Here we are folks. For 3 weeks I have regaled you with tales of the return of the IPA's. That week has arrived and when the bell tolls at 4:30 PM on Friday, the festivities will begin. Until then you all will have to be content with the reviews I have compiled from our tasting notes. We have 6 of the 12 ready to review today, so here we go.
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA
It has been a long time since the Hop Ottin' has graced our wall, though I can say that with many of the IPA's going up. The nose on this IPA is different and shows off the higher malt content and the bit of age the keg has. Dark brown sugar, raisins, grapes, lemon-lime soda, and wheat bread were all detected on this diverse aroma. The taste displayed quite a bit of bitterness, though it didn't overpower the flavor. Juniper berries, citrus, and a subtle woodiness were present on the initial taste. The finish went in a different direction with the bitterness lightening up and displaying soft flavors of toast, minerals, and burnt butterscotch. This is a much different IPA than the usual.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 7.25/10
Green Flash West Coast IPA
I have always enjoyed the Hop Head Red from Green Flash and been indifferent when it comes to the West Coast. Time, it seems, has addled my memory. The nose on this IPA is one of the best I have inhaled from a single IPA. Fresh oranges and cracked pepper hit our noses first and it was followed by softer aromas of pine, pear, tea, and a little skunk. A slight bitterness start out the flavors with flavors of orange juice, pine, and necco candy. It makes for a wonderful start to this IPA. The finish ramps up that bitterness and throws in a smattering of completely opposite flavors like blueberries, wintergreen, and toasted almonds. After tasting this, I have little doubt this will be the best single IPA we put up this weekend.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Anderson Valley Heelch O'Hops Double IPA
This is the first time this DIPA from Anderson Valley will grace our wall. I have had their now defunct Imperial IPA and so I had a decent idea of what we were getting into...Until we tasted it. First off, the nose smells like a pine forest. Evergreen trees, pine, and rainwater start off the aroma with lighter hints of citrus, sawdust, and floral notes. Just like with the Hop Ottin', this brew is bitter throughout. Lemon juice, orange juice, orange zest, and blueberries made for a very fruity opening to this beer. The finish was all blackberry jam with a dash of lemongrass. With very little malt presence for a double, this ended up being a little unbalanced for sure.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8/10
Dogfish Head Burton Baton Oak-Aged Imperial IPA
I was worried about this beer, as it has a lot more age than I like on my IPA's. However, with it being an Oak-Aged beer, I figured it would hold up to the test of time. I have never been more mistaken. The nose was different with aroma's of coffee grounds, grass, astringent orange juice, and aged white cheddar. Not at all the bright nose that you tend to expect from IPA's. The taste had a powerful flavor of mint leaf up front with softer flavors of lemonade and cocoa powder. None of those flavors seemed to go together and instead seemed to compete for dominance. The finish was sweet and earthy with flavors of toffee, burnt brown sugar, mint, and alka-seltzer. Tyler enjoyed it for what it was...I will plead the 5th on this one.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 6.5/10
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA
Many of you have asked me for months about this one, and I am happy to say that it has returned! The nose is incredibly pungent and thick with strong flavors of onion, garlic toast, and seaweed. Softer aromas of pine, herbs, snow peas, and gumbo are present on the back end. This one is full of stinky aromatic hops. The taste is smooth up front with flavors of onions, garlic, and sea salt. The finish has a strong bitterness to it with flavors of citrus, cracked black pepper, and sea salt. This beer is definitely hoppy but the salty notes seem to detract from the flavor a bit. Still, it is a wonderful Imperial IPA for those that enjoy those funky hops.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 8.75/10
Green Flash Palate Wrecker Double IPA
I must admit that this is the beer I was waiting for when I got all of my kegs. Let me tell you, it certainly delivers. The nose has tons of pine and lime on it. Softer hints of lemon zest, sharp cheddar, oregano, and rosemary make for a beautiful nose. The flavor is even better than the nose would imply. I usually don't go for the bitterbombs, and this one is certainly one. The intensity is there from the start with flavors of pine, grass, basil, mint, and a dash of crackers. The finish ramps up the bitterness even more with more of that strong pine presence. Flavors of lemon and lemon pith were also strongly represented with small flavors of plums. This is definitely the best we have tapped so far.
Mike and Tyler's Rating - 9.5/10
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