Old Bust Head Quickfix Session IPA
I hate the term “session IPA,” but that’s exactly what this 4.1% ABV IPA from Virginia’s Old Bust Head is — one hell of a tasty and sessionable brew. Featuring a fruity, bitter combination of Citra and Magnum hops, Quickfix Session IPA brings plenty of flavor to the table.
The beer is incredibly easy drinking, but still has everything that a fellow hop-head could want in a brew this small. Unlike most “session IPAs” that I’ve had int he past couple of years, this one still has plenty of body thanks to a blend of five malts (2-Row Brewer’s Malt, Red Wheat Malt, Rye Malt, Victory Malt, Special Roast Malt). Aside from the brewery’s Chipotle Gold Cup Russian Imperial Stout, this might be a fan favorite in the Barley Blog household.
Appearance
The beer pours lightly hazy and amber in color with a rocky cap of tawny foam.
Aroma
Grass, pine, grapefruit and soft bread notes combine with a distant touch of honey.
Taste
Quickfix starts leafy and grassy with a touch of pine and plenty of grapefruit. For just 47 IBU, this beer packs a potent punch of hop bitterness. I’m not sure that I pick up all that much Citra — at least not in terms of its fruitiness — in the surge of hop flavor. There is a touch of lime in the background as the medium bodied brew fades with a lasting tingle on the tongue.
Overall
As stated, the term “session IPA” annoys me. It takes more than low alcohol in a beer to make it sessionable, especially in the case of a beer like Quickfix. It’s just got too much of a hop bite to consider having more than a couple pints — the palate suffers from fatigue after a bit. That said, this is a great little brew from the company and only shows that they are finding their momentum with that latest series of releases.
Rating: 4/5
