One of the biggest benefits, and really the reason why I started trading, is getting to sample beer you otherwise couldn’t. Such is the case with Surly Abrasive, a 9% ABV tall-boy canned Double IPA from Minnesota. In a market of hundreds of different Double IPAs, my hope and suspicion is that Abrasive can stand on its own and prove that there’s more to Surly than Darkness.
Ever since I had my first Firestone Walker beer, the 14th Anniversary, I’ve been hooked on a brewery that unfortunately is not easy for me to obtain, though that is changing soon enough. The most recent tick I’ve made to the Firestone line-up is their Double Jack Double IPA that I received as an “extra” in a trade with John on Beer Advocate. So, thanks again John – let’s crack this one open.
Every now and then you need a beer that is just a total hop bomb, a beer where the brewer tripped and accidentally spilled ten times the amount of hops into the brew kettle. The I Beat yoU (their spelling, not mine) from Mikkeller is one of those beers. This was brewed at BrewDog with instructions from Mikkeller to throw in a bunch of hops, so hopefully nothing was lost in translation.
With the premiere of Discovery’s Brew Masters Sunday night, I felt I needed to pay an homage to this season’s star, Sam Caligione, the owner and founder of Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware. I picked up some of the more limited release beers and decided to begin with the Squall IPA, a labeled “Bottle unconditioned naturally fermented 90 Minute India Pale Ale.”
Southern Tier describes the Unearthly Imperial IPA as their “most aggressive offering yet” so you know what to expect, an aggressive and skillful use of hops. I’m hoping that this falls right in line with other “big” IPAs, decently bitter, hints of alcohol, and a great floral nose. Hopefully even with the aggressive use of hops balance can be achieved on the palate.
