Double Dry Hopped Hop Showers w/ Simcoe
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

 

Picked this up recently at Other Half as I never had this variant of the DDH Hop Showers before. While Simcoe isn't necessarily my favorite hop, this was good enough to win me over to it as it was just as soft and enjoyable as the other iterations that I've been lucky enough to get my hands on over the years!

This had an appearance that was typical for a New England IPA from these guys as it was golden, cloudy, and quietly radiant when held up to the light. Lots of thick, fluffy head topped it off and stayed for the duration of my session as there were also a ton of big bubbles at the surface. Gorgeous lacing was left behind as there were a ton of soft, ringed layers in the middle of my pint glass with a ton of splotches the rest of the way down. Loads of melon, earthy hops, dank pineapple, and white grape in the nose as the taste was just as dank, smoothly slick, and nicely balanced as there was a hint of sweet malt to counter the fruit flavors and turbid hops. Just enough carbonation kept this fun as the aftertaste was a mix of white wine, fruit cocktail, and earthiness that left me wanting more.

Like the other Hop Showers, this was just right at 7.4% as I felt a slight buzz but never tasted the alcohol on my palate whatsoever. Canned on the 8th of this month, I'd easily reach for this again. Hop Showers was the first beer that I ever had from Other Half and I've been hooked since, and this beer once again proved how good they are at what they do. Glad to be able to enjoy this!

 

 

 

On tap at Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY.

This one pours a super hazy and light orange color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like a super good use of the Simcoe hop- as there's clean herbal and piney hops, melon, and big juicy citrus, with no malt aroma I can discern.

This is pretty excellent. Hop Showers was one of the first beers I ever loved from these guys, so it's cool to see an interesting twist on an OG classic. There's lots of juicy melon and cantaloupe, with some tropical citrus, and a clean and light bitterness. Everything is well balanced- not too sweet, not too juicy, and not too bitter- just right.

This is light bodied, and drinks super easily, with a soft and pillowy mouthfeel, and a typical level of carbonation.

Other Half is still a top 3 IPA producer in the county for me. They are pretty consistently excellent.

 

Thank you CanConPhilly for this
16 oz can, dated 7/17/18, poured into a teku

A- A hazy golden straw color with a two finger white head

S- Big fresh hops, melons, citrus,
A little dank, touch of pineapple.

T- Citrus, melons, pineapple, slightly earthy/dank, just the smallest touch of sweet malts.

M- Smooth, creamy, medium body.

O- This is an outstanding IPA, early one of my favorites for Other Half.

Canned 7/17/18 (13 days ago)

L - 1.5 finger offwhite head atop an opaque orange body.

S - sweet oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, papaya, melon, herb.

T - orange and pineapple swirl. Papaya and melon carry through into the flavor too, with some mild dankness. Slightly dirty middle. Moderare bitterness. Low sweetness. Low booziness.

F - medium-full silky body with moderate carb.

O - I wish OH brewed more beers like this.

Decanted from a 16 oz (473 ml) can into a conical pint glass; canned on 07/17/2018 (code: DDH SIMCOE) and purchased at the brewery that weekend.
A: Pours a very hazy color, closer to amber than golden with a half inch head, strong retention and gorgeous lacing.
S: Aromas of lime, ripe peach, pineapple, and caramel malt. A little pine and pepper.
T: The flavor palate largely follows to nose in this case with a touch of grapefruit and resin. Solid bitterness up front but milder mild overall for a clean finish.
M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy in the mouth.
O: The complement of Hop Showers offerings is becoming quite a tangle. Fortunately, the beers remain very drinkable and enjoyable no matter what they are called