Cape Cod Beer IPA [Beer Review]
Over Memorial Day I was on Cape Cod for my Grandmother’s 90th birthday. Family came in from all over for this momentous event but it was a short ride for me. The Cape is not known for beer but, being from Boston, I knew the not-so-well-kept-secret: Cape Cod Beer. I’ve been on their press release distribution list for a while so I’ve seen all the great things they’ve put out, but I haven’t been able to score any of their beer...until now. With far-flung family coming into town, I decided I had to show them some of the local flavor. Plus, I kept a growler to take home for my own enjoyment. Let’s crack that growler!
This is a dark IPA! Far from black, it pours a deep copper, almost rust color. From the growler I’m not expecting a huge head and a vigorous pour proves me right. That said, I’m still getting a decent, off-white to light tan head. Looks like a tasty beer to me!
I could smell this IPA as I poured it! I’m not getting the resiny, super thick hop smell you sometimes get from beers like this, though. Instead, an orange honey aroma comes out and hits you. The hops are citrusy and almost sweet smelling. While the nose is strong, it’s far from overwhelming. Basically, it smells great! This is what a summer IPA should smell like...and that’s what you need on The Cape! After the hops there’s a nice, clean, bread-like malt. It’s a great way to show off the hops without making the brew too sweet.
There’s a bit going on once it hits your mouth. The first thing that hits you is bitterness. Devon doesn’t always love this effect, but I dig it! I like bitter beer, so this scratches that itch. The next thing I realized is that I shouldn’t have let the small head fool me, there is definitely carbonation in this bad boy! There’s a ton of micro bubbles all over my mouth with every sip. This would be great with a steak or some barbecue grilled chicken and potato salad! It would cut through the fat and sauce and keep your palate clean for more. Similar to the smell, while there’s a lot of bitterness, it’s not resiny and sticky at all. It’s a crisp, refreshing bitterness that I would seriously love to drink on the beach in the heat. The malt is toastier than I expected, adding some complexity that could easily be a one-dimensional beer. Finally, the orange and honey I smelled? It’s there, but barely.
Overall, while on Cape Cod, I’d say this is one worth hunting down! The growler is the perfect conversation piece for a great barbecue with friends or family. Plus, it’s always good to support local when you’re local is this good! If they were to ship this out, it would definitely be in my rotation.
