Nodding Head Sorachi Ace Double IPA

On tap at Capone’s... Appears a hazy light gold, creamy, one finger white cap that quickly fades. Lots of sticky streaks of lacing are left around the glass. Smell is of lemon zest, herbal tea, lemongrass, whiffs of a floral shop cooler, and gentle spices. Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a unique lemony citrus and detergent-esque(maybe lemon pledge?) flavor mixed with the herbal notes, along with pepper and other spices. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with a mild lemon dishwashing soap lingering along the palate...not bad but definitely odd and different. Overall, this is a very different approach to the Double IPA that’s typified with the heavy pine resin and grapefruit. I give credit to Gordon for trying something different. Changes aren’t always wonderful at first but it takes someone with balls to challenge what is known as the typical standard. I think this hop would be really good in a kolsch, or a saison.

Sampled from growler courtesy of TomDecapolis. Poure d amedium and cloudy golden color with a small sized white head. Aromas of floral, green leafiness, grassy, skunky pot, and lemony citrus. Tastes of the same floralness, citrus, and grassy. Thinner body.

Growler filled at Capone’s. Pours a lightly hazy golden orange with an average white foamy/bubbly head that left some spotty lacing. Aroma was earthy with hints of lemon, lots of floral some sweet graininess. Flavor was kind of a grainy maltiness, kind of green and grassy hops flavor. Alcohol well hidden but just not that great of a beer. Interesting concept and a rare hop that probably won’t be showing up a lot in many double IPA’s...or even standard IPA’s.

Tap at Hop Devil Grill. Hazy pale golden beer, with a thin white head. The aroma is quite faint, light citrus, lemon/orange and faint spice. The flavour is also very subtle really, spicy hops, some light citrus and even some wheaty malt character. A bit of candyish sugary flavour as well. Dry finish. It’s not bad, but it’s more IPA than DIPA.