By Jack on September 2, 2010
I had not heard of Ballast Point before, and would not have picked it off the shelf if it weren’t for the Ratebeer label next to it (It scores 98). I hadn’t heard of the brewery before, but if it scores a 98, it had to be pretty good..
Look
Big Eye IPA is deep gold to amber in colour, and pours with a tight off-white head. It leaves some lacing. A beautiful beer to photograph.
Smell
The typical aromas of American IPA are present – a little bit of caramel malt, and lots of piney, fruity hops. In this case, the pine is dominant. The hops smelled very fresh.
Taste
The taste is more complex than the aroma. It starts with the resinous, piney hops, supported by caramel/toffee and toasted malts. It leaves enough bitterness in the mouth for you to notice it, but isn’t one of those IPAs that you can still feel on your tongue hours later.
Feel
Big Eye is smoother, and creamier than the typical (American) IPA. It is medium bodied and moderately carbonated.
Drink
Tasting this beer reveals a lot more than the aroma gives away. I found it quite drinkable, and was surprised to see that it was 7% alcohol. Very drinkable for a substantial IPA – I would buy this again.
Posted in Beer |
By Jack on August 31, 2010
‘I Hardcore You’ is a blend of BrewDog’s Hardcore IPA and Mikkeller’s ‘I Beat YoU’ Imperial IPA. The beers were blended, and then some more hops were added for good measure. I got a few bottles from @samhaldane when he imported them. The hops are strong with this one, I’ll probably split a bottle with dad, and save the other one to see how it mellows out.
Look
Deep gold to amber in colour, pours with a nice pillowy off-white head. The head thins out, but leaves thick, sticky lacing.
Smell
Intense hop aromas flow out of the bottle as soon as you crack it open – lots of pine, citrus and grapefruit. Slight malt aromas, with a hint of alcohol.
Taste
I Hardcore You starts with hops – lots of hops. Some malt comes through as well, but this is all about the hops. The alcohol comes through towards the end, then the hop flavour lingers.
Feel
Medium/full bodied, with medium carbonation. There is some alcohol present, and quite a dry finish. It has a warming effect.
Drink
Pretty drinkable for a double IPA that has been hopped beyond belief. If it wasn’t so expensive and difficult to procure, I’d get a lot more of this. A lovely example of a strong IPA.
Posted in Beer |
By Jack on August 27, 2010
Snake Dog is an American IPA that clocks in at 7.1% ABV. It is sold as the brewery’s ‘Hop Monster’, so I was keen to taste it.
Look
Snake Dog IPA is pale gold in colour, and pours with a moderate, tight head. It doesn’t leave a lot of lacing.
Smell
The aroma is fruity/citrusy/piney, but is not overpowering. There is a little bit of malt, but not enough to really notice.
Taste
The first hit is all hops, and the bitterness lasts from the first sip until well after the last taste. Some malt comes through in the middle, but it is a bit thin. The finish is an aggressive hop blast.
Feel
Snake Dog is medium bodied with low/medium carbonation. A bit of bight from the hops.
Drink
Reasonably drinkable for an IPA. The hops would become overbearing pretty fast if you were planning on having a few.
Posted in Beer |
