Massachusetts-based Clown Shoes Beer sent me a four-pack of its Rainbows Are Real back at the end of June, in part to celebrate Pride Month and in part to announce the beer as its first IPA brewed with terpenes. There aren’t many beers on the market with added terpenes (other than what you would find naturally in hops), and with this one the brewery added linalool and beta-pinene. Here’s why (from the press release):

Research has indicated that terpenes have potential therapeutic benefits, similar to the soothing effects of aromatherapy. In the case of the two terpenes found in Rainbows are Real, Linalool has been said to provide a feeling of relaxation and calm, while Beta-Pinene is often used to help alleviate pain, inflammation and anxiety.

Terpenes are the primary constituents of the essential oils derived natural from botanical sources, including pine trees, citrus fruits, and yes, hops and cannabis. There’s no mention of the specific sources for the linalool and beta-pinene used in this beer, however, so of course mentioning “hops and cannabis” is intended to imply those are the sources. (In fact, linalool is present in lavender, while pinenes are present in pine and conifer trees).

As it stands, I can’t say that I noticed any of the aforementioned effects, beyond what ethanol already contributes to, while I drank these beers. I don’t know that the terpenes have any particular flavor either, so it’s possible the only sensory element you’ll find from them is aromatic.

At any rate, Clown Shoes crafted a pretty textbook hazy IPA with Rainbows Are Real, with Azacca, Citra, and Mosaic hops all supplementing the two-row malt, Golden Promise, wheat, oats, and honey malt. It’s 6.75% ABV and even though it was introduced during Pride Month, it’s now a year-round beer with national distribution.

The specific can I reviewed with notes was drank on July 4, and was packaged on May 25.

Appearance: Suitably hazy and orange with gold highlights in the color. The ample head is white and wispy and has a bit of lightly-beaten egg white look to it.

Smell: Pineapple, chives/garlic, big lupulin notes that make me think “hop burn.” Despite the malt bill, this aroma is all hops, and they go big with juicy notes, allium, and “heat.” I suspect there’s a terpene influence here with the hop burn but cannot say for sure.

Taste: Hops are the dominant here as well, big notes of them that are full of spicy greens, dandelion and/or nettles, and nicely piney resin-like flavors. There’s bready, wheaty malt that’s soft and pillowy. The bitterness is there but it’s mellow, lingering more into that back of the throat hop burn that’s green and resiny. Not sure if I’m tasting terpenes?

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a nice hop bite and a touch of soft graininess. It’s soft in the malts and there’s a lingering hop resin feel that slightly coats the palate.

Overall: As advertised, this is a textbook New England-style IPA that’s solid and well-built. If you’re looking for that authentic regional hazy character with that hop burn, check this one out.