Lakefront IPA
Lakefront IPA is the first product that I’ve had from this Wisconsin brewery. And what a hell of an introduction it is. The brews combination of Zeus, Cascade, Chinook and Citra hop varieties makes for an IPA that is packed with juicy fruits and piney goodness. It’s just about everything you want in an IPA.
The key with this beer isn’t that it’s just hoppy — it’s not overly bitter at ~40 IBU. Lakefront IPA is wonderfully balances all traits of the hop flower that fans of the style want. Throw in a decent bit of malt sweetness and a light toast in the background and you have a great flavored, dynamic and tasty brew.
Appearance
Rich amber in color Lakefront IPA rests with an off-white head that left behind a decent amount of sticky lacing on the glass as it dropped.
Aroma
This beer has a floral and fruity hop character that just about fills the room after it’s been poured. Grapefruit, orange, tangerine and a decent amount of pine dominate the earthy aroma with very light malt presence in the background.
Taste
Juicy, fruity citrus is there right from the start. Orange, tangerine and light grapefruit arrive immediately and smoothly transition through a light malty middle before finishing slightly dry and with a moderate level of bitterness. The beer is medium bodied and has a pretty active carbonation.
Overall
Lakefront IPA is an excellent example of the style. It’s fruity, lightly biting and earthy, but without seeming “hoppy” if that makes any sense. It’s well balanced and drinks smoothly. The hot Virginia summer days are ideal for a beer like this to refresh oneself by the pool, at the beach or just catching your breath after mowing the yard.
Rating: 4.25/5
