On tap at the Des Moines branch. This variety was aged in Templeton rye barrels. Small snifter glass. Amber in color. Minimal head. Nose gives the warning rye whiskey is coming. Alcohol astringency right off the bat. Taste is booze forward with some syrupy qualities. Citrus is present in a super sweet hard candy like form. Too many things crammed into this one for it to work for me. Alcohol burn is strong. Not quite balanced enough. This one is a miss.

Sample at Omaha Beer Fest, Stinson Park. 6-11-16. Bottle. Poured light orange, white head. Aroma was grapefruit, floral grassy hops. Taste was bitter, grassy, grapefruit.

on tap. Pours dark amber and honey. Frothy head that laces well. Sweet fruitiness, bread, grass, earthy, with some hints of orange and grapefruit. Body has some thinness and dryness that lingers.

Stubby bottle poured a hazy orange amber with a small lingering amber head. Aromas of bread, orange zest, grapefruit, light pine and light yeast. Palate was medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish. Flavors of bread, orange zest, grapefruit and light yeast with a smooth dry lingering bitter finish.

Deep orange pour, slightly cloudy. Single finger head. Aroma is very dank and juicy. Light mouth. Taste is full of pineapple, mango and passion fruit. Almost bubble gum like. Very easy drinking. Lace present.

Intensely hoppy with grass, pine, lemony citrus, and earthy tones. Flavorful with earthy, grass, sweet candied malt, rustic notes. Medium bodied. Enjoyable and well made beer. Full on hop flavor assault with middling bitterness.

Draft at Wilson & Washburn in Omaha. Pours a foggy copper color with a very thick, frothy white head. Strong, citrus notes with an amazing hop aroma. Almost overflowing but it is still good. Very chewy taste with hops and citrus all over. Light, dry finish. Pretty ridiculous Double IPA.

Bottle. A- Caramel, citrus, piney, floral, bitter. A- Amber color, clear liquid, off white head. T- Bitter, piney, citrus, caramel. P- Medium body, average texture, average carbonation, O- Not as bitter as I expected. Decently complex as I first tasted lots of pine, herbs, citrus, and bitterness to start out but as it warmed I got more of a caramel taste. Pretty solid IPA, especially considering it’s far from my favorite style.

Drinking this beer made me think of the innovative brewing techniques used by the hop maestros at Green Flash. That’s a damn impressive comparison considering this ale was crafted in Iowa instead of the West Coast. This beer almost looks more like a Belgian Ale than an IPA with its copper hue and headiness. Hop Sutra’s massive hop bill and Belgian yeast come through clearly in the aroma and taste. Sutra smells like bread, caramel, and fruit (think yeasty fruit character rather than juicy fruit). Really, the smell is Belgian-like, too. Taste has fruitiness and candy-like sweetness with just enough hop bitterness to remind you that this is a Double IPA. Mouthfeel is dry and warm. In fact, the boozy warmth goes all the way down to your stomach. This might be the perfect way for hop heads to ride off into the sunset.

On tap at GTMW 2014
A decent imperial IPA might lack the pop of the well known examples. Even so this down to earth Midwestern draft drinks easily. Loaded with the typical flavors of a malty imperial IPA, the result leaves a memorable presence.

Aroma / Appearance - A hazy golden body with thick icy legs lies in wait. From inside waves of malt, citrus, and resin meet Belgian yeast in a mixture that smells like hop infused cotton candy.

Flavor / Palate - Citrus and resin cling to the tongue. A bitter transition betrays the Belgian aspect. Soon afterwards the warm finish sparkles as it washes over the throat. A nice malt profile helps offset the bitterness. If other Peace Tree beers are this robust then I may have to arrange a road trip.