Down at Gordon Biersch, brewmaster Keith Jackson has once again stretched his brewer’s legs and conjured up a beer that’s quite the departure from the traditional German-style lagers typically found on GB’s taps. His latest offering is an IPA, born out of liquid alchemy and copious amounts of hops. Even better about this Brewer’s Select feature is that it is 100% Keith’s baby – designed, brewed, and nestled into the brewing schedule just for our drinking pleasure. And it is indeed quite a pleasure.
Your first moments with this beer will consist of multiple layers of aroma hovering above the rim of the glass. Notes of dry, crackery malts will reach you first, laying down a mild, toasty base before the hops announce their presence. You won’t have to wait long, however, as vapors of lemon zest and grapefruit peel swirl in above the malts, contributing gentle hints of citrus fruit as well as a slightly tropical bitterness. Hints of fresh pine work in from the sides, restrained but flexing enough hoppy muscle to leapfrog over the citrus qualities every now and then. Gentle floral notes make fleeting appearances, allowing notes of pure hop florality to grace your nose before fading back into the liquid cloud below. It’s a fresh and balanced IPA aroma that uses the hop as a favorite feature (not simply the only ingredient), unafraid – and happily willing – to highlight the malt characteristics just as eagerly as the hop strength.
On the tongue, it becomes clear that the aromatic hop indicators were holding back. An immediate bitterness arrives at the back of the mouth, revealing themselves as freshly sliced grapefruit and pine. Almost at the same time, mildly sweet malt notes set up shop at the front of the tongue, consisting of cracker and bread crust. As the drink progresses, the malts deepen a bit, contributing a mild, butter savoriness that allows a touch of nuttiness to swirl into the mix. By now, the hops have bloomed into citrus and tropical fruits – mainly lemon, peach, and passion fruit. These hop notes are subdued, more like the essence of these flavors rather than pure hop forward flavor. They also create omnipresent bitterness lingers from start to finish without demolishing the tongue. It finishes crisp with a slight bubble and just the faintest indications of alcohol strength, especially as you get deeper into your glass, ending with an aftertaste of tropical zest and faint bread crust. And though the hops are very much front and center through the entire drink, the malts are never far behind. Indeed, the balance between the hops and malts is a major aspect of this beer, countering and complimenting each other like the tastiest of yin-yangs.
Keith’s IPA is unlike anything else you’ll currently find at Gordon Biersch. Indeed, its uniqueness in such a lager-based brew environment helps it stand out and shine quite brightly, besides the fact that it’s damn tasty. An ever-present (and nicely potent) bitter edge ensures that you’ll enter an IPA state of mind from the get-go, while the multiple layers of both malt and hop creates a flavor-packed complexity that’ll satiate even the most intense of thirsts. Maintaining a zen-like balance between a noticeable malt profile and a considerable amount of hoppage, this brew is perfect for those looking for a bit more snap from their summer beers. If you’re a hophead looking for a tasty new beverage, head on down to Gordon Biersch and check out Keith’s IPA. You’ll need to be quick about it, though. It’s extremely limited and leaving the taps like it was liquid gold.
