Widmer Upheaval IPA
Alcohol by Volume: 7.0%
Look for this beer and more at Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown.

Intro:
“It’s a new dawn for the Northwest IPA,” Widmer Brothers proclaims in the press insert that accompanied the box of beer that arrived on my doorstep. Despite the heady aroma of the pungent dried hops that were clumped throughout the box, it’s safe to say I was skeptical of Widmer’s proclamation. Widmer does a nice job with their special releases, including several memorable IPAs over the past couple of years (Deadlift & Full Nelson come to mind). But, I had yet to be truly wowed by any of their previous hop-focused beers. Would this one be different?

Description:
Pours a slightly hazy medium golden with big head. Big citrus hops come through with a bit of sugary malt; there is lots of grapefruit and maybe a bit of melon. The citrus hops just keep going in the flavor, taking center stage all the way through. More grapefruit and melon combine for a hop profile that is right up my alley. The malt is mellow and subtle, but it lays a solid enough base to carry the hops. A moderate bitterness isn’t over the top, and the beer is quite dry throughout; I get just a bit of sweetness. There is some minor astringency from the hops in the finish, but not enough to put a dent in how much I enjoy this beer. It would benefit from a bit more malt sweetness, but I love it how it is.

I’m not sure I can get on board with the “new dawn for the Northwest IPA” proclamation, but I’d sure as hell buy a few sixers of this. Assuming it is as reasonably priced as most Widmer six-packs, this instantly becomes a go-to for me.

This hits the market today, so keep an eye out for it. I’ve had a hard time finding distribution details on this beer, but I believe it will be available year-round in six-packs.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 Booyas
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Commercial Description/Press Release:

Brewed with 6 different hop varieties and 3 different grains, including wheat, Upheaval will be a fitting tribute, not only to the bold Northwest-style IPA, but to Kurt and Rob Widmer’s unapologetic attitude in legacy of innovation.

With more than two pounds of hops per barrel, Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA unleashes a huge hop flavor and aroma with serious bitterness and a balanced finish. Brewed with wheat, the result is a hazy, bold IPA that’s Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetic. Uncompromised.

In the interest of full disclosure to satisfy the FTC regulations, this review was of a sample bottle received from the brewery.