Wednesday, June 06, 2007

on THE TAPHANDLE

Deschutes Hop Henge Imperial IPA, an Imperial/Double India Pale Ale by Deschutes Brewery

22 ounce bottle. The pour was a brilliant copper-orange, with a thick, foamy head of off-white. The aroma was citrusy, tending toward orange,with a slight grassiness to bolster the citrus. Hop Henge is pleasant on the palate. Flavors include orange, lightly buttered bread, a hint of caramel, and dark dried fruits—raisins or dates, perhaps. Not quite as bitter as I would have hoped for, but a good Imperial IPA overall.

And, at 8.1% alcohol by volume, this bottle surely packs a punch. It is a "punch" that sneaks up, though, since there is not a lot of alcohol "flavor" that I expect from ales with higher alcohol content.

Our friends had us over for homemade flour tortillas, rice, and marinated pork. This was an excellent complement to the food. I would definitely pair them together again.

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