Why yes, I am still catching up on reviews, why do you ask? I’ve got a notebook filled with notes of various beers I’ve had and many of them haven’t yet made it to the blog—priorities go to my paid writing, sample reviews, my day job, and so on. So they are trickling out here and will continue to do so.

Last fall, Ex Novo Brewing of Portland teamed up with Powell’s Books to release a collaboration brew, City of Books IPA. It was brewed as a benefit for Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), an organization that assists bookstores and booksellers with unforeseen emergency financial needs. This just seems like a great cause and a great idea that frankly I’m a bit surprised hasn’t happened sooner (or if it did, I missed it).

It’s a west coast IPA brewed with Citra and experimental hop HBC 586, with 6.2% ABV.

Appearance: Bright golden color, great clarity. Rocky yet ephemeral white head, with great legs.

Smell: Catty and fruity with passion fruit, tangerine, melon rind, a savory note that’s a bit of… clover, sorrel?… and a touch of tomato plant. Pleasant and appealing without being overpowering.

Taste: Spicy-herbal with moderate bitterness with a bit of oak leaf and mild citrus pith. Clean, crisp, dry malt body that fades into the background to let the hop greens take center stage (I really need book metaphors here…). Solid all the way through, with a nice herbal hop spice at the back.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a good dry body and an herbal aftertaste.

Overall: Nice IPA, good handling of newer hops I think for a solid tipple.