I am a big fan of anyone who attempts to brew beer at home- it’s complicated business. There is a lot that can go wrong during the fermentation process, which can result in some seriously funky, and potentially disastrous brew.
That being said, when one of your friends attempts home-brewing greatness, the results can also be apocalyptically good. Such is the case with Mike Franklin and his home-brewed IPA.
Mike’s beer was all freshness and light, amazingly floral on the nose- and redolent of jasmine tea and lemon blossoms. The palate was full of crackling, lemony hop-flavor, curbed by an immediate and bracing bitterness. I also discovered notes of freshly cut grass and those malty, bready, yeasty aromas hovering within the finish. The mouth-feel was also masterful- soft and full-bodied with a very fine and even carbonation.
Cheers to you, Mike Franklin.