Moylan's Nor Cal IPA.

Moylan's is one of those breweries that I only got to read about on places like The Full Pint because they don't distribute so far east. California is full of these mythical breweries that are brewing killer IPAs, diverse flavors and pushing the envelope on styles, and that sort of craftsmanship helps the evolution and growth of craft brewing. Moylan's is on my list of breweries to visit but I couldn't resist have a taste.

This bomber is yet another from my BevMo haul. The Nor Cal IPA has a slew of awards from the CA State Fair and World Beer Championships, first one dating back to 1997. For a beer to be in a lineup for so long is a good sign, and along with multiple awards, indicates consistent quality. Label indicates it's dry hopped with two varieties. No doubt, this is a solid IPA. The hop intensity is great without being an imperial so the body is light as well. And a light body leans towards good drinkability. I found this substantial IPA to be quite drinkable on its own, and it'd go fine with a meal and not leave you feeling bloated. At 6.5%ABV, it's a bit high to be sessionable, but nevertheless, it's a great casual beer.

• Appearance: Typical, dark golden straw, moderate and persistent head.
• Smell: Resin-y hop aroma, foretelling solid bittering. Light on the florals but there's a bit of sweet melon.
• Taste: Classic west coast IPA. A bit maltier than Stone. Straight hop backbone with a long finish that doesn't dry out.
• Mouthfeel: Light without any residue. For such a strong hop profile, it's very nicely weighted. Feels and weighs like an IPA.
• Drinkability and Overall: This is a really solid, hoppy IPA. I dig. Hop intensity is nice without being muddled with too much malt or being blown out by raw bittering. Plenty of complexity for a straight IPA makes it enjoyable on its own or with some food.