Noon Whistle Big Strike West Coast IPA

 Noon Whistle Big Strike West Coast IPA.

Hops, Centennial, Cascade, & Strata. 6.2% ABV. 

And here we have the first appearance in the Nib of a beer from Noon Whistle Brewing of Naperville, Illinois (and also Lombard, IL). Prior to this, the only thing I knew about Napervillle is that is hometown to actor/ comedian Bob Odenkirk. I make it my business to know things about Bob Odenkirk. Another thing I try to make my business is West Coast IPAs. This is the first non- NE IPA from this brewery, so I have to give it a go.

In Collaboration with Little Thistle Brewing of Rochester, Minnesota, a brewery I still haven’t been to. The name and label design is a tribute to bowling as a pinball machine or video game and may also allude to The Big Lebowski.

Not quite clear, golden hued, with a large and lasting ivory head.

In the nose: it’s got the hops in a abundance. Perfumey and pungent, dare I say dank? 

In the mouth: slight bitterness up front, a smidge of sweet and good slathering of citrus on the palate. And then along comes a touch of butter that does not belong. Citrus and pine are at play, orange and mango in the mix. But that flaw in the flavor ruins the experience. Lacking in bitterness, as well, and needs to be crisper, less malty. Drinkable, but not especially pleasant. 

I wanted to like this, but it fell severely short. 

This West Coast IPA is a collaboration with our friends at Little Thistle Brewing. We had such a great time bowling with them in Minnesota that we wanted to call our beer Big Strike! This beer perfectly showcases the fruity and citrus-forward oils in some of our favorite hops. Hopped with Centennial Cryo, Cascade Cryo, Strata, and Chinook this beer has ripe notes of peach, pineapple, nectarine, orange, grapefruit rind, and lemon. The big fruity notes are followed up with a balanced bitterness that feels like a Big Strike!