Electric Jellyfish - Pinthouse Review
When exactly a beer reaches iconic status nobody really knows. Maybe it’s an original? Or maybe it’s exceptional? Or maybe the place that brews it has the best taproom in the world and that beer embodies it? Maybe all those things together?
Whatever it is, some beers just have ‘it’, and to the people of Texas (and particularly Austin) Electric Jellyfish is one of those beers with the stuff it takes to be an icon. This colorful sea creature is a hazy IPA that comes in at 6.5% ABV and is filled with baskets of Citra, Simcoe, Chinook, Ekuanot, Azacca, and Galaxy hops.
That’s a hop bill that will turn some heads and get some mouths watering. But, I must admit, being a Texan I’ve never bought this beer because it’s about $18 a four pack. So, let’s see if it’s worth the cash in our first impressions.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Yellow-orange, hazy as a foggy Texas morning, and topped with a tight and shiny cream-colored head that maintains well. As far as looks go, this is what you think of when you hear Hazy IPA.
On the Nose--Strong aroma with distinct notes of orange and mango. Very complex and mouth watering. So far so good.
On the Palate--Just as complex as the aroma with a definite orange flavor and a slightly bitter floral and orange peel base, which is not surprising with the use of Citra, Simcoe, and Chinook hops. These three giants add an even bitterness to balance the fruitier notes of the Azacca, Ekuanot, and Galaxy, which add the sweeter citrus and peachy notes. Electric Jellyfish is smooth with a full mouthfeel and a pleasantly dry finish. The floral and citrus bitterness linger through the finish, but only slightly and just enough to get me excited for the next sip.
Final Thoughts:
There are lots of things to like about Pinthouse’s Electric Jellyfish. The first of them being that it looks like a Hazy, and it tastes like it looks, which is no small feat. More than a few beers have crossed my path that looked right but, at least in the case of hazy IPAs, tasted overripe and out of balance. That’s not the case with Electric Jellyfish.
And speaking of balance, this beer has it—at least in the way of hops. The Citra, Simcoe, and Chinook hops add a strong, IPA backbone that balances the sweeter notes of the Galaxy, Ekuanot, and Azacca hops. They play very nicely together, and the old-school hops are necessary to keep it grounded and to keep this hazy from leaning over into that overripe area.
Electric Jellyfish has a lot of complexity in aroma and flavor, and it has a full mouthfeel that adds to the richness of the beer. I love its prominent orange flavor and the floral bitterness. But, is it worth $18 a four pack? If you live in Texas and love craft beer (and especially Hazy IPAs), then I would say that it is… at least once. But I’m guessing you’ll get more bang for your buck if you go and have an Electric Jellyfish right from the source in one of Pinthouse’s taprooms.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Hey, while you’re here, check out these other Texas icons:
Independence Brewing’s Austin Amber and Karbach’s Crawford Bock.