Whipsaw
New Republic Brewing Company

 

 

Have you ever had a birthday and something happened to create such a story that it took on a life of all its own? That's exactly what happened to the New Republic Brewing Company when they celebrated their birthday with an imperial IPA.

Deep amber and building a creamy dense froth, Whipsaw releases a bold but balanced scent of citrus, pine, herb, caramel and toast. And its those more malty influences that registers with the first taste. Caramel, bread crust, toast, pecan and a hint of honey greets the tongue with a rich granola character.

As the malt sweetness is slow to recede, the hops slather on the middle palate with red grapefruit, freshly grated orange peel and a sprucy spice to suggest a pep of gin. Growing in its bitterness, a grassy sensation comes over the session along with the fruity taste of citrus rinds, sawn pine with resinous spice and an overcast of light hemp.

Medium full in body, the persistent malts keep the taste balanced but never allows for the crisp, refreshing, quaffable nature of IPA, even at imperial status. An even keel balance trends hop forward over time while the beer trails into a piney, pithy malty dry aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from tap into tulip, minimal cream colored head, little retention, nice lacing. Clear dark red in the glass. Smells of caramel malt, and pineapple. Taste initially of sweet caramel malt that leads into some pine resin/ pinapple with some tropical notes in the back. Low bitterness and finishes a little on the sweet side.

Hoppiest of the 5.

 

Look- a lot darker for an ipa, even for a dipa. Great head of an inch or more.
Taste- lots of malt flavor despite the 85 ibu. Strong alcohol feel at the end in place of the bitter hop taste. Hops taste of citrus.
Smell- smells very malty with a hint of citrus. A little breast.