Ottos Double D IPA

Brewed by Ottos Pub & Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
State College, Pennsylvania USA

From a 22oz Bottle. Courtesy of CharlesDarwin. Pours a mostly transparent, dark orangish amber color with a thin layer of tight bubbled, off-white foam. Aromas of orange citrus and white grapefruit hops sit on top of a hefty caramel malt base with a touch of honey. Some fresh lemon zest freshens it up nicely. Medium bodied, softly carbonated mouthfeel. Clean flavors, but the malt character is a bit too chewy for my tastes, and has a heavy mid-caramel malt flavor. After the hefty malts fade, a bold, resiny hop presence takes over, bringing out flavors of white pine sap, grapefruit, and lemon pith. Lots of bitterness, but demonstrates an excellent hop flavor utilization as well. Being an IIPA, the hop flavors are obviously the most critical dimension of the beer, and in this regard, it’s completely satisfying. The caramel, biscuit, and toffee malt presence could be dialed back some to make this feel a bit less plodding on the palate, though. Overall a solid example with a clean finish. Thanks, Tom!

22oz bottle. Pours orange-copper color, with a moderate sized tan head. Big, piney hop aroma, with juniper berries and caramel malt. Big grapefruity hop flavor, along with chewy malt and a hint of yeast in the background. Long, dry, bitter finish. Really nice DIPA.

Bomber, with thanks to kramer17801! Pours a clear amber with a large creamy tan head that persists, good lacing. Aroma is floral, with supporting citrus, some orange peel and light caramel; very nice on the nose. Flavor also works very well together, with a fleeting bitter hops bite, and the floral, citrus and balancing malts right in there. Well balanced, unique and very enjoyable. Alcohol is undetectable. It’s been quite a while since a DIPA stood out from the crowd, and this one accomplishes that in spades!

Thanks to tronraner for sharing this at our Hotel tasting prior to the Brewer’s Jam. Slightly hazy, deep orange/amber with a fleeting white head. Malt predominant aroma with some hops. Well balanced, but more of an IPA than a Double IPA.

Rated 9/15/07 - Draft sample at brewpub. Copper/amber color. Little head. Hoppy nose, citrus and flower, pretty dominant. Floor and citrus flavor, very nice hop bitterness. Excellent IIPA. A favorite of mine.

22 oz, bottle from mj. Pour is a slightly cloudy orange-red with a nicely formed white head. There was quite a bit of settling that lead to some pretty lacing. Aroma of hops, floral, orange citrus and just a hint off straw or pine. Taste reveals quite a bit more malt than was expected, based on the nose. The caramelly sweet malt led off with the citrus hops in the middle, and a very defined pine bitter hop finish. Really nicely rounded beer, great balance, and very tasty. Well made, and much appreciated Mike!

Thanks Tronraner. A slightly hazed amber pour with a good thick lacing. Hops on the nose but they are not huge. A very good maltiness and an excellent hop bitter. Mouthfeel is solid with good carbonation. A beer I liked better as I drank it.

From my friend Ryan out in State College as payoff for besting his fantasy baseball team this summer...murky brownish red body with a healthy whitish inch head...thick tracings of lace...pine/spruce leap from the hops...the aroma offers no suggestion of balance in the ingerdients, but I’m patient...medium, oily body with a lively feel on the tongue....NO sense of alcohol---indeed a pleasant experience...lightly bitter with hints of fruit...lightly (?) hoppy....seems to retreat as swallowed...smooth and respectful, as the malt flattens out the hops--ideal in an IPA...moral of the story: my team finished first, and this beer suits that finish.