Misty Mountain IPA

Misty Mountain IPA
1 Growler, $9.00, 7% ABV

Gillette Ridge Wine & Spirits – $9.49 for growler ($1.50 dep)

Walkin’ in the park just the other day, Baby,
What do you, what do you think I saw?

Unfortunately, probably a bunch of people staring down at their mobile devices playing Angry Birds while actual birds flew above their heads.

Crowds of people sittin’ on the grass with flowers in their hair said,
“Hey, Boy, do you wanna score?”

Really? The early 70′s were a far different time I guess. Then again, I’ve been propositioned for gay sex and drugs at Bushnell Park on more than one occasion, so I guess it’s not too crazy. Imagine if the “score” was a growler of Back East’s IPA?

And you know how it is;
I really don’t know what time it was, woh, oh,
So I asked them if I could stay awhile.

I bet you did. Sit back in the grass with your pint of this deliciously hoppy IPA… No worries.

I didn’t notice but it had got very dark and I was really,
Really out of my mind.

At 7% ABV it’s not an imperial (Back East plans on rolling that style out in the spring of 2013), but yeah, a few of pints of this and I can see it…

Just then a policeman stepped up to me and asked us said,
“Please, hey, would we care to all get in line,
Get in line.”

Public drinking and intoxication is against the law. You should’ve thought of that when you were passing around that rather conspicuous growler.

Well you know, They asked us to stay for tea and have some fun,
Oh, oh, he said that his friends would all drop by, ooh.

Wow. Cool cops. I know in “On The Road,” Kerouac called marijuana “tea,” but I guess it can also be beer.

Why don’t you take a good look at yourself and describe what you see,
And Baby, Baby, Baby, do you like it?

Weird. Um, I need to shave and I have bags under my eyes constantly and my hair is suddenly 90% gray at 40, but I think I’m alright.

There you sit, sitting spare like a book on a shelf rustin’
Ah, not trying to fight it.

Hey man, where’d that come from? So judgemental.

You really don’t care if they’re coming, oh, oh,
I know that it’s all a state of mind, ooh.

Now you’re just being silly.

If you go down in the streets today, Baby, you better,
You better open your eyes.

I think this applies everyday and not just today.

Folk down there really don’t care, really don’t care, don’t care, really don’t
Which, which way the pressure lies,

Folk in the streets don’t care? Sure they do. And they are increasingly caring about the beer they drink, which is a good thing. And around these parts, new craft brewers like Back East are making some really good stuff. You should know these things.

So I’ve decided what I’m gonna do now.
So I’m packing my bags for the Misty Mountains
Where the spirits go now,
Over the hills where the spirits fly, ooh.
I really don’t know.

But I’m TELLING you, dude, this IPA is really good. There are a lot of really good IPA’s being made in Connecticut these days. I felt this one had a good hoppiness to it, but it did lack a bit with the florals or pines I feel make a great IPA. Nevertheless, for a new brewery, I most definitely recommend it.

Back East says:

Misty Mountain is a great example of the American-style India Pale Ale synonymous with Craft Beer. Originally brewed for sailors on shipping routes between England and India, British IPAs are known for their strong hop bitterness, which were added as a preservative for the long voyage. The American adaptation is decidedly stronger and offers a more robust hop bite. Back East IPA is no exception. This assertively hopped beer has a great hoppy aroma, crisp hop bite, and smooth medium body.

Overall Rating: B+
Rating vs. Similar style: B

Beer Advocate’s Reviews of Back East’s MM IPA
Back East Brewing
Back to CTMQ’s Reviews of Back East’s beers
Back to CTMQ’s Connecticut Beer Page
Back to CT Breweries page

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