Steel Toe IPA

 Steel Toe IPA. 6.5 % ABV.

Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN.

Steel Toe has their perennial favorite, Size 7, as well as the double IPA, Sticker Fight, and now we have a new one in cans, IPA, which is an IPA called IPA made out of IPA-like ingredients. Yes, they could be more forthcoming about the contents and the character, but let's just find out for ourselves, now, shall we?

Slightly hazy, bright golden hue, large slab of white foam atop. 

In the nose: Big citrus, large lemon and orange, a pinch of pine. Enticing. 

In the mouth: Starts juicy, then bitter, finishing off the palate on a dry note. Light sweetness butts up against bitter. Grapefruit, lemon, and tangerine. Veers just near to tropical, but sweet notes never overcome the bitter, and bitterness is much lower than Size 7. 

I feel that what we have here is a Steel Toe attempt to create some kind of a hazy IPA, without going too soft. The bitterness isn't harsh in this one, more mellow, easier on the palate for those who think an IPA should be dainty, and wear it's hair in curls and lick lollypops and play hopscotch in the park with all it's little friends. 

They should give it a more suitable name, though, something to flag it so all of those drinkers can go flock to it and let the rest of us have our Size 7. 

Despite all that, this is one is straight up delicious. I'm digging it big time (currently on cans 4 and 5 of the 6-pack.)