Wiseacre’s newest IPA is a ‘Pleasure Barge’ of hop excess

Pleasure Barge, the newest limited-release IPA from Wiseacre Brewing Co., packs a wallop of peachy, pungent aromas.

The hazy, orange-hued beer, 6% ABV, which was brewed with an abundance of Mosaic, Citra, Idaho 7, and Chinook hops, was released last week.

While beers from Wiseacre can be purchased in 21 states, this one is available only in the brewery’s two Memphis taprooms — and only on draft.

However, it’s certainly worthy of a much wider release.

“This beer is a bit of an experiment in whirlpool hop methods, and I think it turned out great,” Davin Bartosch, Wiseacre’s brewmaster and co-founder, told Memphis Beer Blog.

“It is the best hop aroma expression that we have been able to coax out of the new age hops. Lots of nectarine, pine, pineapple, orange peel, and guava.

“Huge piles of hops were added.”

That hop excess was the inspiration behind the beer’s name, a nod to cruising on a slow-moving boat with only relaxation on the mind.

“I kept thinking of Egyptian barges where everyone just enjoyed themselves,” Bartosch said, “with no real destination or purpose, and lots of libations.”