Saranac Wet Hop IPA

Brewed by Matt Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Utica, New York USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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Missed this 1st time around. Luckily Ron clued me in that Nathaniel’s corner store had it. Doesn’t look like much, gold, clear, little head, minimal lacing. Nose is grassy, light pine. But it picks up finally in the palate. Full bodied, spicy, hoppy, satisfying.

I liked it better as it warmed. Abrupt at first, too bitter, but calmed down with time

22oz bottle in a tulip. Pours amber with an off-white head. Aroma of pale malts, bread, some off-notes like tin or something, and a little bit of hops. Flavor is that of an IPA, and nowhere near a double or imperial IPA. Average texture. I feel lied to after drinking this.

Bottle from Nathaniels. Clear yellow orange color. Good thin white head, leaves some lace. Smooth, good carbonation light body. Aroma of hops and citrus. Mild spicy, light piney hops and citrus. No bitterness in this. Was not able to taste the ABV but felt it a little.

Location: 22 oz bottle from Buy Rite, 12/18/12, as High Peaks Wet Hop IPA

Aroma: The nose is fairly clean and hoppy, it is pretty light, with herbal, grass, and citrus hops
Appearance: It pours a clear dark golden color with a clean sheet of white head and medium lace
Flavor: The taste is light as well, it is a little grassy/herbal, lightly sweet and light-medium bitter
Palate: This one does drink pretty decently, with a smooth, clean, creamy feel, and a lightly dry finish
Overall Impression: At 7%, this seems like a Wet Hop IPA to me (not a Wet Hop Double IPA), which may explain why the words "Double IPA" have mysteriously disappeared from the label (my bottle says "...to create a one of a kind, delicious Wet Hop IPA..." instead). As for the beer itself, there are some solid components and it drinks pretty nicely. It has a nice looking pour too. I’m generally not a huge fan of the Matt line of beers, and though they still haven’t made anything I really loved, these High Peaks series beers do seem to be a notch above their other offerings.

Bomber from HalfTime. Pours light golden/orange amber with a transient white head. Aroma of light citrus and some herb/veg. Med body. Flavor is rather herbal with some background citrus. It’s a good hoppy beer, but at 7% I don’t think it qualifies as imperial/double. Finishes dry and pretty bitter.

Tap Wet hop ipa... Sounds good doesn’t it? Well this beer is so terrible and unlike any ipa you would wanna drink that I’m not going to waste more then a sentence or two on it. Aromas and taste of heavy malt, booze, lager grains, spicy wood. No hop freshness or herbal citrus in my glass.

Draft at Pony Bar HK with Linh and Vi. Pours an amber body with white lacing. Aroma is plain - maybe some muted malts, lots of caramel, and grainy lager notes. Mouthfeel is thin with notes of grain, somehwat offensive. Not an IPA, no where near a double IPA. Awful.

Growler. Pours clear dark coppery red/orange with a small creamy tan head. Aromas of sweet red berry and cocoa, dirt, and grass. Earthy and piney, and somehow reminds me of Christmas. The flavor is pine and citrus, sweet malt and caramel, moving to earthy notes with light bitterness. Medium carbonation. Not bad; pretty sessionable. I’m not sure I’d categorize this as a dIPA. [867]

On tap at the Blue Tusk. The bitterness is in your face, its not so drinkable. Very vegetable taste. Above averae mouthfee of this salad. lacey and one eighth of an inch head.