It’s official. Ashland, Virginia is the Center of the Universe. At least, that’s what the fine folks at that city’s Center of the Universe (COTU for short) Brewing  Company tell us. And who am I to argue with them? They do further add that “It all revolves around the beer”, and I can certainly see that. What’s more, they certainly deserve credit for originality by naming their IPA as they have: Pocahoptas. Pocahontas, of course, was a Virginia native, and though by marrying an Englishman she almost certainly tasted beer at some point, it was definitely not an IPA.

Pocahoptas is not the first beer I’ve had from Center of the Universe, that honor going to their delightful Ray Ray Pale Ale that I sampled at one of beer legend Chuck Triplett’s tastings back in March. Chuck was kind enough to send me home with this 22-ounce bomber bottle of Pocahoptas IPA, that I am able to enjoy at length and expound upon tonight.

Details from the brewery website:

This hop forward India Pale Ale features four different hops from the Pacific Northwest combined with a base of imported English 2-row barley and Crystal malts.  Dry-hopped for additional hop flavor and aroma.

Pocahoptas is an unfiltered West Coast-style IPA weighing in at 6.8%ABV and 72IBUs.

Center of the Universe Pocahoptas IPA pours to a rich amber orange color with a thick creamy head and a very inviting citrus and resiny pine nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a firm chewy caramel maltiness up front quickly followed by a wonderfully resiny hop aroma that intensifies into the finish. That finish is long and dry and wonderfully bitter, lingering on the tongue for a long time after sipping. A delightful every day IPA with tons of hop aroma and flavor that proves you don’t have to be a double or imperial IPA to taste this good.

Indeed, as I sat gently pulling on and pondering this beer, I grew to appreciate the wonderful appetizing dryness at the last that truly makes it an IPA worth reckoning with. Well done, Pocahoptas, John Smith would have been proud.