BEER REVIEW: Northbound IPA – Blaze Brewing Company – Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford is really an up and coming city. The two craft breweries in the city are a key contributor to the city’s growth. Blaze Brewing is the newer of the two breweries in the city and is really exceptional. I had their Northbound IPA and here are my thoughts on the beer.

• Beer Name: Northbound
• Brewery: Blaze Brewing Company, Biddeford, ME
• Style: New England/Hazy IPA
• ABV: 7%

Social Media

Website: https://linktr.ee/Blazebrewingco?fbclid=IwAR3a0ZVVpZQUo-VBd_Dgk_6RMfHVpGjzTBbb30pK6gzqFeY-3ILPf-Xt3ZA 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blazebrewingcompany/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blazebrewingco/ 

Untappd: https://untappd.com/v/blaze-brewing-company/9890390 

Ratings

BeerAdvocate Rating: 4.17/5

Untappd Rating: 4.12/5

What the brewery says about the beer: “Northbound is our 7% IPA with Motueka! Brewed with a wheat heavy grist and then dry-hopped excessively with Motueka. This beer is an ode to summer. We all know how bad the traffic can get while you are headed up and down our great state. We wanted to make a beer that would be perfect to enjoy the second you got out of your car and are able to reunite with old friends. Northbound smells and tasks like fleshy limes, orange juice, and mixed citrus soda. Enjoy!” (From the Blaze Brewing Company Beer Menu)

Tasting Notes

Can or Draft: Draft at the brewery

Appearance: Light gold in color with a white head. It is incredibly hazy. 

Aroma: Moderately sweet aroma with heavy notes of citrus coming from the dry-hopping. 

Flavor: Strong hop flavor. Definitely get the orange juice, some nectarine and Sprite notes. The orange juice flavor becomes more prevalent as the beer warms up. 

Mouthfeel: Really soft with moderate carbonation. Very smooth. 

Finish: The intense hop flavor lingers on your tongue for a little while after you finish your sip. 

Overall Impression: I really enjoyed this beer. It is a dangerously crushable 7% IPA. The citrus notes from the hops make it really bright. It is a great summer beer. Even though it is aggressively hopped it is not bitter at all. This is likely due to the fact that most of the hops were added late in the brewing process or during dry-hopping. If this beer is on a menu I will likely be ordering it.