Abita Jockamo IPA
Named for the “Mardi Gras Indians” who have marched in the annual New Orleans celebration, Jockamo IPA is a brew that has a solid malt backbone and an up-front hop profile. It’s brewed with Willamette and Columbus hop varieties that give the brew a piny, earthy and spicy character without a tremendous bitter bite (even at 52 IBU, the beer is quite tame in that regard).
Even though the hops may come from the Pacific Northwest this is anything but your typical West Coast IPA. The beer is well balanced between a moderate malt sweetness and the aforementioned hops. It’s the earthy nature of this beer that helps separate it from others that may employ similar hop varieties in their recipes. It’s also the driving force that keeps this beer grounded (no pun intended) in terms of it’s overall enjoyment.
Appearance
Pouring a clear amber, Jockamo sits with a reltively small head that faded to excellent lacing.
Aroma
Mostly hops up front with a bready malt character underneath. The hops are leafy with hints of grapefruit, a touch of orange and pine.
Taste
I love the earthy character to this beer’s hop presence — leafy, piney and with plenty of citrus. the bready malt undertones help balance out the hop bite to form a smooth drinking IPA. The hop bitterness is moderate in intensity and lingers lightly in the finish. The beer’s lighter body and relatively crisp mouthfeel make for a refreshingly tasty brew.
Overall
This is one of those IPAs that is good any time of year. It’s got the hoppiness and refreshing citrus that you want on a warm Summer afternoon, but it’s also get enough of a balancing malt character to temper that bite for cooler evenings, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer and will be sure to pick some up for the warmer months.
Rating: 3.5/5
This is a review of a promotional sample received from a PR company representing the brewery.