Ever had a beer that just doesn’t work for you? For me, that’s the case with Troegs First Cut IPA. This is a fruit IPA that uses mango as an ingredient, cashing in on the current craze for tropical fruity hops. Of course, you can just add tropical fruit if that’s what you’re after, as Troegs seems to be doing here. In the end, though, we get a beer that can’t decide if it wants to be an IPA or a fruit beer.
I’m quite sure that Troegs doesn’t see it that way, so let’s see what way they do see it. From the can label:
Each spring, hop growers dust off their pruning shears and trim the first shoots, bolstering the bines for a rich growing season. First Cut – a mouthful of silky Simcoe and a touch of mango – is a nod to this ritual, without which the world would be a less hoppy place.
Troegs First Cut IPA has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume with 45 IBUs. It’s not sold in Georgia (I got my can from the ever-generous Jeff Evans) but it is sold at Total Wine in North Carolina for $10.99 a six-pack. It’s a spring seasonal, my can is dated as best by 6/09/2017 and I drank it on April 9th.
Troegs First Cut IPA pours to a deep amber color with a thick foamy head and a luscious fruity mango nose. Taking a sip, the beer is a little caramel malty up front but the malt quickly recedes in deference to the fruit. I get mango but also apricot notes, and the beer is delicately balanced between the fruit and the malt and at the last the gently bitter hops. It is not cloying at all and well attenuated.
Troegs First Cut IPA is not a bad beer and it is refreshing, but I found that instead of working in harmony the fruit clashes a bit with the grassy bitter hops at the last. Recently, I had Anchor Mango Wheat and felt that beer better presented the signature fruit. If I want an IPA, then I’ll have one of those. Nice to have tried, but I doubt I would buy Troegs First Cut IPA again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft