HopTown DUIPA Imperial IPA

Formerly brewed at HopTown Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Pleasanton, California USA

GABF 2004. Unimpressive. The hops seemed very undeveloped in the beer, not fruity or floral but just bitter. Nice floral smell, though, and a good appearance.

This was the 1st Imperial IPA I ever tried and its still one of my favorites! On tap @ my house poured a clear lovely copper with a substantial long lasting amber head. Aromas of a Colorado pine forest followed up by some citrus{mostly grapefruit} and then some fruitiness and carmel. Palate was medium bodied with a smooth resiny mouthfeel. Flavors is well balanced with carmely maltiness upfront rapidly followed by fruitiness and a big blast of grapefruit and piney hops, with a very nice savory sweet yet bitter finish! Ya gotta try this one!

Sampled @ Hollingshead in Orange, CA. Deep tawny. At last, a Double India Pale Ale in Southern California that actually has a substancial amount of malt activity, rather than just a substancial amount of malt with the goal of balancing the insane hops. This was awesome from start to finish. In the aroma, a sugary malty fruitiness is present along with an enormous amount of piney, resinous and grapefruit like hops. The flavor was even better, with an insane amount of hops but also a coating and full bodied malt flavor. Characterful.

This was a whskey barrel DUIPA from the PP strong ale fest. A big golden brown color w/ orange highlights and good head and lacing. The nose and the mouth revealed the same thing, HOPS. The nose gave off a hint of oak though. Big bitter! Smooth w/ a tingle on the back of your tongue. Very nice.

On tap @ the San Diego Strong Ale Fest Day 2. On cask. Poured a dark, hazy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas and tastes of oranges and somewhat sweet. Whiskey comes through in the taste.

Whiskey Barrel DUIPA enjoyed at the Pizza Port Strong Ale fest. Nice copper/amber appearance with a distinct, complex nose and flavor. This brew is full of tasty hop flavors and a noticable whiskey/wood kick. Alcohol finish and hop dominated. Very complex profile from the whiskey barrel. Probably not as bitter on the palate as the standard version. Solid.

I had this on tap at Najas Place, very awesome brew! It had a broze appearance, with a creamy head. Aroma was nice and hoppy, as well as the flavor, although pretty strong, it was hidden very well and this is a great beer!

Bottle 22 oz., special bottling by the brewer for a buddy of mine who then delivered to me!!! Pours georgeous rosy, deep amber color with a generous off-white head that leaves nice lacing. Aroma is full and strong, dominated by hops with lots of pine and citrus, undertones of sweet roasty malts too. Flavor is biting with grapefruit rind, juniper and caramel malts in the background with prominent alcohol as well. This is one hop monster! Full body and gentle carbonation. All this adds up to one in your face brew.