Legend Brewing Co. Hop Fest (13th) Anniversary Ale

Well..., if anybody bothered to read my Legend Brewing Company ESB review, you'd think I was rather keen on the brewery. And I am, to a certain extent. But it seems like for every two steps forward they take, it's one step back. This IPA is almost a full two steps backward, to be honest.

But I think they bit off a bit more than they can chew with this one. Yes, Simcoe and Amarillo are the "hip" hops these days -- but both are too new to necessarily use willy-nilly in any ol' brew. What they're calling a "sturdy barley malt background" is no where firm enough for those hop varieties, IMO. Too much Munich = weak and flaccid, I say. And the use (over-use?) of soft and way-too-delicate-for-this-sort-of-beer Aromatic malts is more of a detriment to the beer than a benefit. Too much toffee and caramel in this one for my liking. Yeah, it looks nice and red, but comes across too sweet and mushy, "metric $#&? load of hops" or no.....

This is no drain-pour, but just not a very good beer. Congrats to Legend for 13 years of brewing.... But the beer made to recognize the occasion? Half-way between an "eh" and a "shite".
//TB