Having recently discovered I have a taste for IPAs, I’ve been curiously testing out variations. Sierra Nevada’s Hazy IPA pack, with its bright colors and loud designs naturally caught my eye, and in this pack, the Dank Little Thing Hazy IPA really stood out.
As you pour it into a glass, you can instantly notice the cloudy haze that is the namesake of this style of IPA. It sits in the glass a deep golden yellow with a crips white foam drifting atop, and as the beer settles, a heavy aroma of citrus and earthy tones of hops resin permeates the senses. This beer is begging you to drink it.
The name Dank Little Thing, I can only imagine, is derived from the aroma of this brew, which singles it out from others. Even though it is a dry-hopped beer, the aroma paints the picture of a plump, freshly harvested hops bud.
So, does the taste hold up to the presentation? Absolutely.
On the tongue, the brew is creamy and smooth, and if let to sit in the mouth, the citrus flavors are tender and soft with only the tingle of carbonation spicing it up. However, once swallowed, the beer releases its full flavor in a dynamic burst of mint and pine. Then, on the exhale, the piquancy subsides leaving only a refreshing minty aftertaste that brings to mind an evergreen forest on a crisp wintery day.
With the invigorating citrus aroma and flavor mingled with the bracing mint and pine flavors, this makes an excellent summer beverage that will both awaken and soothe the mind and body.