This year has seen a number of new breweries open across the state, some with fully equipped taprooms and others as contract brands, making and packaging their beer at other breweries and relying on distribution. My life is completely crazy right now so my brewery visits have been limited, and many of the new taproom-only breweries are still on my “need to visit soon” list (that list has gotten very long over the last couple years). The advantage for the breweries using the contract model is that the beer is usually easier to find, so I’ve been able to try a few new releases. One beer from a new contract brewery that I recently tracked down is Things We Don’t Say, a New England style DIPA from Wandering Soul Brewing. If you haven’t read Wandering Soul’s backstory you really should, just have a few tissues ready. Wandering Soul Things We Don’t Say is brewed with Ella, Simcoe and Cascade hops and is available on a rotating basis on draft and in 16 oz cans.
Wandering Soul Things We Don’t Say pours murky orange with a small white head. The aroma features a solid burst of fruity and floral hops. The flavor is also very hop forward, notes of mango, tangerine, passion fruit and cut grass along with a very mild bitter bite. A solid malt backbone contributes some balance along with hints of whole grain bread and cereal. Things We Don’t Say is full-bodied but drinks very smooth for a beer with 8.1% ABV. The finish is crisp and leaves a coating of hop flavor on the tongue that keeps you coming back for more. This is a very good DIPA and a very strong start for a new brewery, I look forward to seeing what else they have in store in the future! Hoppy Boston score: 4.5/5.
Hoppy Boston 
