Mission Street India Pale Ale

Mission St. India Pale Ale – 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. 6.1% abv. Purchased at Trader Joes – Monrovia, CA. Private label beer brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing exclusively for Trader Joes.

Appearance: Clear copper with a 1/2 inch offwhite head. A small amount of rising carbonation.

Aroma: Grapefruit, pine, crystal malt. Other citrus fruit notes, lemon grass and orange zest.

Taste: Bitter, citrusy resinous hops. A small bit of caramel, and a fair amount of malt, but takes a back seat to the lovely hops.
Mouthfeel: Super smooth, compared to what I expected from the aroma and taste.  Not puckering or astringent, goes down like an easy going lager, yet coats your mouth will all of the mentioned flavors.

Overall: A very balanced IPA to the tune of California.  Nice citrusy profile, doesn’t blow your face off, but you know the hops are there, and up front.  Great price, and can be found in many California Trader Joes.