Summer is winding down but there’s still plenty of time to drink the summertime seasonals from Hopworks Urban Brewery, three of which the company sent to me to sample. Let’s just jump right in to the reviews!

Ace of Spades Imperial IPA

I am a fan of old-school imperial IPAs, and Ace of Spades is a HUB favorite that delivers. It’s 8.6% ABV with 100 IBUs, and the description reads:

This beast is hopped out with Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, Waimea, Cryo Idaho 7, El Dorado, and Amarillo hops. Great big grapefruit aromas are complemented by ripe peach and cotton candy waves. Finishes with a classic NW pineyness. The malt stands back and lets the hops shine through.

Appearance: Honey-orange, unfiltered, glowing in the light, with an ample and finely-bubbled off-white head.

Smell: Big piney, citrusy hops, with candied orange peel, some lemon balm, grapefruit. Classic big hops, old school nose.

Taste: Sticky hop candy with an easy, soft (yet big) bitterness that’s herbal and minty. Sweetly malty too with a nice touch of spicy alcohol. Pine, grapefruit pith, bitters, all in a terrific old-school-yet-balanced package, super well balanced. It’s possibly a tad vegetal as it warms in the glass.

Mouthfeel: Nearly full-bodied and sticky with a nice lingering lupulin hit.

Overall: Really quite good, a well dialed-in recipe that’s enjoyable to drink.

Sunset Fuel Hazy IPA

There’s always a hazy in the lineup. Sunset Fuel embraces the haze with wheat and rolled oats in the grist, and ample hopping from Columbus, Lemondrop, El Dorado, Citra, and Eukanot hops—yet is only 20 IBUs. It comes in at 6.2% ABV, and the description says:

With a hoppy nose of tropical fruits and fresh-squeezed oranges, this sunset sipper is round-bodied with notes of pinesap, ripe mangos, and creamsicle.

Appearance: Amply hazy, orange leaning toward burnt umber, with a creamy, thick off-white head with great lacing.

Smell: Green papaya, melon and melon rind, forest floor, green fruit and some lightly spicy wild greens. Touch of allium.

Taste: Moderately bitter with citrus pith and mustard greens spice/zestiness. Melon rind with watercress. Spicy note to the malt as if rye were used, with some creaminess from the oats. Good balance on all the elements.

Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full bodied with a creamy feel to it, nicely smooth into the finish.

Overall: Good balanced, moderate hoppiness, and a decent hazy overall.

When Life Gives You Blueberries Sour

When Life Gives You Blueberries leans deep into the “sour” with a hearty hit of lemon puree along with the kettle souring and the blueberries. Bracingly tart, it’s 5.5% ABV with 9 IBUs, and the description says:

Fresh blueberries and lemon create the ultimate summertime sour reminiscent of your neighborhood lemonade stand.

Appearance: Deep purple-amber with a translucent semi-clarity, and a bit glowy when held to the light. White head was crisp but dissipated quickly.

Smell: Berry compote with a mellow hit of tart acid. Crushed blueberries, slightly lactic, a bare hint of Cream of Wheat cereal.

Taste: Puckeringly sour, especially at the back of the tongue and the jowls of the cheeks. Tart, underripe blue berry, a green fruit character, with a touch of citric acid (lemon). It’s got a blueberry lemonade quality, albeit without the sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and acidic-sour-puckering. Finishes nicely clean.

Overall: This is one for sour ale lovers; I think it would make a great reduction/glaze in cooking.