Hollister Anniversary Ale 2009

Draught at the brewpub. Super dark brown, almost black, with a small beige head. Very hoppy aroma of pine and grapefruit peel. The flavor is almost straight dry west coast DIPA, but with a very light chocolate element, with the rest of the malt being very restrained. For the amount of dark color, the malt flavor is very mild, like they used sinamar and not even carafa. Lots of pine and grapefruit peel bitterness, but pretty balanced and not overly bitter. Quite dry, with a clean, medium body. Drinks like a regular IPA with a huge hop punch. Very tasty.

Deep brown, thin off white head. Aroma is lightly hopped, light alcohol, mild malt. Tate is a strong warrior-esque bitterness with dominates any maltiness in a bad way. The bittering malt in this beer she be of a lower A.A. content.