Summer Version (11/02/07)
===
Thanks to Hoppymeal for the trade. Summer version.
More of the typical West Coast DIPA appearance with a huge rocky head and massive, sticky lace – exactly as expected. Still typical, with large resinous hops, big alcohol and tenuously held together with the malts.
Original Review (05/09/06)
===
Thanks to Tom (warriorsoul) for the trade. Winter version.
Mid-orange pour with a nice head and some serious, sticky lacing. Some good carbonation.
Very solid, highly hopped DIPA – obviously; but not so obviously a rather viscous mouthfeel. The combination of the viscosity and the hops make this drink rather too much like an American Barleywine for my own tastes, but that’s just me.
Plenty of hops in the nose, but I also get some tea.
The taste is really quite sweet. Lots of smoothness too, and still some of that tea residual flavor hanging around. Finishes with a light citrus touch – very mild grapefruit.
Quite heavy on the sweetness and as a result in lacks the punch, clean feel and snap of a DIPA for me, so overall not my favorite. Better than average? Certainly. One of the very best? Not in my book.