Widowmaker Reservations At Dorsia

Widowmaker's Reservations at Dorsia is a New England IPA brewed in Massachusetts, and the style tells you most of what to expect in the glass. No ABV or IBU is listed for this release, so treat the following as the usual profile for the style and not measured figures. New England IPAs typically pour a hazy, opaque gold to orange, with a soft, full body that comes from high-protein grains such as oats and wheat and from heavy late-addition and dry hopping. The hop character usually shows up as juicy tropical and stone-fruit aromas, such as mango, pineapple, orange and peach, sometimes with a little resin or pine underneath. Bitterness is generally restrained and rounded, so the fruit and a pillowy mouthfeel lead and the finish stays smooth and fairly short instead of sharp and dry. Serve this beer cold but not ice-cold, ideally around 42 to 48°F (6 to 9°C). Straight from a very cold fridge, the hop aromatics are muted and the haze can taste flat. Letting the can or bottle sit out for five to ten minutes brings out the fruit. A tulip or a wide-mouthed IPA glass works best, because the bowl concentrates the aroma and the flared rim directs it toward your nose. A standard shaker pint is a fine second choice. Pour it with a gentle swirl near the end, as yeast and hop particles tend to settle, and the cloudiness is part of the style, not a flaw. Hazy IPAs are also best drunk fresh, since the hop aroma fades over time, so check the packaging for a date and keep the beer refrigerated until you pour it. For food, the soft bitterness and fruit-forward hops suit dishes with heat, fat or char. Spicy tacos, Thai or Indian curries, buffalo wings and jerk chicken all pair well, since the beer's sweetness-like fruit softens chili heat without scrubbing the palate. It also holds up against burgers, smoked brisket and fried fish, where the carbonation cuts through richness. Creamy, tangy cheeses such as fresh goat cheese or a young cheddar are a good match, and citrus-driven salads or carrot cake suit its orange and tropical notes. Very delicate dishes like plain white fish or light oysters tend to be overwhelmed by a beer with this much hop presence.