#31 - The Wild Beer Co - Fresh

This is a difficult beer to rate, partially because its style is so geographically disparate to its branding and partially because each batch uses different hops giving a different flavor.  While I am all for using the finest fresh hops and experimenting until an American style Pale Ale/IPA is perfected, their seems to be an element of change for the sake of change inherent in Fresh.  Let's start from the beginning.  It is EXTREMELY hoppy.  For me this is no bad thing.  Indeed, as I have previously commented, Pacific North West double IPAs were my mother's milk back in the day and my palette is still quite used to that sort of flavor.  However, that can be a double edged sword.  Upon tasting my first reaction was to compare it unfavorably to a microbrew from seven thousand miles away.  It is also an extremely cloudy beer, something that might be off-putting to some drinkers.  In addition there is a an element of style over substance.  The bottle reads like a pitch from an advertising agency, and it is not clear that the beer is worthy of the level of marketing it is given. Still, it was worth drinking and an enjoyable enough beer in its own right - 6/10.