On Tap.

The Boss Raptor IPA From Denton's New Audacity Brew House Lacks Just A Little Bite.

Welcome to On Tap! Each week in this recurring feature, we'll take an in-depth look at one of the many beers now available in the suddenly crowded North Texas brew scene. The goal here is to look at these area beers without our local goggles on and to wonder aloud, “Is this beer good or do I just like it because it's local?” Should be a fun experiment, no? Cheers to that!

This week, we sipped on Audacity Brew House's Boss Raptor IPA.

Fast Facts on Audacity Brew House Boss Raptor IPA.
• Style: India Pale Ale.
• ABV: 6.5 percent.
• International Bitterness Units (IBUs): 72.
• Color: Medium amber.
• Availability: Year-round.

Overview.
Audacity Brew House is Denton's first production brewery. And before you protest: No, that designation does not actually belong to Armadillo Ale Works. That company, turns out, doesn't run its production in Denton; rather, they contract their brewing through Deep Ellum Brewing Co..

Having opened its doors in mid-October of this year, Audacity certainly has some credibility behind its business thanks to brewmaster Doug Smith, who brings eight years of professional brewing experience to the ownership group.

In turn, you can already find Audacity beers in most of North Texas' craft beer-centric establishments. Boss Raptor IPA is the company's American Style IPA, and it's been dry-hopped for some extra tasty hop aromas.

Background on India Pale Ales.
For a good background in the India Pale Ale style, see our review of Community's Mosaic IPA

Appearance.
Bossman pours a hazy medium amber with a thin, slightly off-white head. The head fades very quickly, leaving an ultra-thin film across the top of the beer. IPAs aren't typically known to be cloudy or hazy, but because of the dry-hopping process this is an acceptable trait.

Aroma.
Faint citrus hops are prevalent here, as is a slight mineral and earthy quality. The aromas are pleasant, but perhaps muted for the style, which is surprising that dry-hopping should result in a more intense hop aroma.

Flavor.
Throughout the Boss Raptor IPA, you'll note a clean bitterness, with a slightly amplified malt backbone due to some elevated caramel and toasty flavors. Boss Raptor also benefits from some pleasant hop flavors that leave impressions of of citrus, pine and fruit. Perhaps more important: The hop bitterness, which can be intense for many beers in this style, feels well-balanced and not too overpowering.

Mouthfeel.
This one has a medium mouthfeel, with a clean, mostly dry finish.

Overall Impression.
Audacity's Boss Man IPA, while not the best IPA in town, isn’t the worst either.

This beer does a fairly good job of showcasing hop aromas and flavors — but it's ultimately the lack of a strong hop aroma or a strong malt backbone that detracts more than contributes to the beer’s flavor profile.

Put simply: This is a solid, if middle-of-the-road beer. There's just nothing that particularly stands out about this beer, good or bad. It's mostly well-executed, has a mostly clean and true-to-style flavor profile, but given the choice between a Boss Raptor IPA and, say, Peticolas' Trilla in Brazilla, Community's Mosiac or Four Corners' El Chingon, I'd choose any of the latter pack.

Score.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give Boss Raptor IPA a 7.

What's happening in the area brew scene? (Powered by Dallas Brew Scene.)
• Friday, December 12. Panther Island Brewing's Grand Opening.
• Saturday, December 13. 2014 Bourbon Barrel Temptress Release Party at Lakewood Brewing.
• Saturday, December 13. One-Year Anniversary Party at Rabbit Hole Brewing.

Previous On Tap Reviews:
• Peticolas' Royal Scandal: 10.
• Community's Mosaic IPA: 10.
• Peticolas' Velvet Hammer: 10.
• Community's Legion: 10.
• Community's Ascension Porter: 9.5.
• Lakewood's Temptress: 9.5.
• Lakewood's Goatman: 9.5.
• Community's Public Ale: 9.5.
• Peticolas' Thrilla in Brazilla: 9.5.
• Revolver's Blood & Honey: 9.
• Martin House's Imperial Texan: 9.
• Community's Trinity Tripel: 9.
• Peticolas' Irish Goodbye: 9.
• Four Corners' Block Party Porter: 9.
• Cedar Creek's Belgian Dubbel: 9.
• Deep Ellum's Oak Cliff Coffee Ale: 8.5.
• Lakewood's Rock Ryder: 8.5.
• Rahr's Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer: 8.5.
• Lakewood's Raspberry Temptress: 8.5.
• Lakewood's Punkel: 8.
• Four Corners' El Chingon IPA: 8.
• Martin House's Day Break: 8.
• Deep Ellum's GOURDzilla: 8.
• Peticolas' The Duke (Aged 12 Months): 8.
• Deep Ellum's Pale Ale: 8.
• Revolver's Bock: 8.
• 903 Brewers' Sasquatch: 8.
• Peticolas' Wintervention: 8.
• Armadillo Ale Works' Brunch Money: 8.
• Martin House's Salsa Verde: 8.
• Cedar Creek's Spinning Mule Robust Porter: 8.
• Lakewood's Holiday Bonus: 8.
• Lakewood's Hop Trapp: 8.
• Martin House's Rubberneck Red: 7.5.
• Lakewood's Antigoon's Revenge: 7.5.
• Community's Texas Pils: 7.5.
• Lakewood's Zomer Pils: 7.5.
• Cedar Creek's Dankosaurus: 7.5.
• Deep Ellum IPA: 7.
• Cedar Creek's The Lawn Ranger: 7.
• Martin House Brewing Company's Cellarman's Reserve IPA (Amarillo).: 7.
• Lakewood's Till & Toil: 7.
• 903 Brewers' The Chosen One: 7.
• 903 Brewers' Sugar On Top: 7.
• Martin House's Gateway XPA: 7.
• Armadillo Ale Work's Quakertown Stout: 7.
• Revolver's High Brass: 7.
• Community's Pale Ale: 7.
• Martin House's River House: 7.
• Grapevine Craft Brewery's Sir William's Brown Ale: 7.
• Community's Funnel Cake Ale: 7.
• Peticolas' The Duke: 6.5.
• Deep Ellum's Double Brown Stout : 6.5.
• Cedar Creek's Elliott's Phoned Home Pale Ale: 6
• Grapevine Craft Brewery's Lakefire: 6
• Armadillo Ale Works' WunderMelon: 6
• Deep Ellum Pale Ale: 6
• Lakewood's La Dame Du Lac: 5.5.
• Deep Ellum's Numb Comfort: 5.
• Grapevine's Monarch: 4.
• Franconia Wheat: 3.
• Miller Lite: 1.