Hamilton Haul--In the Palms

Grain & Grit Small Batch Beer makes a lactose IPA that they call In the Palms. In addition to lactose, this Hamiltonian ale is brewed with oats, mango, and pineapple. It’s a 6%, 90 IBU(!) ale that they sell in 473mL cans.

In the Palms has a succulent nose rich in tropical notes—particularly mango, which sets the tempo. The flavour is quirky and interesting, with juicy, tangy fruit notes. The mouthfeel is, as you’d expect from an ale with lactose and oats, silky smooth. This all culminates in a back end that is undeniably bitter, though it certainly doesn’t taste like 90 IBUs to me (but I’m not a spectrophotometer).

In the Clouds IPA with Lactose is a complicated little brew. It’s juicy, tart, bitter, and smooth, with an oddball flavour. It’s not a beer that’d see me grabbing a second or a third in an evening, as it’s a bit too tangy, but it is a beer that I’d gladly reach for one of any day.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.