Laughing Dog India Pale Ale

Brewed by Laughing Dog Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Ponderay, Idaho USA

(Bottle) Purchased at Bottleworks in Seattle on October 20, 2007. Pours a medium, white head with a deep orange body. Nose is grapefruit and balanced with decent malts. The flavour is somewhat subdued compared to the Pale Ale, its not quite as citrus and perhaps has more malt than I am used to for an IPA. A IIPA perhaps but I would have figured these recipes are reversed. Good.

Pours a clear copper with white head and decent lacing. The aroma is full with a load of grapefruit hops backed up by sweet malts, caramelized malts and mildly bready. The flavor begins with a quick burst of sweet malts that only lasts a moment before grapefruit hop bitterness overwhelms the palate with pure hop bitterness. Soon the roasty and mildly caramel malts return but are the turned back and out numbered by the grapefruit hop bitterness. Solid no nonsense IPA.

12oz bottle, courtesy of Ibrew2or3. Thanks Dave! New state rating also. Reddish/rust amber colored body with a small off white head. Leaves a layer of sudsy bubbles and minimal lacing. Nose is terrific - spicy citrus hops, grapefruit, lemons, pine cones, sweet caramel malts. Fore is caramel malt, tons of juicy hops, citrus, pine, grapefruit. Tastes really good also. Medium bodied, semi oily palate but not as much as some IPAs. Bitter finish, backed up by sweet malts. Really good IPA.

Pint at Moon Time on my visit to CdA. Solid example of an American IPA. Not in your face by any means, but defined by balance and a fair amount of bittering hops and flavor. Many earthy characteristics, with a slight grapefruit zing hiding in the finish. This met my expectations and fulfilled my mid-afternoon hop craving. Cheers to my first Laughing Dog brew!

12 oz. bottle: Clear amber pour with a sturdy cap. The aroma is fantastic. An initial wave of c-hops rises from the glass, followed closely by loads of honey, caramel and butterscotch. Very sweet and seductive. A nice rindy bitterness hangs over the caramel-laden body. Notes of sweet bread, toffee and white sugar are balanced by bitter orange and grapefruit. The extreme balance is hard to find in the style - nicely done.

Date: 10/13/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, GABF

clear dark gold, frothy beige head, big citrus hop aroma on sweet crystal malt, lots of sweet crystal malt to provide a base for the liquid hops, light balancing bitterness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

Bottle shared by boboski: Transparent copper orange with a thin ring of wispy white head. Aroma of slightly soapy grapefruity hops with a touch of pale malt. Body has a mild sweetness with a lot of earthy bittering hops toward a grapefruity drier crisp bittersweet finish.

On tap at Bittercreek Alehouse in Boise. Slightly cloudy copper-orange with a thin soapy white head. Little bit of an alcoholic floral grapefruit hop aroma with some sweetness. Finish had a fresh grapefruity taste, but was subdued overall and never really let loose on my taste buds. Decent hop start, but never really followed through.