Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a Mark Twin pint glass
The State Line Handcrafted IPA is a private label beer brewed by Cottrell Brewing Company, based in Connecticut, for Trader Joe's. Essentially what you get is the quality of a Cottrell beer for the private label price. Worth checking out if your local Joe's has some in stock. The beer pours a slightly hazy orange-amber body. The medium-large head is a slightly yellowed tan head of frothy foam with a mild oily sheen. The beer's head retention is solid and leaves swathes of sticky lacing on the glass.
Resinous pine hops are prominent on the nose with a slight soapiness. The aroma is very fresh and strong, full of hops. The underlying malts add a base of caramel essence to the beer. The beer has a vivacious carbonation, producing a full-bodied mouthfeel when combined with the malt body. Hops are dry and palate-attacking, but give a slick, oily feel with moderately high bitterness. The malts are secondary, but not a second though. Breadiness is moderated by a molasses sweetness. The finish is somewhat dry and quite crisp. The beer is refreshing and highly drinkable. At Trader Joe's prices, you're getting a Cottrell brew for quite the bargain.
Final Verdict: B+
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