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Wild Devil, a Belgian-style IPA by Victory Brewing Company.
Hazy orange-yellow body with a thin white "head." The nose is spicy, cloves perhaps, and leather yeast. This is like a Belgian ale with an extra bitterness to it. This is Victory's Hop Devil, brewed with Brettanomyces, the wild yeast that gives many Belgian Abbey and Trappist ales their distinct flavors. It is an interesting variation on an already great IPA.
Hazy orange-yellow body with a thin white "head." The nose is spicy, cloves perhaps, and leather yeast. This is like a Belgian ale with an extra bitterness to it. This is Victory's Hop Devil, brewed with Brettanomyces, the wild yeast that gives many Belgian Abbey and Trappist ales their distinct flavors. It is an interesting variation on an already great IPA.
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Piraat, a Belgian-style IPA by Brouwerij Van Steenberge.
Clear gold with a thin white "head." The nose of this Belgian-style IPA is completely different from Wild Devil. It smells of fruit punch and bubblegum, with a hint of leather in the far background. It drinks crisp and dry, with a warm bite at the opening of the throat and a clean finish. Bubblegum, fruit punch, leather, and wet paper are the prominent flavors. It may not sound like a good combination, but it was, and surprisingly so.
Clear gold with a thin white "head." The nose of this Belgian-style IPA is completely different from Wild Devil. It smells of fruit punch and bubblegum, with a hint of leather in the far background. It drinks crisp and dry, with a warm bite at the opening of the throat and a clean finish. Bubblegum, fruit punch, leather, and wet paper are the prominent flavors. It may not sound like a good combination, but it was, and surprisingly so.
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Oak-Aged Un*Earthly, an IPA by Southern Tier Brewing Company.
Copper-orange with a white ring. The aromas and flavors were as though conjoined twins. The subtle hint of an orange throat lozenge sat in the middle of oak, liquor, and a warming heat. It felt like a light syrup on the tongue. The great candied orange and alcohol gave this the best aroma and overall flavor of the five samples.
Copper-orange with a white ring. The aromas and flavors were as though conjoined twins. The subtle hint of an orange throat lozenge sat in the middle of oak, liquor, and a warming heat. It felt like a light syrup on the tongue. The great candied orange and alcohol gave this the best aroma and overall flavor of the five samples.
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Hop in the Dark, a black IPA by Deschutes Brewery.
Rootbeer brown with a white ring. The nose is dirty twig with a blackberry background, as well as a spice I can't quite name and some whipped cream. The flavor is black coffee, wood bark, roasted malts, and hidden cream, with a good amount of bitterness for some kick. I like this black IPA, although not as much as I enjoy Laughing Dog's DogZilla Black IPA.
(Black IPAs seem to be a new sort of hybrid beer, pairing the best qualities of stouts and porters with the bitterness of IPAs. They are also sometimes referred to as Cascadian Dark Ales. The style is not yet officially recognized by the beer "powers-that-be," but that in no way diminishes their boldness or flavor.)
Rootbeer brown with a white ring. The nose is dirty twig with a blackberry background, as well as a spice I can't quite name and some whipped cream. The flavor is black coffee, wood bark, roasted malts, and hidden cream, with a good amount of bitterness for some kick. I like this black IPA, although not as much as I enjoy Laughing Dog's DogZilla Black IPA.
(Black IPAs seem to be a new sort of hybrid beer, pairing the best qualities of stouts and porters with the bitterness of IPAs. They are also sometimes referred to as Cascadian Dark Ales. The style is not yet officially recognized by the beer "powers-that-be," but that in no way diminishes their boldness or flavor.)
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Alpha Dog, an Imperial IPA by Laughing Dog Brewing.
Clear gold body with a white ring. The nose is butterscotch? Fruity? Wet cat? (The hoppiness of the previous four IPAs may have temporarily destroyed my taste buds.) The flavor is bitter orange with extra bitterness piled on top, all of which is followed by an alcohol finish.
I am the most confused by this one. I believe that means that I need to tackle a full bottle of Alpha Dog to give it its proper due.
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Oak-Aged Un*Earthly was the apparent favorite of most of those present for the tasting when I was there. Something incredible was going on in all five of the bottles, but this wood-aged IPA took the form and flavor to another level.
Clear gold body with a white ring. The nose is butterscotch? Fruity? Wet cat? (The hoppiness of the previous four IPAs may have temporarily destroyed my taste buds.) The flavor is bitter orange with extra bitterness piled on top, all of which is followed by an alcohol finish.
I am the most confused by this one. I believe that means that I need to tackle a full bottle of Alpha Dog to give it its proper due.
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Oak-Aged Un*Earthly was the apparent favorite of most of those present for the tasting when I was there. Something incredible was going on in all five of the bottles, but this wood-aged IPA took the form and flavor to another level.
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