Tonight's beer: Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA
Strongly and complexly bitter: pine and a tapestry of fruits—citrus backed by melons, pineapples, and assorted tropical fruits—threaded with grass and flowers and perfume. Vague sweetness far behind, bread and caramel and traces of clear spirits like vodka. Fruity and juicy hints through the middle. Bitter to start, then more than adequately sweet to balance things, then dries out a good bit.
Medium-bodied, with substantial alcohol heat and decent carbonation. Blisteringly drying with a long and resinous-sticky finish that comes close to refreshing. A little nearly-pulpy juiciness around the aftertaste.
This is a Double IPA that would rank up there with my personal favorites in the style—Pliny the Younger, Palate Wrecker, Un*Earthly, Double Wide. Amazingly intense and complex, beautifully balanced and integrated, The only thing like a flaw in my mind is that it seems a little boozy-hot to me, compared to my personal top rank. Delicious in every way.
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| Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA |
Strongly and complexly bitter: pine and a tapestry of fruits—citrus backed by melons, pineapples, and assorted tropical fruits—threaded with grass and flowers and perfume. Vague sweetness far behind, bread and caramel and traces of clear spirits like vodka. Fruity and juicy hints through the middle. Bitter to start, then more than adequately sweet to balance things, then dries out a good bit.
Medium-bodied, with substantial alcohol heat and decent carbonation. Blisteringly drying with a long and resinous-sticky finish that comes close to refreshing. A little nearly-pulpy juiciness around the aftertaste.
This is a Double IPA that would rank up there with my personal favorites in the style—Pliny the Younger, Palate Wrecker, Un*Earthly, Double Wide. Amazingly intense and complex, beautifully balanced and integrated, The only thing like a flaw in my mind is that it seems a little boozy-hot to me, compared to my personal top rank. Delicious in every way.
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