Brouwerij West Picnic Lightning IPA

Beer Name: Picnic Lightning New England-Style IPA
Brewery: Brouwerij West (San Pedro, CA)
ABV: 6.8%
How sold: 16 oz cans; on draft
Where bought: Craft Shack (San Diego, CA)  ****bought online
Price: $6.99(!) for 16 oz. tallboy can (nope, not a typo)

Date Purchased: May 3, 2017
Date Received: May 9, 2017
Date Opened: May 14, 2017
When brewed/released? Limited/seasonal/rotating release.

Where distributed: Brouwerij West can be found in California. Unknown if they currently distribute anywhere else. I currently will not find this in the Pacific Northwest. Brouwerij West has been in business since 2010.

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured hazy light-orange colored into a pint glass. Frothy white head and good lacing on the glass. 4.75/5

Smell (25%): Tropical citrus all the way. Citrus, mango, peach, and grapefruit. 4.75/5

Taste (40%): A juicy tropical explosion from start to finish. Citrus, mango, peach, grapefruit come to mind. Complementing malt. They hit a grand slam with this New England-style IPA. 5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, some carbonation. Velvety, extremely juicy, little dryness on the tongue. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): An outstanding to world-class IPA. The funny thing is, in February 2016, Brouwerij West wasn't even thinking of making an IPA, choosing to stick with its core of mixed-fermentation beers. But did they ever nail this New England-style IPA. Upon retrospect, the price may have been why I opted to get just one can instead of the entire 4-pack. But after drinking this beer, it was worth it. So juicy and tropical, full of flavor, and one that will be branded in my brain for a long time. Probably one of the very few times where, despite the hefty price on the single can, I wish I had gotten the entire 4-pack. If I see it again, I'm getting more than one can. 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.775/5