VenkMan
Aleman Brewing Company

 

 

 

Very nice double IPA, lots of fresh citrus flavors and aromas and quite easy to drink despite the higher ABV. Pours a nice darker orange-yellow color with some fluffy white head and a little spotty lingering lacing. Smells of lots of citrus fruit zest hops - orange, tangerine, lemon, then some grapefruit and pineapple. Also some nice malt and biscuit aromas. Taste follows the nose, and the bitter hoppiness is fairly well-balanced with the sweeter malt backbone. Smooth, thin, mild mouthfeel, good carbonation. An enjoyable offering.

 

12 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours very hazy golden orange/amber color with a small dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, tangerine, and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness; and fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berries, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, tangerine, and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness and fruit tartness balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and tart/tangy fruit. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly acidic/tangy/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8.1%. Overall this is an excellent fruited DIPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/light earthy hops, tangerine, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV with the mellowly bitter/tart/resinous/drying finish, not aggressive. Great Citra, Mosaic, Denali, Motueka profile. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops/fruit; nice bready malt backbone; mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example. Loved the hop profile as expected.

 

Had on tap at Rockwell's Grill on 1/1/18, and it was a great start to 2018. This is an excellent DIPA, it showcases the hop blend nicely. Very smooth and a nice balance of juicy and bitter, and a great alternative if you are experiencing fatigue from the NE IPA craze. I highly recommend this beer.