4th Anniversary BA Triple IPA
Rooftop Brewing Company

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a lightly hazy, medium golden amber with a fine, one finger head with great retention and thick lacing. Aroma of rich caramel malt, piney and citrus hops, toffee; very much like an American barleywine in profile. Flavor follows, with caramel malt, piney and citrus hops, pine needles, lemon and orange citrus, hints of light stone fruit, particularly apricot; only a hint of bourbon, and I would have missed it if it wasn't on the label. Long, lingering finish of piney and mixed citrus hops. Medium bodied with light creaminess and sharp carbonation. There is an invisible line between triple IPAs and the American style of barleywine and this could easily be either. Rooftop chose Triple IPA and it is indeed a big, hoppy IPA. This rivals some of my favorite hoppy barleywines like Bigfoot and Helldorado. Perhaps a little less complex, but with robust caramel malt that supports a very nicely flavored hop bill. It may be the massive ABV talking, but this is full bodied and delicious. The hops have held up well to the barrelling and still have some good herbal flavor. I'm not getting much bourbon, a flavor that is always welcome, but there is plenty of flavor here to satisfy. Well done.