Big Drop “Paradiso” Citra IPA, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Alcohol 0.4%) Big Drop Canadian Website $60 (24 x 355ml can) or LCBO $2.45 (355ml can)
If you are having troubles with your Dry January, then I have just the thing to take you through the home straight; my old friends over at Big Drop Brewing Co. have done it again, this time with an excellent Canadian-brewed, Citra hop-powered IPA.
Believe it or not, this little thing of (non-alcoholic) beauty was just awarded the UK’s Best Specialty IPA in the recent World Beer Awards, and this was against a line up of full strength beers! Quite remarkable really, when one thinks about it. If you ever thought that non-alcoholic beers were missing a little something in the taste department, then you simply have to sample a can of this.
Whilst thoroughly enjoying a few cans of this just the other night, there were a few moments when I actually forgot that I was drinking something that was ostensibly non-alcoholic; it’s really that bloody good. It’s a handsome devil too, pouring a gorgeously warm orange-amber, with very little-to-no frothing.
Although this beer contains Chinnook, Cascade, Simcoe, and Columbus hops, it’s undeniably the high alpha acid Citra that really jumps out on this one, with bags and bags of citrus, marmalade, and tropical fruit on the bouquet, and real pithy (but pleasant) bitterness on the very back of the palate that is really rather delightful. This is another fine addition to the Big Drop portfolio.
Try this… I really don’t think that you’ll be disappointed.
(Five apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And he thinks Big Drop have another winner on their hands with this one.
