Tree Brewing Co. – Molto Bella Espresso IPA

Rating

3.7 out of 5

Aroma

3.9 out of 5

Appearance

3.3 out of 5

Taste

3.5 out of 5

Palate

Total

3.6

3.6 out of 5

Overview

• Brewery: Tree Brewing Co.
• Beer Style: India Pale Ale
• Pros:

  Strong espresso flavours

• Cons:

  Espresso masks IPA flavour

• Conclusion:

  A strong Espresso beer with a hop backing

Tree Brewing Co. – Molto Bella Espresso IPA Review

This here is something totally different. While espresso can be paired in many types of beer this is a first for me. The Tree Brewing Co has come out with the Molto Bella Espresso IPA that theoretically pairs the bitterness of espresso with the bitterness of an IPA. Not exactly a usual combo but I am open to anything! This beer pours a light amber colour, much like a typical IPA without any real sign of coffee darkness. The head is two fingers thick and settles slowly with a thick glass residue left behind. Smelling this unique beer, the strongest notes are definitely of espresso with only mild hop bitterness squeaking through. The taste is different… Espresso is up front in this Kelowna brewed beer and doesn’t leave much room for anything else. The finish does have a mild hop bitterness to it but that could pretty easily be confused with a continuance of the espresso flavour. For me this is something a bit different which is nice; it does come across one-dimensional however which is disappointing. I am curious though as to what a stronger, Cascadian hopped IPA would taste like in the same light as opposed to this mildly hopped, 4.8% ABV “beginners IPA”.

Alcohol – 4.8%
Size – 650ml
Price – $6.50 (Cold Beer and Wine)
treebeer.com