Beer of the Weekend #896: Extinction Event (Nelson Sauvin + El Dorado)
The beer of the weekend is the latest edition of Confluence’s New England IPA series: Extinction Event (Nelson Sauvin + El Dorado), brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.
The color is cloudy golden amber, reminiscent of orange juice. A finger of beige, bubbly, buttery head settles slowly, leaving thin spots in the middle and a thick collar of foam.
The first whiff is fruity and citrusy with a pleasing mélange of orange, pineapple, and a touch of grapefruit. It has some earthy spice, too. There are also notes of bread and caramel sweetness.
The flavor is much more bitter and earthy than the aroma. Fruit and citrus are present, but they are overshadowed. However, pineapple does become more prominent as the beer continues to warm. It is reminiscent of mimosa. Thankfully, it lacks that yeast nastiness that is common with other New England IPAs, including the previous versions of Extinction Event, which is a huge plus. Perhaps it’s because the beer was released in the last two weeks and is super fresh. This version of the beer is much more aligned with my ideal profile of NEIPA than past versions, but it is still nothing spectacular.
Fun facts about EE(NS+ED):
• Style: New England IPA.
• Price: $11.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City. That is way too much for this beer.
• Alcohol content: 6.2 percent ABV.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
The color is cloudy golden amber, reminiscent of orange juice. A finger of beige, bubbly, buttery head settles slowly, leaving thin spots in the middle and a thick collar of foam.
The first whiff is fruity and citrusy with a pleasing mélange of orange, pineapple, and a touch of grapefruit. It has some earthy spice, too. There are also notes of bread and caramel sweetness.
The flavor is much more bitter and earthy than the aroma. Fruit and citrus are present, but they are overshadowed. However, pineapple does become more prominent as the beer continues to warm. It is reminiscent of mimosa. Thankfully, it lacks that yeast nastiness that is common with other New England IPAs, including the previous versions of Extinction Event, which is a huge plus. Perhaps it’s because the beer was released in the last two weeks and is super fresh. This version of the beer is much more aligned with my ideal profile of NEIPA than past versions, but it is still nothing spectacular.
Fun facts about EE(NS+ED):
• Style: New England IPA.
• Price: $11.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City. That is way too much for this beer.
• Alcohol content: 6.2 percent ABV.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
