Space Dust IPA by Elysian Brewing Company
When we look up into the clear night sky, we could ponder many things. How many stars? How many galaxies? Is there life on other planets? What is floating around up there? Well to the last question, we know that there is a lot of debris, large and small, floating through the abyss. Some would also call this space dust, some of which is visible from a comet’s tail. But we can examine another kind of space dust right here on earth in the form of an IPA from Elysian.
Elysian Brewing from Seattle, Washington, owns and operates 4 different restaurants and a brewery. Opening in 1996 (that magical time when craft brewing initiated huge industrial growth), Elysian looked to leverage food paired with great beer in an area of the country known for its flavorful hop varieties. Northern west coast hops had come into their own celebrity status in the late 1990’s and was the time period in which everyone wanted to try them in their beers. Out of that time, west coast IPA styles became a norm.
Elysian’s brewery encompasses twenty 240-barrel fermenters and is a 60-barrel brewhouse. To date, they have designed and brewed over 350 different recipes during their brewing career. Their motivation and momentum seems unstoppable. Garnering a three-time award for Large Brewpub of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado, Elysian’s growth is astronomical.
Pouring into a pint glass, Space Dust is a bright yellowy-gold hue with the slightest haze and bright white head which slowly fades. Aromas of floral and citrus were expected but I also realized a bit of sweet caramel. Taste followed the nose. Added to the list of hints were orange and a little grapefruit or pineapple which is also to be expected in a west coast IPA. Malt character is precisely balanced with neither malt or hop yelling above each other. The malt bill on this beers is simple and to the point; no special this-or-that grains. This also helped to keep the mouthfeel light. At 73 IBUs (International Bittering Units), and 8.2% ABV, Space Dust is deceivingly deceptive. It drinks like a 40 IBU and 5% which may get some of you in trouble…
BeerAdvocate.com has categorized this as an American Double IPA. BA has officially rated Space Dust IPA as ‘Outstanding’ and awards it a 90 out of 100. Other followers are rating it as high as 4.88 out of 5.0.
You can buy 12 oz six packs of Elysian Space Dust at Case-n-Keg in Meredith as well as other fine beer providers. Hope you agree with me and find Space Dust IPA out of this world!
Jim MacMillan is the owner of WonByOne Design of Meredith, NH, and is an avid imbiber of craft brews and a home brewer as well. Send him your recommendations and brew news to wickedbrews@weirs.com
