I’m finally posting the final review from the four-pack that Widmer sent me at the end of June, even though I drank this beer over a month ago (yes, I seem to be perpetually behind on reviews!): Widmer Shaddock IPA. This is the latest in their Rotator IPA series, a 6.2% abv brew where they’ve amped up the American hop characteristics with a twist:

When Captain Shaddock introduced the grapefruit to the West Indies, he probably never thought they’d be used in beer. Our brewers did exactly that, adding grapefruit peel to our popular X-114 IPA. The result is a refreshing new brew that blends the sweet aroma and unmistakable flavor of grapefruit with the tropical notes found in Citra hops.

Appearance: Golden-orange in color, clear, with an off-white head. It has a nice color when held up to the light.

Smell: Fruity and pungent with a slightly sweaty note that reminds me of Nelson Sauvin hops (the Alchemy hops maybe?) and a sugary-sweet tropical fruit character. I wonder how much of that fruitiness comes from the grapefruit peels and how much from the Citra?

Taste: Pungent bitterness up front with some of that Sauvin character and a fair amount of bitter citrus peel—that almost-oily, perfumey bitter you get if you chew on citrus peel (but no pith fortunately). I get some of the fruitiness of the peel as well. It’s built on a bed of rich, bready malt which highlights the bitterness well.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a crisp, almost oily bitterness to it—it doesn’t quite coat the mouth but leaves a refreshing aftertaste.

Overall: Very nice, well brewed and not excessively complex. A tasty pour.

Shaddock IPA on Untappd. BeerAdvocate: 86/100. RateBeer: 3.45/5, 91st percentile.