Tree Hugger Organic IPA
Redfish New Orleans Brewhouse

The beer was explained to be a Double IPA by the waitress. The gravities were quite high so I beleived her. Quite fruity / estery with Enlish-type malts, caramel notes, and apples, pine, citrus, peaches, pears, and appricots. The hop presence is bold but not necessarily agressive for a big 'ole IPA. The beer was hazy compared to other beers that I had during the session- leading me to believe it was dry-hopped. The pungent pine-grassy aromas indicate so as well. Full and a bit sugary in the body with a sweet, bitter aftertaste. Quite a nice beer even if a bit underattenuated.

Bottle was a 2006 GABF left-over that was given to me as a reward for my volunteer efforts. Thanks a million to GABF and to Redfish for the opportunity. Entered into judging in category #39 (American IPA).

Pours a one finger sticky light tan head over a clear light-orange/rust liquid. Smells light-fruited estery with mild pine and oranges. Creamy smoothness to it. Touch of sour tang. Woody dry, like Goldings hops.

Tastes wet fruity on the pull but bitter and clean hops in the mouth. Swallow is a refreshing return of the wet sweet and an appearance of a rich fruity estery. Hop flavor is tempered piney with an enriching oranage. Malt is generic sweet with a crystal sugar quality about it. Esters are pear (like, canned pear juice) and sweet sweet apricot. Very full flavors with a modicum of dry woody flatness. Balance more on the tame end of things. Smooth fruity sweet more than hoppy. Md-thick mouthfeel and modest carbonation.

Pleasing and simple...too hoppy simple for the style as defined in 2006, IMO. Easy drinking and enjoyable for those with a preference for the sweeter IPAs.

The beer pours a dark gold/amber color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice pale and light crystal malt scent as well as a wonderful hop aroma. It's nothing too intense, but it smells good. The taste is good also. It has a pale and light crystal malt flavor that is basic, but easy drinking. It retains a little malt sweetness and is quite dry and bitter on the finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good IPA. It's nothing too incredible, but it's true to style and it drinks well.

This IPA was a nice copper-twinged-with-red heady brew that left a nice lacing.

The nose was very light and grassy, with hints of saaz upfront, and then a quiet spike of light west-coast hop, which was contrasted by a bright, bready spike of malt sweetness.

None of the plasticene flavors I found in many Colorado ales. This would be my brew of choice were I a regular.