Perusing the menu at a new-to-me brewery and seeing a beer that was ranked one of the Top 25 Beers in the World by DRAFT Magazine means I cannot not order one. Red Swingline by Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs is a fun and funky twist on a session IPA.
The beer had a surprising lack of head for an IPA. However, it was poured gently from the bottle tableside so as to not disturb the yeast sediment. One sniff of the beer revealed another reason for the lack of froth while also revealing the beer’s true character. With big aromas of honey, tangerine, and apricot and a surprising lack of IPAness, the nose prepares the mouth for an assault from funk, not hops.
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I definitely expected more hop character from an IPA with 100 “original” IBUs, but I was in no way disappointed. I, in fact, loved it! It’s a perfect blend of sour, funky, peppery, and oaky to more than make up for a lack of hoppy. It’s also the perfect start to what promises to be an amazing road-trip.
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Cheers,
Alex
Outdoor Friendliness (have on a patio, not the trail)….5/10
Aroma (vibrant and fruity)….8/10
Flavor (funky, sour, fruity, and fun)….10/10
Style-Appropriateness (not an IPA, but I am sure they did not intend for it to be)….Not Rated
Alex writes a beer review every other Friday. Two weeks ago he reviewed the Swami’s IPA
