Bootlegger's Brewery Lupulin Thrill IPA

Beer Name: Lupulin Thrill
Brewery: Bootlegger's Brewery (Fullerton, CA)
ABV: 7.7%
How sold: 12 oz bottles; 22 oz bottles; kegs; on draft
Where bought: Craft Shack (San Diego, CA) ****bought online
Price: $7.49 for 22 oz. bottle

Date Bottled: July 29, 2016
Date Purchased: September 15, 2016
Date Opened/Drank: September 20, 2016
When brewed? Limited-release beer, usually released in summer
IBUs: 65

What's on the Website: "Throw your hands up and gets your buds ready for Lupulin Thrill! The crisp flavor and balanced hop notes will bend your tongue into a fun filled roller coaster ride! Warrior, Palisade, and Columbus hops add loads of bitterness to round out the citrus and pine flavors. The excitement of Lupulin Thrill will have you craving for another ride!" Read more here!

Where distributed: As of October 2016, Bootlegger's beers are only found in Central and Southern California. Check to see whether this beer can be found in your area!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured dark golden to light copper into a pint glass. Started hazy but cleared up over time. Frothy off-white head. 4.25/5

Smell (25%): Very tropical with complementing sweet malt. Citrus peel, mango, passion fruit, pineapple. 4.25/5

Taste (40%): Hop-forward and fairly intense malt (at least for 7.7%) at the forefront. Citrus peel brings more bitter punch. Slight octane in there. Tropical is pleasing on the aftertaste. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, some carbonation. Hop-bitter on the tongue and eventually leads to a slightly dry tongue. 4/5

Overall (20%): A decent IPA. First IPA experience from Bootlegger's is a fairly solid one. I thought this beer brought more octane than the advertised 7.7%, and I felt it was more bitter than its stated 65 IBUs. Fairly reasonable price. This beer certainly lives up to its name; your taste buds will be in for a thrilling, hoppy roller coaster ride. 4/5

Final Weighted Rating: 3.975/5