New IPAs in rotating series
Wasatch and Fisher bring out the hop-forward goodness
By Mike Riedel @utahbeer
Wasatch - UT-X: This rotating series of IPAs has been available on draft for quite some time, but now you have the option of taking them home in cans. The packaging looks pretty nice and eye-catching. The beer pours a clear yellow/orange color, with a one finger head of puffy white foam. The head has a good level of retention, fading slowly over time to leave a great level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
The aroma of the brew is big dose of grapefruit and tangerine, mixed with a whole lot of orange juice, as well as some papaya and mango. Along with these notes comes some aromas of lemon and lime, as well as a little bit of grape.
The taste begins with a cracker malt flavor that is matched with plenty of grapefruit hops, as well as a little bit of grass and herb. Right from the start, there are flavors of orange, tangerine, lemon and mango, with the lemon and the orange getting stronger while the tangerine and mango fade as the taste advances. At the same time, some white-grape-like tastes develop, along with some hay and must. A little bit of alcohol joins in at the very end, and with a touch of yeast, one is left with a moderately crisp and citric taste to linger on the tongue. The body of this 7.0 percent brew is slightly thicker, with a carbonation level that is fairly moderate.
Verdict: This is a nice brew. It's not one of those IPAs with citrus/grapefruit notes that come off as "artificial," ultimately drinking more like a well-made IPA—simply enjoyable and fun to drink.
Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale #3: It poured a fairly clear light amber color, though it took on more of a burnt orange hue when held to the light; two fingers worth of frothy white head died down to a thin ring. The aroma starts off with a slightly higher-than-average dose of sweetness, followed by a significant burst of hops as the first to show up, imparting some herbal and piney aromas. The citrus hops stick out the most, imparting some nice citrus rind, grapefruit and apricot-like aromas.
The taste starts off with a medium amount of sweetness followed by the hops providing all of those hoppy aspects that I got in the aroma with a light grassy flavor. Once again, the citrus hops stick out the most with ice citrus-rind and grapefruit flavors. Up next come the malts, which impart a grainy, light sweet malt, lightly toasted, cracker and bready flavors, with a little bit of doughy yeast in the background. On the finish, there's a higher amount of medium bitterness, followed by a lightly toasted malt and citrus hop-like aftertaste. It drinks fairly smooth for 7.6 percent ABV—clean, crisp, medium-bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. The mouthfeel was pretty good, working nicely with this beer.
Verdict: I thought this was a pretty solid beer, and a good example of a West Coast-style IPA. It had that signature piney and citrus grapefruit aspect that I always look for in the style, and the malt base seemed to work well.
Since Fisher's resurrection, enjoying "high-point" beers in the brewery's pub has never been an option. However, thanks to their new bar license, things in the pub feel more natural and available. You can enjoy Rotating India Pale Ale #3 in-house or snag some to go in 16-ounce cans. UT-X is in 12-ounce cans, and you can find them at Wasatch/Squatters and (soon) in DABS stores. As always, cheers!
About The Author
Mike Riedel
Local boy and pilot of City Weekly’s best gig, The Beer Nerd column since 2017. Current photojournalist at KSTU TV (Fox 13) and host of the Utah Beer Blog and Beer Nerd Radio on KUAA 99.9 FM radio.
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