Durham Hop Addict

Brewed by County Durham Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Pickering, Canada

On draft at Beer Bistro. Light amber in colour with moderate carbonation. Simple but effective aromas of sweet orange, a bit of pine, and a somewhat grassy hop element. More specifically orangey hop character, along with notes of pale malts, toasted nuts, and a bit of munich malt. Solid bitterness. An above average IPA as far as Canadian microbrewery versions go, but probably would be better classified as an APA.

On tap @ Beer Bistro in Toronto. Pours clear copper with white head. Nice citrus and pine nose. Great taste though, nice bitter finish. I love the tap handle.

on cask at volo cask days 2008. orange with big soapy bubble. juicy hop nose with lots of citrus. the caramel malt plays nicely off the hops and the finish is bitter. the fruity floral notes and juicy hop goodness come together really well but the palate is a touch thin. a well made session IPA.

Draught at the Beer Bistro in Toronto. LIght amber with almost no head. A slightly sweet hops aroma. Seems a bit too balanced with the hops lacking any real assertiveness and their flavor overwhelmed by the dry maltiness. As it warms some more resinous hop characteristics are noticeable. Smooth with a faint lingering bitterness.

Pours deep copper with nice big notes of hops. The citrus and bitterness predominates over the palate and offers a nice full balanced finish.

Cask Ale Pint enjoyed at the venerable Victory Cafe by Honest Ed’s, Toronto! Darkish coppery robe and nondescript aroma of hoppy-ish something and sweetish malt. Carbonation and fresh feel is somewhat pleasing but the hops are not individually expressive in the taste and the malts don’t tie in well. A somewhat jangly, un-integrated pint. But okay. Work in progress?

On tap at the Magpie. Copper in colour, with just a thick film of head. Lots of C hops in the nose, with some earthiness underneath. In fact, early, mid and late hop additions all make their significant presences felt in this beer. There is a lovely caramel malt backbone. Finish and body are just so-so.

Draught @ Volo. Rich orange/copper body with zero head to speak of, faint citrussy hop nose. Disappointingly unbalanced -- an earthy, blunt bitterness comes through towards the end, but not nearly enough malts or other complex flavours to round it out. My pour was very thin and flat. However, it is refreshing, and kudos to a local brewer for exploring an APA (with a special reference to the hops, no less), but from my standpoint this is an inferior attempt at the style.

Note: had this at C’est What, and it was much sweeter, less hoppy and had a disturbing cheeselike smell. I will investigate and rerate next time.