I’ve had a few Belgian IPAs in my time. They’re a growing favorite of mine and are making a more frequent appearance in the fridge and cellar.
For as hoppy as some of them have been, the Bruery’s Mischief, however, puts them all to shame. This “Hoppy Belgian-Style Golden Strong Ale” has the largest hop presence of any Belgian inspired anything that I’ve ever had.
Appearance
Mischief pours a slightly hazy pale amber in color with a thick white head.
Aroma
Whoa. The hope aroma coming from the glass is huge. It’s piny, resinous and with a decent grapefruit character. Along with the dry hopped nose, there’s a nice peppery tingle and light fruit presence, as well as a yeasty Belgian funkiness.
Taste
The hops are definitely in the beer and certainly give the beer a more biting, bitter hop character than any Belgian inspired brew I’ve had in the past. The piny hop resin, peppery spices and Belgian yeast all come together in a tart, grapefruity punch. The finish is leans toward the dry side with a welcome alcohol (8.5% ABV) warmth.
Overall
This was an outstanding beer. The hybrid between the dry, crisp Belgian golden ale with the hoppier American influence made this a tasty brew. I think had I chilled it a bit before hand, it would have been a perfect accompaniment to sitting on the back porch in the warmth of the sun. I will definitely be on the look out for more bottles of Mischief.
Rating: 4.5/5
