Beer Review- Caldera IPA

Yes I am a hophead. Yes I love IPAs. Yes I like cans over bottles. Yes I was excited to see Caldera IPA hit the Nashville shelves. Let's pop one open......



Caldera IPA -
Caldera Brewing Company.- Ashland, OR

Commercial Description:
An American-style India Pale Ale brewed with plenty of body and an assertive hop profile.
Grist: Premium Two Row, Munich, Crystal
Hops: Crystal, Galena, Centennial
Original gravity: 1.057 
ABV- 6%

Smitty's Review:  I prefer cans over bottles (with the exception of cellaring),  mainly because they prevent the the beer from being light stricken and have lower dissolved oxygen levels. Cans do not cause beer to taste metallic- that's a myth. Now to the beer. Sampled at about 45 degrees. Pours a medium orange amber with a thick foamy off-white head and webby lacing. Very inviting aroma of floral hops and fruity ale esters. Medium bodied with average carbonation with a slight earthy mouthfeel. This has a bold malt profile, which produces notes of caramel, bread, and a hint of brown sugar. The maltiness is countered by a very assertive grapefruit rind and tea like bitterness. The attenuation is just right by getting just the right amount of sweetness to balance things out. Dry and long hoppy finish. Once this beer gets to about 55 degrees (cellar temp), it melds a little more on the palate and takes on a slight British character. This is like a marriage of IPAs, with maltiness from the east coast and aggressive hop bitterness from the west coast. Even though has a steep price tag, it's one of the top malty IPAs available in Nashville.

Rating*: 9 out of 10

Recommended Food Pairing: Pepper Jack Cheese, Vintage Cheddar, Thai Food, Cajun dishes, Wings, Grilled Salmon

Value: at $10.99 per six plus tax, this is pricey (thanks to TN beer tax laws).

Beer Audience: Hopheads, but approachable to some casual craft beer drinkers

Where To Buy: Craft beer stores (Frugal MacDoogal, Midtown, Woody's Smokes & Brews, etc. )

* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)