Moylans Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale

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

NIce to have Moylans recently enter MN. I jumped all over buying this when as soon as I saw it. Aroma is reminicent of DFH 90 Minute (one of my favorite IIPA’s). Citrusy hops abound. Mango, orange, pine, and some earthy hops. Flavor is very nice. Finishes a little harsher than 90 minute, as this is a beer for the serious hopheads. I still find this very enjoyable, the harsh finish is not a turn off, moreso makes it a little challenging, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. Well done! Good stuff indeed.

Bottle at Papago, finally. Tastes a lot like Four Peaks Hopsquatch to me. Nose is spicy, resiny, hempen and flowery. Flavor is less PtY and more poorly done Barley Wine. Finish is haltingly short for a beer of "this size." Seems to be a progenitor of the 3IPA, so a nice look back in time, but next to Pliney Jr. this gets schooled.

650 ml bottle from Freddy. Pours a translucent copper color with a big white head that has good retention and crazy lacing. The aroma is strong with hoppy pine and something salty. The flavor is hops forward with a big pine blast, rounding out the sides is caramel and biter walnuts. The mouthfeel is full and smooth. The finish is long and biter-sweet. Overall: The biter of this beer was a bit harsh at times, and the alcohol showed through in the taste on occasion, but still strengths outweighs fault and this is one very good IPA.

As SurlySober said after we both took a sip from the bottle he brought to my house, "Moylan’s knows SOMETHING about hops that other brewers don’t." He’d had this beer before; I had not. I think his opinion is dead-on - this is (to my taste) what hops are meant to do and this beer is a tremendous showcase for those who like hoppy bitterness and an example of what hops can be. Color is a rich, golden amber with a head of tiny bubbles that quickly fades to a scummy lily-pad appearance. Aroma is a sweet sweat hop smell with plenty of hoppy citrus notes of pineapple (delicious). Flavor is extremely hoppy with hop notes that I perceived as citrus-y, piney, and grassy. Wonderful hoppiness is balanced with a significant malt presence. Mouthfeel is crisp and extremely dry. This is an excellent beer. It is around $10/bottle at my local liquor store, but this is one beer that might be worth that price. Highly recommended.

2005, 22 oz bottle, thanks to secret santa! a nice light amber, just like i like my IPA’s, and a huge hops aroma of mostly cascades, but probably centennials too (the cascades’ bigger brother). really nicely balanced malt body, but otherwise i just wish there were MORE to it. still a great brew overall, thanks santa!

Thanks to dickinsonbeer... Appears an amber with a small off white head and scattered lacing. Smell is of biscuit malt, sugary pine, and intense caramel and grapefruit. Taste is of caramel, pine hops, citrus, and a bit of a bitter blast. Mouthfeel is sugary rich, full bodied, bitter orange peel. Nice beer but it’s just a bit overkill of hops that needs some more balance.

22oz bottle. Pours cloudy Amber in color with off white head. Aroma is all hops, Floral hops. Taste is all hops, citrus hops taste like eating a grapefruit with bitter finish. You will feel the alcohol on the second glass.

Cloudy honey-colored with a smallish white head. Nose is quite bitter, with lots of citrus, a touch of caramel. Flavor is quite sweet, backed up by a dry, nutty bitterness. Plenty of grapefruit, almonds, and touches of vanilla and cake.