Copper to brown in color. On the nose, malty, lots of toasted oats, brown sugar, with subtle grapefruit and hop character. On the palate, good balance between hop, malt, and fruit, with good weight and a good finish. Nothing overly complex or exciting, but a solid beer, with a big punch to it.
Archive for the ‘Double IPA’ Category
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Great Divide 16th Anniversary DIPA
Had last years edition at the Big Wood festival and had a bottle of it a few months later when the beer had about a year on it. This years brew is a step up from last years but very similar. They call this one a double IPA aged on oak chips, same as last year. More woody flavor, with some honey graham cracker and a bitterly floral finish round this beer out nicely. The balance of sweet and smokey in this beer is a flavor profile which definitely arouses my palate. If there is such a thing as a taste bud boner, I totally have one. I am looking forward to putting a few of these aside for a while because last years developed into a fantastic bottle of beer after about a year.
Stone Brewing Co. 14 Emperial IPA
Stone made this one with all British ingredients. What a shame when we have so much more to offer here in the northwest! That said, this was a decent offering. Spicy, herbal, slight citrus, big bitter hoppiness. Some apricot with a hidden sweetness that teases, but almost all peppery bite. Medium mouth feel. Not ass water.
Midnight Sun Brewing Co. Mayhem
A Belgian-Style Double IPA. Decent addition to the style. Tons of pine, herbs, sweet citrus. Hints of Belgian yeast, but not as much as I like in the style. LONG bitter finish. Poured a nice dark gold, clear, with solid sandy head. Went nice with spicy red beans and rice covered with lime juice. I won’t buy it again but would try it on draft.
Old School House Brewery Imperial IPA
Yum! Those boys in Winthrop make some mean ales! This edition makes my prized list of Island IPA’s. Nose and mouth agree on all aspects of this beer; semi sweet citrus, smooth bitterness, tangible booze. Clear and clean. Striking resemblance to Pliny! Keep it up Winthrop!!
He’brew R.I.P.A. on Rye
I’m just starting to learn about all the small batches of huge beers being aged in barrels of booze. They have wine-like body, and big-time alcohol, and pair well with big fatty meats. This beer could prove to be the best beer to have with braised short ribs. Amber to copper color. On the nose, medium+ intensity, caramel, coffee, toffee, honey, and layered with spices and cider tones, just about pure candy with some smoke. On the palate, big, alcoholic, and rich, very much like a dessert, with a big rock candy finish.
Avery Maharaja Double IPA
Copper color. on the nose, medium+ intensity, grapefruit, weed, resin, grass, oates, and skunky hoppy and floral. O. the palate, medium intensity, nicely balanced, bitter hops, floral hops, with good body, and solid very solid finish. I have been waiting a while to taste this beer, as I ended up on the wrong side of empty kegs, too many times, great beer with great balance, and worth the weight.
He'brew R.I.P.A. on Rye!!!
YEE HAW!! Everytime I ‘find’ my favorite beer, I go and find it again! This is it, presently. Just grabbed a case! I’ve always liked the R.I.P.A. but never considered it a favorite, but this whole ipa on wood thing is killing it! Great Divide, Southern Tier, Cigar City….people are doing it well! For an ipa to take gold at G.A.B.F. in the wood aged beer category is insane, but shows how much time and care is being given to this style. This bad ass is whiskey in your face! If you don’t like the Whiskey, stay far away from this beer! There’s still a hoppiness detectable on the nose and palate, but you have to work to find it. I gotta go open one now….
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery 90 Minute IPA
Word on the street is that this beer is continuously hopped for 90 minutes hence the name. A process created by Dogfish Head guru and author, Sam Calagione Copper to amber color. On the nose, lots of roasted malt flavors, medium+ intensity, toffee, cocoa, honey, herbs, with subtle floral hops. On the palate, nice balance, very light floral hop element, with caramel apple, and moderate alcohol! I thought this would be more hoppy, but was impressed with its sweetness and balance, even if the hops are a minor player.
Stone Ruination Double IPA
A good re-visit of this power-house DIPA from one of the badest breweries in our nation. Orange amber color with a medium sized head. On the nose, medium+ intensity, ruby red grapefruit, weed, toasted, malted oats, brown sugar, and spices. On the palate, medium intensity, balanced, layered, delicious, with good moderation on the bitterness of the hops, with still achieving a hoppy beer.