Champion Brewing Missile IPA
One benefit to growth in numbers of Virginia breweries is the likelihood that the chance of you snagging a pretty darn freshly packaged brew is going to be high. Such was the case when I picked up a sixer of Champion Brewing’s Missile IPA back on June 3rd — the brews had a canned date of 5/30/2014. That’s definitely what I would call fresh.
As for the IPA itself, Missile IPA is a 7% ABV and 60 IBU brew that is dry-hopped with Simcoe, Cascade and Summit hop varieties among others. The result is a beer with loads of tropical fruits, pine and a full-flavored nature. It’s also a great way to make an introduction to a brewery that I had not encountered up until this beer.
Appearance
The brew pours a golden amber in color with a short-lived cap of tawny foam.
Aroma
Tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, orange), pince, hints of bready malt, caramel and grass combine for an enticing aroma.
Taste
The pineapple, mango, orange and pine lead the way for a grassy character, caramel and a light malt sweetness. This is a damn good beer with a refreshing character. The hop bitterness is of a moderate-to-high level and nicely balanced with the malt presence.
Overall
Missile IPA is a heck of a beer. It packs a solid amount of fruity, piney hops from start to finish without becoming one-dimensional. A balancing malt bill helps round out the beer in a beer that I have since purchased several times over.
Rating: 4/5
