Dec 18, 2015

Schlafly Grapefruit IPA

Of the two grapefruit-driven IPAs (Stone Brewing and Ballast Point) that I’ve had fairly recently, both showcased the citrusy melon to its fullest, letting it dominate the flavor profile. Schlafly Grapefruit IPA is the St. Louis, Missouri brewery’s take on the recent trend. And while their interpretation doesn’t showcase a ton of grapefruit, it does provide a much smoother drinking experience than the previous two examples.

Schlafly Grapefruit IPA is an even-keeled beer that allows the earthy, pithy grapefruit to coexist comfortably with the base IPA flavors of pine and resin. At 5.9% ABV it’s not sessionable by any means, but it’s even temper and well-rounded flavor make for a fairly quaffable brew — one that goes down much too quickly for its own good.

Appearance

A pillowy cap of off-white foam ddropws slowly atop the hazy, orangish amber brew. Sticky lacing (seen below) clings to the glass like its life depended upon it.

Schlafly Grapefruit IPA

Aroma

Well, there’s not denying there’s grapefruit in the mix, but it’s not overtly in-your-face. The fruit mingles nicely with pine resin and lightly toasted bread.

Taste

An earthy grapefruit flavor arrives immediately, providing a decent citrusy tang all the way through to the lasting finish. Pine, orange zest and a white pepper tingle come into play, as well. The beer isn’t too biting in terms of hop bitterness (50 IBU), but does play with the tongue a bit. The beer feels a tad thin for an IPA, but nothing too worrisome.

Overall

Schlafly Grapefruit IPA is a solid brew. It’s not as confrontational as some in terms of the use of grapefruit to drive the flavor profile. Its even disposition keeps everything in check and allows for a smoother, more approachable drinking experience. The beer certainly goes down easy.

Rating: 3.75/5

This is a review of a promotional sample.

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