Bissell Brothers Swish
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Tasting Notes
Swish pours with the dense, hazy character that defines Bissell Brothers' house style, leading with an aromatic wave of ripe tropical fruit — think mango, papaya, and a squeeze of citrus peel. On the palate, the hop intensity is front-loaded and juicy rather than aggressively bitter, with the elevated malt base providing enough backbone to keep things from feeling thin. The body is full and almost pillowy, a hallmark of the New England approach to double IPAs. The finish lingers with soft resinous warmth rather than a sharp bite, with the 8% ABV integrating smoothly enough that it doesn't announce itself loudly.
About the Brewery
Bissell Brothers is based in Portland, Maine, and has been one of the most influential breweries in the Northeast hazy IPA movement since opening in 2013. Founded by brothers Peter and Noah Bissell, the brewery built its reputation almost entirely on soft, fruit-forward, unfiltered IPAs before expanding its range. Their taproom on Thompson's Point became a regional destination, and their beers — often released in limited runs — tend to move quickly and generate serious enthusiasm among hop-focused drinkers.
Food Pairings
The ripe tropical fruit and soft bitterness here work well with spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes, where the hop character cuts through chili heat without amplifying it. A rich, creamy burrata with stone fruit plays directly into the beer's mango and papaya notes. Grilled pork with a fruit-forward glaze mirrors the sweetness while the carbonation keeps each bite feeling clean. Aged cheddar offers enough sharpness to contrast the pillowy body and bring out the resinous back end. Fish tacos with a mango salsa are almost a direct echo of what's already happening in the glass.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial IPAs take the hop-forward template of a standard American IPA and scale everything up — more malt to support a higher ABV (typically 7.5–10%), more hops for aroma and bitterness, and a fuller body overall. The style emerged from American craft brewing in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with breweries like Russian River and Stone helping define the category. When brewed in the New England style, as Swish is, the bitterness is dialed back relative to West Coast interpretations, with the emphasis shifting toward unfiltered haze, soft mouthfeel, and intense fruit-forward aroma over sharp, resinous bite.