Probably the biggest challenge facing “veteran” craft brewers is balancing the continued production of the beers that built their brand with innovating to compete and meet the changing preferences of the market. Some brewers stubbornly refuse to change, even if they need to lower production due to decreased demand. Some have completely changed their brand, new beers and new artwork to meet the changing culture. While I can understand this approach, I like it when I brewery balances their classic beers with new releases. Even with this approach it can be tough to attract the interest of the fickle beer drinkers that are constantly chasing the next big thing. For that reason it has to be exciting when a veteran brewery makes a new beer that starts to generate some buzz. A good example is Wally, the New England style IPA from Wachusett Brewing Company. This juicy hop bomb has earned the praise of a number of local beer drinkers, and it held it’s own in the Mass Brew Bros blind New England style IPA tasting. Wachusett Wally is available year round on draft and in 12 oz. cans.
Wachusett Wally pours a hazy light orange with a solid white head. The scent is a big hit of fruity hops, citrus and tropical fruit. This is very much a New England style IPA. Tons of hop flavor, notes of grapefruit, papaya and tangerine along with a very soft bitterness. The malts round out the flavor with hints of bread dough and honey. Wally is medium bodied, smooth and drinks easy for 7% ABV. The finish is crisp with some lingering hop flavor. Wachusett Wally is a delicious beer, if you like the New England style of IPAs you’ll definitely enjoy this. Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Previous Wachusett Reviews:
Wachusett Milk Stout, Wachusett Larry DIPA, Wachusett Green Monsta IPA
Riverwalk Rangelight pours clear orange-yellow with a large white head. The aroma is solidly hoppy, citrus fruit and resin. This strikes a balance between the New England and West Coast IPAs. There is a ton of hop flavor, grapefruit, orange, mango and pine along with a little bitter kick. This is balanced by a little malt, touches of bread dough and honey. Rangelight is light bodied and easy to drink, not too boozy at 5.8% ABV. The finish is crisp with some lingering hop flavor. This is another very strong beer from Riverwalk, it can hold it’s own in the very competitive stable of local IPAs. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Idle Hands Proeme pours hazy light yellow with a massive white head. The aroma is a mixture of floral hops with fruity and spicy yeast. The yeast leads the flavor, notes of apple, peppercorn and bubblegum. This is complemented by the hops, hints of lemon, grass and orange. The malts round out the flavor with touches of cereal and bread crust. Proeme is light and very easy to drink, sessionable at 5.0% ABV. The finish is crisp and dry with some lingering hop and yeast flavor. I really enjoyed Proeme, the flavors work well together. It’s nice to have Idle Hands beers back into the regular rotation! Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Springdale Solid State pours hazy straw yellow with a small white head. The scent is mostly from the yeast, funky and fruity. The yeast also leads the flavor, hints of apricot, pear, clove and the distinct barnyard flavor imparted by Brettanomyces. There is some malt, notes of whole grain bread and cereal. A touch of earthy and grassy hops round out the flavor. Solid State is very light and easy to drink, and an ideal session beer at 4.0% ABV. The finish is dry with some lingering yeast flavors. Springdale Solid State is a very nice beer, it balances flavor and drinkability and showcases the Brettanomyces. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Springdale Kriek Mythology pours deep maroon with a solid white head. The scent is fruity and acidic, you know this is a sour beer before you even take a sip. The flavors imparted by the barrel aging take the lead, cherry, oak and vanilla. The fermentation adds lemon and sour apple along with a tart bite. Kreik Mythology is light bodied and drinkable, not too boozy at 6.5% ABV. The finish is dry with lingering cherry flavor and sour pucker. I won’t claim to be an expert on the kriek style, so take this rating with a grain of salt, but I enjoyed this beer, flavorful and the sourness is present but not overpowering. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Lamplighter Watchman pours murky dark yellow with a solid white head. The aroma is a big hit of fruity hops. The flavor is also hop forward, notes of cantaloupe, white grape and lime but minimal bitterness. this is balanced by a mild malt backbone, hints of wheat bread and crackers. Watchman has a light body, smooth drinkability and is sessionable at 4.8% ABV. It has a crisp finish with lingering hop flavor. The hops in Watchman caught me off guard at first, they impart a pretty different flavor profile compared to many popular IPAs, but I really enjoyed the beer. Different and definitely worth trying! Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Allagash Coolship Red pours deep pink-red with a small white head. The aroma is fruity and funky, lots of scents from the fermentation and barrel aging process. The wild yeast takes center stage in the flavor too, solidly tart with notes of pear, sour apple and barnyard. The raspberries complement this flavor, you get plenty of the fruit without overpowering the flavors imparted by the microbes. Coolship Red is light and easy to drink, not too boozy at 6.2% ABV. The finish has some acidity along with lingering fruit flavor. This is a really good beer, my taste for sour beers is a little slow in developing but this is complex and delicious. I am glad that I bought multiple bottles. Hoppy Boston score: 4.75/5.
Down the Road Seventh Star pours a clear bright orange with a massive white head. The scent is full of hops, citrus and floral aromas. The flavor is also hop forward, notes of grapefruit, pine, grass and melon along with a solid bitter bite. This is balanced by a solid malt backbone, touches of bread dough and honey. Seventh Star is medium bodied and smooth, not too boozy at 6.5% ABV. It has a crisp and clean finish with lingering hop flavor and bite. Down the Road Seventh Star is a solid West Coast style IPA, plenty of flavor and easy to drink. Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.