Infinity +1
Mike Hess Brewing - Miramar

June 22nd, 2016 - Sweet and festive, the Triple IPA is an imposing beer, but offers some inviting carnival sweet smells right at the pour. I catch hints of cotton candy and strawberry which is both dulcet and overbearing, just like the sweet goods proffered from carnival tents and stands. The flavor is - perhaps like some of the carnival's attractions - weird. It's intensely, utterly buttery. And somewhere after that pat of butter melts away, I get a little note of toffee. But that foretaste is a hurdle to get over, making this something of a chore to drink. Is this a bad batch?

 

 

 

 

Unlively, flat pour into a nonic pint from a 22 oz bottle. Almost no head, color is a nice rich copper. Swirls around the glass like tap water. Generally a very poor look, sans the color.

Some dank hop on the nose, slight hop. Way too subtle for a TIPA ( for my liking )

After being disappointed by the look and smell, I have to acknowledge that the beer has a nice flavor profile. Some malt up front but as it passes over the tongue the dank hop flavor completely fills the palette. I pick up the Amarillo on a very dry finish, the beer has a chewiness to the mouthfeel but the lack of carbonation is a real disappointment because even just a little would have totally saved this beer. The heat from the 12.3 ABV is there, but acceptable to this drinkers liking.

This is an ok beer, I'll think of it as a near miss. It's possibly just a bad bottle that got a little flat? I may try again someday, because the flavor was very good. The lack of head, bubbles, scent (when advertised as being fragrant) and unlikely mouthfeel really dragged a great taste down. I hope to try on tap once more.

 

Pretty good for a triple IPA. They hide the 12% pretty well