First Posted: 4/29/2015

Description: Missile IPA pours a light copper with frothy head that lingers long and leaves a beautiful lacing on the glass. The aroma is full of citrus hop notes and backed with hints of pine and sweet malts. The taste follows the nose with citrus hops up front. These hints of oranges and grapefruit are quickly followed by sweet malts. Notes of pine make a quick appearance before wrapping up with a long dry finish that leaves you wanting more. The medium body and moderate carbonation make for a beer with a smooth mouth-feel that is at once incredibly crisp, effervescent and refreshing. This is a perfectly balanced IPA, incorporating strong hop notes without being overly bitter. This brew certainly leaves you wanting more — the mark of any great IPA.

Food pairing: The citrus notes and semi-sweet malts make this a well-balanced, light, crisp beer that is perfect with a wide array of dishes. Try pairing Missile IPA with any number of Mexican dishes, but those that are lighter and better for lunch are best. Missile IPA goes best with burritos, tostadas, tacos or quesadillas. The hops will perfectly compliment any spices, while the malts will latch onto the wraps and help quell any kick from the spices. The lighter qualities of the beer also make it a wonderful pairing with salad, especially a salad topped with grilled chicken and a spicy dressing. Missile IPA is also a great beer to have on hand for any number of other classic dishes loved by Americans such as cheeseburgers, fried chicken and pizza.

Glassware: Well-brewed IPA’s are full of hoppy aroma, so a glass which captures that aroma is always called for when looking to enjoy the beer to its utmost potential. The Spiegelau IPA glass is the best choice for the beer while a tulip or Willi Becher pub glass will also service the beer quite well.

The Final Word: Champion Brewing from Charlottesville, Virginia, has been making some great beers and has built up a great reputation in a relatively short period of time. The brewery built a solid following with their Missile IPA and Killer Kolsch, both of which are widely available in the area. The brewery has also brewed some great collaborations beers including one with punk legends NOFX. They have also brewed an incredible Russian Imperial Stout named Peter the Great that is currently only available at the brewery. It seems that no matter what style of beer Champion Brewing decides to try, they put time and love into their brewing. With dedication like that, it is easy to see why the results are delicious! Champion Brewing is most definitely a brewery that has earned its fantastic reputation!

Where can I get it? : Currently available in 12 oz. cans at: Cooper’s Seafood House- Scranton; Wegmans- Dickson City and Wilkes Barre

Remember, enjoy responsibly!