When I saw the serene clouds on the can, I figured Bridge Road’s Hazy Pale would super relaxed. I figured wrong.
Idaho 7, Simcoe and Citra all provide a rush of aroma like running through an orchard in springtime - ripe peach and nectarine fills the nose, with a hint of candy sweetness following. And when you start to drink, it doesn’t let up - that’s when the confectionery jumps forward to join the fruits in full. This is when orange fruit drink and rosewater join in as well, like the Talus hops received their invitation late.
It’s soft, with zero astringency and just the lightest breeze of bitterness, but it has more flavour than most other hazy pales which potentially shouldn’t be a surprise since it comes in at 6 percent ABV. But while some would call it an IPA, I’d call it boozy fruit juice of the highest order.
Mick Wust
Published August 10, 2021 2021-08-10 00:00:00