Oniony Delight

Hop Concept IPA Citra & Azacca from Port Brewing is an IPA from Port Brewing's Hop Concept brand that consists of a series of releases that highlight and pair specific hop varieties.  Its most recent beer combines Citra and Azacca hops.  The two hops alone are supposed to produce citrus, tropical, and melon flavors, but I found that together these characteristics cancel out.  To me, the beer's aroma was liquefied and brimmed with fresh earth and onions, not a fruity tropical island paradise.   It smelled and tasted like the outdoors on a damp day.  I enjoy cold damp days.  Citra & Azacca had a pointed upfront bitterness that swept away other flavors and planted itself squarely on my tongue.  The absence of citrus brought a welcome seriousness to the beer.  Its 8% abv was serious, too, but any alcoholic heat was buried under the bitter onions.  The strong hop resins gave a long finish that lingered as a reminder to what a drinkable and enjoyable beer Port Brewing created with Hop Concept Citra & Azacca.