Hood Canal Dabob Bay IPA

Date: September 26, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Bottleworks, Seattle
Appearance: clear amber, frothy beige head, drippy lace
Aroma: sulphery dry pale malt aroma, floral and earthy hops
Flavor: dry malt flavor, just a touch of malty sweetness is quickly dried out by lots of earthyness, plenty of bitterness follows the earthyness, touch of fruity citrus shows up late to the party, light astrengency
Aroma: 4/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 8/20
Rating: 2.4/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: *+ /4

22oz bottle acquired in trade with riversideAK (thanks!). Poured a medium and slightly hazy amber color with a larger sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, lightly earthy, and toasted caramel. Tastes of citrus, light earth, and light caramel.

Bottle courtesy of RiversideAK. Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of resin, earth, caramel. Tastes bitter and citrussy with some nice bitterness. Very chewy.

22oz bottle, picked up at Bottleworks. Murky orange and almost brown hue with a tan head. Smells of sugary sweet hop oils, tinny and pine-like, but also mellow, with an undertone of melon. The texture is very interesting: smooth, almost creamy up front, a little peppy on the back - all the time very fresh and lively. Tastes moderately acidic, slightly milky and creamy, with flavors of pine wood, oranges, kumquats and some perfumy floral notes. Very decent, certainly drinkable, and surprising consider the bad experiences I’ve had with three other Hood Canal beers.

Gusher: Hazy bronze (bottle conditioned so the yeast came back into suspension due to the gusher effect). Head is alien and exotic in shape after the massive head dissipated. Not really lacing anymore, more like pillows. Nose of grapefruit, cedar like wood & citrus notes, light tart with yeast. Sour/tart flavor not sweet at all, almost like an orange/banana smoothie at one of the new chic juice places. Thanks Ken!

Draught @ WABF 2008. Pours a hazy orange color with a small off-white head. Has a malty hoppy citrus aroma with some piney hints. Malty hoppy bitter flavor with hints of grapefruit and pine needles. Fruity malty hoppy bitter finish with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

The body was slightly hazy with a hazy and ruddy dark copper. The aroma was grapefruit that was almost overwhelming. There was also caramel and a hint of peanuts. The taste was caramel with some wodd and a little bit of grapefruit. This was a decent IPA.

22oz bottle. A very full 22oz bottle. It was full to the top of the cap with beer, no air space in this one. Orange gold color. Large white foamy head. Aroma is mild grapefruit and wood. A light to medium bodied IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are grapefruity and piney. Perhaps a touch thin. Lots of orange peel and citrusy flavors, as well as lots of piney hops. Fairly solid typical PNW IPA. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is bitter.