Ithaca Double IPA

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Ithaca, New York USA

DL Day,Hampton tasting. Really malty for a IIPA,nice to have a good amount of sweetness as it balances out the big citrus hops from this. Has some kind of funky earthy spice to it. Complex IIPA.

Growler at DL day and provided by El Jefe (aka buckethead junior), mucho grassyasses: Shimmering golden hue supporting a tight creamy head and good lace. The aroma has notes of citric hops, pine, bready and biscuity malt, grassy and earthy a bit as well. A quick dash of pepper noted as well but left before I knew it’s name.

The taste has a nice balance of juicy fruit, pine, pepper, bready malt and a hint of sugar. Not a massive hop bomb IIPA. Nicely straight forward and inviting brew. The feel is sharp and refreshing, clean. No alcohol noted, good job hiding that.

I dug this more than expected.

growler DLD thanks to ElJefe for the sample! bright orange with a small very faint white head. Big grassy/almost spicy hop aroma-i detect lots of cascades/chinook, maybe even some noble hops? some citric and earthy tones to it as well. Flavors are sweet passionfruit, pinneapple, with lots of piney hops on the finish. body is somewhat surupy and considering it was from a growler, the carbonation is actually still present. Pretty straight forward IIPA.

dark clear yellow body with a thin ring of a head. marshmallow lemon nose. thick roast hop taste. leafy hop finish of pine.

Growler: Courtesy of ElJefe at the Hampton Inn tasting (Saturday). Big piney aroma with a touch of citrus and grass. Pours a transparent golden-orange with an insignificant white head. Flavor has more of a citrus presence than the aroma leads you to expect. Starts citrusy with a touch of sugary sweetness in the middle and finishes with moderate piney hops. Well balanced.

(cask conditioned @ The Old Toad - Rochester, NY) Golden pour with a puffy and lasting white head. Aroma is lots of hops with a slight touch of citrus and a little bit of candy in it. The flavor begins with a slightly sweet and tangy hop flavor with a smooth transition to a hoppy middle and a smooth and creamy finish. Slightly sweet and hoppy finish. All around solid double IPA.

Bottle: Dull golden, yet somewhat bright, hazy, moderate off-white sudsy head, spotty lacing.   Combination hop and candied citrus peel.   Yeah, very candish orange rind like.   Perhaps a whiff of alcohol is in there as well.   Citrusy tea leaf on the start, somewhat hot or big as I can tell there is some heat behind it.   Hop bitterness is there, but not overpowering like many IIPAs.   Body, and especially mouthfeel, are fairly average.   Definitely not a viscous nor thick IIPA.   If it is indeed 10% it doesnt really feel like it.   Finishes with a fairly big malt base along with a strong hop bitterness, yet it isn’t overpowering.   Candied citrus peel and tea leaf lingers.   Not bad.   Thanks Dan!

This beer throws an incredible amount of chill haze (it was clear before I lightly chilled it) and is a murky tanish amber color. It is topped by a frothy, rocky tan head that is showing great lacing potential. The aroma is fresh and hoppy, but not in the typical dominating citrus way. The aroma is grassy and herbal with an underlying toasted malt note that is quite dry. The fresh hop part of the aroma quickly fades, leaving the dry maltiness and a bit of alcohol.

The flavor is dry up front, but picks up a bit of malt sweetness as it passes down my throat. There is a bit of a citrusy component to the flavor, more a note of orange than of anything, but there are also some spicy floral notes. The bitterness is definitely presence and is most noticeable in the almost harsh, but definitely astringent lingering finish. The finish almost has a lacquer quality to it; I suppose it is the combination of astringent hop notes and the alcohol. This is certainly a drinkable beer, and in fact is even enjoyable, but it is certainly a bit unbalanced and harsh at times, especially in the finish.