Pizza Port Hop 15

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Marcos, California USA

Bomber. Thanks, Wetherel. You are the man! The pour on this one is a dark orange and very cloudy. Nice head on this, it’s very tall for about 3 or 4 minutes, then dies down to a white crown that floats forever. The nose is intense. I mean, I think west coast IIPA and I think of something. . . this is it. Every piercing, crisp, biting, clean aroma I have ever associated with Pacific Northwest hops is diplayed here somewhere. Grapefruit and marijuana are right up front. But just a second whiff gleans pineapple, orange, wood, apples, caramel. . . The body is thick and sticky in a very good way. My mouth gets parched after just two or three sips. This is brutally dry and resinous with a blast of grapefruit destroying my palate and then a wash of acidic notes making my mouth its canvas and bitch. What makes this noteworthy is the brutal bitterness and sophisticated complexity while maintaining a clean profile with no off flavors. In true imperial IPA fasihon, the malts play second fiddle. I struggle to even know they’re there other than the thick mouthfeel present. I pick up a bit of melon and caramel every now and then. I put down the whole bomber easily with a big grin on my face, but I don’t know how many of these I could drink. I’d like to give it a shot one day though.
[Mar 11, 2008]
Bomber. big shout out to Tronraner for this one. Pours a murky dark orange with a white head. The aroma is every bit as ridiculous as I recalled. Hops all over the place on this one. Pine, grapefruit, pineapple, orange, all kinds of citrus, spice. It’s truly intense. The flavor narrows a bit, but come on, after that kind of aroma that isn’t saying much. The palate is pleasingly sticky then dries out with a lemony, pitty character. Man, this stuff is superb.

The Dan Journal #158. Tasted 3/4/08. 22oz bomber. Top pour. Clear and golden. Layer of white head. Citrus grassy petrol aromas. Grainy and bready. Big fresh bitter piney flavor. Big alcohol note. Totally bitter with a rolling hop palate. Rye bitterness. Citrus with a subtle sweet and tart flavor. Dry with a long finish. Lingering bitterness. Mild fruit notes. Fresh and really nice. Thanks Ric!

Handbottle from Dickinsonbeer. Nice malty aroma with a good dose of piney hops. Golden brown body. Full palate for sure. Lots of huge malt up front with the great hop balance. Good bitter flavor is crisp. Massive doses of pine and caramel in the end. Excellent!

V - cloudy orange, light head A - pure hops T - astringent hops with a creamy pine undertone P - clean, more hops

Wow. All about the hops, with a little body that gives it Fairly drinkable. On tap at Papago in Tempe. Like the piney hop profile, with a little bit of a lingering bitter aftertaste. This beer makes me verry hoppy. My second pizza port beer. These guys like hops, so i like their beers.

So this was a great beer, very hoppy making it great for those looking for a more sessionable beer. Don’t be fooled though while the citrus and piney aromas and flavors meld well with the alcohol and almost make it unrecognizable it is still there. That being said great summer beer and second only to a few others in this style.

Bomber. Translucent orange-brown with a small creamy disc of foam that laces the glass all the way down. Great nose of flowery honey, grapefruit and resin mix. Flavor is similar with some nice earthy leaf, orange marmalade, mint and peppery oak notes mixed in. Just a tad too much alcohol for my tastes on the finish, but otherwise outstanding. Medium body is smooth and slightly watery so as to make this one dangerously chuggable.

"A Profound Hop Experience" Definitely! Awesome brew, the smell is great, looks awesome. Taste is strong, full hops in this dude. Great brew overall.