Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA
Oskar Blues has a series of IPAs under their Can-O-Bliss program, but this Tropical IPA (7.2% aBV, 68 IBU) is my first encounter with any of them. And, I can think of no other descriptor than “tropical” that would best fit the way this brew teases the senses.
A blend of Mosaic, Azacca, Galaxy, Eldorado and Idaho 7 hop varieties provide a tantalizing array of scents and flavors that are more than well suited for the coming Spring months – or serving as a distraction from a dreary, late January afternoon. Pineapple, lemony citrus, mango and papaya all fill the air surrounding the glass upon pouring while herbal and leafy hop notes linger at the edges.
Once the beer hits the tastebuds, a mellow tingle of hop bitterness joins in on the fun with a light sweetness. Thankfully, the fruit flavors (in a lesser degree of potency than the aroma) are more in the earthy realm than fruit-juicy, making for an enjoyable experience. There’s a bit of a flowery trait that comes in late in the swallow as the beer warms that I’m personally not a big fan of, but it does little to impact the overall presentation.
While I personally prefer my IPAs to lean more on the pungent and bitter side, I can certainly appreciate Tropical IPA and it’s wonderfully fruity flavors. This is the type of beer that will refresh nicely after working out in the yard this Spring. It’s definitely not a quaffable brew, but I can still see myself with a couple on the back deck.
This is a review of a promotional sample.