Beerlandia: Foothills Jade IPA
Not too long ago I introduced a beer from a hometown brewery, Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. here in Greensboro. It was kind of shitty. Time for redemption! Foothills Brewing Company is another local favorite brewpub down the road in Winston-Salem. While Natty Greene’s is a cool place to hang out downtown, you can tell from the first sip that Foothills knows and cares more about what they are producing. Today I’m sipping on my favorite Foothills beer and the first of probably too many IPAs to come for Passport Beerlandia.
Beer: Jade IPA
Brewery: Foothills Brewing Company
Country: Winston-Salem, NC, USA
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.4%
Beerlandia Advisory: American IPAs are plentiful, but not all are as refreshing as Jade.
It pours a very cloudy amber-orange. When held up to the light, it’s almost exactly like you’re looking through a jar of honey. There’s a thin white head that doesn’t stay for long, but retreats and clings to the glass leaving beautiful lacing behind. The cloudiness is indicative of a special yeast strain or late addition hopping, which results in some particulates in the beer but usually makes for a very aromatic and flavorful IPA.
I don’t normally use “dank”, but this is a dank-smelling IPA. It has those very pungent hoppy citrus and pine odors that I would come to expect from a delicious IPA. There is some malt, but it doesn’t stand up to the citrus coming from the hops. I want to drink it.
“If you’re a citrus fiend, this may be your next unlikely favorite.”
A very bright citrus explosion as soon as it hits the tongue and then hops flood the senses on the finish, although not overwhelmingly so. After going back for more, there is definitely some floral and fruit hanging out with all these other great flavors and having a party in your mouth.
Bright, crisp, and clean are three words I would use to describe drinking this beer. The carbonation really has some staying power on the tongue, which makes the beer feel very…lively? Give me a break, I’m still new at this. Despite the high ABV, this beer is an easy and enjoyable drink, making it one of those few dangerous, session-able IPAs.
This beer is a superb introduction to the American IPA for anyone new to the style or for those who usually find them to be too bitter. There is more going on here than hops, hops, hops. With this complex yet smooth combination of aromatics, flavors, and mouthfeel, this is also a great beer to have with some hearty pub food. If you’re a citrus fiend, this may be your next unlikely favorite.
Jewel of the Piedmont brew scene
This is a beer that I can proudly recommend from my area and it probably is the beer I’ve recommended most for NC IPA virgins. Of course, Wicked Weed is now encroaching on “Best NC IPA territory”, but for the price point, quality, and availability, Jade is still my jewel of the Piedmont craft brewing scene. Beware - despite the high ABV, you may be on your third before you realize it. ◉
Written by Seth Barham
