Minhas Thumper American IPA

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Had as Boatswain American IPA. Pours a clear, dark amber with a fairly thick, though not persistent, pale golden tan head. Aroma is not at all strong and hardly registers. Flavor is malty, a little sweet, slightly hoppy, more like a regular ol’ ale than an IPA - and even for a "normal" ale still mediocre. Texture has average body and fizziness. Overall, meh, but still drinkable.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Bomber from Clover Crossing. Clear orange pour under a thin beige head with zero endurance. Aroma suggested a minimal amount of citrus and a lot of caramel. Mouthfeel was quite okay, smoothish. Flavour not so great, hint of pine and a lot of caramel malt. Hardly an IPA with no evidence of any bitterness. Overly sweet finish, but no surprise. Given the origin, I expected the worst. This wasn't the worst, but it sure ain't no IPA, more like a cheap strong ale.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Picked this up at Trader Joe's under the Boatswain label. Given the price and labeling I wasn't expecting a lot. A deep amber colored beer with a big frothy textured light beige head rising above. There's good hang time on that head. It settles into a persistent cap and light splotches of film. A funky nose is disappointing. Not sure where this is an IPA. Sweet malt dominates and the citric hops takes a back seat. Nit unpleasant but as poorly crafted as I had expected.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

Not bad. above average (for them) but really, that's not saying much. Overly malty for my tastes and thereefore light on the hops. As an english pale? OK. As an american IPA, I'll pass, even at $2.50 per bomber...

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

A very malty ipa that tastes like its made straight from the extract. While it doesn't have as much of hop taste as western ipas, and it reminds me more of an english ipa, what I recommend it as is an ipa that you can offer to folks that complain about ipas.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Another beer I had on tap at Minhas on Saturday. The brewery has a nice history, it's still kicking it as the oldest working brewery in Wisc, but let's face it- they don't make the best beer. Glad to see the place revived though. Pours a clear amber. Nose is semi-fruity with caramel, bread and coffee aroma. Taste is rather dull. some pecan and raisiny notes.