Category 5 IPA - White Oak
Due South Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

i generally tend to dislike the wood aged hoppy beer, at least generally speaking, it hasnt impressed me much, as the time in the wood often reduces the freshness of the hops. there are some super intelligent beers out there that dry hop post barrel, which is brilliant, but i dont think this is one of them. that said, its one of the better ones of these i have had in awhile. the oak is really clean, and the hops still smell and taste fresh. maybe they did this with white oak spirals, it has a rather intense quality, which often comes from the greater surface area of the spirals and their relative newness compared with used oak barrels, although thats all speculation. there is a little bit of off putting sweetness right in the middle, but the oak and the hop intensity balance it quickly. it feels a little heavy to me, especially when it warms up at all, and the alcohol comes out too, its a lot of beer in this glass. i think the piney resinous hops are the right choice for the wood, whatever varietals they have used here, it makes sense. my main point of stoke on this one is that all the wood doesnt diminish the hoppiness or the freshness thereof. a style i may never fully come to love, but this was real well done.

Hazy, orange beer with a fluffy white head that leaves a lot of lacing behind. the aroma is filled with Citrus, oak, vanilla and resinous pine. The flavor is sweet oranges, and malt with a lot of oak. The oak adds bitterness and an astringent element to the beer. Finishes dry with a lingering bitterness that has some legs. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Nice beer.