Apr 28, 2011

Port City Monumental IPA

Port City Monumental IPA photoRelaxing outside with a tasty IPA.

I happened across a couple of offerings from Alexandria, VA based Port City Brewing the other week while perusing the shelves at Cork & Fork in Gainesville. Not only was I surprised to learn that the beers were local, but I also got to carry my purchase home in a six-pack container signed by one of the owners/brewers — unfortunately their name escapes me at the moment.

The brewery currently has four products for sale in our area, but I have only been able to find this tasty IPA and their porter. The other two (a Pale Ale and Witbier) have been MIA on the shops shelves so far. This 6.3% ABV American IPA, however, has been readily available and gives me a solid excuse for supporting a local brewery. It’s a pretty darn tasty brew.

Appearance

The beer pours a crystal clear amber with a good sized off-white cap.

Aroma

Floral, tropical fruit drenched hops (Magnum, Centennial, Amarillo and Liberty) combine with a solid caramel malt backbone for a nicely balanced nose. There’s a touch of a piny and spicy nature to the hops, as well.

Taste

While the nose has a good deal more hop presence, the taste is much more balanced with a nice level of malt sweetness starting things off. It’s quickly followed by a decent hop presence that is fruity with hints of tangerine and grapefruit, as well as a moderate amount of bitterness that lingers in the crisp, clean finish.

Overall

Since first finding this product a couple of weeks ago, I have since enjoyed several more runs to the shop for this IPA. It’s got a great balance and is easy drinking — an ideal combination for sitting on the back deck after pushing a mower around the yard for a couple of hours.

Rating: 4/5

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