I have to admit that this isn’t my favourite hop, but Arbor have still managed to make a beer that I like very much.
I find Galaxy can be a bit soapy and lathery on my tongue rather than having the oiliness I enjoy from heavily hopped beer.
The aroma here is bold and shiny mangoes and citrus leaves with a vague hint of vegetation.
I’m guessing (and it’s just a guess) that Arbor are using the same malt recipe for each of their single hop IPA’s, and this one certainly feels familiar.
There’s burned sugars turning to caramel, and a crumbly hint of biscuit.
It’s just enough to hold this up, the softness of the malts are rather beautiful in their fragility.
This though is all about Galaxy.
With great big bands of all things citrus, this isn’t grated rind and a twist of juice, this is a blender full of limes, lemons and grapefruits with a pithy, zingy, dry beauty.
Galaxy gives you a nice fleshiness too, but for me it’s still that feel of soap on my tongue that stops this being totally wonderful.
Mind you, it’s still bloody good.