islay (470), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA Aug 18, 2009 12 oz. bottle. Strong, oily, sharp, salty, sea-like aroma features iodine, pine, and, yes, a hint of cat urine (but not in a bad way). The aroma also is sweet and fruity, with lemon and peach scents. Pours a mostly clear copper with a small amount of effervescence and suspended particulate. Moderate to large amount of of even, creamy, taupe, very appealing head. Produces great lacing. Very good appearance, almost meriting a 5. The taste is quite btter, very hoppy, and really good. It’s not very complex, but I appreciate a good hop wallop. Quite sweet, featuring brown sugar, but the hops definitely dominate. Long, dry finish and aftertaste. Full body. Oily and smooth in the palate with a good amount of liveliness. Excellent palate. Double Simcoe IPA could stand to be a tad more complex, but it is strident, strong, and stubborn in its simplicity. twindog (69), Hampstead, Maryland, USA Aug 18, 2009 Pours golden apaque with a large white head. Aroma of citrus fruit and hops.. Starts with hops and moves in to a sweet note finishing tart. All and all this is a great beer leaving you with a dry mouth and wanting more. bigguns22 (88), Maryland, USA Aug 18, 2009 Pours golden apaque with a large white head. Aroma of citrus fruit and hops.. Starts with hops and moves in to a sweet note finishing tart. All and all this is a great beer leaving you with a dry mouth and wanting more. DaSilky1 (1933), San Diego, California, USA Aug 18, 2009 pours a clear amber, frothy off-white head atop with concentrations around the edges. That glorious simcoe nose, honeydew and hop crystals, chamomile, and lime zest. What a fucking aroma hop, man! Bitter, dry, spicy, earthy...What a fucking flavoring hop, man!...What a fucking bittering hop, man!. The malts behind are balancing, not syrupy or cumbersome in any way, shape, or form. This beer is thicker and significantly more malty than Mikellars regular simcoe IPA, but this is 9% alcohol...and i think, even with the extra malty boost, the simcoe characteristics still are showcased with great craftsmanship..grapefruit, spicey, floral....maybe a bit of a musty basement character at times, but not enough to distract. Can you even go wrong with simcoe? Can you? I brewed an all simcoe IPA 2 weeks ago, im hella excited.... IvoR (30), New Jersey, USA Aug 17, 2009 Bottle. Pours hazy brown with a minute head. Aroma is of honey, citrus, and a hint of berries. Flavor starts off soft then builds up. Possibly the only distinguishable flavor that manages to show through the powerful burs of hops is that of caramel. Leaves a long lasting very bittery finish (I can outline exactly where the taste buds for bitterness lie on my tongue), very nice though. Overall, I am very impressed with this brew. drowland (1360), Tallahassee, Florida, USA Aug 15, 2009 12oz glass into a tulip. Pours deep red, almost brown with a big off-white head that sticks around for sure. Big hop aroma that is all citrus, grapefruit, and grass. You can also smell the bitterness. The flavor is big hop bitterness at the forefront with a nice malt backing that resembles caramel, nuts, and buttered bread. Not an overwhelming amount of alcohol or any huge flaws - but still didn’t blow me away. KidA (19), Morristown, New Jersey, USA Aug 15, 2009 Pours deep amber red with soapy foam doubling the volume. Summer citrus fruit garden and pollen scent that lulls before the strong character of the brew. Sweet and sappy with hops balanced on a perfect scale with alcohol and base.
An ever evolving surface lends to the feeling that the glass is a living creature or a bubbling witches brew. Magical ale for a cool summer night. Elwood (676), Leesburg, Virginia, USA Aug 4, 2009 Serving: 12 oz. bottle.
Appearance: Pours a hazy, ruddy brown with a sizeable, foamy, light tan head. Great lacing left behind.
Aroma: The nose is decidedly spruce with a little citrus in the back and some resin thrown in too. A definite showcase for the simcoe hops.
Taste: Enamel eating hops, chocolate (?), over ripe citrus. Sweet, piney hops up front, a brief gap, then a powerful bitterness.
Palate: Medium carbonation with a medium mouthfeel. Long bitter finish with a touch of dryness.
Overall: What an experience! Well balanced and a pleasure to drink. A must have.
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