Barleys Double Dog Dare IPA

Brewed by Barleys Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Columbus, Ohio USA

On tap at the Smokehouse. Haven’t had this one since it was first released in Summer 2006. I loved it then, but these guys have really been slipping lately. Beer is an orange amber color with a medium off-white head. Malty and hoppy nose, but the dominating note is butter. Flavor is equally buttery, with a crisp hop finish. Not bad, but not as good as it used to be.

Hand-bottled sample thanks to Chuck. The beer pours to a glowing yellow amber body with no head. The aroma is dank pine hops. Oranges. The flavor is bitter orange peel, stale pale malts, and chalky hops (which I can only surmise is an over abundance used at the wrong times during the brewing). Average bitter resinous palate. Perhaps better fresher?

Hand-bottled sample thanks to Chuck. A bit flat but otherwise a nice example of a double IPA. Strong bitter grapefruit rind and mellow caramel malt flavor.

clearish copper reddish color w/ a soapy small bubbled head that was barely there. light citrus aroma touch of an odd fruit some light sweet.. very light. dry avg pal. Flavor was missing carbonation.. probably needed to be fresher.... still had some sticky hops and a decent amount of caramel.. touch of alcohol.. wasn’t bad.. like to try it fresh next time.

Draft at Smokehouse. Poured clear copper color with an average fizzy white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate sour citrus hop aroma. Medium body with slick texture. Medium bitter flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Good drinkable brew.

Draft at the smokehouse. Pours a golden tangerine color with a small white head. Beautiful juicy citrus hop aroma on this one. A lot of grapefruit, some mango and maybe some orange. Very appetizing. Taste is medium bodied, semi-watery, bitter but not overly so. A little lacking in flavor hops. Drinkability is very, very high. When I saw the ABV I could absolutely not believe it. Perhaps the best masked alcohol I’ve ever encountered in a beer. If only the hop flavor were more pronounced this one could have been a knockout.

Had this on tap @ the Smokehouse whilst I was catching up with my good friend Rick. Nose of heavy grapefruit, orange, and lemon (in a word citrusy). Pine and nectarines are also noticable. Reminds me of something from FFF. As encouraging and appealing as an aroma can be. I’m gonna like this, I just know it. Pours a sparkling orange copper. The mostly diminishing small creamy/frothy white head leaves sticky lace. The brew has surprisingly good balance, again much citrus here in the flavor as well. The alcohol content is supremely incognito. The excellent finish is long and lingering. Perfect. The light to medium body is lively and dry. The finish feels very sharp & astringent. Thank god they serve this in a snifter, can’t imagine trying to stop myself from finishing a pint or two - that could be a disaster with the unholy ABV. This would be the ultimate beer pong "money cup" brew!