Last week was one of the toughest in my life. On Sunday / early Monday I had emergency appendectomy surgery. The surgery nor the recovery was challenging but what was challenging was not having a sip of booze, of any kind, for a week+! No craft beer to drink; I couldn’t even complete a beer review. I know if I am this shaken by the experience you all must be 100 times worse. But I am making up for it this week with a solid session IPA from one of my favorite breweries. This weekend, Heavy Seas’ Crossbones IPA is What’s on Tap!
Session IPAs are going to be huge in 2015; they are crisp, easy drinking, low ABV, but filled with hoppy goodness and flavor. Heavy Seas’ Crossbones, used to be a seasonal in the Heavy Seas’ beer lineup but this year it was moved to a year-round offering. On the nose Crossbones is full of a fruity citrus aroma that is very inviting. With each sip Crossbones gives off a great tasting combination. The hops and floral notes are upfront which followed the malt and then the bitter citrus ending. Every time I enjoy a session I am always impressed with the brew’s flavor impact yet the low ABV; with a 4.5% ABV Crossbones is no exception.
Because of the low ABV yet flavor profile session IPAs are great with any type of meal. Because Crossbones is my first brew in sometime I plan on drinking many, good thing for the low ABV, but when I get around to eating I plan on making maple and cayenne glazed chicken quarters. The maple syrup and cayenne paper should provide a sweet and spicy kick to pair with the hops and Crossbones’ flavor profile. So cheers to the weekend and me being back on the wagon.
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: Session IPA
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.5%
Bitterness (IBUs): 35
Color: Golden with some copper but looks like a crisp brew
Malt: Pale malt, Munich, Wheat, Caramalt, Carapils, Biscuit
Beer Review Stats
Beer Advocate: 80 and 80
Rate Beer: 68
