Craft Beer Review: Somerville Brewing, Slumbrew, Snow Angel Imperial IPA

I start every blog promising to do this more often!  For today's craft beer review I type in pure, unadulterated joy!
Brewed in Ipswich, MA by Somerville Brewing Company, (AKA 'Slumbrew') Snow Angel is understood as the first in a series of hop concentrated ales to be experimented with and produced by Slumbrew and I can only call it luck that I received a bottle! I must be sure to give a big thanks to Mike Duhgus Johnson of FestPics, for taking the time to send me both the bottle and the gorgeous glass (as well as a small slew of other Slumbrew branded items. 

Not often enough, but sometimes, I am lucky to know some great people willing to make the effort to trade beers so that we may all expand our knowledge of the craft world. This was just that case. And while I generally wait for the right time to taste a freshly traded/shipped beer, I could not in this case

This hoppy love sits in a 22oz bomber at 9% ABV and a strong 80 IBU's.

It poured a super clear copper with specks of yeast cells that have fallen out of suspension..  The white  head puffed right up to a nice 1.5 finger depth, was very creamy but faded quickly.  The lacing, while gentle and fine, held to the glass for the majority of the first glass.  

I found a great deal of citrus and stone fruit forwardness in the aroma of the hops, followed by smooth grainy malt aromas and an apparent sweetness emanating from what I assume is the alcohol content.

Bitter, chewy, wilted floral, and citrus hoppy was just the beginning. I thought that it had so many different elements, that I found it hard to concentrate, but fun to search through. It was a roller coaster of hops, bitters, fruits, malts, fruits, bitters, hops. 

The mouthfeel was medium bodied.  Chewy. Sweet. Bitter.  The carbonation started strong, but I was surprised by the fade.   The finish on the beer was lengthy especially in the hoppy bitterness. oh, and it is imperial, so I hope I spell the rest of this review correctly.

I hope you can also find a way to taste this beer! Cheers to my dear friends Jeff and Caitlin! Keep Brewing! Can't wait to try 'Naked Hopularity'

I'll be sure to share some findings more often and as always, Drink Good America! And for additional fun with beer, food and service, be sure to check out the other blog with Hunt Chef and I 

Slum It Up!
 - AGtheDir