American IPA
7.1% ABV | 65 IBU

Pours a clear copper. A half-inch of pale yellowish head quickly falls to a thin soapy lacing.
Smell is a slightly piney hop.
Major hop flavor up front. mostly pine sap, with some grapefruit around the edges. A mellow flavor first, then the hop bitterness hits…hard. Briefly acrid before a bready malt backbone overtakes the oily hops, providing a welcome balance. Bitterness wins out in the aftertaste, with an evergreen pucker lingering a while on the sides of the tongue.
Light-body, medium carbonation. On the colder side it’s a very refreshing brew - and works well to cut through the thick richness of these cocktail meatballs I’m eating [note: I'm toying with food pairings on all my reviews, feedback appreciated]. Aromatics intensify as the beer warms, which does a lot to boost the piney hop taste.
Titan has, in my opinion, all of the quintessential qualities of a great West-coast IPA. The latent astringency can be a bit off-putting, especially for those who are not die-hard hop heads. If you can get past that, then definitely pick up a bottle or two next time you’re at the store.

8.75/10