In 2011, Eric Williams told his wife “Megan, I am going to open a craft brewery in Milford!” After 2 years of planning, brewing, tasting, traveling the country, and assembling a team of partners, Eric and his wife opened in 2013. Two years later, Mispillion River Brewing is quickly becoming a household name. One of their year round offerings is an IPA by the name of Reach Around.

The beer pours a hazy golden color with orange hues. The soapy two finger white head shows excellent staying power. No lacing to speak of remains once the heads dissipates. The lively carbonation is marked with millions of tiny little bubbles rising to the top of the glass.

On the nose you get luscious hop aromas. Sweet melon and tropical fruit notes meld with bright citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon. A light pine resin note adds complexity but does not over power as it often does. Light biscuit malts can also be found in the bouquet.

The palate shows tons of hop character. Notes of tropical fruits, melon and peaches are paired perfectly with citrus fruit notes of lemon, grapefruit and tangerine. The same piney note from the bouquet appears on the palate. It creates just the right amount of bitterness. There is an earthy herbal note as well. Through all the hop notes you will find a solid malt backbone providing a great balance. The beer is very light and has a smooth mouthfeel.

A nice and well balanced IPA from Mispillion River Brewing. Much less “intense” than many IPAs but still packs the hop punch needed to be true to the style. Light and refreshing, this would be the perfect “go to” summer beer, but is still a great IPA anytime of year. Try this one with Munster, ginger curry chicken or persimmon rice pudding. 

The Beer Buyer Overall Rating: 4.0 Out of 5 Pints