It’s been about a year since I reviewed Lake of Bays Brewing Company‘s Top Shelf Classic Lager, the official beer of the NHLAA. And, though Top Shelf Classic Lager is a great beer to drink while watching a game, lagers aren’t generally my style. I prefer the bitterness of a well-hopped IPA. So, I was happy to find that Lake of Bays also brews a 10 Point English IPA. I picked up a 473-mL tall can from my local LCBO, and, though I don’t hunt, I look forward to downing this 10 pointer.
Lake of Bays Brewing Company: 10 Point English IPA – First Sip
10 Point English IPA pours a transparent amber colour with a thin layer of foam at the top of my pint glass. I smell a pleasant aroma of citrus as I take my first sip, and enjoy the fizzy mouthfeel that this brew’s lively bubbles provides. There are malty undertones to this beer’s otherwise crisp and hoppy flavour. Rather than overpowering me with its intense hops flavour, though, this beer manages to retain a refreshing and thirst-quenching quality. This brew doesn’t change much from initial flavour to aftertaste. Instead, its flavour is upfront, revealing itself immediately rather than evolving over time.
Lake of Bays Brewing Company: 10 Point English IPA – Last Sip
This is a tasty beer, but at 6% ABV in 473-mL cans, this is a relatively strong beer. Crisp and refreshing as it is, this is a great brew for a barbecue on a hot day. But, with its malty undertones, 10 Point English IPA also makes a good winter warmer.
I know I say it a lot, but, this is a great beer to drink while enjoying some salty pub food. Its bitter flavour stacks up well beside savoury foods. Also, if you’re not generally an IPA drinker, this is a good one to try. Unlike a brew such as Flying Monkeys Brewing Company’s Smashbomb Atomic IPA, this brew’s flavour is subtle rather than in-your-face.
