Moylans Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale

Brewed by Moylans Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Novato, California USA

Sampled on draft at Smokin’ Joe’s in Pittsburgh PA this beer poured an orange-amber color with a small yellow-white head. The aroma was strong pine and grapefruit that slaps the senses. The flavor was strong tangy and bitter malts iwth a very strong piney and grapefruity hop presence that coats the tongue and will not leave. The mouthfeel is thick and oily. The finish is incredibly long. Some wonderful elements here but there is a harshness to the intensity that detracts some. Good.

22oz bottle. Pours a clear, amber-orange body with a foamy, off-white, finger-width, long lasting head that leaves a good amount of frothy lacing. Aroma is lovely and complex. Lots of fruity caramels and moderate sweet pines. Sugary pineapples, juicy oranges and grapefruits, strawberries, and mangos. The big malt backbone becomes more and more present as this warms, but the sweet citrus pine never goes away. Flavor is great as well. Initially, a truckload of piney hops jump out and numb the palate. A very mellow sweet caramel maltiness balances the big hop flavor after the intial shock. It finishes pretty dry with a long bitter aftertaste. The flavor didn’t start to impress me until this warmed up. There is still a big amount of pine flavor, but the initial sharpness mellowed out. The malts became fuller and sweeter and allowed for a much nicer balance. The fruits that were in the aroma became evident and the finish became slightly sweet. Lots of juicy citrus remained, however, still giving this a ton of hop flavor. The palate is medium to full and hides the 9.2% perfectly. I was surprised to read high how the ABV was! Overall, a very impressive DIPA. The clear cut favorite from my currently limited California experience. Mmmm.

Bottle. Murky orange pour with an off white head. Laces on the glass very well. Piney resinous aroma. Fruity malts and hoppy finish make this an excellent example of the style. I’m drinking this again.

Local bottle. Cloudy orange beer with a foamy off-white head and sticky lacing. Aroma is tons of acidic fruit hops like pineapple. Huge flavour with the malt backbone bursting through plus more fruit hops like pineapple and oranges. Well balanced.

Bottle 66cl. @ LCRBM 2008, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Clear medium orange color with a average, frothy, good lacing, fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, heavy hoppy, orange, grapefruit shell. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and heavy bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20081025]

Very bitter hops, grapefruit-piney resinous. Body is sticky sweet, carmally almost. Its pretty over the top. The finish is harsh and bitter and long lasting. It pretty much ruins the palate because of that. Nonetheless, it is quite good. Aroma is very delicious, although I have to say the flavor didn’t keep up with it. Aroma was very tart-citrusy and herbal, with hints of lemon, but the flavor was unfortunately dominated with a very strong bitterness. Overall: Good, but not great IIIPA.

Was surprised that this one was as hoppy as it was. Every time I have seen triple hoppy, this is what Ive been expecting. This one does not disappoint. The lemony and grapefruit zest is fantastic. You better love bitter hops, and I can see how this would be too much for most, but it is truly fantastic. A palate wrecker for sure!

Appearance: very good head retention in a white to off-white color; slight reddish copper; definitely filtered as it is quite clear; pretty textbook Aroma: fairly complex; floral, fruity, earthy, touch of spice; lacks intensity Flavor: good malt backbone but not as extreme as 90 minute; very good balance; bitterness is strong, bordering on harsh Palate: overall, good, but slight harsh astringency lingering into the finish