© popsonhops
Last Chance IPA
Tasting: January 4, 2014
Style: IPA (sessionable)
Beer #: 510
Late last summer, a friend and his family were in town to see their eldest son off to college in NYC. We hosted a small dinner party and had an awesome time filling in the gaps since we last got together. On his arrival, my friend handed me a six pack of Last Chance IPA from Weyerbacher and he commented that he didn’t know what to buy, comparing the experience to buying golf clubs for Tiger Woods.
I’ve said this countless times about wine – and the same holds true for beer, “enjoying it with good company improves the opinion”. In this case – even the best company did not elevate Last Chance IPA. So, here we are months later with three lone bottles nested in my beer fridge. I’ve probably opened the door two-hundred times since then and haven’t had the desire to have one – nor have I offered one to anyone else.
Before I make the drink or dump decision, I’ll give Last Chance IPA one last chance. Up front, I’ll say that I like that this is a “cause” beer. Weyerbacher donates proceeds to rescue animal facilities. Regardless of my opinion of this particular beer, Weyerbacher is an outstanding brewer with a number of quality beers and I respect their efforts to help a worthy cause.
One other note – Last Chance IPA is another entry in the burgeoning category of “sessionable” beers. Sessionable meaning – moderate in alcohol by volume (ABV) so that one might enjoy a few over the course of an evening and still remain upright. Typically, these brews lack a solid malt base (needed for the higher ABV) and are over hopped – thus creating a one-dimensional beer. I guess if I had to pick amongst drinking a bud, drinking a sessionable beer or abstaining – I guess the choice would have to be the sessionable beer. Luckily, I haven’t been painted into that corner.
Pours a bright orange and you can’t help but notice the pungent hop aroma. Fizzy with a very clunky bitterness right out of the gate. I don’t pick up any citrus – just astringent bitterness very herbal. Really not much flavor or depth other than the bitterness. 69 points. I guess it’s the drain for the bunch.
