Name: Gypsy Road
Brewers: The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co., BrewedInPH (Philippines)
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.2%
Review Year: 2020
Tony Sindayen of The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. teams up with Philippine craft beer advocate, BrewedInPH for Gypsy Road, an American IPA brewed with Pacific Northwestern hops, Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as an American IPA (21A) in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Gypsy Road is a slightly hazy pale gold beer with a foamy white head. The nose dons an unusual yet fascinating aroma profile of fragrant mangosteen, lychee, rambutan, with accents of onion leeks, mint, basil, and even ginger. BrewedInPH must idolize Mario Batali so much.
This American IPA is medium-light in body, while the carbonation is appropriately medium. However, the mouthfeel is slightly watery. Flavors are lightly pleasant and balanced: orange peel, grapefruit with hints of lychee, ginger, and indistinct herbal undertones. Malt is notable but also light, grainy and raisin-like. The familiar light basil and lychee make their mark but do not leave a lasting impression. A slightly puckering sensation is noted in the aftertaste.
THE VERDICT
Gypsy Road is a refreshing, flavorful American IPA with a uniquely “fresh” aroma profile and low bitterness. The flavor and palate profile point to a beer brewed for easy drinking nights (like a Session IPA) or something you can even drink while cooking a dish based on a recipe by Mario Batali. Some people might find the herbal and ginger-like accents unusual, while for others, these characters might be the perfect combination to pair this beer with a hot bowl of phở or Vietnamese shrimp lettuce wrap. Future versions could have a more robust mouthfeel but might be at the expense of the current drinkability.
