Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Brewery: Weyerbacher
Location: Easton, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B-

Today's tasting is a Double IPA from Weyerbacher. Weyerbacher brews this IPA using Simcoe hops, which is a fairly new variety first bred in 2000. Simcoe is most commonly used as a bittering hop, but has the potential for some complex aromatic properties.

The Simcoe Double IPA is a hazy dark amber-brown. The head pours thick with a short cascading effect, leaving a 3-finger thick light tan head. The nose has citrus, sweet cereal, and an aroma reminiscent of a juicy white wine (such as a Riesling).

On the palate, the bitter hops make themselves known right away. There are sweet notes of caramel, along with some wine flavors. There are some floral and herbal hops notes present, but for the most part this beer is dominated by a resinous, oily, bitter hop character. The finish has more lingering hop resin. The Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA has a fairly heavy body, which holds up well to the powerful bitter hop note.

As much as I like bitter, hoppy beer, I think the Double Simcoe overdoes it a bit. The bitterness just seems to overpower a lot of the other flavors here. It's a good IPA for bitter hop fans, but this wouldn't be an everyday beer for me.