DC Brau / Oskar Blues - "Smells Like Freedom" IPA

Read all about it! Today's beer is an IPA collaboration between DC Brau and Oskar Blues entitled "Smells Like Freedom." It's a 7.00% ABV India Pale Ale billed as having "aromas of cannabis."  This beer, however, isn't just some random stoner brew: it's a political statement.

I am told this is quite a bit of weed

Those of you in DC may know that on February 26th, DC citizens approved local Initiative 71, or the "Legalization of Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana For Personal Use Initiative." Basically it allows DC citizens to possess a small quantity of the stuff, and to have a couple of plants in their house. This seemed to be a strong victory for pro-marijuana activists here in DC. Whether this will stand or not is another story; Washington DC is as you may know under the yoke of the U.S. Congress. Residents of DC have neither a vote in Congress nor the ability to control their own budget. And those in the majority party in Congress have openly vowed to oppose this measure, and have even threatened DC Mayor Muriel Bowser with jail time if she doesn't oppose the lawfully-enacted measure.

For proponents of the measure, all is not lost, however - in honor of this local victory, DC Brau has teamed up with Oskar Blues to bring us a beer inspired by Initiative 71. Meet the "Smells Like Freedom" IPA. It was initially released on draft only at the brewery and at Meridian Pint for a kickoff event; a week or so later, it came to D'Vines on draft. Here's Rex getting a fill:

Aroma-wise, it's billed as having "aromas of cannibis." Now, I must admit, I am not terribly familiar with how cannibis should smell or taste. But I do know that cannabis is a member of the Cannabaceae family of herbaceous plants; a family that also includes hops! So I can infer what's going to be in that glass. But no sense in speculating when I've got a 64oz jug in front of me...let's dive in. Also note that a few weeks after the initial release, it was canned and sold in select DC establishments. I purchased a 6-pack, in cans, and so for the purpose of this review, the photos are taken with the cans, not "Rex" the growler.

It pours swiftly, a deep orange color, with a foamy, bubbly head. Lots of carbonation bubbles inside.

The nose is very herbal and floral. I do detect a little IPA hops, but not too much. I like the color as well, very hazy yellow / orange with puffy white foam.

Interestingly, it has a very thick, resin-y taste to it. There's a medium-strength hops taste up front, with some herbal flavors tossed in. Not bad. However, after the initial burst of hoppiness, the flavor drops off immediately and gives way to herbal malts with a very mellow finish. That in particular is very interesting to me, since usually there will be some sort of lingering taste on the palette - but with Smells Like Freedom, it's really mellow and almost not noticeable. After a few moments, you almost forget what the beer tasted like - a very interesting characteristic, indeed.

I'm rather intrigued. It displays a lot of the characteristics of an IPA, which it is of course, but I'm very intrigued by the smooth, almost cliff-drop finish. It sure did surprise me, which I don't say too often anymore. It's another entry in the ever-growing catalog of interesting, unique, limited-edition beers that come and go. Sure, it's not my favorite, but it's definitely worth a try - if not to support local DC citizens in their fight for independence, but simply to try a beer outside the norm.