Beerlandia: Lost Province IPA
Sipping this delight from a Mason jar surrounded by tall pines on the balcony of a mountain cabin was magical for two reasons: 1) everything I just described, and 2) it’s always nice to enjoy a new beer where it all began - the town where I first learned to enjoy beer. When I went to university in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Boone, NC, we were always seeing the next great thing coming out of Asheville, arguably the beer capital of North Carolina. Boone’s own craft scene felt fairly young and undeveloped at the time. How quickly things have changed.
Beer: IPA
Brewery: Lost Province Brewing Co.
Country: Boone, NC, USA
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.6%
Beerlandia Advisory: A solid and unassuming IPA that balances mild hops with pine and citrus.
Boone has really come into its own with several successful breweries in the downtown area alone. No one’s waiting on Asheville to get their dose of local hops today. Even the big chain supermarkets carry locally-produced craft beer, which is exactly where I picked up my 4-pack of Lost Province Brewing Co. IPA to whisk back to my secret mountain retreat. After pouring it into a Mason jar, as you do in these parts, I had to sit back and admire how the sun’s rays illuminated the bright golden amber color that’s about as classic as classic gets for American IPAs. A generous but not outrageous white layer of foam made it all the more enticing.
“This beer would be enticing to someone that values drinkability over a hop roller coaster.”
Keep in mind I was literally encircled by a stand of pines during this review, which could contribute to some aroma bias while reviewing an IPA of all beers, but it would have been criminal to sit indoors and drink this. The first scent I get isn’t quite pine, but a strong fruity pineapple note. Underneath that initial sweetness is the subtle dry pine aroma of hoppy goodness that I would have been disappointed to miss. Compared to other IPAs you can get in Boone, Lost Province’s had a relatively mild aroma that didn’t really indicate a lot of bitterness. This beer would be enticing to someone that values drinkability over a hop roller coaster.
Thankfully, the aroma wasn’t misleading. The fruity pineapple and citrus notes really prepped me for a mild experience and I think it would have been dirty deception to get slapped in the face with an exceptionally bitter hop profile after that. The flavors matched the mild afternoon temperatures of the high country - fruity and juicy with a rigid but not overbearing foundation of hops and a dry finish. Frankly, I do like more of a hop punch than this in my IPAs - it’s why I buy them - but this was so pleasantly easy to drink that I promptly cracked another one.
It’s a great beer for people who operate on mountain time.
Like most mountain towns around the world, Boone is a laid-back place. Your biggest non-student concerns are making it off the trails before dark and hoping the burrito at your post-hike meal passes the forearm test. Lost Province’s marketing plays on the shared enjoyment of the outdoors that the residents (current and former) take pride in. Their uncomplicated IPA reflects the easygoing spirit of downtown Boone - unpretentious and accessible to locals and tourists alike. Seasoned IPA drinkers may find its simplicity and dialed-back hops a little disappointing, but as a cold pint with a big meal (Lost Province also has a restaurant), you might change your mind! ◉
Written by Seth Barham
