Double IPA, French Oaked (Bordeaux)
SweetWater Brewing Company

 

Had on-tap at the brewery. I believe this was the second run through the barrel.

Pours a hazy yellow-orange color with a one-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of citrus and tropical fruits with just a hint of sweet malts. There's just the slightest hint that it was aged in wine barrels in the nose until it warms.

Tastes similar to how it smells. The malt flavors hold a bit more sway in the flavor but the hops are still in control. Citrus and mild tropical fruit flavors carry through to a mildly bitter ending. As with the smell the wine barrel does not impart its full range of flavors until the beer warms.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I had samples of this until they ran out.

Overall I hope Sweetwater revisits the DIPA in general and all its incarnations.

The Brick Store 12 Anniversary continues, with a twist on an all time favorite beer for me. The original SW DIPA was incredible citrus candy, with powerful bitterness, so I was excited to see what French oak aging would do to it. Served in a 10 oz. stemmed glass, the color is slightly more pale than the original, a light orange to yellow color, with a slightly cloudy haze to it. A very thin white head rested on top. The nose is somewhat subdued, compared to the original, likely a function of the aging. There is, however, still a nice strong character of citrus fruitiness there, with a pine hint in the background. The taste is unmistakably still the strong pineapple character the original had, and even a bit sweeter, with slightly less hop bitterness. The fruit tartness hits the roof of your mouth, but does not offend, bitterness is still there, but not as upfront as the original. The oak aging seems to have smoothed out some of the hop bitterness, and brought out more of the fruit characteristics, along with adding nice wood tannins, as opposed to pure hop bitterness. This beer is very light for 9%, deceptively light. Highly drinkable, but it ran out after my first glass, unfortunately. While I am still a bigger fan of the original DIPA, because I love my hops, this was a very special treat, and highly enjoyable. Thanks BSP!