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