Coronado 18th Anniversary IPA
2013-2014 was a big year for Coronado Brewing — a GABF medal, a couple awards from the World Beer Cup and their 18th anniversary. So what better way to celebrate those achievements than by unleashing a big IPA?
Using a potent combination of Citra, Mosaic, Nugget and Simcoe varieties, the brewery has crafted themselves a heck of a beer. Juicy tropical fruits mingle with herbal hop notes, pine resin and a touch of caramel for a decadent drinking experience. With an amped up 10% ABV, Coronado’s 18th Anniversary IPA certainly is not small brew both in terms of potency and flavor.
Appearance
The brew pours a clear, golden amber in color with a large stack of frothy, off-white foam.
Aroma
The nose on this beer has just about everything you need: pine resin, juicy citrus, grass, hints of tangerine, lightly peppery, soft cracker and caramel notes.
Taste
This is a darn goo IPA. Juicy tropical fruits (orange, grapefruit, pineapple), herbal notes, pine resin and mild caramel presence combine for a definite hop-forward flavor. At 80 IBU, the beer packs a bitter punch but won’t completely wreck your tastebuds. A lingering sweetness stays on the lips as the brew warms the chest comfortably and leaves slightly dry.
Overall
This is a big IPA without being too big in terms of hop overload. It’s got a great piney and fruity flavor and a surprising smoothness for something this big. I could have gone for more of Coronado’s Anniversary brew — well, maybe not in a single sitting, but a few more in the fridge wouldn’t have been a bad thing.
Rating: 4.25/5
This is a review of a promotional sample.
