Henry Weinhard Woodland Pass IPA is a Good Training Beer

India pale is a love it or hate it beer style for many consumers. Craft beer freaks and hop heads can’t get enough IPA and greatly appreciate the excessive hop content so common with this style, but others find IPA too intensely hoppy to tolerate. For those who want something a little milder, the craft beer world brings you Henry Weinhard Woodland Pass IPA.

Beer Bio:

 

Beer Style: American IPA

Calories: 189 per 12 oz. serving

Carbs: 16.4 grams per 12 oz. serving

Alcohol Content: 6 percent by volume

 

Henry Weinhard Woodland Pass IPA pours to a yellow/gold color with a nose that offers a faint amount of hop spice and a scent of pale biscuit- like malt and bread. The white head of foam is nice and it does hold its own, maintaining a visible layer as you drink.

 

Henry Weinhard Woodland Pass IPA has an agreeable taste that combines flavors of toasted malt, caramel, and some citrus, mainly grapefruit. There is a small amount of honey flavor and the ale finishes a littler sweeter than other IPA due to the caramel malt flavor.

 

Henry Weinhard Woodland Pass IPA seems like an IPA made for the craft beer wannabe- the type of person who really wants to like craft IPA but finds too many American versions over- hopped and not very palate- friendly. According to Henry Wienhard’s own web site, the brewery decided to “ease up on the hoppiness  just a hair”, and this is evident with each sip. The hop level is low for an IPA and many would argue that the product should really be labeled as a pale ale, not an IPA. On the other hand, non- craft beer drinkers will likely find the hop and bitterness levels just right and will appreciate that Henry Weinhard altered the recipe in a milder direction.

 

Overall, this is a decent IPA, I must admit. I still prefer my over- the- top American IPA with their arousing hop character, but I agree that this is a good starter beer for those who are new to the style and want an IPA that is less extreme and more easy- drinking.

 

Rating: 6 cheers out of 10