I have many years of beer tasting and homebrewing under my belt, and I have a good understanding of what it takes to create a good beer.  With that in mind, I would have to say that Labyrinth has created what some might call… a masterpiece.

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Triple Love Juice is the high-octane version of their flagship beer, Turbo Love Juice.  This Triple New England style, hazy IPA is loaded with Cascade, Citra, Loral, and Ekuanot hops. It carries an impressive 11.8% ABV creating a taste sensation that you will not soon forget.  Let’s get to the brass tacks of this beer.

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No Bias Here!

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    I have to admit that I was already a fan of the original Turbo Love Juice long before I ever tried its successor, but I always try to go in without bias, keeping an open mind.  

 

   As soon as the Beer Wizard, as the servers are referred to at Labyrinth, handed me the glass, the deep, hazy color of this beer captured my interest.  It was capped with a single finger head on it that didn’t have time to recede, as I was all over it.     

 

   The first taste was strong but far from overbearing.  Considering the number of hops put into this craft, that’s quite an achievement.  Speaking of the hops, let’s take a closer look at what we are dealing with here.

 

Big Business

 

   The business of growing and developing hops is no joke these days.  It is a vast industry that has only just begun.  This is an exciting time for craft beer enthusiasts.  With all of these unique new flavors and aromas being developed, we get to experience beers unlike any other in history, and Triple Love Juice is one great example.  Let me get off this rabbit trail and move on to the hops.

 

The Hops Breakdown

 

Cascade Hops

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   The first hop on the menu is the dual-purpose Cascade.  This is one of the most popular hops in America, consuming 10% of the hops market, and rightfully so.  With its floral aroma and bursting citrus flavor, we can see why it's a “go-to” and why Labyrinth chose wisely to utilize them.  

 

Citra Hops

 

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   Next on the list is the extremely popular Citra. A quote from Hopslist.com about Citra Hops: “American aroma hop Citra was created by John I. Haas, Inc. and Select Botanicals Group joint venture, the Hop Breeding Company.  It was released to the brewing world in 2008. Now one of the most coveted high-impact aromas hops in the US, particularly among craft brewers….”  

    The great demand for Citra hops is due to its high alpha acid concentration creating a solid yet smooth floral and citrus aroma and flavor.  People have many different descriptions concerning the aroma these hops produce.   They’ll sniff their beer and say that they smell notes of grapefruit, citrus, peach, melon, lime, gooseberry, and passion fruit.  That’s quite a list.  All I know is that the Citra hop was a great choice to help maximize the bouquet of this beer.

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Ekuanot Hops (pronounced Ee-kwá-not)

 

 

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   Formerly known as Equinox, Ekuanot is a multifaceted finishing hop combining a high oil content with solid impressions of citrus, tropical fruit, and herbs making this an excellent choice by Labyrinth’s production team.  When you pour out any of the beers in the Turbo Love Juice series, the aroma is one of their most captivating qualities.  The Ekuanot is a great contributor to that aroma.

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Loral Hops

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   Last but most certainly not least, we have  Loral hops.  Loral hops are referred to as a Versatile “Super Noble” Variety.  According to the developers, once again,  John I. Haas, Inc. and Select Botanicals Group joint venture, “Loral has an interesting mix of the pleasant floral, herbal, and peppery noble character along with notes of lemon-citrus and dark fruit.  The floral, fruity, citrus character tends to be more prominent in a beer made with this hop, while the qualities of earthy and herbal notes stay more subdued.” (kegerator.com)

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With Great Hops Comes Great Responsibility

 

   This combination of hops tells me that Labyrinth Brewing Company put their big boy pants on and went to work to create a beer that stands out amongst the vast crowd of IPAs.  But here’s the thing… from what I have seen at Labyrinth, I don’t believe that they created any of their beers to “beat out the competition.”  I think they do what they do because they love the art of brewing.  They love to watch their customers enjoying their products.  So they take great pride in their work, and it shows.

   

   Even though the hops listed here are considered to be heavy hitters, this is what I experienced when taking my first  “Sniff & Sip.” 

 

The Sniff & Sip

 

  There were taste notes of orange, pineapple, and even a slight mango in the background that I found to quell the intense bitterness of a typical IPA, but not too sweet like some frilly drink.  

   It had a perfect balance in its design, giving me a reason to go back for a second… or even a third. (Drink responsibly, people!)  That lazy, hazy body left me with a creamy mouthfeel that didn’t make me feel like I needed a bag of salty chips to bang it down.

   Overall, I would have to say, “Great job Labyrinth Brewing Company!”  I give this beer 4.5 mugs out of 5.

 

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Get There

 

   If you are ever in the Hartford area of Connecticut, it would be well worth your trip to get to Labyrinth Brewing Company.  I think it’s worth traveling from many other locations, but this is from the guy who has planned vacations around breweries.

 

Talk to Me!

 

   I want to hear from you now.  

• Have you had the chance to try any of the Turbo Love Juice series of beers?

• Have you ever been to Labyrinth?

• Do you plan brewery vacations too?

• Do you have a favorite beer that you want me to review?

 

   Leave me a comment in the box provided below.  Please check out our Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube channel.  Be sure to Like, comment, subscribe, and all that good stuff.  We’ll see you there.

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