For craft beer drinkers who love brews that are heavy on the pallet, July and the midsummer months are not always the best craft beer months. Just before pumpkin, yes pumpkin beers will be available soon, and fall brews are released and too hot for heavy day drinking of most IPAs and DIPAs, July can be the cruelest month. However, this weekend I am enjoying a brew that is as smooth as it is drinkable. This weekend Blue Mountain Brewery’s Hopwork Orange IPA is What’s on Tap!
Brewing in the Virginia wine country, Blue Mountain has become a staple within Charlottesville beer landscape. Hopwork Orange provides an aroma that is a nicely balanced between the roasted, earthy, and piney notes and the sweet orange and citrus flavors. Throughout each sip Hopwork provides a heavy dose of orange but it is nicely mixed with the three different hops. There is some bitterness, which seems to be more from the orange not the hops. What makes this beer so refreshing and great for summer is the clean and crisp finish.
As far as summer IPAs go, Hopwork provides a great mix of a smooth drinkable IPA with a nice blend of orange and citrus flavors. What surprised me the most was the very well hidden 7% ABV. Hopwork is perfect for day drinking on a beach or just as a relaxing happy hour brew. This weekend I am pairing Hopwork with some grilled blackened Mako steaks. The spicy blackened rub will pair perfectly with the pungent hop flavor as well as the citrus orange flavor.
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: IPA – Orange Infused
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.0%
Bitterness (IBUs): 65
Color: Hazy Light Amber
Hops: Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial
Beer Review Stats
Beer Advocate: 87
Rate Beer: 75
