Hello, and welcome back to the Eternal Hoptimists,
It’s time to take a trip on the Route 590 around the Lake District calling at Cumbria and Hawkshead Brewery to sample their West Coast IPA called Route 590, which going by the description on the can is all about the hops.
Sounds promising, so let’s see if it delivers.
1. Name : Route 590
2. Brewery: Hawkshead Brewery (Cumbria)
3. Hops : Not specified
4. Grain : Barley and oats
5. Aroma : Nose of grapefruit, tangerine and pine with a subtle malty backbone. Aroma is appealing and leads you nicely into what is about to come on the palate.
6. Appearance : Pours a hazy amber colour with a fluffy one finger white head
7. Body : Medium body which is spot on for it’s 5% abv.
8. Taste : Instant bitterness upfront with a citrus fruit backbone with detectable flavours of orange, lemon, grapefruit and tangerine with a subtle malt build. This has all the characteristics of a true West Coast IPA.
Hawkshead Brewery has done a pretty decent job with Route 590 which is a very true to style West Coast IPA. The beer looks good in the glass, has a very appealing nose and a solid flavour profile making this a very sessionable beer.
If I were to be critical, I would have to say that although Route 590 is a solid brew it is just lacking in some areas to say that this is a must seek out beer. Yes, it is certainly solid and very drinkable but not one that can be described as spectacular. I could imagine a few of these would go down nicely as a part of a session and will most certainly grab it again should I see it, but it won’t be one that tops my shopping list.
Good effort, solid, if not spectacular.
Mark’s overall rating: 3.3/ 5.0
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