Backcountry Brewing – Victimless Crime Nelson IPA

Backcountry Brewing – Victimless Crime Nelson IPA Review

Back in January, the BeerSeekers reviewed a set of Backcountry beers that are currently being adding to the Beer Me BC catalog. One of them was Victimless Crime, described as a ‘Nelson IPA” bombed with Nelson and Citra creating big notes of tropical fruit and white grape.

Nelson is the name of a city in BC—and a brewery there—but that has nothing to do with this beer. Here, Backcountry will be referring to Nelson Sauvin, a ‘new world hop’ from New Zealand used to great effect in some Pale Ales and New England-style IPAs.

Being closer to the NEIPA family, Victimless Crime is not just a hop “punch in the mouth”. This is reflected in part in the low bitterness value for an IPA: only 20 IBU.

This appetizing-looking beer poured an appealing orangey gold. On the nose, there was a sharp hop aroma with orange, vanilla and strawberry, and a hint of medicinal herbs.

It was very flavourful and tasty, with a hint of vanilla, honeydew melon and mandarin orange. There was strawberry on the palate in the finish.

On the palate, it was somewhat juicy while at the same time seeming both lactic and faintly astringent, probably from the vinous Nelson hops.

This beer’s drinability belied its substantial ABV. It had some complexity and subtle flavours for what is a relatively alcoholic IPA.