Living in California has many advantages: warm weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, and of course proximity to some excellent craft beer. Some of the most well known craft breweries call the Golden State home including Stone, Russian River, Anderson Valley, and Port Brewing Co. Beer produced in our home state will always be near and dear to our hearts, but we would be foolish to ignore the brews being kicked out in the rest of the country.
Unfortunately, the difficulty of distributing beer nationwide makes it impractical for some breweries to get the beer in the wanting hands of West Coast drinkers. Fortunately, craft beer enthusiast love to share their favorite local suds and ample opportunities exist for trades. Founders Brewing Co. has been consistently ranked as one of the country’s best breweries and, luckily for the Hapa’s crew, we have friends within their distribution network to trade with.
Appearance
Pours a slightly hazy bright amber with a hint or coppery orange. A white head rises to a finger and a half and leaves thin lacing.
Aroma
A burst of floral hop aromas. Citrus notes of grapefruit, fresh pine, and damp grass bring to mind a forrest clearing. Bready malt just manages to peak through along with a faint caramel character.
Taste
Hops lead the charge without being overpowering or harshly bitter. Citrus of the nose is reflected on the tongue in the form of orange rind. Notes of other fruit like apricot and pineapple are also present. Hop bitterness is nicely balanced by a solid malt backbone that includes caramel and toffee.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied beer with a mild level of carbonation. Finish is dry with very little of the 7.2% ABV coming through.
Drinkability
With Founders Brewing Co. focusing their distribution east of the Mississippi, we envision many more trades with our East Coast friends. An excellent all-around IPA; one that can be enjoyed by both seasoned hop heads and craft beer newbies. Who wants to make a trade? We’ve got a cellar full of great West Coast beers! Overall grade for Founders Brewing Co. Centennial IPA: A-
Up next on Tuesday Tasting: Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout