Slumbrew, the research and development brand of the Somerville Brewing Company is still a relatively new entrant into the Massachusetts microbrew market. Slumbrew serves as an R&D lab and they produce all kinds of different beers. When one is chosen for mass production they contract out with other brewers as they can’t handle the volume necessary in their brewhouse. They announced the beginning of their operations back in the Fall of 2011 and I have been on the lookout for their beers in my local store ever since. Recently I caught a glimpse of one of their offerings, the Flagraiser IPA, during a long-awaited beer run.
Read on after the break for my impressions and whether I’ll be keeping slumbrew on my radar in the future.
Beer: slumbrew Flagraiser IPA
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.5%
IBU: 80
The Flagraiser IPA pours a hazy orange color with a fluffy, foamy head and light lacing on the glass. You can smell the hops right off the bat, mixed along with some orange and grapefruit citrus scents. The hops don’t overpower the smell though, it’s not an in your face hoppy IPA.
Everything that you can smell before drinking the beer is exactly what comes across when you take your first sip, the hops hit you first lightly, followed up by the citrus and fruit flavors for a nice finish. The carbonation is perfect and works very well for the beer. It does leave some of the bitterness of the hops behind to remind you that it is, in fact, an IPA but overall it comes together excellently.
Based upon my first impressions of slumbrew I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for their future offerings. The Flagraiser IPA is an enjoyable beer with a great mix of hops and fruitiness that come together to create something awesome.
slumbrew’s Flagraiser IPA – 9/10
drink on.