Nov 21, 2013

Sweetwater Brewing Whiplash White IPA

Along with the recent trend of the black IPA, the white IPA has also been gaining traction in the craft beer world as of late. The beer is usually described best as a hop-forward Witbier — a wholly Americanized concept which has really begun to grow on me.

Sweetwater Brewing must have some how sensed my weakening stance on this variation of IPA as they’ve recently announced the release of a new addition to their winter line-up, the 6.2& ABV Whiplash White IPA.

If this Atlanta brewery knows how to do anything, it’s hops. I’d venture to say that for an East Coast brewery, they are probably one of the best in terms of the flavors they are able to extract from the hop flower. So, it was really a no-brainer for them to take a crack at crafting their own white IPA. The result is a beer that not only carries an excellent hop character, but also one that only makes me become that much more impatient for their, hopefully, inevitable arrival in the Virginia market.

Appearance

Whiplash White IPA pours surprisingly clear for any sort of witbier-like product. It’s golden amber in color with a smallish cap of off-white foam.

Sweetwater Whiplash White IPA photo

Aroma

Soft wheat and a smooth, citrusy hop character fill the nose nicely as hints of pineapple, grapefruit and orange persist.

Taste

Now this is a good brew. Whiplash White IPA starts off with hints of wheat and grain before smoothly (but quickly) giving way to a juicy burst of grapefruit/orange/citrusy hops that fades through a moderate amount of bitterness (55 IBU). The beer ultimately ends with a semi-dry, lingering finish. The hop character of this beer isn’t over-the-top which gives it quite an approachable demeanor.

Overall

The more white IPAs that I’ve had recently the more I really seem to enjoy this style of beer. Sweetwater’s Whiplash White IPA is a great example of why. It’s an easy drinking beer with a hint of wheat and a strong, yet appropriate hop profile. It’s not going to shrivel up your tongue with a blast of bitterness, but instead delivers a fruity character that compliments the Belgian yeast and wheat wonderfully.

Rating: 4/5

This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.

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