A throwback review from a beer I brought back from mine and my girlfriend’s trip to Krakow, Poland. Pinta Nifty is a micro hazy IPA which was something I hadn’t heard of until I saw this can. So, I tried it and thought I need to try this in order to experience something new. Whilst, I was in Poland I never got a chance to drink it there, so I snuck it back in my suitcase. So anyways, during this review I will cover the history, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally my verdict.
A brewery that sparked revolution.
PINTA was founded in 2011 and performed its first commercial brew in the same year. The first beer created was Atak Chmielu which was considered to be the spark that ignited the craft beer revolution in Poland. Starting off in a 5hl home brewkit, in 2019, they finally expanded to a dedicated brewery in Wieprz. Since then, their output has dramatically increased and they now brew using a variety of different hops, yeasts and bacterias. They have become famous for their experimentation and crossing different boundaries of beer styles. As of today, Pinta is a leading Polish brewery known for bold hop forward beers.
Pinta Nifty is a micro hazy IPA which refers to a lower alcohol content while trying to preserve hop character. Its ABV is 3% which makes it ideal for a sessionable beer. The micro hazy is brewed using oats and hops such as Sabro, Citra, Nelson Sauvin and HBC 1019. This beer is pasteurised and unfiltered and is part of Pinta’s ongoing experimentation. According to Pinta, this was created to combine an uncompromising hop profile which super drinkability.
A light but hazy pour
When poured, Pinta Nifty presents a pale straw colour which is clearly very hazy. The body is noticeably opaque with a soft milky haze which reminds of the drink Lilt. This very much matches the appearance of a typical NEIPA. A foamy white head forms which left a small amount of lacing down the glass. Despite its low ABV, it does not look watery and it appears to be quite lively. Overall, a juicy looking and lively IPA.
Micro in ABV, Micro in flavour
Aroma
When it comes to the aroma, the beer was immensely aromatic. Nifty presented flavours of pineapple, mango and peach. It also had a layer of citrus zest, coconut or vanilla. As the aroma progresses, a light grape flavour shines through which is most likely a product of Nelson Sauvin, the white wine type hop. The malt is quite restrained which is most likely a product of the ABV. Overall, a surprisingly impressive aroma.
Taste
The taste mostly follows on from the aroma but much more restrained. It still carries the same fruity depth from the hops but not as intense. The body is soft and smooth which adds to its drinkability. The bitterness is quite low and cleanly finished. There is no flavour of malt. This beer kind of lacked the depth of flavour necessary for a hazy IPA. I don’t think this one was for me however the taste was not bad at all.
Time for my verdict
Pinta Nifty Micro Hazy IPA definitely has a place in the market and it is really cool concept in order to push a hop forward beer and keep the ABV at 3%. I just feel in doing this it sacrificed a lot of its depth of character which is essential for a hazy IPA. This overall was not a bad tasting beer, just it left you wanting more from it especially with the difference between taste and aroma. Overall I rate this a 2.5 out of 5, which may be harsh but I really do not think this is for me.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I bought this beer back in August from Zabka in Poland. I can’t remember which one or how much it necessarily cost. Knowing Poland, it was probably cheap as chips.
Thanks for reading this review, I appreciate it. If you enjoyed this review you will love my review of a trio of beers I tried from the Tatra Mountains.
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