Name: Tranquilizer
Brewer: The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. (Philippines)
Style: Specialty IPA: New England IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Review Year: 2021
Tranquilizer is the latest New England IPA from Tony Sindayen of The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. from Antipolo. This hazy beer was brewed with Galaxy, Simcoe, and Yellow Sub 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
Hazy straw; white head with excellent retention. The nose unveiled moderately high rambutan aromas with a low blackberry hint. Bready and oaty scents were not far off from the noted fruit flavors. Medium-full-bodied, moderately low carbonation; mouthfeel was very soft and “pillowy” but a moderately low peppery “hop burn” was present. Strong zesty lemon, lanzones, semi-ripe mango, and some resiny impressions dominated the flavor profile. These flavors were fortified by a bready malt backbone of medium intensity. The balance favored the bitterness at a moderately high level relative to the residual sweetness noted a notch below medium. The aftertaste lingered long with that peppery “hop burn,” resin, and zesty lemon peel.
THE VERDICT
Tranquilizer is a refreshing, zesty, and slightly bitter New England IPA that showcased a very soft mouthfeel. Aside from the mentioned mouthfeel, we think the appearance, hop-malt balance, and level of dryness are also strong points of this beer. First, the color, haziness, and head retention of this beer are spot on. Second, the bready malt character was distinct yet appropriately supportive in both aroma and flavor despite the hop-centric nature of this style. This trait seems to be more of an exception rather than the norm in contemporary examples and is a reminder that the beverage drinkers are consuming is still beer and not juice. Lastly, the dryness of this beer (medium-low residual sweetness) appears to have contributed positively to its drinkability.
Based on our experience, the noted “hop burn” or “hop bite” is something associated with very fresh, heavily-hopped New England IPAs or Hazy IPAs. Drinkers like us that prefer less of that “hop bite” could maybe let this beer sit in the fridge a week. The bitterness could still be toned down that could give way to more of that juiciness in our opinion. Overall, very good.
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The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co.
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