Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Magnum Edition Imperial IPA

 Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet Magnum Edition Imperial IPA.

9.5 % ABV, 48 IBU, Sierra Nevada Brewing, CA & NC. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lush and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: floral and fruity, citrus and tropical, grapefruit and tangerine. Whiff of mango.

In the mouth: big bitterness and high alcoholic gets the party going right from the start. Light bodied, fairly smooth and palatable. Bitterness fades off a touch, but big hoppy flavors never leave. Delicious ode to hops. 

You can always count on Sierra Nevada. 

The mighty Magnum hop packs this edition of Hop Bullet with behemoth favors of grapefruit, orange rind, and pine resin. This thing’s a force, but it’s also fleeting. Stock up or miss out.

HeadFlyer / Wandering Leaf Dr. Green Thumb West Coast IPA

 HeadFlyer / Wandering Leaf Dr. Green Thumb West Coast IPA. 

7% ABV, 77 IBU, HeadFlyer Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, copper colored (strike one! Wrong tone for a West Coast IPA,), slim white head.any

In the nose: do I detect caramel malt? Strike two. Anything else? Some citrus, deep down. 

In the mouth: Not clean and crisp by any means. Bitterness on the palate, but mostly murky and malty. Doesn’t taste a whit likes West Coast IPA. Not dank or resinous, missing the forefront classic West Coast hops

I skimmed Untapped reviews and I appear to be in the minority. Folks are noting the pine, but that hoppy character is swallowed up and covered by the malt. There’s more chocolate here than citrus. West Coast IPAs need to golden hued with bold, brash, highly aromatic hoppiness. This is all wrong. 

There’s copy on the back of the label that I won’t be copying, but let’s just say that this is not “the dankest of IPAs.”  I’m glad I got this for free. I’d be pissed if I’d paid for it. 

Lagunitas The Beast of Both Worlds Bi-Coastal IPA

 Lagunitas The Beast of Both Worlds Bi-Coastal IPA. East Coast Flavor! West Coast Clarity! 

8% ABV, Lagunitas Brewing, Petaluma, CA. 

Mostly clear, vaguely opaque, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: big, bold, citrusy sensation. Orange, mango, grapefruit and tangerine. 

In the mouth: bitterness begins. Pierces the palate with aplomb. Juicy, hoppy and bitter, all up and down, with rising alcohol to match. Lightish bodied, yet fully flavored. A hazeless hazy? A juicy Westy? Maybe, maybe….and I’m digging it at only $10 a 6-pack!

Actually, this is suiting me quite well. I may have to pick up more while it’s still around. 

Hazy flavors without haze? West Coast hopping without mega bitterness? This double IPA w/ Mosaic, Citra, Strata & Sabro is quite the contrary kaiju.

Spiral The Bottoms Porter

 Spiral The Bottoms Porter.

5.5% ABV, Spiral Brewing, Hastings, Minnesota.

Dark brown color, nearly opaque, slim layer of cocoa-toned foam.

In the nose: roasted malt, slight sweetness. Minor hops. Hint of chocolate.

In the mouth: full body, big flavor.  Roast malt flavors, long, dry finish. Moderate bitterness. Grows in richness as we go along. 

A tasty and satisfying porter, and I’ll definitely recommend it. 

Pipeworks Pondering Pale Ale

 

Pipeworks Pondering Pale Ale.Dry hopped with Cryo Mosaic, Cryo Simcoe, Cryo Amarillo and Riwaka hops.

4% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.

In the nose: citrus explosion, orange and grapefruit with a pinch of berry. 

In the mouth: fresh, zesty, and delicious. Light bodied, exceptionally quaffable. Brief hoppy finish. Pale ale as pale ale should be. I’m thoroughly digging this. 

Junkyard Simcoe West Coast Style Double IPA

 Junkyard Simcoe West Coast Style Double IPA.

8.5 % ABV, 100 IBU, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, Minnesota. 

Wait, what have we here? A West Coast Double I PA from Junkyard? Not a hazy, or New England, or Vermont-style? The kind of IPA I like? No shit. Let’s drink it! 

Crystal clear, bright golden hue, snow white layer of foam.

In the nose: citrus and tropical, passion fruit and mango, orange and melon. I’m loving it.

In the mouth: hoppy blast bounces on the palate, with restrained bitterness and a jolt of the juicy. Light bodied and easy drinking, for the style. Alcohol hasn’t rung in too loudly…yet…nope, here it is. All in all, a noteworthy expression of my favorite style. I’ll happily enjoy this one again and again.

I’m not sure that I enjoy Simcoe all solo, but I’m not complaining, either. 

Simcoe...yup!