure. Delicious full mouthfeel. Tropicals and citrus. Slightly bitter finish with a bit of sweetness.
Why yes ... I believe I will have another.
ABV 6.4%, 30 IBU Hops: Vic Secret, Citra, Hallertau Blanc Malt: 2-row, Pilsner, and wheat

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.