Tongue Crusher Double IPA
Mully's Brewery

 

 

 

 

Re-reviewing this batch, since it's been reworked into a New England IPA - brewery-only 16 oz can release and everything. DDH with Citra, Mosaic, and Azacca.

Pours a murky amber color - it isn't quite as turbid as other NE IPAs, but it still features a nice haze. The head is a finger high and eggshell in shade. Retention is quite good, while streaks of lace stick to the glass.

No two ways about it: the aroma is promising. It's extremely grapefruity, yet also backed by an alluring tropical fruit quality from Mosaic hops. Blueberry hints are also noted. There's a slight malt backbone that doesn't overpower the hop character by any means. Even better, perceived bitterness seems quite low. It has some old-school west coast elements, but is also new school in all the right ways.

There's a bit of a drop-off in terms of flavor, methinks. It starts off well, with plenty of grapefruit, papaya, and mango notes. Said drop-off occurs around the middle: it's a bit bitter right before the finish (nothing crazy), but the finish also seems a touch boozy and unbalanced. I'm more reminded of a west coast-style IPA tasting it. The framework for a great DIPA is there, it just needs more defined fruit flavors and less west coast-like bitterness.

The Achilles heel lies in the palate feel: the back end is far too yeasty. This is absurdly chalky and heavy, nor is it remotely clean. While the assertive hopping keeps it dry, it's not a "pleasant" dry. It also lacks a pillowy softness, instead being slightly coarse (like a west coast IPA). Carbonation is good, and this isn't a total chore to drink.

It's not a bad IPA by any means. Then again, for $14/4 pack I expect more than "not bad" (especially considering I preferred the first batch two years ago). It has the hops, but it lacks refinement - it's too much of a west coast/New England chimera that never really captures the best aspects of either. This definitely deserves a second chance with a few tweaks, but I doubt I'll buy another 4 pack in the future.

3.19/5: A tongue crusher, but little tongue satisfaction

---

First batch: (3.5/3.75/3.75/4/3.75) = 3.76/5

For the record, this is coming from the most local-to-me brewery out there (Mully's), though they haven't done anything impressive yet. This has some promise, however. It's a big-ass lemon bomb - rather than focusing on grapefruit, pine, or tropical fruits, this brings lemon and lime like a truck. I pick up minimal malt, so this is pulling off the west-coast IPA impersonation quite well. And the taste lives up to the aroma. Big lemon and lime flavors open it up, while it finishes gently piny. As it opens up, I start picking up some earth, tobacco, and stone fruit. Malt sweetness only has a subtle presence on the back end. This isn't a new-school DIPA, as there's no tropical fruit or Mosaic strangeness, but it still utilizes its hops quite well. Amarillo lovers will dig the fuck out of this one. Even better, it's crisp and dry yet deceptively easy to drink in that way a good DIPA should always be like. The textural bulk and even the sweetness level is DIPA-appropriate, though drinkability is at single IPA standards. Not my favorite DIPA ever, but really good nonetheless - it can hold its own with the Ruinations and Hop Stoopids of the world, that's for sure. Great work, Mully's!

 

 

So this is another part of the Mully's sampler my wife randomly picked up for me in a sdemi-local farmer's market. What this is recompense for I have no idea. Cloudy orange in color with serious dark fruit in the nose. There are hops accompaning it, but figs and prunes are in the driver's seat, which for a DIPA, is a little off, but whatever.

Wow, this is definitely a sipper. There is pine needle and grapefruit, but the dark fruit notes and heavy alcohol notes don't really hit the style for me. The texture is super thick, like a barleywine or Belgian strong ale. I appreciate my wife thinking of me but I still am not sold on Mully's.

 

Cloudy light orange appearance without a lot of head retention. Interesting nose of citrus and bread. Mouth is good, but could use more malt for balance. Overall, a satisfying DIPA.