Mammoth IPA 395

Brewed by Mammoth Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Mammoth Lakes, California USA

Bottle from Hi-Time Wine in Costa Mesa, CA. This was definately different from most IPA’s I’ve had. Usually its citrus hop, but the piney hops dominated the palate. The description says sage and juniper and I would totally believe it. Hopefully I can find this one up in Norcal.

Pours a deep, clear amber with a fluffy white head that shows good retention leaving a thin cap and very good lacing. This is a very good looking beer. The smell is different with some interesting floral aromas, probably the sage and juniper coming out with some pine and oranges in the background. Taste starts with a quick citrus hop kick with grapefruit and oranges before giving way to a sweet bready malt backbone. There is a huge floral hop aftertaste with the juniper and sage dominating the finish. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and sticky with the floral hops. This is a very interesting and different take on a DIPA and pretty enjoyable. It’s always good to be surprised by something a little out of the ordinary.

This Imperial IPA pours a deep orange gold color from a 22oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is orange and citrus, touch of malt. A medium bodied IPA. The malts are fruity and sweet. The hops are citrusy and grapefruity. Not a real big Imperial IPA, but has a nice hop profile, with lots of malt in the background. Very drinkable, the 8.5% alcohol is not all that evident. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Bottle. Pours a hazy amber, frothy, off-white head. Aroma is citrus, maybe peach or tangerine, caramel. Flavor is sweet grapefruit, not tart like most DIPA’s, very subdued, doesn’t hit you over the head, caramel, very laid back hop profile. Alcohol is hidden very well.

Bottle. Wow this one is different. The hops takes a backseat to Juniper and sage. The aroma is dominated by juniper and caramel, very little hops. Flavors are mainly sage, in particular initially. There is definite some serious hops in there because otherwise thisd would not work. But the sage is the predominat falvor. Body is robust, somewhat oily. Not a typical DIPA but a rather complex ale.

Hazy meidum copper colored body with a light off white head. The aroma is dank with some grass and wood. There is a little bit of the sage as you continue to smell. The taste has some bright citrus floral hops with a little catty character. The sage certainly comes to play in the finsh.

Dark amber with a lingering frothy head. Strong piney hop and sage smell reminds me of trips to Potholes Wildlife Refuge; the wild sage brush in Central Washington has an awesome floral scent to it. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Nice hoppy flavors mirror the aroma with pine sap, sage, juniper, and a light caramel sweetness to round things out. A great ipa here.

Pours a very deep amber/orange with nice off-white head. Sweet malt, floral hops, grapefruit, caramel, herb, and a definite flavor of sage. Complex and full bodied. This stuff is sweet, bitter, and spicy. I am very glad to have tried it.