Review - New England Brewing Company's Sea Hag IPA
"This one's a beauty; a rich and full bodied India Pale Ale with complex malt character blended with cascade and noble hops. The end result is a beer that satisfies the "hop head" out there and won't chase away the newcomer. Drink it. It's good." -- New England Brewing Company
For whatever reason, the beer pours with a massive head, so as we wait for it to subside, we note a medium amber color with a very frothy, billowy off-white head that produces very sticky lacing. Topping off the glass presents a root beer float appearance that looks very inviting. The aroma, piercing through the thick head, gives us piney hop notes with sticky resins, fresh pine needles, and wet grass. First taste is surprisingly sweet, giving a buttercream taste that quickly moves to a light bitterness with a subtle bite. Light to medium bodied, it has a creamy mouthfeel with a slighty dry bite, although it's more in line with a British IPA, with its subtle hop profile.
From the massive head to the subtle hop aroma, it's a nice IPA but comes in more like a straight pale ale. Despite that, it's a solid beer and we like the can.
Reviewed on October 18th, 2007.
