Schlafly Tasmanian IPA
I love to see what a brewery can do with a single ingredient. With the large amount of single-hop IPAs that are currently out in the market, it’s easy to point out those that need some work and those, like Schlafly’s Tasmanian IPA, that absolutely nailed it. This IPA (7.2% ABV and 60 IBU) is brewed with a single malt (pale) and a single strain of hops (Galaxy).
The result is a beer that is not only distinctly hoppy, but is also not hoppy. How’s that for a description?
What I mean is that Tasmanian IPA delivers a wealth of citrusy, tropical flavors from the Galaxy hop without bludgeoning your tastebuds over the head with them. The 60 IBU is sort of misleading as the bitterness isn’t so powerful as to wreck your palette. This is a well-rounded IPA with excellent flavor and surprisingly smooth character.
Appearance
The brew pours golden in color with a crown of bright white foam.
Aroma
Loads of pine, tropical fruits (tangerine, pineapple) and a soft malt character fills the nose immediately. This beer just exudes hops — can smell it across the room.
Taste
Juicy tropical fruits lead the way as piney resin rises smoothly to finish off the first wave of flavors. Mango, pineapple, grapefruit and a moderate malt sweetness give way to a smooth bitterness that lingers gently in the lasting finish. There’s not hint of alcohol within this beer’s hoppy depths.
Overall
I really liked this beer. Tasmanian IPA has got an excellent hop profile with mouthfuls of juicy fruit, smooth bitterness and a welcome amount of balancing malt traits that, together, make for one of the better single-hop IPAs available.
Rating: 4/5
