Half Pints Humulus Ludicrous

Released Aug 11/07. Purchased right at the brewery. Tasting this beer was a bit of a surprise (after all, I knew what *I* meant from a double or imperial IPA). I was expecting something rather like Victory Hop Wallop or Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. What I got was an extremly balanced beer that to me tastes like an assertively hopped barleywine (Rogue Old Crustacean). The hops are there, they are mouth puckering, and they do linger long after you’ve tasted it, but they do not overwhelm; they follow up a firm malt backbone, with the bitterness building and building. About 2 minutes after you’ve sipped, it tastes like you’ve bitten on a pine cone (a compliment when it comes ot beer in my opinion )..Definitely not a mono dimensional beer either; you’ve got a pronounced treacle/toffee note omewhere in the middle. A bit too heavy to consider as a session beer perhaps (Little Scrapper IPA will do quite nicely for this). This is something that I would serve to company instead of wine. I’ve tried it twice from the aging tanks, and once bottled at room temperature. I’ll follow up with some comments after I’ve had a properly chilled bottle. I don’t see the case I bought lasting very long though. Tom

Bottle from trade with Piscator34. This is my ideal beer. pine hops dominate the nose, lite notes of citrus and something else i cant finger. Poured a hazy orange with minimal head. Some carbonation bubbles. Lots of hoppy goodness in the flavor obviously. Notes again of citrus and even more hops. Nice smooth bitterness to finish this off. Much better fresh out of the fridge, got kind of gross as it warmed.

Bottle shared with Blankboy, Jerc, and Mable, Blankboy’s bottle (thanks Paul for sharing this one!!!). Glowing dark orange, small white head. Really nice hop aroma - earthy, bready malt as well - so fresh and wonderful. Very balanced taste - tons of fresh hops, tons of malt, very subtle alcohol. This is how you do this style folks, the fact that it is coming from Winnipeg is stunning - Canada’s finest (only likely) DIPA - a tremendous success and a pleasure to drink!!

Half Pints Humulus Ludicrous, 22 oz bomberator, 100 IBU, 8% abv. I like these guys. My kind of brewery. Let’s see what we’ve got here, already. I’m pouring this into my Big Ass Triple Karmeliet glass, just for fun. Smells great pouring it out...wow! But I’m out of turn here.... Gorgeous amber/crimson coloring, with an ample crown of fluffy off-white foam. Very nice. But that aroma! Ah, this is the stuff! Lovely, arresting, stimulating, full of fresh fruit, grapefruit peel , pithy peach pits, orange rinds, pine needles, lemon zest, and a squirt of lime...bubbling over with hops, fresh and vibrant, everything this hophead desires. Drinking it: flush, plump, and juicy. Fits the bill for a tasty Double IPA, doesn’t skimp, doesn’t skirt, just delivers. Fullish mouthfeel, floods the mouth with bitterness, and some sweet fruit flavor, bright as it is bitter. Twist of bitter citrus with prickly piney flavor holds true to the classic parameters of the style, and then some. Very well constructed, excellent composure and balance. There’s no hop overload, if you know how to handle it, plenty of malty balance, allowing the hop hoppitude to command without any overkill. Overall, an indulgent, hopalicous treat, great as a nightcap, which is how I’m enjoying it tonight. They went to great lengths to make this, using a hopback finish and plenty of dry-hopping. I didn’t have the stinky bleu cheese or insanely spicy curry (if I dared), or the HAlf Pints tulip glass (come on, Dave, you need my address?)...but enjoyed it was...gorgeous stuff, a hoplovers wet dream, without the alcohol sticking out much. Great job, Dave!

fresh bottle from the brewery: poured a luscious orange amber lightly clouded ale in the tumbler...nice rocky, sticky 2 finger cap laces up the glass as it’s drained. Rich aromas of floral-citrus hops over sweet toffee malts....very lush. Rich body, lush juicy citrus character, great balance, warming and satisfying. The front side is thick in malts...you get toasty bready- toffee tastes, rich toffee smothered biscuits...just for a moment...then the flood of juicy citrus cone hops hit and balance this off...some resiny pine and earthy tones develop mid palate and some complexity evolves as these 2 tidal forces of massive malt and infused hops balance off...musty sweetness, woody peach tones, honey- pine resins.....finish is long, rich wet and has a gradual bittering that pierces the tongue with metallic after tastes....a warming satisfaction ensues. A wonderful big IPA in the Pacific NW style but with some unique characteristics...best brew from this brewer so far.