Hop Harvest Ale
Big Dog's Draft House

Here goes some blast from the past reviews on a Monday morning before I wanna jump into the work week. Comes in with the thick orange appearance, not juice like, this was way before those days of shit lording canned ipas was a thing. The head formation was super tiny bubbles that formed distinct groupings and was around 3/4". Citrus aroma, not all grapefruit either, but far from dank proprietary stuff either.

Taste offered up a substantial malt bill, loaded with caramel and even some darker grain that gave it a bread like consistency and mouth feel. Bitterness was in the 70ibu range I would guess.

While a good beer, I thought the malt bill was a little excessive when dealing with a harvest ale, I want to be able to discern more of the green vegetal hop impact on this one. It didn't really offer anything up that was specific in that area, otherwise, just another big ipa-ish beer. Dunno how they characterized it a pale ale, nothing "pale" about it really.

Slow work day, clearing out some notes in anticipation of the 13th Bistro IPA fest, well, these notes are from the 9th DIPA fest.

Anyhoo, I was pleasantly surprised with this beer. I dunno whether its the anti LV thing from a rural NV guy or what, but I've never liked that area's beers. This was different.
Awash in a sea of gargantuan DIPAs that day was this little gem. Deep orange, burnt almost looking, with clumpy lace. Aroma was sweet, and definitely hoppy, which was surpring it stood out given the order in which this was drank (towards the end of the day).

Taste, good hop spice, you'd think Magnum or rye was in this. And maybe it is. It didn't go for overpowering, it went for what you'd want in a DIPA in a NV summer I guess, a little more tame, less BW like. Bitterness was spot on and complimented by the darker than average malt combo. This one got unique points. Hope to try it next time I'm in LV.

Pours a goldish amber color, but was hard to see in as it's fairly dimly lit. Lasting white head. Big sweet floral fruity hop nose to it. Pretty hoppy big bitter bite to it with grapefruit notes. Nicely carbonated and a medium body. A decent IPA, although I don't particularly get fresh hops from this beer.

A- beautiful burnt orange with a tiny white ring for a head, though it holds nicely. the color of this brew is remarkable and breathtaking

S- citrus, leafy, oily, fruity

T- obviously hoppy but not overdone, grapefruit citric hop flavors as well as some herbal and leafy notes, raw hop oils as well, bready and fruity malt characters

M- medium body with a dry finish, hops do a number on the tongue

D- hop complexity adds a depth level to this hop fest, very enjoyable, mellow enough to possibly session, recommended

Appearance: dark orange in color with a one finger head that lasts. Some moderate lacing paints the glass.

Smell: huge hop nose here as the bitterness and citrus tones are as good as you can get.

Taste: seven different hops used here including a Simcoe dry hopping gives a strong dry and oily bitterness flavor that is well balanced with the malt sweetness. Big grapefruit flavors rounds it out.

Mouthfeel: crisp and very dry throughout. Medium bodied. Super long aftertaste as the Simcoe is most prominent and glues itself to your tongue.

Drinkability: superb flavor makes this a beer in which several pints can be enjoyed. A must for hop heads.