Score: 88/100 – Great
From a 473ml can served cool at 8 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. Canned on 22/12/22 – making this about two weeks young.
This can comes from a local specialty store which I picked up just a few days ago. I’m always happy to review Bas-Canada’s beers even if I’ve been trying to move away from trendy IPAs. My expectations are high – no surprise given the brewery.
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours an opaque gold with 4cm of dense, creamy, off-white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 5+ minutes. Exceptional lacing and head retention. I miss clear beer.
Aroma 22/24
Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is intensily hoppy featuring a New World flair.
Sharp citrus (grapefruit + lime) and significant pungency (tropical and vegetal at the same time) dominate the nose. Notable pine and mild aniseed spice add layers. Mild mango sweetness and very low crackery malt at the back. A hint of perfumy alcohol and some floral tones.
The dry nose is strong and hop-forward with citrus, catty notes, and mild vegetal tones (hmm…).
Flavour 36/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, sharp-ish balance, and pronounced perceived bitterness.
The juicy palate opens up with ripe mango sweetness and significant grapefruit and tangerine character with a sprinkle of salt. The center remains juicy and citrus-focused but it also takes on a lot more woody pine, indistinct herbs, and aniseed spice. Mild alcohol note, low grassiness, and crackery malt remain in the sidelines.
The long finish is strong and sharp-ish with notes of grapefruit peel, pine, mild grass, low aniseed, and a little bit of crackery malt.
Mouthfeel 8/10
Full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is creamy yet crisp with a mouth-coating quality and mild sharpness. The alcohol warming is restrained and the finish is off-dry. Mild hop-derived astringency. Overall no harsh qualities on the palate but the beer has an edge.
Overall 16/20
Bas-Canada’s Machina is a great beer.
The appearance is very good (ya know, for a hazyboi) with exceptional foam attributes. Once the beer warms a bit, a pungent aroma filled with New World hop character leaps out of the glass. The palate follows with intense hop-flavour and somewhat sharp characteristics. Mouthfeel-wise, this lacks the soft, plushy vibe that all of the brewery’s best IPAs have. There’s significant viscosity and only a mild astringency – yet, my palate is overwhelmed and the drinkability ends up lacking. Maybe it’s the hop selection, maybe it’s something else.
In any case, Bas-Canada’s Machina is a hazy DIPA worth trying. Given my preference for high value beer – I probably wouldn’t buy more of this given the high price. For the first-timers and people with enough disposable income, don’t hesitate.
Shit, I just realized BreWskey’s Cepage Argentin was supposed to be the next breview on my list! Well, that’s next.
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 