249. Founders Centennial IPA

This marks our fourth beer from Founders; this one is a growler we got from the Party Source in Newport, KY. Our previous beers include Black Biscuit, Harvest Ale and Breakfast Stout.

Centennial IPA pours a crystal clear copper with a creamy ivory head that has a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The nose is hoppy, with pine, citrus, and resin hop aromas: not much in the way of malt makes it past the hop aroma, though. Starting with some sweet caramel malt flavor, Centennial IPA moves into a big bitterness in the middle with pine and resin hop flavors and just a touch of light citric tartness before ending with a good dose of lingering bitterness and hop spiciness. There is a fair amount of tongue curling from the hop bitterness in the mouthfeel, and a bit of hop astringency as it warms, although nothing detrimental. Medium bodied, Centennial IPA also has a fair amount of creaminess to it; the carbonation is a bit light, but it does taste and feel like a draft beer—it could use a bit more brightness as it ends, either from the carbonation or in the flavor profile. Centennial is a very American IPA, and a very delicious one as well. We’ll be looking for this one again soon.

Found this at a blog called mcglinch, posted on February 2. Totally awesome.

From the Founders website: “Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head’s floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry-hopping. This one’s sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter.”

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 65

(3/6/2010)