Hoptometry
Santa Barbara Brewing Company

 

On tap at the brewery. We'd already had a pitcher of the pale ale, and so our palettes weren't exactly fresh, but it was a dark yellow with a white layer of foam. Smelled deeply of citrus, grapefruit, and hops. Tasted like it smells, with a long bitter aftertaste and some alcohol. Carbonation and bitterness on the palate. Our little group killed a pitcher and could have killed another if we'd had time and weren't already tipsy. A very fine double IPA.

This was a great one-off double IPA while they had it. Darker golden color. The taste is intense in all respects. Good amount of malt back there, provides a nice sweetness to balance the hops. Hops are always present and the first thing you notice - and they stay on your tongue quite a while after the last sip. For some reason, they are also never overpowering. Must be that malt. Anyway, it's nice and sticky, and both sweet (in a good way) and bitter. Decently well-rounded for a double IPA, and very drinkable considering the alcohol.

Who knows if they'll bring this back, but if they do, have a pint of this with the Flaming Hot Greek Turkey Burger and garlic rosemary fries. Yum!

Nice golden color, low cream color head. Nice grassy flowery aroma. Big strong full-bodied flavor. Good example of a double IPA. Strong malt with stronger hop balance. Nice sticky hop coating on tongue. Santa Barbara Brewing has some great hoppy ales. As it is my home town, where I grew up, i get to go back periodically and get a taste.