Beer Review- Schlafly American IPA

I meant to review this beer a week ago, but with all the craziness surrounding SB1224 and amendment 2, I kind of got sidetracked. Oh well. When people mention beer and St Louis in the same sentence, most people think Clydesdales and beechwood-aged swill. Not me! I think of Schlafly. Let's pop the cap on this one!

Schlafly American IPA
St Louis Brewery - Maplewood, MO
ABV:7.2%

SMITTY'S REVIEW:

Sampled at 45 degrees. Bottled conditioned with a date of 5/03/11. Pours a nice orange amber with an off white head. Medium bodied with average carbonation. Aroma of pale malts and floral hops. Malt backbone is extremely pale, with some notes of toffee and toasted malts. Mid palate attacks you with a bold bitterness, with nuanced flavors of tangerine and pine. Strong dry and hoppy finish with grapefruit rind lingering on the palate. This is a solid IPA for those who prefer a West Coast style IPA. I liked that this beer covered a nice sprectrum of hop flavors. A definite repeat buy for me. This type of IPA goes downhill quick, so I would grab a six ASAP if you can still find one.


Rating*: 9 out of 10
Recommended Food Pairing: Thai cuisine, tacos carne asada with pico de gallo, BBQ
Value: Average at around $10.99 per six pack
Beer Audience: Hopheads
Where To Buy: Liquor stores with a high gravity beer selection
Other high gravity Schlafly beers to try: Pumpkin Ale (fall), Imperial Stout, Barleywine, Irish Style Extra Stout
* rating system based on aroma (1 pt), appearance (1pt), palate (2 pts) flavor (3pts), comparison to other commercial examples of the style (3pts)