Wanna know the best beer I tried in January 2024? See, I have new ideas and new directions this year, and I’ll be trying lots of new things—including new beers, of course. As a little step towards making those new ideas a reality, my occasional brew reviews are gonna be a more regular thing. Like, monthly. I want to share the best beer of each bunch while they’re still on the shelves for others to try!
Mythical Creatures IPA
Tin Whistle Brewing—West Coast IPA 6.0%ABV 50 IBU
I hope the best beer I tried in January 2024 will be on the shelves for a long time. Mythical Creatures by Tin Whistle Brewing is so good, I wish I’d tried it last year so I could have included it in my 2023 write-up and we’d all already be drinking it together by now.
First Look
The label is fantastic. The art leans into the West Coast-ness with our favourite cryptozoological specimens depicted in (what I would describe as) a fun Maurice Sendak-inspired style. I love the Ogopogo!
First Pour
Not typical for a West Coast IPA, Mythical Creatures pours out with a thick, heavy head. Beautiful looking, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of tasting the actual beer. [Off-hand: Tin Whistle also makes the Peach Cream Ale I did recommend last year, so I’m looking forward to the next of their brews I can get my hands on to see if Tin Whistle just has a knack at producing beers that seem creamy.]
The West Coast IPA is a deep, rich brown-amber colour, with a trace of carbonation tickling the glass. While it doesn’t pour hazy—it’s West Coast-style not New England like my new fave, Taylight’s NE IPA—it doesn’t pour clear either. It looks full-bodied.
First Taste
I’m happy to report that Mythical Creatures tastes full-bodied too. Full enough to easily cut through the rich white head. And has the lovely hoppy bitterness you’d expect, with just a hint of funk. A complex brew with interesting hints dancing across the tongue of the enjoyable beer waiting for more than a taste.
Finished Glass
The flavour continues with a well-rounded, rich middle, and has a smooth end—almost biscuity (again like an amber but not). It finishes with a clean aftertaste, without the astringent tartness that comes with many heavy IPAs. Instead of needing another beer to wash out the taste of the last one, you want another because it’s just that tasty.
Well-balanced and well-flavoured, Tin Whistle’s Mythical Creatures IPA both fits nicely with food (although I can’t make pairing recommendations since I think any meal can be improved with a beer, the site recommends fattier foods) while also working on its own for a sip and a chat.
West Coast IPAs to Compare
Don’t expect a Fat Tug—they might both by West Coast IPAs, but Mythical Creatures is doing its own thing. The website write-up claims “piney dank,” but while thick and rich, it’s…not piney? I did note a funkiness, so maybe I shouldn’t quibble. But there it is, the flavours I enjoyed were more fruit than tree. However, the biscuity notes married with the hoppy forwardness remind me of Persephone Brewing’s entire line, including their IPA.
Go try it, and tell me what you think!
