While in Milwaukee again, we are going to get into a beer at John’s Hawks in downtown Milwaukee. I have to say this bar has a great beer selection and awesome food. It is a hidden gem in Milwaukee and I hope more people find this bar soon. I could not find any information on this brewery. I found the brewery site with the same name but this beer is not listed. I do not want to give wrong information. Let us get into this great beer.
The color is a hazel yellow without a head on the beer. The smell is a fresh grass and more earthly to the beer. The taste is a wheaty to yeast with a sweet carbonation earthly to the beer. The aftertaste is not really there but fate. It is a pretty drinkable beer for wheat and IPA fans.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
Legend has it the Ghostrider roams the high-desert seeking revenge on those who stole his recipe for the perfect IPA. … we might be in trouble.
Here is a description from a beer blogger like myself (www.utahbeer.blogspot.com):
It’s looking to be a White Xmas this year at Wasatch Brewing. Yesterday we had the debut of Switch, a Port barrel aged Belgian style Witbier. Today we have its cousin, an aggressively hopped – hybrid beer called Ghostrider White IPA.
First of all it has one of the best looking labels to adorn a local bottle in quite some time. Inside is a beer style that’s becoming very popular in the U.S., the White IPA.
At it’s most basic, a White IPA is a beer that mixes the hop-character and brewing techniques of an India Pale Ale with the wheat base and spice additions of the refreshing Belgian witbier.
GhostRider pours a cloudy, light straw color with a nice sudsy white cap. The nose is full of citrus with hints of wheat and coriander. The beginning of each sip starts out like a wheat beer with notes of biscuit, coriander, lemongrass, and orange peel. Mid palate big citrusy tangerine hops “pop” adding a bit of bitterness to the back of the tongue. Swallowing the beer releases more of the soft and grainy wheat flavors with an emphasis on coriander & cloves in the finish. 6.0% ABV in 12 oz. bottles
This is a nice twist on an IPA. It takes many of the traditional characteristics of a Witbier and combines them with an intense hop character. The flavors come together quite nicely to make this easy to drink, smooth, enjoyable beer.
In closing, I am not a huge fan of this new trend in the IPA sub categories. I am hoping it is a trend because White India Pale Ales are growing pretty fast. There is new White IPA popping on the market everyday. I have to say I did enjoy this beer very much. It was not over the top with yeast or wheaty taste. It was pretty balance. I have to say I pick up more hints of the hops. I would add this to my line up if it was available in Chicago. I recommend this beer if you can find it in your market. I know this is not available in the Chicago market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
Cheers!
Bill DJ Weiser
Email: djweiser13@comcast.net
Twitter: @djweiser