Name of beer: Organic IPA
Brewing Company: Napa Smith Brewery
Brewing Location: Napa, CA
Type of Beer: India Pale Ale – ABV: 7% / IBU: 75
Beer Description: From website:
We set out first and foremost to make a great IPA, using only the finest organic ingredients. The aroma of our Organic IPA can be described as floral, and even earthy from the use of Palisade, Tettnang and Smaragd hops. Our Organic IPA contains a nice malt backbone that supports the generous amount of hops, and finishes with a bitterness and soft citrus character that discerning IPA drinkers will enjoy.
The Beer Guy Review:
Well, Happy New Year everyone! The Beer Guy is back. I took a little month-long hiatus after my “12 Beers of Christmas.” I hope you enjoyed the great craft beer that was presented. Keep on the lookout here at Life of Dad, the social network for Dads, for an introduction to more great (or maybe not-so-great) craft beers in 2013.
So with every New Year comes (hopefully) your set of New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve got mine: Actually begin the “Beer It Forward” experiment, start a beercast, etc. Of course, there are resolutions of the more traditional variety: Exercise more, watch less TV, lose weight, eat healthier, drink healthier. “Wait, drink healthier? And just how do I go about doing that, Beer Guy,” you might ask. Well how about diving into an organic craft beer. Organic? Organic beer? You know…save the environment, no pesticides, HEALTHY! Organic beers are growing in popularity. BeerAdvocate, the global, grassroots network, powered by an independent community of beer enthusiasts and industry professionals who are dedicated to supporting and promoting beer, lists 359 of them in their database.
But are they any good? Granted I have had my fair share of “interesting-tasting” organic beers. At times, they can taste very earthy (maybe that’s what expert beer reviewers call “oatmeal tasting,” I don’t know). The ones I have had just taste like I’m drinking grass and dirt, with some essences of beer. Save the Earth? More like I was drinking it.
Then here comes Napa Smith Brewery. Yes, you read that right. There’s more than wine in Northern California. And for 35 years, Napa Smith’s brewmaster has been making craft beer in Northern California. Don Barkley, “America’s most experienced craft brewer,” started in 1978 at Sonoma, CA’s now-defunct New Albion Brewery, largely credited as being America’s first microbrewery in the modern era (By the way, can someone tell me when the “modern era” began? What makes a time period an “era?”). In any case, I digress…from there, he left and help found Mendocino Brewing Company. And now, it’s Napa Smith Brewery where Don calls home. Imagine that, 35+ years of making beer. Talk about a dream job.
Now let’s talk about the Organic IPA. The beer pours a bit darker than most other IPA’s I’ve tried…a bit more of an amber color. It was topped with a nice cream-colored head. I noticed the smell, and then the taste, had the best of both worlds: hoppy & malty. Better yet, it didn’t taste too much like those other organic beers. Much like other organic goods, you know you’re drinking something good.
As far as The Beer Guy rating, I give the Napa Smith Brewery Organic IPA a:
What a way to ring in the 2013 beer reviews, with another Life of Dad Beer Champion! There’s a lot that you can pack into a 7% ABV beer. Napa Smith successfully integrated the hoppiness & maltiness that makes for a perfect IPA. It’s got those citrusy notes I love, and the base malt characteristics that back it up. And then they go out and make it organic?!?! You just feel good drinking it. And I feel equally as good giving it the perfect score. Yes, there’s a lot that you can pack into a 7% ABV beer, and Napa Smith successfully packed perfection into their Organic IPA. The brewery bills themselves as having their beer “brewed for food.” I say it can be “brewed for anytime.” Cheers!
So, what do you think? Have you had this beer? Do you like it? Do you not like it? Send me a note at The Beer Guy’s mailbag, TheBeerGuy@lifeofdad.com. You can follow me on Twitter (@TheBeerGuyLOD), Facebook and LinkedIn as well. Take care, happy (and safe) drinking, and enjoy your week ahead.
About The Beer Guy – A dad, husband, friend and drinker of beer. I review & blog about it all on LifeOfDad.com, the social network for Dads. The Beer Guy enjoys IPA’s and Pilsner’s, but will really try any kind of beer. You may disagree on some of his opinions. Let The Beer Guy know. I try to publish reviews on Thursdays or Fridays, with an occasional blog thrown in there as well. Read more here to learn about The Beer Guy, who he is and his beer rating methodology.
The Beer Guy, and Life of Dad, promote responsible drinking. Never drink and drive.