Brewery: Otter Creek Brewing
Location: Middlebury, VT
Style: Black IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
We're following up on our recent review of the perfect Heavy Seas Black Cannon with another Black IPA. Today we have the Otter Creek Alpine Black IPA on tap. The Alpine Black is ebony-amber in color with a thick, foamy dark-tan head. There is a considerable amount of chunky sediment as well, so take care in pouring if you prefer not to have it in your glass. The nose has the classic grapefruit note of Cascade hops along with some smoke.
On the palate the Alpine Black IPA has a long initial fruity lead-in before bitter and smoky notes start to roll in. Hops provide citrus fruitiness and a mild kick of juniper/bitter hop resin. Smoke and roast notes are here, but mainly play a support role to the hops. Also notable are yeast notes and a touch of residual sweetness. The Alpine Black IPA is medium-bodied and juicy, making this a very drinkable beer. The finish has a squirt of lemon over bitter hops notes and black coffee.
In contrast to the Black Cannon that we recently reviewed, the Otter Creek Alpine Black IPA is really more of a fruity IPA with some smokiness as a highlight rather than equal parts porter and IPA. This is just as effective of an interpretation of the style, as the smoke and roasted coffee-like bitterness really play well in supporting the hops-forward flavors of an IPA. The Alpine Black is a great beer with some great flavor. I'm really liking this Black IPA style. I hope more breweries follow the lead that breweries like Otter Creek and Clipper City have set, because there is a wide range of interpretations possible on this style and I want to taste them all.
Showing posts with label IPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IPA. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Heavy Seas Black Cannon
Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Black IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A +
In my glass today is the Black Cannon from Heavy Seas. Black Cannon is a Black IPA and is billed as a dark version of their Loose Cannon IPA. The Black Cannon pours up opaque and reddish-black in color. The head is creamy and dark tan in color. The nose has a big citrus note of Cascade-style hops (actually from Simcoe here) and some faint toast aromas as well.
The main overall impression on the palate is roasted coffee fading in and out with citrusy hops. There is a piny note on the bitter hop side. The roasted malt contributes wheat toast, peat smoke, dark chocolate and caramel. Fruity hops yield flavors of apricot and grapefruit. The Black Cannon is medium-heavy bodied, which is perfect for a big IPA like this. There is a touch of warming alcohol as well. The finish has dark chocolate and espresso paired with lingering citrus.
To put it plainly, if there is one beer to choose as the standard for the ideal Black IPA, then the Black Cannon is your winner. The balance between hops and roast is spot-on. This beer is a perfect marriage between porter and double-IPA. A wide-mouthed glass is highly recommended as the hoppy aroma is intoxicating and entices with each sip. Get some in your glass ASAP; the Heavy Seas Black Cannon is absolute perfection.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Black IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A +
In my glass today is the Black Cannon from Heavy Seas. Black Cannon is a Black IPA and is billed as a dark version of their Loose Cannon IPA. The Black Cannon pours up opaque and reddish-black in color. The head is creamy and dark tan in color. The nose has a big citrus note of Cascade-style hops (actually from Simcoe here) and some faint toast aromas as well.
The main overall impression on the palate is roasted coffee fading in and out with citrusy hops. There is a piny note on the bitter hop side. The roasted malt contributes wheat toast, peat smoke, dark chocolate and caramel. Fruity hops yield flavors of apricot and grapefruit. The Black Cannon is medium-heavy bodied, which is perfect for a big IPA like this. There is a touch of warming alcohol as well. The finish has dark chocolate and espresso paired with lingering citrus.
To put it plainly, if there is one beer to choose as the standard for the ideal Black IPA, then the Black Cannon is your winner. The balance between hops and roast is spot-on. This beer is a perfect marriage between porter and double-IPA. A wide-mouthed glass is highly recommended as the hoppy aroma is intoxicating and entices with each sip. Get some in your glass ASAP; the Heavy Seas Black Cannon is absolute perfection.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Duvel Tripel Hop
Brewery: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat
Location: Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Today we bring you something special, the Duvel Tripel Hop. Duvel is widely regarded as one of Belgium's best breweries, and the Tripel Hop is rather novel for a Belgian brewery. This beer is an infusion of a distinctly American-style hop-forward IPA with a traditional Belgian-style ale. The Tripel Hop is cloudy, honey-gold in color with a white, clumpy-foam head. The nose has fruity/citrus and spicy hops along with a background note of yeast.
On the palate there is a nice spicy (black pepper) hops note. The yeast and malt lead to some cherry and wine notes. Citrus/grapefruit hops make themselves known. The bitter hops show up eventually, but take a while to shine through the juicy malt. There is also some woodiness and a hint of sweetness. The Duvel Tripel Hop has a medium-heavy body and is on the juicy side. The finish has citrus and spice along with lingering juicy notes.
When a brewery the caliber of Duvel takes on a beer such as this, good things almost always happen. The Tripel Hop is no exception. This is a fantastic combination of IPA-meets-tripel, and Belgium-meets-US craft brew. The end result is the best of both worlds. This beer is juicy, rich and loaded with complex hops flavors and aromas. Well worth every penny, this is truly an exceptional beer.
Location: Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
Today we bring you something special, the Duvel Tripel Hop. Duvel is widely regarded as one of Belgium's best breweries, and the Tripel Hop is rather novel for a Belgian brewery. This beer is an infusion of a distinctly American-style hop-forward IPA with a traditional Belgian-style ale. The Tripel Hop is cloudy, honey-gold in color with a white, clumpy-foam head. The nose has fruity/citrus and spicy hops along with a background note of yeast.
On the palate there is a nice spicy (black pepper) hops note. The yeast and malt lead to some cherry and wine notes. Citrus/grapefruit hops make themselves known. The bitter hops show up eventually, but take a while to shine through the juicy malt. There is also some woodiness and a hint of sweetness. The Duvel Tripel Hop has a medium-heavy body and is on the juicy side. The finish has citrus and spice along with lingering juicy notes.
When a brewery the caliber of Duvel takes on a beer such as this, good things almost always happen. The Tripel Hop is no exception. This is a fantastic combination of IPA-meets-tripel, and Belgium-meets-US craft brew. The end result is the best of both worlds. This beer is juicy, rich and loaded with complex hops flavors and aromas. Well worth every penny, this is truly an exceptional beer.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2010
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Location: Chico, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
With the Christmas holiday around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to taste the 2010 Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. The Celebration is Sierra Nevada's holiday seasonal, an IPA brewed with fresh hops. The Celebration is golden-amber in color with a good sized, off-white, clumpy head. The nose has plenty of ripe citrus (grapefruit specifically). There are some fresh cut grass aromas in the background as well.
The palate is hit with a steely hops bitterness with a lingering bite. Pine resin and some herbal hops peek through after the initial grapefruit bitterness begins to soften. There are some grassy and rye bread notes as well. A faint residual sweetness and some wheat toast take a while to show up, but are notable as the hops fade. The Celebration Ale has a chewy, medium-to-heavy body with some astringency. The finish is quite long and features lingering bitter hops with herbal and citrus undertones.
Sierra Nevada really nailed it with this year's Celebration. There is a big hoppy kick that is really highlighted well by the fresh grassiness of the fresh hops. The aroma is fantastic, and the heavier body really holds up well to the big hops flavor. Everything translates to a fantastic fireside sipping IPA. Fresh hop IPA's are best when they are consumed fresh, so snap up some Celebration ASAP.
Location: Chico, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
With the Christmas holiday around the corner, I thought it would be fitting to taste the 2010 Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. The Celebration is Sierra Nevada's holiday seasonal, an IPA brewed with fresh hops. The Celebration is golden-amber in color with a good sized, off-white, clumpy head. The nose has plenty of ripe citrus (grapefruit specifically). There are some fresh cut grass aromas in the background as well.
The palate is hit with a steely hops bitterness with a lingering bite. Pine resin and some herbal hops peek through after the initial grapefruit bitterness begins to soften. There are some grassy and rye bread notes as well. A faint residual sweetness and some wheat toast take a while to show up, but are notable as the hops fade. The Celebration Ale has a chewy, medium-to-heavy body with some astringency. The finish is quite long and features lingering bitter hops with herbal and citrus undertones.
Sierra Nevada really nailed it with this year's Celebration. There is a big hoppy kick that is really highlighted well by the fresh grassiness of the fresh hops. The aroma is fantastic, and the heavier body really holds up well to the big hops flavor. Everything translates to a fantastic fireside sipping IPA. Fresh hop IPA's are best when they are consumed fresh, so snap up some Celebration ASAP.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop³ Ale
Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
In my glass today is the Loose Cannon Hop³ Ale from Clipper City's Heavy Seas line of big beers. As one can imagine from the name, this is a big American-style IPA. The Loose Cannon pours with a short, off-white bubbly head. The beer is a hazy gold with some light amber hues. The nose screams "Cascade!", as the hops aroma asserts itself quite boldly. It's sort of like getting smashed in the face with a grapefruit, James Cagney style. In a good way.
The initial flavor is big, fruity hops, although some bready malt notes do peek through the haze. The Loose Cannon has some slight residual sweetness. There is a moderate level of bitterness, but overall the bite is rather mild for such a heavily hopped ale. The hops flavors run the gamut from herbal/fresh-cut grass notes, to a hint of juniper, and of course the big citrus Cascade notes are present in spades. I found the carbonation level was a bit lacking, leading to a slightly flat mouthfeel. The Loose Cannon has a smooth finish that is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops with a hint of wheaty malt.
Clipper City continues to put out some really good beer under their Heavy Seas line. The Loose Cannon is a well-rounded IPA with lots of hops flavor. I did find myself wanting a bit stronger kick of bitterness as counterbalance to the aromatic hops, but overall this is a very enjoyable IPA.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
In my glass today is the Loose Cannon Hop³ Ale from Clipper City's Heavy Seas line of big beers. As one can imagine from the name, this is a big American-style IPA. The Loose Cannon pours with a short, off-white bubbly head. The beer is a hazy gold with some light amber hues. The nose screams "Cascade!", as the hops aroma asserts itself quite boldly. It's sort of like getting smashed in the face with a grapefruit, James Cagney style. In a good way.
The initial flavor is big, fruity hops, although some bready malt notes do peek through the haze. The Loose Cannon has some slight residual sweetness. There is a moderate level of bitterness, but overall the bite is rather mild for such a heavily hopped ale. The hops flavors run the gamut from herbal/fresh-cut grass notes, to a hint of juniper, and of course the big citrus Cascade notes are present in spades. I found the carbonation level was a bit lacking, leading to a slightly flat mouthfeel. The Loose Cannon has a smooth finish that is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops with a hint of wheaty malt.
Clipper City continues to put out some really good beer under their Heavy Seas line. The Loose Cannon is a well-rounded IPA with lots of hops flavor. I did find myself wanting a bit stronger kick of bitterness as counterbalance to the aromatic hops, but overall this is a very enjoyable IPA.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Shipyard IPA
Brewery: Shipyard Brewing Co.
Location: Portland, ME
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Up for review today is the Shipyard IPA, which is a British-style IPA brewed with Fuggles hops. The Shipyard IPA is deep gold in color with fine carbonation. It pours with an off-white, clumpy head and leaves a fair amount of lacing on the glass. The nose has citrus and grassy/herbal notes similar to a Fume Blanc, as well as notes of fresh bread.
The Shipyard IPA leads with herbal hops notes moving into bready malt and finally into a bit of "Eurolager" notes as the flavor develops. The flavor of salted pretzels is notable as well. There is a mild acidity leading to some juiciness. Hop resin notes lead to a moderate, balanced bitterness. There is an interesting savory character here as well. The finish is a slow fade of juiciness and pretzel malt along with herbal and bitter hops. The Shipyard IPA has a medium body as well as a crisp, almost tingly, carbonated fizz.
Shipyard has a really nice IPA on their hands here. The choice of Fuggles hops really sets this apart from the crowd of IPAs. The Shipyard IPA really has a unique and enjoyable flavor profile that makes this beer well worth checking out.
Location: Portland, ME
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Up for review today is the Shipyard IPA, which is a British-style IPA brewed with Fuggles hops. The Shipyard IPA is deep gold in color with fine carbonation. It pours with an off-white, clumpy head and leaves a fair amount of lacing on the glass. The nose has citrus and grassy/herbal notes similar to a Fume Blanc, as well as notes of fresh bread.
The Shipyard IPA leads with herbal hops notes moving into bready malt and finally into a bit of "Eurolager" notes as the flavor develops. The flavor of salted pretzels is notable as well. There is a mild acidity leading to some juiciness. Hop resin notes lead to a moderate, balanced bitterness. There is an interesting savory character here as well. The finish is a slow fade of juiciness and pretzel malt along with herbal and bitter hops. The Shipyard IPA has a medium body as well as a crisp, almost tingly, carbonated fizz.
Shipyard has a really nice IPA on their hands here. The choice of Fuggles hops really sets this apart from the crowd of IPAs. The Shipyard IPA really has a unique and enjoyable flavor profile that makes this beer well worth checking out.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Magic Hat Blind Faith
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Along with their full time IPA, Lucky Kat, their current "IPA on Tour" is the Blind Faith, which is on the tasting block today. The Blind Faith is a hazy amber in color. It pours with a clumpy off-white head that fades rather quickly. The nose has notes of citrus, wheat toast and caramel.
On the palate the Blind Faith has an initial citrus and bitter hops rush that fades a bit to open up a cereal/bready malt note. There is a touch of caramel and sweetness present. The hops component has an herbal character along with pine and citrus in the background. The finish is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops along with a sweet malt note with oatmeal and caramel.
The Blind Faith is a really nice IPA. The malt holds up well to the hops without ever stealing the show. This has just the right balance of malt and hops for an IPA, and a nice mix of hops flavors. I'd love to see Magic Hat make this their year-round IPA.
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Along with their full time IPA, Lucky Kat, their current "IPA on Tour" is the Blind Faith, which is on the tasting block today. The Blind Faith is a hazy amber in color. It pours with a clumpy off-white head that fades rather quickly. The nose has notes of citrus, wheat toast and caramel.
On the palate the Blind Faith has an initial citrus and bitter hops rush that fades a bit to open up a cereal/bready malt note. There is a touch of caramel and sweetness present. The hops component has an herbal character along with pine and citrus in the background. The finish is balanced between aromatic and bitter hops along with a sweet malt note with oatmeal and caramel.
The Blind Faith is a really nice IPA. The malt holds up well to the hops without ever stealing the show. This has just the right balance of malt and hops for an IPA, and a nice mix of hops flavors. I'd love to see Magic Hat make this their year-round IPA.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Long Trail Unfiltered IPA
Brewery: Long Trail Brewing Co.
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Today's tasting is the Unfiltered IPA from Long Trail. The Unfiltered IPA is hazy golden yellow in color with some clumpy sediment. The head is white and bubbly and pours rather short in height. On the nose there are notes of citrus and yeast as well as a "Eurolager" note.
On the palate, the Long Trail Unfiltered IPA has a wheaty maltiness with some yeast. There are citrus and pine hops notes present, as well as a touch of sweetness. There is a bitter hops undertone that builds slowly, as well as some warming alcohol. The finish is wheaty malt with some bitter and citrus hops. The Long Trail Unfiltered IPA is medium bodied with a crisp, juicy mouthfeel.
As I've mentioned before, I don't think going the unfiltered route really lends itself well to an IPA. While this is an enjoyable beer, it drinks more like a hoppy hefeweizen than an IPA. The yeast and malt flavors tend to lead more than the hops here, and that just doesn't say IPA to me.
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Today's tasting is the Unfiltered IPA from Long Trail. The Unfiltered IPA is hazy golden yellow in color with some clumpy sediment. The head is white and bubbly and pours rather short in height. On the nose there are notes of citrus and yeast as well as a "Eurolager" note.
On the palate, the Long Trail Unfiltered IPA has a wheaty maltiness with some yeast. There are citrus and pine hops notes present, as well as a touch of sweetness. There is a bitter hops undertone that builds slowly, as well as some warming alcohol. The finish is wheaty malt with some bitter and citrus hops. The Long Trail Unfiltered IPA is medium bodied with a crisp, juicy mouthfeel.
As I've mentioned before, I don't think going the unfiltered route really lends itself well to an IPA. While this is an enjoyable beer, it drinks more like a hoppy hefeweizen than an IPA. The yeast and malt flavors tend to lead more than the hops here, and that just doesn't say IPA to me.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Victory Hop Wallop
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today's beer review is the Hop Wallop from Victory. As we've seen before with their Prima Pils and their Hop Devil Ale, Victory has a great track record with my favorite green flower. The Hop Wallop, as the name suggests, is a highly hopped ale that is not to be taken lightly.
The Hop Wallop is a hazy golden yellow in color. It pours a short, white, bubbly head. The nose is loaded with hoppy aromas of grapefruit/citrus along with pine. There is also a faint wheat aroma notable.
On the palate, the Hop Wallop wallops you with hops. (Yes, that was cheesy.) There is a bitter resinous hop punch. Citrus and pine notes are present in spades along with a bit of a mineral note. Some warming alcohol is here as well, which is expected at 8.5% ABV. The finish has clinging, bitter hops with citrus and mineral notes. The Hop Wallop is medium bodied with clinging tannic hop resin.
The Hop Wallop is another winner from Victory. This is a potent hoppy brew with plenty of flavor to support the strong bitter kick. While the alcohol level is high enough to keep this a sipping brew, it smooths things out nicely and provides a solid background that can hold up to the hops. Victory knows hops, and their Hop Wallop is a must-try for fans of bitter hoppy brews.
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today's beer review is the Hop Wallop from Victory. As we've seen before with their Prima Pils and their Hop Devil Ale, Victory has a great track record with my favorite green flower. The Hop Wallop, as the name suggests, is a highly hopped ale that is not to be taken lightly.
The Hop Wallop is a hazy golden yellow in color. It pours a short, white, bubbly head. The nose is loaded with hoppy aromas of grapefruit/citrus along with pine. There is also a faint wheat aroma notable.
On the palate, the Hop Wallop wallops you with hops. (Yes, that was cheesy.) There is a bitter resinous hop punch. Citrus and pine notes are present in spades along with a bit of a mineral note. Some warming alcohol is here as well, which is expected at 8.5% ABV. The finish has clinging, bitter hops with citrus and mineral notes. The Hop Wallop is medium bodied with clinging tannic hop resin.
The Hop Wallop is another winner from Victory. This is a potent hoppy brew with plenty of flavor to support the strong bitter kick. While the alcohol level is high enough to keep this a sipping brew, it smooths things out nicely and provides a solid background that can hold up to the hops. Victory knows hops, and their Hop Wallop is a must-try for fans of bitter hoppy brews.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
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.
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.
Smuttynose IPA
Brewery: Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is the Smuttynose IPA. The Smuttynose IPA is golden with a faint reddish tint and a slight haze. The head is bubbly and off-white in color. The nose has pine and fruity hops up front along with wheaty malt notes and some earth.
On the palate, the Smuttynose IPA leads with a bitter hop note. Also notable is a wheaty malt note. The hops component has pine, herbal and grapefruit notes along with a resinous hop character. There is also some woody and earthy flavors. The finish has lingering bitter hops with an espresso-like bite. The Smuttynose IPA has a medium body that is well matched to its flavor profile.
The Smuttynose IPA is a good one for the bitter hops fans. There is a nice diversity to the hops flavor profile along with a solid malt backbone that holds everything in balance. This is quite well rounded for a beer with such a bitter kick.
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is the Smuttynose IPA. The Smuttynose IPA is golden with a faint reddish tint and a slight haze. The head is bubbly and off-white in color. The nose has pine and fruity hops up front along with wheaty malt notes and some earth.
On the palate, the Smuttynose IPA leads with a bitter hop note. Also notable is a wheaty malt note. The hops component has pine, herbal and grapefruit notes along with a resinous hop character. There is also some woody and earthy flavors. The finish has lingering bitter hops with an espresso-like bite. The Smuttynose IPA has a medium body that is well matched to its flavor profile.
The Smuttynose IPA is a good one for the bitter hops fans. There is a nice diversity to the hops flavor profile along with a solid malt backbone that holds everything in balance. This is quite well rounded for a beer with such a bitter kick.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian Style India Pale Ale
Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery
Location: Frederick, MD
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
The Cascade hop variety was developed in Oregon in 1972 by the USDA breeding program. It is one of the quintessential American hop varieties. Along with the Columbus and Centennial varieties (commonly referred to as the "Three C's"), Cascade hops are known for their distinct citrus aroma. The Cascade hop in particular is noted for a very distinct grapefruit aroma.
Why do I mention the Cascade hop here? Because the Flying Dog Raging Bitch is loaded with them. It's interesting that Flying Dog uses a hop that is so distinctly American in a beer that they label a Belgian Style IPA.
The Flying Dog Raging Bitch IPA is reddish-amber color with a touch of gold. It pours a 2-finger thick, light gold, foamy head that leaves a trail of lace down the glass. The nose is dominated by hops. There are notes of pine and lemon and a huge Cascade aroma of fresh grapefruit.
On the palate, the Raging Bitch has fruity, grapefruit hops up front over a background of sweet cereal malt. The hops bitterness starts on the mild side and then builds to a moderate level. The finish has bitter grapefruit over slightly sweet cereal malt notes. The Raging Bitch has a crisp, medium body that holds up well to the assertive hops fruitiness of this IPA.
The Raging Bitch is an interesting IPA. Its flavor is dominated by the fruity Cascade hops, with bitter and malty notes as bit players in complimentary roles. The grapefruit notes in both aroma and flavor are truly distinct here. If you enjoy grapefruit and/or Cascade hops (as I do), then you will love this beer.
Location: Frederick, MD
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
The Cascade hop variety was developed in Oregon in 1972 by the USDA breeding program. It is one of the quintessential American hop varieties. Along with the Columbus and Centennial varieties (commonly referred to as the "Three C's"), Cascade hops are known for their distinct citrus aroma. The Cascade hop in particular is noted for a very distinct grapefruit aroma.
Why do I mention the Cascade hop here? Because the Flying Dog Raging Bitch is loaded with them. It's interesting that Flying Dog uses a hop that is so distinctly American in a beer that they label a Belgian Style IPA.
The Flying Dog Raging Bitch IPA is reddish-amber color with a touch of gold. It pours a 2-finger thick, light gold, foamy head that leaves a trail of lace down the glass. The nose is dominated by hops. There are notes of pine and lemon and a huge Cascade aroma of fresh grapefruit.
On the palate, the Raging Bitch has fruity, grapefruit hops up front over a background of sweet cereal malt. The hops bitterness starts on the mild side and then builds to a moderate level. The finish has bitter grapefruit over slightly sweet cereal malt notes. The Raging Bitch has a crisp, medium body that holds up well to the assertive hops fruitiness of this IPA.
The Raging Bitch is an interesting IPA. Its flavor is dominated by the fruity Cascade hops, with bitter and malty notes as bit players in complimentary roles. The grapefruit notes in both aroma and flavor are truly distinct here. If you enjoy grapefruit and/or Cascade hops (as I do), then you will love this beer.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Ipswich IPA
Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Location: Ipswich, MA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Up for review today is the Ipswich IPA from Mercury Brewing Company. The Ipswich IPA pours a 3-finger thick, foamy, golden-tan head. It is amber-brown in color and quite hazy do to its unfiltered nature. The nose has fruity notes of cherries, plums and and the distinct grapefruit aroma of Cascade hops. There is also a sweet malty aroma akin to sweet bread.
The Ipswich IPA has a hoppy, bitter kick. There are notes of yeast and wheat toast. There is a hint of acidity and mineral notes. The hops has pine and cherry flavors, as well as a strong bitterness reminiscent of very strong coffee. The finish has lingering bitterness similar to unsweetened cocoa. The Ipswich IPA has a medium-to-heavy body with a chewy mouthfeel along with a touch of juiciness.
The Ipswich IPA has a fairly unique flavor profile as far as IPA's go. For my tastes, I find that the unfiltered nature of this beer clashes a bit with what I expect from an IPA. It just seems a bit too heavy and not quite crisp enough for my tastes in an IPA. While this is still quite a good beer, this translation of the IPA seems to fall a little short for me.
Location: Ipswich, MA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Up for review today is the Ipswich IPA from Mercury Brewing Company. The Ipswich IPA pours a 3-finger thick, foamy, golden-tan head. It is amber-brown in color and quite hazy do to its unfiltered nature. The nose has fruity notes of cherries, plums and and the distinct grapefruit aroma of Cascade hops. There is also a sweet malty aroma akin to sweet bread.
The Ipswich IPA has a hoppy, bitter kick. There are notes of yeast and wheat toast. There is a hint of acidity and mineral notes. The hops has pine and cherry flavors, as well as a strong bitterness reminiscent of very strong coffee. The finish has lingering bitterness similar to unsweetened cocoa. The Ipswich IPA has a medium-to-heavy body with a chewy mouthfeel along with a touch of juiciness.
The Ipswich IPA has a fairly unique flavor profile as far as IPA's go. For my tastes, I find that the unfiltered nature of this beer clashes a bit with what I expect from an IPA. It just seems a bit too heavy and not quite crisp enough for my tastes in an IPA. While this is still quite a good beer, this translation of the IPA seems to fall a little short for me.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
We're saving the best for last for our IPA Extravaganza on Critical Tastings. The 90-Minute IPA from Dogfish Head is the big brother of their 60 Minute IPA, and is brewed with 90 minutes of continuous additions of hops during the boil. The 90 Minute IPA is golden amber-red in color. It pours with a huge, golden, foamy head. The nose is dominated by a big, fruity hop-citrus aroma, along with a hint of sweet, bready malt.
The 90-Minute IPA has bitter hops up front on the palate along with a sweet cereal note from the malt. The hops flavors are led by citrus (orange peel being the most notable citrus flavor), along with some floral and herbal hops notes. While the hops steals the show in this beer, the sweet malt plays a nice counterpoint and helps open up a variety of complex flavors. There are flavors of caramel and whiskey. In addition there are notes of wine, oak, earth, and salt along with a faint minerality. There is a long, hoppy finish with citrus and bitter hops over a background of sweet maltiness. The 90 Minute IPA has a medium body that stands up to its big, complex flavor.
Dogfish Head has another winner on their hands with their 90-Minute IPA. There is a powerful hops flavor that is assertive without being overpowering. The malt and alcohol are present in just the right balance to open up a higher level of complexity without detracting from the hops. The Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is everything I want in an IPA and then some.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A+
We're saving the best for last for our IPA Extravaganza on Critical Tastings. The 90-Minute IPA from Dogfish Head is the big brother of their 60 Minute IPA, and is brewed with 90 minutes of continuous additions of hops during the boil. The 90 Minute IPA is golden amber-red in color. It pours with a huge, golden, foamy head. The nose is dominated by a big, fruity hop-citrus aroma, along with a hint of sweet, bready malt.
The 90-Minute IPA has bitter hops up front on the palate along with a sweet cereal note from the malt. The hops flavors are led by citrus (orange peel being the most notable citrus flavor), along with some floral and herbal hops notes. While the hops steals the show in this beer, the sweet malt plays a nice counterpoint and helps open up a variety of complex flavors. There are flavors of caramel and whiskey. In addition there are notes of wine, oak, earth, and salt along with a faint minerality. There is a long, hoppy finish with citrus and bitter hops over a background of sweet maltiness. The 90 Minute IPA has a medium body that stands up to its big, complex flavor.
Dogfish Head has another winner on their hands with their 90-Minute IPA. There is a powerful hops flavor that is assertive without being overpowering. The malt and alcohol are present in just the right balance to open up a higher level of complexity without detracting from the hops. The Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is everything I want in an IPA and then some.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is one of several IPA's in Dogfish Head's series of continuously-hopped IPA's. This means that hops are continuously added during the boil in the brewing process (in this case over the course of 60 minutes). The 60-Minute IPA is golden in color with a hint of amber. It pours with 1-finger of bubbly white head. The nose has hop flowers, pine and a fruity/citrus aroma from the hops. There are also some malt notes in the back along with a bit of earthiness and some toasted aromas.
On the palate, the 60 Minute IPA initially presents malt and floral hops notes. Bitter and piny hops notes then begin to show up, in balance with the malt and floral hops. There are winy alcohol and mineral notes present as well. The finish has herbal and fruity hops along with some bitterness over some sweet malt notes. The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is medium bodied with some crisp fizziness.
The Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA is crisp and refreshing with some great hop flavor. It may not have the intensity of its bigger cousins, but it is rather reminiscent of a good, hoppy amber. Fans of Red Seal Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should check this one out.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is one of several IPA's in Dogfish Head's series of continuously-hopped IPA's. This means that hops are continuously added during the boil in the brewing process (in this case over the course of 60 minutes). The 60-Minute IPA is golden in color with a hint of amber. It pours with 1-finger of bubbly white head. The nose has hop flowers, pine and a fruity/citrus aroma from the hops. There are also some malt notes in the back along with a bit of earthiness and some toasted aromas.
On the palate, the 60 Minute IPA initially presents malt and floral hops notes. Bitter and piny hops notes then begin to show up, in balance with the malt and floral hops. There are winy alcohol and mineral notes present as well. The finish has herbal and fruity hops along with some bitterness over some sweet malt notes. The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is medium bodied with some crisp fizziness.
The Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA is crisp and refreshing with some great hop flavor. It may not have the intensity of its bigger cousins, but it is rather reminiscent of a good, hoppy amber. Fans of Red Seal Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale should check this one out.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Victory Hop Devil Ale
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Up next for review we have the Hop Devil Ale, an IPA from Victory Brewing. The Hop Devil is a deep, golden amber-red in color. It poured a huge, off-white, frothy head. The nose has citrus, stone fruit, juniper and pine from the hops, along with a faint hint of malt.
On the palate the Hop Devil leads with some malt up front. The bitter hops present themselves well, but without too much of a bite. A wide array of hops flavors are present, including juniper, pine, lemon and fresh herbs. There is also a sweet maltiness and a touch of cucumber. The finish is balanced between hops and a lingering sweet maltiness. The Hop Devil has a medium body that is well-matched to the full flavor.
The Hop Devil is just about everything you can ask for in an IPA. It has a full, rich flavor. There is a broad spectrum of hops flavors and aromas without too much bite. The Victory Hop Devil is just a great, fruity, flavorful IPA.
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Up next for review we have the Hop Devil Ale, an IPA from Victory Brewing. The Hop Devil is a deep, golden amber-red in color. It poured a huge, off-white, frothy head. The nose has citrus, stone fruit, juniper and pine from the hops, along with a faint hint of malt.
On the palate the Hop Devil leads with some malt up front. The bitter hops present themselves well, but without too much of a bite. A wide array of hops flavors are present, including juniper, pine, lemon and fresh herbs. There is also a sweet maltiness and a touch of cucumber. The finish is balanced between hops and a lingering sweet maltiness. The Hop Devil has a medium body that is well-matched to the full flavor.
The Hop Devil is just about everything you can ask for in an IPA. It has a full, rich flavor. There is a broad spectrum of hops flavors and aromas without too much bite. The Victory Hop Devil is just a great, fruity, flavorful IPA.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA
Brewery: Harpoon Brewery
Location: Boston, MA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Tonight we have the Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA. This is a big IPA, weighing in at at 10% ABV. The Leviathan IPA is golden amber in color, and looks a bit on the light side for a big IPA. It pours with a thick, bubbly, off-white head that leaves a trail of sticky lace on the glass as it recedes. The nose has piney and floral hops aromas, along with some grapefruit and a hint of sweet malt.
The Leviathan IPA has a hoppy twinge up front and the bitterness slowly ramps up from there. There are notes of winy alcohol, sweet cereal malt, bubblegum and sweet corn. The hops flavor is led by floral and herbal notes, along with some pine. There is a long, herbal-hop finish with lingering bitterness. The body is on the heavy side with a tannin-like astringency.
The Leviathan IPA is rather unique in the way the hops take on primarily a floral/herbal flavor profile. Matched with a bit of sweet maltiness way in the background, and the bitter notes from the hops, these flavors are reminiscent of an herbaceous liqueur. While these flavors are tucked away in the background it does add an interesting layer of complexity to the flavor profile. This is quite an interesting take on an IPA without reaching way out into left field.
Location: Boston, MA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Tonight we have the Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA. This is a big IPA, weighing in at at 10% ABV. The Leviathan IPA is golden amber in color, and looks a bit on the light side for a big IPA. It pours with a thick, bubbly, off-white head that leaves a trail of sticky lace on the glass as it recedes. The nose has piney and floral hops aromas, along with some grapefruit and a hint of sweet malt.
The Leviathan IPA has a hoppy twinge up front and the bitterness slowly ramps up from there. There are notes of winy alcohol, sweet cereal malt, bubblegum and sweet corn. The hops flavor is led by floral and herbal notes, along with some pine. There is a long, herbal-hop finish with lingering bitterness. The body is on the heavy side with a tannin-like astringency.
The Leviathan IPA is rather unique in the way the hops take on primarily a floral/herbal flavor profile. Matched with a bit of sweet maltiness way in the background, and the bitter notes from the hops, these flavors are reminiscent of an herbaceous liqueur. While these flavors are tucked away in the background it does add an interesting layer of complexity to the flavor profile. This is quite an interesting take on an IPA without reaching way out into left field.
Magic Hat Lucky Kat
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
On tap for review (well, in-bottle actually) we have Lucky Kat, which is the year-round IPA from Magic Hat. The Lucky Kat is ruddy-amber in color with a slight haze and very fine bubbles rising. It pours with a 2-finger, foamy, off-white head. The nose is on the faint side, with pine and herbal hops alongside a touch of sweet, bready malt.
At first taste, the Lucky Kat leads off with smooth malt as bitter hops start to fade in. There are notes of pine as well as faint citrus on the hops side. There is also a bit of a faint "eurolager" note in the background. The finish has more bitter hops which are rather mild for an IPA, but linger pleasantly. Lucky Kat has a light-to-medium body and is quite drinkable for an IPA. Balanced without being overpowering, The Lucky Kat IPA from Magic Hat is a great intro IPA for the hop newbie.
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
On tap for review (well, in-bottle actually) we have Lucky Kat, which is the year-round IPA from Magic Hat. The Lucky Kat is ruddy-amber in color with a slight haze and very fine bubbles rising. It pours with a 2-finger, foamy, off-white head. The nose is on the faint side, with pine and herbal hops alongside a touch of sweet, bready malt.
At first taste, the Lucky Kat leads off with smooth malt as bitter hops start to fade in. There are notes of pine as well as faint citrus on the hops side. There is also a bit of a faint "eurolager" note in the background. The finish has more bitter hops which are rather mild for an IPA, but linger pleasantly. Lucky Kat has a light-to-medium body and is quite drinkable for an IPA. Balanced without being overpowering, The Lucky Kat IPA from Magic Hat is a great intro IPA for the hop newbie.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Stone Ruination IPA
Brewery: Stone Brewing Co.
Location: Escondido, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Up next for review is the Ruination IPA from Stone. The Ruination is deep gold in color with a touch of amber. It has a bit of haziness that reminds me of fresh-squeezed lemonade. The Ruination IPA pours with a clumpy, 2-finger thick, off-white head. On the nose, the Centennial hops jump right up your nostrils and hit you with a wallop of white grapefruit. (This, my friends, is a good thing.) The overall aroma is straight-ahead citrus with just a touch of yeasty bread and some sweet notes way in the back.
On the palate, there is a fruity hop bite. The hop flavors run the gamut from citrus/grapefruit to pine and hop-resin. Overall, the flavor is well balanced between the bitter hops and aromatics. There is a touch of sweet, grainy malt, along with some cherry, plum and alcohol notes. There is a long, clinging finish of bitter hops with some hop fruitiness. There is some slight astringency, and an overall light-to-medium body that I find to be enjoyably smooth for all the hoppiness.
Stone has another winner on their hands with the Ruination IPA. This is one for big-time hopheads to savor.
Location: Escondido, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Up next for review is the Ruination IPA from Stone. The Ruination is deep gold in color with a touch of amber. It has a bit of haziness that reminds me of fresh-squeezed lemonade. The Ruination IPA pours with a clumpy, 2-finger thick, off-white head. On the nose, the Centennial hops jump right up your nostrils and hit you with a wallop of white grapefruit. (This, my friends, is a good thing.) The overall aroma is straight-ahead citrus with just a touch of yeasty bread and some sweet notes way in the back.
On the palate, there is a fruity hop bite. The hop flavors run the gamut from citrus/grapefruit to pine and hop-resin. Overall, the flavor is well balanced between the bitter hops and aromatics. There is a touch of sweet, grainy malt, along with some cherry, plum and alcohol notes. There is a long, clinging finish of bitter hops with some hop fruitiness. There is some slight astringency, and an overall light-to-medium body that I find to be enjoyably smooth for all the hoppiness.
Stone has another winner on their hands with the Ruination IPA. This is one for big-time hopheads to savor.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Location: Chico, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is the Torpedo Extra IPA from Sierra Nevada. As the name implies, this is a big India Pale Ale, weighing in at 7.2% ABV. The Torpedo is reddish amber in color, with quite a bit of fine bubbles rising. The head is 1-finger thick, clumpy and ivory in color. On the nose there are citrus and herbal notes as well as the aroma of fresh pine needles all attributable to the hops. In addition some bread notes from the malt are also present on the nose.
On the palate there is a fair bit of malt up front before the hops take over. There are citrus and pine notes as well as a resinous, deep bitter hop bite. Flavors of salt and bread are also notable. On the finish, the bitter hops flavors slowly fade, leaving a lingering bready malt flavor. The Torpedo is medium bodied with a fair amount of astringency.
The Torpedo Extra IPA has a powerful bitter hop flavor, with aromatic hops notes and bready malt playing backup. If you like bitter beer, the Torpedo is right up your alley. Well-recommended for the hopheads out there.
Location: Chico, CA
Style: IPA
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for review today is the Torpedo Extra IPA from Sierra Nevada. As the name implies, this is a big India Pale Ale, weighing in at 7.2% ABV. The Torpedo is reddish amber in color, with quite a bit of fine bubbles rising. The head is 1-finger thick, clumpy and ivory in color. On the nose there are citrus and herbal notes as well as the aroma of fresh pine needles all attributable to the hops. In addition some bread notes from the malt are also present on the nose.
On the palate there is a fair bit of malt up front before the hops take over. There are citrus and pine notes as well as a resinous, deep bitter hop bite. Flavors of salt and bread are also notable. On the finish, the bitter hops flavors slowly fade, leaving a lingering bready malt flavor. The Torpedo is medium bodied with a fair amount of astringency.
The Torpedo Extra IPA has a powerful bitter hop flavor, with aromatic hops notes and bready malt playing backup. If you like bitter beer, the Torpedo is right up your alley. Well-recommended for the hopheads out there.
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