Try?
Beer styles can be a curious thing these days. We have so-called “Session IPAs” that are neither session nor IPA strength. We have East Coast IPA that used to be called West Coast IPA, even though East Coast IPA used to be a lot more like British IPA. I could go on and on, but you get the idea that a lot of current style confusion revolves around IPA. In that frame of mind I give you The Power of Zeus, an American Pale Ale by Colorado’s High Hops Brewery.
Or is it an American Pale Ale? That’s a good question, because the stats on this beer are more in line with an India Pale Ale than an American Pale Ale. American Pale Ale, after all, is sort of a midway point between pale ale and IPA. It’s generally a little stronger and hoppier than a classic pale ale, but not so strong and hoppy as an IPA.
From the can label:
An American Pale Ale brewed with Zeus hops from our fields. These hops are carefully guarded by Zeus the Toad, the great and powerful protector of our fields. He greeted us as we planted the first Zeus hops.
High Hops Brewery The Power of Zeus has an alcohol content of 7% by volume with 69 IBUs. As you can see, that’s really IPA range. Let’s take a sip, though, and check the beer out shall we?
High
Hops Brewery The Power of Zeus
pours to a beautiful orange amber color with an absolutely towering head of
rocky foam (foam started popping out when I popped the top of the can) and a
citrus-fruity, slightly phenolic hop nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a
solid caramel maltiness up front appropriate to a pale ale, albeit an APA.
There’s a soft fruity citric hoppiness throughout, a touch of passion fruit,
and a very long dry herbal grassy bitterness. An amazingly massive
bitterness actually for a pale ale, even an American Pale.
Still and all, with all the hops this beer is nice and toasty malty, too. I really do see this beer as more of an IPA, and that’s what I’ll style it as. Thanks to the legendary Dale Roberts for this one, as this is another Colorado brew I can’t get here in Georgia, but I’m very glad I got to try.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
