Anderson Valley Brewing based out of Mendocino California, enters another example of my favorite style of beer, the Imperial IPA ( theirs clocks in at 8.7ABV and 100 IBU). Anderson Valley Brewing states the following about this beer from their website:
“This IPA was first created in honor of our second decade as a brewer and purveyor of the finest beers in the world. This limited release, over-the-top brew is loaded with excessive amounts of malts to balance 20 separate additions of the finest Pacific Northwest hops to create what the late William Brand described as “The kind of beer that made California craft beer famous.”
I poured half of the 22 oz. bomber into a pint glass and noticed the beer takes on a slightly hazy copper color, with 2-3 fingers of foam, moderate lacing. Nice looking beer.
On the nose I find almost zero hops, but quite malty however. Beer comes off bready, sticky, a slight hint of citrus but nothing discernible.
Taste – the beer enters the palate with a medium bodied mouthfeel and the malt steps forward to mix with the bitterness of the hops, to end with a slightly grainy flavor. This is a sweet tasing malt bomb overall, slightly bitter but nothing that expresses any real hop character, especially not something you would assume was from the west coast. A little too malt forward me and not nearly hoppy enough. A solid brew for sure, but at 6.00 a bottle, I won’t give this a go again when Hop Stoopid and Green Flash IWCIPA can be had for less or the same, and offer more of what I look for in a DIPA. C+
The verdict, I won’t be seeking this beer out again. I prefer more hop character and expect it from this particular style of beer. If you enjoy a more malt forward brew, then this is certainly worth a try.
http://www.avbc.com/
Rate Beer: 94
Beer Advocate:B+
Available in the following locales (Ratebeer)
California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC
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