Gizmo Brew Works “Fake News”

Style: New England IPA
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 31

A staple of Raleigh, NC, Gizmo Brew Works has produced a lot of delicious beers that we’ve tried over the years, and we’re featuring their New England IPA, “Fake News,” for today’s NC Beer of the Week review. We’ve reviewed several NEIPAs as of late, but when a style of beer is usually a home run, it’s hard to avoid them. “Fake News” is a year round brew, meaning you should be able to find this beer at many bottle shops and taprooms in East Carolina. Don’t worry – we will keep it real in our full reviews, so read on to see our individual tasting notes!

Nick’s Take

When describing beer color, I thought I had run out of adjectives or hues that I hadn’t already used many times before. I was considering going to a home improvement store to pick up some paint swatches for inspiration (“This IPA was a nice hazy…Forsythia color that bordered on…Goldfinch”). However, when I poured “Fake News” I was reminded of those little wrapped butterscotch candies you get from your grandparents’ house. The white head that accompanied it was full and fluffy, but dissipated after a few minutes in the glass, leaving just a ring and some lace on the walls.

My initial smells from this NEIPA produced lots of orange and citrus aromas. Tangerine and maybe a splash of grapefruit, while also smelling some dank hops. It was juicy, dank, and floral at times. I very much enjoyed the array of smells from the different hops used in this brew.

“Fake News” carried a nice level of carbonation out of the can, giving a bright, crisp mouthfeel upfront. It was light to medium-bodied (lean more toward medium) and felt smooth after the initial bite subsided. It started to dry my mouth a bit after finishing each drink, but didn’t leave me parched or leave a coating.

The hops really come to life on the palate and I think people will find their own collection of tasting notes. Most, like me, will taste lots of juicy citrus flavors, maybe some melon and stone fruit, and then, of course, bitterness on the backend. However, it was a mild bitterness that didn’t overwhelm my taste receptors. I think with my second can, I’m going to look for other flavors, as I think it’s got enough complexity for me to discover more.

I’m grateful that Joe (and Lauren) shared a couple of their cans of “Fake News” with me, as it was a smooth and delicious NEIPA. It’s very sessionable and would be a nice standalone drink, while also pairing well with food. For some reason, Hawaiian pizza was on my mind, as I think the sweet and savory attributes would meld well with the beer.

P.S. “Pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza” is FAKE NEWS.

Joe’s Take

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Time for some “Fake News” – beer that is. This hazy New England style IPA produced by Gizmo Brew Works poured a pale yellow-orange color into my tulip glass. There was a thin, white, foamy head that dropped down somewhat quickly, leaving a thin layer of foam atop the liquid gold below. The beer was hazy but not completely opaque and I could see lights behind the glass shining through it. 

The aroma was juicy, dank, and packed with notes of stone fruit and orange citrus. Like many beer fans, I can’t get enough of those volatile hop compounds that seem to waft off this style of beer like carbon dioxide gas sublimating from a block of dry ice. Using a tulip or IPA glass magnifies this effect and produces some great olfactory sensation.

The mouthfeel of the beer was simple and enjoyable. “Fake News” was medium-bodied, lightly carbonated, and had a smooth texture. On the finish, the beer was drying and left me wanting another sip. 

The flavor of the beer mimicked the aroma and was packed with notes of stone fruit, citrus (in the form of oranges), and a light malty character to back up all of that hop action. The beer was definitely hop forward though, and this is what NEIPAs are known for – gobs of aroma hops thrown in during the end of the boil or at the whirlpool stage (not to mention dry-hopping). For me, the result of this process is an easily drinkable beer and a go-to in tasting rooms. I think that these brews are easy to pair with foods and tend to go well with some of my favorites: burgers, tacos, and various other fare a food truck may bring to a brewery. 

“Fake News” has some real drinkability and the combination of mild bitterness, drying finish, juicy hop aromas, and moderate ABV would make this a go-to brew on a back porch summer day. Let us know what you think of the beer in the comments below!