Parma Violets are traditionally made with British Violets. If I had reading glasses I still wouldn't be able to read the ingredients on the insanely coloured can. At 5.5% in volume this Parma Violets New England IPA won't be strong enough in alcohol content to numb the flavour. In fact I can't imagine a percentage high enough that would numb the flavour. I realise you can only ever have 100% of something, but numbing Parma Violets would take far more than a gerbillion percent!
I initially thought this Parma Violets New England IPA would be a sweet pudding beer due to it's name. On opening the can there was the aroma of strong floral hops. Actually I thought it was a pretty decent smell. Strong, bitter and floral. I'm used to floral hops just as much as I am used to many other hops varieties. I remember I do love heather flavoured ale, so things were looking up.
On taste this murky golden India Pale Ale is really heavy in floral nature. I could say it was Violets in the flavour if I could have read the ingredients. I must get my eyes tested! I'm slightly frustrated that I liked it. Cinabar will be even more frustrated as I still reckon she is trying to torture me. I was so sure I'd hate this Parma Violets New England IPA and would tip it away in disgust, but actually it's a really floral flavoursome beer with a sweetness towards the aftertaste from the pale and possibly crystal malts. I don't think I've ever tasted such a floral ale before, definitely not in the pale variety. I'd actually quite happily have another!
No comments:
Post a Comment