Beer of the Weekend #981: Van Go
The beer of the weekend last weekend (yes, I’m a week behind) was Van Go, brewed by the No Coast Beer Company of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED ON 05/04/22” is printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is medium honey amber. A half finger of off-white, dense, bubble-spotted, buttery head dissipates slowly, leaving an even skim.
Smell: It is an enticing blend of pine and citrus. There are scents of pine, grapefruit, caramel, earthy hops, some toasted malt, a hint of chocolate, and a dash of tropical fruit. The aroma, though, is on the weaker side.
Taste: It is a melange, though mostly dominated by pine. It is bitter and leaves the taste buds coated in bitterness after each sip. Grapefruit emerges slowly. Caramel, earthy hops, and maybe rye are also noticeable. I would not call this a West Coast IPA; I think it is too malty. On that note, it is pretty malty for an IPA.
Fun facts about Van Go:
• Style: IPA.
• Price: $12.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans from the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• I can’t find any info about the beer on the No Coast website, so here is the well-written description from the can:
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED ON 05/04/22” is printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is medium honey amber. A half finger of off-white, dense, bubble-spotted, buttery head dissipates slowly, leaving an even skim.
Smell: It is an enticing blend of pine and citrus. There are scents of pine, grapefruit, caramel, earthy hops, some toasted malt, a hint of chocolate, and a dash of tropical fruit. The aroma, though, is on the weaker side.
Taste: It is a melange, though mostly dominated by pine. It is bitter and leaves the taste buds coated in bitterness after each sip. Grapefruit emerges slowly. Caramel, earthy hops, and maybe rye are also noticeable. I would not call this a West Coast IPA; I think it is too malty. On that note, it is pretty malty for an IPA.
Fun facts about Van Go:
• Style: IPA.
• Price: $12.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans from the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• I can’t find any info about the beer on the No Coast website, so here is the well-written description from the can:
One starry night, the brew crew loaded into an old van and set out for the coast in search of inspiration. When that van, not surprisingly, broke down outside of town, we hitchhiked back to the brewery and spent the night rhapsodizing over a recipe for a West Coast-ish IPA. Van Go IPA is a masterpiece of a brew, heavily-loaded and double-dry-hopped with Idaho 7, Talus, and Azacca hops. Pine needle and tropical aromas swirl into a balance of malt nuance, pine resin, grapefruit, and light spice that leaves one HECK of an impression.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
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