7.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Nitro draft at Downers Grove only, 12/18/2010. I confirmed with the brewer that this is a new batch of their American IPA served on nitro, with 7.1% abv. Though I suspect the recipe is different, I’m following the RB rules and re-rating under this listing. Pillowy nitro head suggests some oatmeal in the grist. A bronze beer body, brilliantly clear in the Emmett’s style. Good resiny hop smell leads to a big hop burst in the mouth, mostly of pine needles and resin, backed with some slight caramel and toast malts. The foam remains through the whole draught, keeping a nice creamy texture in the beer. Sides of the glass are sticky just from the foam overspill, and the sticky malts become more obvious as I finish the glass. Quite tasty.

Draft at the Downer’s Grove restaurant, 5/17/10. Original rating: 7-3-6-3-14: 3.3 Don’t know why $5 a beer seems pricey here, especially when it comes in a 20 oz. "true pint" glass. Bright penny copper color, clear with no trialing bubbles. Lightly colored IPA head. Pine and citrus hop nose. Taste is pretty closely balanced. Slightly sticky malts with caramel hints at the tip of my tongue, citrusy and resiny pale ale hops at the back. Also a hint of earthy English hop bittering. This does not have the bit of yeast I’ve tasted with other Emmett’s beers, maybe this has had a chance to settle out in the serving tank. Tasty and well-tuned american style beer.