A floral hop aroma (think roses) with sweet honeycomb and a touch of toasted malt rises from the big bubbles of this cloudy, muted dark orange brew. On the tongue, Mean Manalishi is extremely straightforward. Slightly toasted bready malts hit the tongue and shoot right to the back of the mouth, picking up some grapefruit flavor along the way. Toward the back of the swallow, bitterness rises to usher the flavors off the palate and sticks to the back of the throat. Overall, this brew’s quick on the tongue, light for the style and doesn’t expand to reveal much depth. Still, it’s an enjoyable ride, and a suitable entrypoint for IPA drinkers looking to step up to the next level of intensity.
