Service Brewing Compass Rose IPA
While on a trip to the Outer Banks earlier this year, I made sure to pick up a few beers that I don’t typically see for review. Service Brewing Compass Rose was one of those beers. This 6.6% ABV IPA comes from a company based out of Georgia which, aside from Sweetwater Brewing, doesn’t really ship many beers to Virginia.
This year-round offering from the company is a tasty, though fairly straightforward example of the style. It’s got your requisite pine and grapefruit, as well as a touch of bitter orange peel. The IPA has also got a fairly strong malt backbone that delivers a solid amount of caramel, grain and bread. A mellow sweetness tries to temper a decent hop bite, but does so only a bit. A crisp mouthfeel and medium body give the brew a refreshing character as everything fades to a lasting finish.
Compass Rose isn’t going to really wow IPA fans. It’s a simple, yet capable brew that refreshes nicely and served me perfectly while sitting on the deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Serve this one ice cold and it would work really well as a lawnmower beer — or at least a way to revive after a long days of yard work.