Rockhound Imperial IPA
Lost Forty Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A twelve ounce can sent by the generous BA jvgoor3786. I can't locate any visible date code, but I'm certain it's fresh. Pouring it in a supplied appropriately labeled nonic pint glass for the review.

Look- Pours a slightly cloudy dark gold leaving a couple fingers of soapy white lingering foam. A small amount of lacing is left behind.

Smell- Heavy pine, grapefruit, orange zest and malt.

Taste- A fairly equal mix of pine and grapefruit up front, followed by orange zest and some mild floral notes. A healthy dose of malt rounds things out in the finish.

Feel- Quite bitter and very dry despite the significant malt in the finish.

Overall- A solid IPA that leans on the bitter and dry side as opposed to tropical/juicy. A cornucopia of flavor with the pine/grapefruit/floral going on and quite easy to drink as the dry feel keeps you trying to quench that thirst. It's something I'd drink again if I had regular access to. Give it a try!

 

Pours an effervescent caramel/amber with 2+ fingers of rocky cream colored head. Chill hazed after initial pour, stays effervescent throughout, clears nicely, good lacing & head retention

S: Piney, catty, grapefruit & caramel as this warms

T: Follows the nose, bready, grapefruit peel as well up front. Pineyness a little toffee, & grapefruit as this warms, some caramel as well, but mostly grapefruit. Finishes grapefruitty, piney with some herbal hops, countered by a little caramel & dryness

MF: Medium body/chewy, slight carbonation, nice balance

Super drinkability, I like this better in cans than on draft, I think it is the carbonation level, seems more restrained. Well worth a try

 

 

 

Poured from a growler. Good building head, fading to a thin ring around the edge of a pint glass.

Smell is great, lots of flora hop aroma. Looks is somewhat darker than other comparable DIPAs. Dark color is reflected in carmel hints and thickness in mouthfeel. Hops are forefront but not bitter, whatsoever.

Finished sweet and clean. A really enjoyable beer from a new Arkansas brewery.

 

December 29, 2014

Growler/draft, snifter

A – Medium amber, very clear. About an inch of white head, moderate-low retention.

S – Guava and mango, light toffee and light caramel. Lightly cooked biscuit.

T – Mango, some papaya and apricot, pineapple. Only mild bitterness, the hops are almost all in the flavor. Light biscuit flavor as well, and a bit of sweet caramel.

M – Medium carbonation, moderate bitterness, light sweetness. Somewhat juicy throughout.

O – An interesting double IPA as it really focuses on the hop flavor and aroma versus bitterness. Would expect a bit more malt character with the double interpretation and the higher alcohol. That said, a very easy drinker.