First beer for me from Atlanta’s new Scofflaw brewery: Scofflaw Basement IPA. There are a few things I would like to know before we get started, so why don’t we ask Scofflaw about them?
How did you get the name Scofflaw, Scofflaw Brewery?
Scofflaw: Term coined during prohibitionist times to cast violators of prohibition laws in a light of shame; a lawless drinker, a person who flouts rules, conventions, or accepted practices.
Well, I must say Scofflaw that the rebel in me admires all that. As does the drinker. OK, how about this Basement IPA I’m drinking? How did it get its name? What’s the story here?
Developed in our original “underground” basement brewery, this beer pours a deep persimmon with fluffy khaki foam. The only dank aroma emanating from this basement is one of earthy tones, juicy citrus and a hint of lemongrass, all derived from Citra hops. Basement IPA is balanced with a nice malty body that creates a sweet finish and developed hop notes in every sip.
Wait what? OK, so I keep hearing all this raving over your beers guys, and in some places they are even rationing them. But I will be honest: Basement IPA is a disappointment to me. Rest assured, the hops here are beautifully citrusy, just as you describe them, but the beer is WAY too thin in body. MALT people. You need malt to make a good beer. I want some bloody malt! Is that too much to ask for? I know that thin malty, very hoppy IPAs are the style these days, but I don’t get the “nice malty body” here.
Scofflaw Basement IPA has an alcohol content of 7.5% by volume with 100 IBUs. It’s expensive, too, at $12.99 a six-pack, though people are paying it.
Scofflaw Basement IPA pours to a brilliant orange amber color with a thick creamy head of foam and a beautiful robust nose of citrusy grapefruit, a hint of coconut and yes, lemongrass. As the beer warms, I got a little diacetyl, too in the aroma. Taking a sip, the beer has medium to thin body, less caramel than I would like, and as it progresses the thin malt becomes more apparent. I will say that the hops are lovely, more lemon grassy with a bit of grapefruit peel and a hint of resin. It’s bitter in the finish, very bitter, but the thin malt leaves it a bit lacking.
I’d give this one 3 ½ stars on its own merits, good on the hops, bad on the malt. I know they’re going after this type of character, so I would give it 4 stars for the current “style”, but then factoring in the high price I’ll stick to 3 ½ overall. At that price, I would not buy it again. I think the beer is overrated, but I will try other beers from Scofflaw.
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