Ninkasi Tricerahops Double IPA

Brewed by Ninkasi Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Eugene, Oregon USA

Above average hop aroma, pine. Floral, citrus hop taste. Some maltiness usually not found to same extent in IPAs. Thin head, some lacing. A solid DIPA.

2009 Bottle - Pours a cloudy and slightly thick oranfe with a large, frothy off white head...aroma is massive pine resin and citrus peel, sticky and sweet malt.flavour is similar, malty caramel and only light bitters...it’s thick and tasty but not very hoppy...still enjoyable..

Pours golden, silky off white head. Super hoppy aroma, massive grapefruit aroma – almost peppery. Smells like hop resin.
Tropical fruit initially on the flavour, interesting that the bitterness comes very late and is quite subdued for style. It does build a little, becoming grapefruity on the finish. It really grows on me after the first few sips – which come off too sweet. After a few it seems a lot more balanced.
Intriguing and perilously drinkable, a fruity hop bomb.

Pint on draft at Henry’s in Portland. Bright gold with a thin head. Nose was floral hops, like a garden of wildflowers sprayed with some citrus. The body was much thinner than expected as the menu stated this was an Imperial IPA. Very minute bit of malt sweetness, again I felt this body was thinner than an Alpha King (I’d love to know the gravity on this). So mostly hops throughout. The thinness was a major detractor. Fiery and a bit peppery towards the finish, listed at 9+%. The hops did cut well into the creole mustard rémoulade that was smothered over my Dungenes Crab Cakes. With a heftier malt profile, this beer would rate much higher. So far it is the only Ninkasi beer that I have come across and am looking forward to my next chance at one.

Draft. An amber beer with a thin white head. The aroma is sweet and very hoppy giving it strong notes of grass as well as lighter notes of grapefruit. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of citrus, hops, and grass. It is slightly acidic from the hops too, which makes it very refreshing.

Date: 05/10/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: hazy orange, wispy off white head, lots of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet crystal malt and pine aroma with a touch of citrus and fruity orange,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, good blend of crystal and caramel sweetness, fruity citrus character with a touch of orange, touch of peppery alcohol, light bitterness rises up to add some balance but stays out of the way of the malt and hops and leaves a linger bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Grrrrrrrrraaaauuuughhh!!!! ! ! bellows the mighty Tricerahops as he settles into his glass with a delicate bouquet of fresh hops and prehistoric ferns. He approaches the clearing with some caution, wanting to suprise the docile taste buds that peacefuly bath in a near by opening. With a steady advance the Tricerahops rages toward the Herbivores with tremendous speed and agility, as he approaches the taste buds he says "I’m a beer that’s been spliced with a dinosaur, top that". The taste buds cannot top the tops, they just enjoy his company in the opening in which they all swim. They laugh, tell stories of smooth malts and burly palates. Tricerahops was right, you should have brought a sweatshirt... but lucky for you there are several different styles and colors available in the gift shop.

Bottle: Pours a copper caramel color with light sticky head and nice lacing. The nose is very hoppy with lots of citrus and grapefruit, subtle orange and pommello. The flavor is sweet and resinous with a light enough body that it’s still in the IPA mouthfeel but ample hops in the nose and sweet dry hopped notes in the flavor. Finishes plenty hoppy and has an overall clean and resinous tail. Nice!