Name: Bright Idea
Brewer: Curriculum Brewing (Philippines)
Style: Specialty IPA: New England IPA
ABV: 6.1%
Review Year: 2021
Bright Idea is an “Oat Cream IPA” from Jeff Phillips of Curriculum Brewing from Manila, Philippines. Aside from lactose and oats, this beer also features Sabro and Ekuanot hops.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA: New England IPA (21B) in the context of the provisional guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) for the said beer style. The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Pours hazy straw with a well-formed white head. The primary aromas of ripe peach and mango on the nose are accentuated by floral and cantaloupe impressions. Medium-full-bodied, moderate carbonation, soft mouthfeel. Like the aroma, ripe peach, mango, cantaloupe, and a pleasant floral character were also noted as flavors. These vibrant flavors were accompanied by a moderately oaty and bready malt backbone. Moderate residual sweetness, which was likely from the lactose, enhanced the ripe fruitiness of the flavors initially mentioned; bitterness was a notch below medium. The quartet of flavors also lingered into the aftertaste alongside soft hop bitterness and a slightly bready touch.
THE VERDICT
Bright Idea is a hazy IPA that highlighted vibrant and juicy fruit aromas and flavors. This “Oat Cream IPA” is slightly sweeter than your typical New England IPA or Hazy IPA due to the lactose addition. However, said sweetness enhanced the ripe fruity flavors of this beer and was not overpowering. Further, the addition of oats appeared to have given this beer a softer mouthfeel relative to the other beers of this style. In our opinion, Bright Idea is another excellent work from Jeff Phillips.
Related Reviews:
Curriculum Brewing
Beers From the Philippines
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