Mischief - The Bruery, Placentia

I really enjoy going to a new liquor store and finding bottles of beer I'd never heard of before. This bottle of The Bruery Mischief came from a liquor store in Maryland I visited over the weekend. I've had a couple beers from The Bruery before but I've never seen this one on a menu or at a liquor store. The label says the Mischief is a Belgian-style Ale, golden & hoppy. Sounds good to me. I haven't had a bad beer from The Bruery yet, but they have all been, more-or-less, Saison style ales. I'm hoping this Mischief will be something a little different.

This bottle of Mischief pours a light orange and warm golden color. The body is hazy but translucent and topped by a thick foamy head. That head fades pretty quick but a decent layer of suds hangs around until you've emptied your glass. The aroma hints at a mild hop presence, there's not a great deal of hops in the aroma but it's definitely noticeable. More citrus than pine.

The flavor of the Mischief is great, but a little surprising at first. My first sip was loaded with hops. Lots of leafy, citrus, oily hops. Very bright and full bodied. As I worked through my first glass I noticed the hops back off as my taste buds adjusted and the sweetness came through. The Mischief reminded me of Odell Deconstruction, one of my favorite beers. There's a sweetness that is light, a maltiness that is robust but enjoyable and a hop profile that is ample but not overpowering.

The Mischief is very approachable, despite its bold flavors. This beer covers the full spectrum of flavors and has something for everyone. The hops will definitely appeal to IPA fans but it remains balanced enough that just about anyone should find it well rounded and enjoyable.