Spinnakers Blue Bridge Double IPA

Brewed by Spinnakers Brewpub
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Victoria, Canada

Slightly hazy golden-yellow pour, moderate white head with good retention, very little lacing. Curious nose, slightly oily with hints of firewood and floral hops. Very mild flavour, none of the big piney hops one would tend to expect from the style, has something that tastes like maybe Fuggles or Goldings...odd, slightly metallic perhaps but interesting. Fairly long finish with good hop bitterness, mouthfeel is on the light side with good carbo. Jury’s out on this one, but it’s certainly drinkable.

Bottle from CapFlu. Hazy medium gold. Paler than expected. Not much head. Floral in fore-nose. Grainy and leafy in the back. Smells clean and smooth and earthy with honey and caramel notes. Low carbonation and easy palate. Strange sweet-sour overtones especially on entry. Peppery middle. Grainy finish. Very unusual, atypical, and not in a good way. Is messy and has olive pit flavors. I like the grain character, but that’s about it.

Hazy tan. Thin head. Earthy hops with some sweet chewy malt. The aroma comes off very appetizing, with English influences. Hits the palate earthy then gets maltier, but only briefly before becoming watery. The finish is actually bit acidic. Started off nice, then lost focus.

On tap at the brewpub, has an odd malt flavor to it. VERY mild hop taste and bitterness for a DIPA, mild even for an IPA. With all that mildness the alcohol has nothing to hide behind and becomes quite obvious. Not a bad beer, but not a double.

(Draught) Sampled at the brewpub. Pours a decent, white medium head atop a copper body. Nose isn’t as hoppy as one would expect from a Double IPA. The flavour too isn’t as over the top as one would expect from the Pacific Northwest? Really, I like the Iceberg more. Did some real hunting for this one as its only available at the brewpub and not the Spinnakers Store nor any of the normal Vic bottleshops.

Pours a clear gold with a lasting thin foam head. Aroma is sweet and malty with nice oily hops. Tastes very nice indeed - crisp hopping with good malting. Light finish. Not citrusy - rather surprising! Alcohol hidden. Tastes more like a regular IPA than a double/imperial. Good crisp body, find but adequate carbonation. Very quaffable, not particularly bold or imperial but a good IPA nonetheless.