Fernie Brewing Co – Thunder Meadows IPA

Fernie Brewing Co – Thunder Meadows IPA Review

If you know me, you know I love my hops, I just can’t get enough! So, naturally, when I see a new IPA on the liquor store shelf I grab it. Fernie Brewing came out with an IPA series in 2020 with a new release every two months, so it’s been a fun IPA adventure, with the series having a wide variety of IPA styles over the last year.

The Thunder Meadows IPA ( named after a cabin located in the Lizard Range mountain range), is a West Coast-style IPA, but it is not the truly classic, grapefruity bitterness with high resin mouthfeel that we expect- Its a little more subtle. The choice of hops used for this ale is a blend of Simcoe, Ekuanot, and Idaho 7 (not the classic “C” hops), that provide a combination of citrusy, earthy, and pine notes and aromas.

The beer pours clear, and lightly carbonated with a big mousse-like head that dissipates quickly. A bit of wheat and oats has been added to the malt bill to give it a nice full body. It may also be the reason why the bitterness and resinous are on the light side. For a 6.7% abv, it is remarkably easy-drinking beer. Since its original release in November of 2020, it became such a hit with the Fernie locals that it has been added on to the “Year-Round” beers, or at least until the end of the summer. Enjoy while you can, and looking forward to the next IPA in the series.