Mar 7, 2013

Weyerbacher Last Chance IPA

As a pet owner (three dogs) I really like the idea behind Weyerbacher’s Last Chance IPA. And as a beer drinker, I like it even better since I’m able to enjoy a tasty brew and help support a worthy cause. From the brewery’s website, “Weyerbacher donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every drop of Last Chance IPA to small, regional animal rescue operations.” It may not directly affect those types of establishments in my immediate vicinity, but still a great excuse to drink an IPA in the dead of Winter.

Last Chance IPA is 5.9% and 62 IBU West Coast style IPA so you know it’s got some serious hops backing it up. That said, it’s also not a palate wrecker. Sure it’s got a solid amount of bitterness to accompany its citrusy and piney hop goodness, but it’s not so biting that you can’t taste anything after the first couple of sips.

Appearance

The brew pours a golden amber in color with a bit of a haze to it along with a small amount of off-white foam.

Aroma

As expected the brew has a healthy amount of pine, earthy grass, grapefruit and grains. There’s also a touch of toasted bread in the background. It’s got a decent hop profile, but not as much as I would expect in a prototypical West Coast IPA.

Taste

There is a good deal more herbal, leafy hop character throughout this beer more than any amount of fruity citrus. Obviously there’s a decent bit of grapefruit, but again, not as much as we’ve become accustomed to encountering in an IPA from the left coast. It’s more of an English style or East Coast take on an IPA. The bitterness is fairly assertive, but doesn’t do too much damage as it grabs the tongue late in the dry finish.

Overall

I liked the earthy, leafy character to the hop profile of this beer. It wasn’t over-the-top fruity or piney, but still carried a decent bit of bitterness to it. It’s not the best IPA I’ve ever had, but then again, that’s not the point of it. Buy a six pack and help save a rescued mutt or two.

Rating: 3.25/5

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