Flight Friday: Hop Quest, Cold IPA
Coppertail is not the biggest, but definitely one of the big boys and more well-established distributing breweries in Tampa Bay. Out of all of the legacy larger craft breweries in the Tampa area, Coppertail is probably my favorite of them. Coppertail Brewing, situated in Tampa Bay's Ybor City district, has become the backbone of a bustling Ybor City beer scene. The taproom features a captivating two-story industrial-style setting, complete with a window providing a glimpse into their sealed-off fermentation and brewing area. Moreover, it conveniently sits just a stone's throw away from my workplace.
Established in 2014, Coppertail has secured its place as a local favorite, with its Flagship IPA, Free Dive, and core beer: Belgian-style Tripel, Unholy, gracing the menus of numerous bars and restaurants throughout the area. Coppertail features a kitchen alongside their taproom and two stories with two bars full of delicious beer waiting to serve you all of their delicious beer innovations. If you are a local and haven't checked them out, or visiting the area, I encourage everyone to make this brewery part of your exploratory efforts through Tampa Bay! Read more about Coppertail here: https://coppertailbrewing.com/whatiscoppertail
Today I want to focus on a beer that I had for the first time on a recent visit to their taproom alongside my fellow co-workers. While perusing the menu, a particular beer caught my attention—a brew I had yet to experience: their Hop Quest: Cold IPA. Subsequently, my research revealed that the Hop Quest is an ongoing series, encompassing various iterations. Among them, they have crafted a hazy variation alongside this remarkable Cold IPA version. This Cold IPA, with its extraordinary taste, has swiftly claimed the title of my go-to summer-time crushable beer. Its exceptional quality has left me eagerly anticipating Coppertail's future creations, as this particular rendition has truly transcended anything I could expect. I have been eager with anticipation to share with you this Friday edition, so let's dive into Flight Friday!
Appearance:
Light gold, bordering on straw color with transparent clarity. This beer had great head formation and retention. This beer to me just exudes freshness.
Aroma:
In perfect harmony with its fresh appearance, the captivating aroma of this beer permeates the room, catching your attention from afar. My first encounter with this beer took place in the Coppertail taproom. Right from the moment it was poured, the Hop Quest's abundant aromas were palpable. Bursting with the intense essence of ripe grapefruit and pineapple, and aromatic pine, it exudes a remarkable vibrancy that is very inviting.
Tasting notes:
This beer embodies a remarkable crispness, cleanliness, and refreshing quality, accompanied by a boldly assertive yet impeccably balanced bitterness that defines its character. Among the vibrant medley of tropical and citrus fruit flavors, grapefruit and pine take center stage for me, while the pineapple, detectable on the nose, lingers subtly in the background. Any malt-derived flavors present in this beer are definitely overshadowed by the hop character and bitterness. The pine aromas that were strong and present in the aroma mingle well with the assertive bitterness on the back end of the palate. I really want to emphasize the fresh and light, crisp mouthfeel of this beer. As dubbed by many taprooms nowadays, the IPL (India Pale Lager), this beer truly does drink like an assertively bitter lager, and it keeps you going back for that next sip so frequently. I believe that part of the beer's bitterness arose from its chilled state after being refrigerated for an extended duration. However, I noticed a subtle decrease in bitterness and a delightful, yet slight, emergence of melon and orange characteristics on the palate as the beer gently warmed up. The predicament lies in the fact that this beer's medium-light body and sheer delightfulness make it incredibly tempting to indulge in endless sips, often leading to a missed opportunity to let it gradually warm up and discovered those other nuanced flavors. This is my favorite warm-weather beer at the moment, and I'm giving it a 9.9/10, deducting .1 because I can't have it every day! Cheers!
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