Hell For Sure
Mountain Rambler Brewery

 

On tap. Clear golden body, thin lacy head. Smell is quite floral and sweet, with hints of tropical fruit. Taste follows; floral hops with sweet mango, pineapple, a touch of bitterness, lemon, and a bit of pine. Smooth, with a dry finish and a light mouth coating. Really drinkable, and balanced really well. This is the sort of beer that shows your small local place can hang with the bigger, older producers.

 

On tap at Mammoth Brewing Co

A: Pours golden yellow with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.

S: Tropical fruit, a little herbal dankness, citrus zest, a hint of light malt, and a touch of caramel sweetness.

T: Tropical fruit, mango and passion fruit, pine, citrus, tangerine and a little lemon, dank herbal notes, green grapes, a little crackery malt, and a touch of sweetness.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.

O: Very cool to see all these breweries working together. They put together a really nice beer.

 

This "India Pale Lager" was a collaboration between Mountain Rambler and three other Eastern Sierra outlets: Black Doubt Brewing, June Lake Brewing, and Mammoth Brewing. Like the Imperial Pilsner, the IPL is an emerging style I am tremendously glad exists, and this is another excellent entry into the growing litany. The first blush of Hell For Sure is great visible effervescence, very good retention on limited but palpably-present head, very round orange-gold color; these excellent visuals do not prepare one for the intensity of the aromatics. Indeed, there's a lot to like about this hopped-out lager, but the nose is the real killer: sugared tarragon, lime leaf, lemon zest, white pepper, and even a hint of cumin all mingle intensely but beauteously, inviting one impeccably into this maelstrom of flavor. Once within the maw, Hell For Sure is, while tasty, nonetheless a bit more reserved: nice, bright tangy elements of the lager yeasts preside at the fore, with a bit more of those candied tarragon and lime notes (but more subtle), which all transition to dryer qualities on the finish, with malt-husk and *very* pale/light white pine-tinged sugars and more white pepper and a sprinkle of very pale grapefruit zest. Mouthfeel is also quite nice, too, if *just* a bit on the thick side for an IPL. Overall, though, this is a complex, daring, very tasty, somehow juicy and dry, fresh and fun collaboration.