21 Nov Galveston Island Citra Mellow by Tony

Citra Mellow

Galveston Island Brewing

Galveston, TX

IPA

ABV: 6.4%

IBUs: 38

Packaging: Draft, 12oz. Cans

Galveston is a special place – a quiet island with a ton of local pride – so much so, that locals refer to themselves as BOI, or born on island. Citra Mellow’s BOI, brewed on island, and it shares a bit of that same local pride, as it was humbly named by a local patron as he sat atop a barstool in the taproom at the brewery. “It’s Citra. It’s mellow. It’s Citra Mellow.” Maybe it’s the artwork, but when Deen told me that story, I couldn’t help but picture some Chong-looking, old, surfer burnout dude. Go back and read it again with that voice.

Citra Mellow is a special beer, and it’s the second one that Galveston Island Brewing has began canning. The team and I have been on a hunt for the last few weeks to gather a handful of certain “special” beers from around the Greater Houston area, and Citra Mellow was on that list. (More info on why it’s special soon.)

We got word that Galveston Island Brewing had started canning Citra Mellow, and the day the cans were available, we made a drive down to Galveston for a couple 6 packs.

Citra Mellow starts off with a little dank, hop bitterness on the tongue, and that transforms into the sweet, malty backbone. Then there’s a grassy, citrusy, hop aftertaste that makes way for a bitterness to coat the tongue. This after taste and bitterness increase as it warms up. Just as the aftertaste develops, there’s a hint of honeydew melon – this is something new to me, but I really dig it.

Citra Mellow reminds me a bit of Hopadillo in it’s own unique way. It’s a bit more dank and a little more earthy, but I think this might just be my next go-to IPA.

I’m giving it a 4.5 because I love it.

Citra Mellow pours a slightly hazy, amber-golden color. It’s got a pretty creamy mouthfeel for a single IPA, and based on color and body, I bet it could be mistaken as a double in a taste test. Citra Mellow pours with a creamy, off-white head that leaves a frothy wake of lace in its path. Like sea foam + hops.

Blown. Away. Completely.

The artwork dawning the Citra Mellow can has a super groovy feel to it. A psychedelic looking green/yellow/orange pattern acts as the background while some 60’s typography shouts Citra Mellow in the center of the can. The top of their cans have a blue and yellow wave pattern that’ll help you find them on the shelf.

Galveston Island Brewing isn’t distributed everywhere just yet, but you can find their beers here. They’re usually located on the Southeast side of town, all the way down 45 to Galveston, but they’ve made it as far into Houston as the Specs downtown.

I really enjoyed Citra Mellow, and the drive was well worth it. I also had their DIPA version of it while picking up the cans, and it didn’t disappoint either. Have you had either of these, and if so, what’d you think? Let us know in the comments below.