Laser Show Vermont Style IIPA

When the Stout Man has a head cold, reviewing beer becomes a challenge. However, the Bitter World doesn’t stop turning just because I have a head cold, so the answer is to select huge beers with massive aromatics. Enter Laser Show Vermont Style IIPA. From Left Field Brewery, Toronto’s baseball-mad beer maker, Laser Show is an 8% Imperial India Pale Ale. Sold in 650mL bombers, this is a beer to be undertaken solo only with caution and when one has a pretty clear schedule.

The beer is hazy and has an orange-gold tone. Jumbo notes of tropical fruit and sticky hops waft through a light, off-white haze. The flavour is rich in the juicy, exotic fruit notes that characterize a Vermont-style IPA—pineapple, guava, and loads of citrus.

Bitter and fairly strong, Laser Show packs a nice amount of flavour into a relatively boozy package. I’ve certainly had more assertive Vermont-styles, but this one has some chops of its own. I’d have liked to taste more bold and resinous hops in this number to justify that first “I” in IIPA, as well as a bit more booze—bump this up to 9%+ and I’d have been more impressed.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.