Beer reviews: Epic Small Batch Series (Pineapple Express) and Offset Just Me (Mt. Hood)
A tried-and-true brew or a blast of the new
By Mike Riedel @utahbeer
Epic - Small Batch Series (Pineapple Express): This new IPA from Epic Brewing weighs heavy with big pineapple character. It features Pineapple Express terpenes along with 200 pounds of fresh pineapple, and was hopped with Citra and Cashmere hops.
The beer pours a clear golden orange color, with a one-finger head of white puffy foam that features a great level of retention. The aroma of the brew is strong with tangerine, and a tropical fruit smell of mango and pineapple. Along with these notes comes a good showing of tangerine hop aroma, mixed with smells of some herbal and floral hops, making it bright and inviting.
The taste begins with a cracker and bready malt flavor that is paired with tons of pineapple and some citrus. Right from the start, there is a nice hop hit of pineapple terpenes and citrus peel. As the taste moves on, the breadiness fades, revealing a crisper malt taste overall. At the same time, the hop flavor transitions into the fresh pineapple before being joined by floral and pine, with a surge in the hops towards the end. A nicely fruity but crisp, balanced and hopped-up taste is left to linger on the tongue.
The body of the brew is somewhat creamy with a typical carbonation level. Mouthfeel is great, allowing all the big flavors to be appreciated.
Verdict: The overall enjoyment is high, as the fruit blends with hops and perhaps offers a drier feel from the pineapple terpenes. It's not a huge IPA at 7.5 percent ABV, yet assertively hopped with great tropical and fruit aromatics.
Offset - Just Me (Mt. Hood): The newest entry in Offset's single-hop lager series features Mt. Hood hops. This is a hop that did a lot of heavy lifting for craft brewers in the 1990s and early 2000s. Released in 1989, the hops were developed as a domestic alternative to European Noble hops. That's precisely how they're being used here.
The beer pours a very clear golden color with a one-finger head of foam. The head fades super fast, leaving a tiny trace of foamy lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma of the brew is strongest of a grainy and doughy smell, mixed with a decent showing of an herbal hop aroma. Along with these smells comes a little bit of pine and earth, as well as a touch of grass, leaving one with a somewhat dank and grainy smell.
The taste begins as the nose would suggest, with a big showing of a graininess mixed with a more crackery/bready taste. Up front there is a little bit of a caramel sweetness, as well as a touch of herbal hop. As the taste advances, the caramel fades from the tongue, all while other hop flavors of an earthy and grassy nature come to the forefront.
At the end, a tiny bit of citrus and an increase in the hoppiness hit the profile, leaving one with a grainy and subtly dank, nicely-balanced taste to linger. The body of this 5.0 percent brew is average to slightly crisp, with a carbonation level that is high.
Verdict: A rather nice pilsner overall, and one I would certainly go back to again—great balance and nuance, but still so drinkable. Each sip of this beer is as satisfying as the last. It's definitely worth a try, as it balances nicely some lighter, more Noble-like dank hop flavors with a good grainy and bready base.
These beers are popping up at various pubs around SLC and Park City. Of course, Epic and Offset are going to be your best bets.
As always, cheers!
About The Author
Mike Riedel
Local boy and pilot of City Weekly’s best gig, The Beer Nerd column since 2017. Current photojournalist at KSTU TV (Fox 13) and host of the Utah Beer Blog and Beer Nerd Radio on KUAA 99.9 FM radio.
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