I've been on an experimental kick as of late with my brews and this weekend had the opportunity to dive into a bottle of Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp, a Belgian style India Pale Ale (7% ABV).
I'll admit, before I popped it open I was a bit suspect of the combination of words: Belgian and IPA. To me, those two worlds typically don't mesh. So needless to say, I was a little gun shy with this one, but the label drew me in.
When pouring it, you can tell that it'll smack your mouth with hops. I used a sniffer glass and it immediately poured with a generous head that quickly dissipated.
Sticking my nose in the glass, I was able to pick up subtle hints of citrus and maybe vanilla. I also got a whiff of cloves from time to time. as the beer got warmer, it moved to spicy taste, which is where the Belgian comes into play. The beer is a great mix between a Belgian and an IPA. It's very hard to describe, but you have to get your lips on it to experience the flavor burst.
Big Guy Rating: B