Citradelic Single Hop IPA

Calgary, Alberta's Big Rock Brewery is the outfit responsible for Citradelic Single Hop IPA, a 6% alcohol, 67 IBU ale that pours with a healthy, hazy copper colour. The 473mL can featured a weird hop cheerleader and the beer within poured with a thin quilt of off-white head. This India pale is brewed with the famed Citra hop.

This beer had an oddly mild aroma characterized with lemongrass and citrus notes. The flavour had quite a bit more pop, but it was still curiously mild. Citrus elements and hops were the main drivers of this ale.

Having sampled a few other single hop IPAs that feature Citra (see Karma Citra, which I think I reviewed too harshly at 7.5, for example), I won't pretend that Citradelic is the best of the bunch, but it is pretty tasty. It was an enjoyable enough beverage, but not as assertively hoppy or juicily fruity as I'd have liked.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Aequus Nox

Aequus Nox was strongly recommended to me by one of the extremely knowledgeable bartenders at the always excellent Bar Hop. From one of Ontario's more under appreciated breweries, the Burlingtonian Nickel Brook Brewing Co., A.N. was billed as a single-hopped North American IPA. At 6.6%, my 18oz pour of draught was just what I needed on a bright and cheery spring afternoon. My pint was cloudy and brassy. It showed up with a meager layer of off-white head and smelling of tropical fruit--pineapple and passion fruit. I'd love to know what the single hop is that made this stuff tick--the bartender thought it was something from New Zealand, but couldn't recall which.

Crisp and fresh, the mouthfeel was pleasant but definitely a tad thin. However, the flavour was all kinds of agreeable--very fruity, with a dry bitter streak to dry things out. There was a touch of something a bit swampy at the extreme back end that didn't quite gel with the rest of the vibe, but this was a minor complaint.

Aequus Nox is another quality entry from Nickel Brook. It bursts with fruit and hops and I liked it a lot. It'd be lovely if Nickel Brook would bottle this stuff for regular sale.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.