Lucid Foto I.P.A.

Lucid Foto IPA, Lucid Brewing Company, Minnetonka, MN, U.S.A. 6.5% ALC by Vol.

Transparent amber appearance. Slim white head.

Pleasantly bitter nose, grapefruit and pine needle, spritz of lemon, peel of orange. A nicely hoppy aroma.

Taste: Massive attack on initial entry. Great big bitter load deployed on the palate, matched with earthy malt flavors. The aroma brought the promise of a possible West Coast -style IPA, and the taste is giving us more of an English-style. No problem there, just a bit of a shake-up. Most West Coast IPAs may look and smell like this, but they don't taste like this. Again, I don't find a fault, but the more English-style malt profile may throw others off expecting something "cleaner" or with more tropical fruit hop notes.

There's some grainy tones and some sweet ones coming from the malt, and just a bit of butter. A hint of diacetyl (maybe?), quickly smothered by hop bitterness. Hops add spice to this, and a good deal of coverage.

Not a bad beer, but not about to become a favorite. I'd drink it again, though, in the right place and time.

On the right side of the label, a strange character holds a weird camera, and we read this: "Picture supreme happiness and have a snapshot of this West Coast IPA. Post a picture of you tipping this FOTO on our Facebook and it might make you hotter looking than you already are."