Innocence IPA

Innocence IPA
1 12 oz bottle, $2.50++ 7.0% ABV

Purchased at Harvey’s, West Hartford

So cute.

City Steam in a clear effort to appear cheeky, have recently released their Innocence Ale in bottles. Their other two bottles are the more well-known Blonde on Blonde and Naughty Nurse ales. And so, here is the antidote: Innocence.

But not really. For the bottle’s label says, “Bookended between a lush abundance of sweet malt and bitter hops, this fine American IPA is any but what the title suggest. Recommended by lady librarians everywhere.”

Ah yes, the old sexy library schtick. Except it’s just a beer bottle and the woman on the label is rather conservative, as it’s just her head anyway.

In my CTMQ adventures, I’ve come across plenty of old records of women named Innocent or Innocence back in the day. (Along with other virtuous names like Patience and Temperance. Some have stuck with us today – Joy and Hope to name two.)

But Innocent is a rather tough label to put on a little girl. After all, I’m sure this young woman’s parents probably thought such pure thoughts about their precious little girl:


Oops!…I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops!…You think I’m in love
That I’m sent from above
I’m not that innocent!

Oh, Britney. I’m still with you girl. Anyway, let’s see what City Steam says on their website about the beer:

City Steam says:

Absolutely packed with an abundance of malt and hops, this fine apple cheeked INDIA PALE ALE is anything but what the name suggests.

Note the subtle difference between that and what’s on the actual label. Since they aren’t trying to sell you the beer here, they’ve dispensed with the librarian thing and instead wrote something about it being an “apple cheeked IPA” whateverthehell that is. Seriously, what is that?

I have no idea, but I do know that I liked this beer. When I bought it, the guy at Harvey’s told me it was really good. I could tell by the way he told me that he was also not such a fan of their other two bottled efforts.

So I said, “Oh yeah? Good, because the blonde is just ok to me and the Naughty Nurse is kind of terrible.” He agreed with me! I was happy – and happy that the Innocence could finally make me a City Steam believer.

It did. It’s not extraordinary, as it’s a fairly typical east coast IPA with equal amounts of floral and bitter hops. It’s got a beautiful amber color though and there has been some care put into this beer. It is surprisingly and wonderfully complex. I really liked it and I can tell you that when I start on the City Steam draught list for this little side project, I’ll be wanting to order the Innocence instead of whatever else I “have” to drink.

Overall Rating: A-
Rating vs. Similar style: B

Beer Advocate’s Reviews of the Innocence Ale
City Steam Brewery & Cafe
Back to CTMQ’s Reviews of City Steam’s bottled beers
Back to CTMQ’s Connecticut Beer Page
Back to CT Breweries page

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