Bad Company Double IPA
The Tap Brewing Company

Well, I missed the 7/11/2009 BA gathering this was brewed for, but had the chance to stop into The Tap the following Tuesday and enjoy a 12 oz. hourglass of this fine 94 IBU creation...

Solid, slightly cloudy, honey/caramel DIPA with a bit of chill haze. Creamy eggshell/slightly buttery-colored head - a finger to 1 1/2...with a some decent lacing. Not a huge amount of rising carbonation but the overall look fits the style well - nice and rustic.

This has a nice amount of caramel-butterscotch and even a little honey, too...yet it's not overly malty. Soft citrus (is that the Chinook in there?) hop profile balances this out very well. There's weight and meat on the bone but it's velvety without a huge amount of boozy burn.

It may not taste exactly like Leatherlips on PEDs but the 94 IBUs are definitely representin'. Quite balanced still, with sweet caramel and a butterscotch-ish honey tinge...similar to its nose. A little grapefruit rind bite on the back end. Sweet viscosity is the most significant clue to the 9% ABV at first, but rind mixes with astringency as it warms to toss off a little boozy burn.

I'm digging the freshness of the hop kick to this one - maybe more rind than pulp (do Cascades throw off this kind of bite?) but the malt gets even more austere and dry with a little warmth. Curious as to the FG on this one 'cause I do like the ever-increasing dryness. Finish has just enough tightness to keep it clean.

Jon & Co. did very well with this. Most of the ABV hides nicely. Too bad I missed the BA gathering but having this 3 days later hasn't hurt this a bit. Great to sip and savor.

Enjoyed on tap at the brewpub, 94 IBU rated. Full of hop flavour. Light brown to grapefuit colour, with a little whitish head and lace. Hoppy aroma. Malt there,though in the secondary. they used Chinook, Cascade, and Celena. Full mouthfeel. Suitable carbonation.