Beer Review: Stillwater Artisanal Mainstream Pop Song

When I normally see Stillwater Artisanal Ales, I instantly think of Saisons; every one I’ve had has been really good. So when I was looking for a good IPA on night, I came across Mainstream Pop Song and gave it a shot.

ABV: 8.00%
IBU: N/A
Style: IPA – Imperial/Double
Brewery Description: “Just a new school IPA packed with the hit hops Citra, Amarillo, and Mosaic!” That’s directly from owner Brian, when I couldn’t find the beer on their website.

Appearance: First off, the can is poking a little fun at the Now! That’s What I Call Music discs that were huge 15 years go. The beers pours a golden orange with a decent amount of haze, which is less than most other NE IPAs. Lots of head that dissipates with decent lacing.

Smell: While the malt is pretty prevalent, there is a lot of hop flavor. You get citrus and pineapple coming through. It’s a nice mix.

Taste: This is a little maltier than I was expecting, but the citrus hops still come through. Not overly bitter like a lot of other Imperial IPAs, which is probably due to the NE Style.

Mouth: It’s a very balanced feel to it; the fruit and malt work well together. It’s not your bitter IPA, but something a little more drinkable. The booze really comes through though, so a 4-pack might be the perfect amount.

Overall: For someone constantly looking for good NE Style IPAs, this was a good attempt. It’s not as hazy as others in the style, but it’s got the same taste. Definitely worth picking up if you find it. Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Beer Advocate score is 85.7% (4.11 in 14 ratings) and ranked 12,820. Untappd has it as 3.96 with 1039 ratings.

Have a beer you’d like to see reviewed? Are you a brewery and want some extra exposure? Let me know here.