All You Need to Know

Brewery: Rhinegeist Brewery

Style: IPA

ABV: 7.2%

Cost: ???? (12oz)

Glassware: Pint

Temp: 50°F

Availability: Year Round

Purchased@: Beer Trade Extra

Quick Take: It doesn’t re-write the book on IPAs, but it is a solid entry and one I would welcome into my mouth should I be able to get it again. I’d liken it to The Public from DC Brau or Anti-Hero from Revolution, which are great basic IPAs that scratch that IPA itch without being hop bombs. Glad to have it and makes me want to hunt down more from this brewer.

Brew Facts: Rhinegeist, geist meaning ghost and Rhine referring to a neighborhood in the brewer’s home city of Cincinnati, stores their kegs cold and distributes them locally in a refrigerated truck to keep the beer as fresh as possible.

Appearance: This pours a cloudy amber with copper hues when held to the light. After a few moments, it settles and the clarity improves. Lacks crystal clarity and has a bit of visual body to it. Nice sudsy thick head that laces heavy on the glass as it works its way back into the beer. A swirl coats the glass with a bit of oil slick, but pretty minor as this is a lower ABV beer.

Aroma: A sniff retrieves a memory of Racer X from my brain, but Truth is missing the boozy tang. There is a really nice, full, creamy, citrusy hop (centennial or simcoe maybe?) that permeates the smell. Some peach and toasty malt is there, but in the background. The rich aroma suggests some dry-hopping.

Taste/Mouth Feel: Taking an exploratory sip finds a medium mouth feel that boarders on creamy. Good mouth feel for an non-imperial IPA that has body but isn’t chewy. The taste is mango and grapefruit with bitter pine hop flavors riding on top of a balanced malt sweetness and a surge of bitterness on the finish. I might like it a touch heavier and a touch sweeter (basically an imperial version) to balance that finish, but really solid overall. A second sip finds some rye spiciness, which might account for the fuller body, and some grain notes. There is a resin and citrus backbone to the whole tasting experience that makes this a pleasing drinker.

Final Thoughts: Rhinegeist’s Truth came out of nowhere for me as a beer trade freebie. It doesn’t re-write the book on IPAs, but it is a solid entry and one I would welcome into my mouth should I be able to get it again. I’d liken it to The Public from DC Brau or Anti-Hero from Revolution, which are great basic IPAs that scratch that IPA itch without being hop bombs. This is a beer I wish was brewed locally and I could see having a case around for when company drops by. Truth, like many brews, is far from an event beer, but great for an everyday IPA drinker. Glad to have it and makes me want to hunt down more from this brewer.