Wachusett Hometown Brewery Series California Style IPA

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Wachusett Brewing Company is my hometown brewery. So for this year's 250th anniversary of Westminster and the 15th anniversary of the brewery, they decided to cook up some special batches of beer for the residents of the town. The first up in the "Hometown Brewery Series" was their California-style IPA.

I was fortunate to get this one on draught at the Westminster VFW. After a hefty wait for the bartender to get to me, I was presented with an absolutely beautiful beer that rivals the best out there. The beer had an awesome slight orangey amber color to it and an absolute monster, 2-finger thick head. I can't even describe the head with any justice. All I can think of is that it had a head that was super creamy and had awesome little dimples in it. The retention on the head was awesome as well. Creamy all the way through. Lacing up the ying yang! The aroma wasn't as great as the appearance. There was a slight floral and citrus hops smell emitting from the glass, but nothing too mind blowing. It just smelled solid and was very inviting.

I think I was expecting something big when I started drinking this one. I was almost expecting a "Green Flash IPA" style beer, but in fact this one was way more tame in the hops department. Although it was very flavorful and bucu smooth in the mouthfeel department, I wasn't left thinking it was very west coast like for an IPA. Still, I loved it. So much so I had to go back and get more before I left the bar.

Bottom line, this is a great session beer and I think it does well to celebrate the 250th of "Westminny". Still when I think of a Wachusett IPA, I go straight for my Monsta!