Mammoth IPA 395

Brewed by Mammoth Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Mammoth Lakes, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

I split the bottle two ways into Sam Addams glasses I had a great cream colored head that settled down to a good film of lace that followed the brew down the glass. The body was a clear reddish brown. The aromas were quite interesting the juniper was nice experience to savor right up front. It did have a lot of herbal aromas going on some a little strange to me but noticeable. The beer had a citric to it but hidden behind the herbs. The flavor was balanced so it did surprise me to see this in a CA IPA but pleasantly so. It had a medium feel to it with ample carbonation for me. The brew was easy to drink and I would have liked another glass. A nice surprise for me from California

22oz bomber poured into a tulip glass. Bought last week but no other freshness info. Very deep, dark amber color, like the color of bourbon. Nice head formation but it disappears quickly. No lacing. Smell is malty sweet, then slightly hoppy before quickly transitioning to a, for lack of a better word, "musty" sage scent. Carbonation is a little low and the overall mouthfeel is pretty thick, more so than I like. Goes down like a big, heavy beer. The taste is interesting and complex. Mostly sage and roasted malt on the palate up front but I still get a decent sense of the hops. The juniper kind of comes through at the end adding an extra dimension to the hops. I’d like the hops more at the fore especially since they still leave a nice bitterness even after having to overcome so much else going on. Overall, a unique interpretation of the style but the excessive malt makes it come off like a bitter amber ale and the sage just doesn’t present well in this beer.

The addition of the sage and juniper really caught my eye browsing around in some store in Weaverville, CA. The flavors are extremely well and subtly built into the IPA, complimenting the hop profile nicely. Definitely recommend checking this if you see it!

Bottle, thanks, Eric. Pours copper, with an off white head. Aroma is hops, and caramel. Flavor is hops, caramel, malt, and has a floral bit to it, I assume form the sage and juniper. Body is a little thin. Something a little different.

The g/f brought back a bottle of this from a ski trip. Pours ambers. Aroma strongly of herbs, specifically strong sage. Medium carbonation with good mouthfeel. Flavor is overwhelmed by sage. Not too bad, but to me definitely not a DIPA.

On draft at Mammoth Brewpub (Mammoth Lakes, CA): You know you’re a geek when the brewpub turns on all the moving neon lights at 9pm, half naked girls start dancing on tables with glow-in-the-dark bras and DJ Roomba is going off with heavy dance music... and you’rre sitting at the bar taking notes on the aroma of an IPA... wow. Pours a clear dark amber (more amber than their amber ale- I tested this out) and topped with a thin white head that recedes into a circle around the rim. Wet smell. Nose of sweet bourbon, wood, dark plum and other pitted fruits, fig, hops, juniper, sage, ground clove, other notable spices, and some dark berries. For a DIPA, I’m honestly not getting many palate wrecking hops. This is different- but exceptional, I’m not so sure. Flavor of strong bourbon, faint hops, some juniper, wood, leaves, ground cloves, sweet malts (on the verge of cloying), and a sage-spiced punch right into the finish. Drinkability: Either you hate this or love it and I’m torn. Tastes good. Does it stay within a traditional realm of IPAs? No. I like it more than hate it, but can’t help but feel a little put off. Pairing: Spicy, chipotle beef tacos. Rebuy: Probably not. #357 on 31032010, DG.

Reddish color poured from a bomber I got from Mammoth on a ski trip a couple of months back. A bit of sweetness, not as crisp as my favorite IPAs. Good, but a cut below the best.

I owe this beer to the old beer crew at Hi-Times/ Costa Mesa, Mike and his guys for turning me onto this, the new guys are a little weak i must say. Overall this is a big beer, smell, taste, finish, it is all dominated by that friggin juniper, and it all works. This has taken the IPA thing and moved on from the citrus to another shrub and it is refreshing. This beer alone is good stuff, but beyond that not so much, not very drinkable after the 22.