E. J. Phair Double Crossed Eye PA

Brewed by E. J. Phair Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Concord, California USA

On tap @ Cato’s in Oakland (late Dec. 2007) and listed as just “Double IPA.” Pours clear brown-ish to copper with thin tan head. The aroma is nice and malty with roasted malts, some burnt malts and caramelized malts. No surprise that it has a rich malty flavor too that seems to swing back and forth between roasty and slightly burnt maltiness to sweeter caramelized malts. Yum. I get burnt malts, some grainy malts, caramel malts and roasted malts. There’s also a nice shot of pine hop bitterness in there as well to create a bit of balance against the malts. Very good but not all that IIPA like.

Draught at the brewpub. Lightly hazy golden. Sweaty lychee aroma. Sweet with rounded mouthfeel. Strangely fruity with melon, gooseberries and lychee. Very bitter finish.

Draft at the Bistros DIPA Fest; Nose of citrus and pine hops; hazy rusty colored with a small straw head; flavor of citrus hops with some caramel malt balance.

Draft. Orange amber beer with a creamy off-white head. Sweet caramel malt backing with lots of citrus and pine hops. Citrus and pine aroma. Easy drinking for a DIPA. Lingering bitterness. Just lacks that certain something to put it over the top.

Draft at brewpub. This dipa pours medium to dark cloudy amber with a thin white head that leaves some lace. This one is hoppy! Aroma is dominated by grapefruit, pine and spruce hops. Big bitng hops in the flavor, rich malt as well to balance, but most prevalent are the assertive grapefruit and spruce hops, accompanied by sweet summer fruit flavors and a slight pepper burn in the finish. Full body and gentle, creamy carbonation. Quite enjoyable.