It seems that over the past year since I went back to school to get a degree in Urban Planning, that my minor has developed into something to do with American government. It started out that I took an Intro to American Government Class in my 2nd semester, simply because in reading the syllabus it looked like it would give me a good basis for my citizenship test next year! I was right it seems, and part of that class was learning about the Constitution and it’s amendments; two obviously stood out as having a profound effect on my life in the USA – #18 & #21.

Their numbers also make them super easy for me to remember where they fall in the order of things. #18 Beginning of Prohibition: 18 is the legal drinking age in Australia & #21 End of Prohibition: 21 is the legal drinking age here Yay for stupid memory tricks!

So, it’s obvious where 21st Amendment Brewing got its name; but what about their beer?

I picked up the “Brew Free! Or Die IPA”, an American Style India Pale Ale, from my first order from Oaktree Wines – great deals by the way – at least for us Floridians who want to try stuff we can’t get here

Pours a hazy golden orange-yellow into the glass, and as the photo proves, produces a significantly lovely and fluffy off-white head. Leaves nice sticky lacing down the inside of the glass. I have to mention, that for some reason I expected a less cloudy beer to pour out of a can; maybe that’s just residual macro-beer brain from my less crafty days?

Anyhoo, the nose on this beer is a shocker! A hop-filled monstrosity of an aroma; six different hops went into the making of this beer, with Warrior being the main bittering hop. I should have known that Warrior was the bittering hop by the bloody nose it left me with after sticking it in the glass! It’s citrusy, resiny and spicy with a delicious smelling syrupy maltiness.

The taste is of sticky resiny hops with a good dash of grapefruit and a great malt backbone – definitely something fruity sweet in the malt profile – pineapple perhaps? The mouthfeel is nice and not too heavy, which definitely lends itself to the drinkability; it also finishes nice and dry for something that has such a distinct maltiness.

Overall, I like this IPA quite a bit. B+

ABV:     7%

IBU:     70

SERVING STYLE:     12oz can