MT Barrels HopHead Heaven IPA

Beer was golden to color with a small head when served to me. Aroma was a very strong piny smell, almost smelled of gin. Taste of the beer was first of grapefruit which then moved to the very bitter pine and gin tastes. Unfortunately, the downfall of this brew is the lack of a strong mouth feel. There is virtually no malt taste, almost feels like your are drinking a hop tea. The hops flavor is a bit raw as well and seems like it wasn’t aged enough to allow them to meld together. I was really looking forward to this brew but it fell way short of my expectations.

This poured a deep amber body, slightly hazed, capped with large off-white bubbles. The aroma was about the hops, piney with a splash of grapefruit and a light touch of the cat box. It seemed a bit thin, needing a sturdier malt bill, but produced a prolonged bitter PNW finish. Time to get out to the brewpub to "sample" a pint or two.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eventID=6976>Night of the Living Ales IV, Goose Island Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL - 3/1/2008<font size=-1>

Cask @ Night of the Living Ales. I had never heard of M.T. Barrels but I figured I would give it a shot. Compared to the other beers there that night this one was a little bit of a disappointment. It had the smell of an IPA, but I agree that it was a little watery. Still I was glad to try a new brewer.

on cask at Night of the Living Ales IV, this was the second hoppy beer that didn’t fare well on cask at all. extremely watery with mild fruit pnw hop notes. just way too watery and i hope to re-rate it on tap someday.