Toad's IPA
Highlands Hollow Brewhouse

7.2% abv when i was in recently, some batch variance on that is likely, i think this one has existed for awhile but i am just trying it for the first time. ive been a fan of this place since we moved to idaho years ago, they dont get enough credit for their beer, make awesome food, and have a sort of old english essence to a lot of their beers, which ive always been into. this is on the maltier side for ipa these days, pretty deep amber color on it, not fully clear and sparkling but not messy either, creamy foamy just off white head with fine retention and ring lacing marking each gulp. the nose is sweet and toasted, a kilned malt warmth to it without it being overly caramelized or rich to me, some fine minerality there too, dark bread and perhaps even a light maple note, and then piney northwestern hops allowed to be a little bitter because there is enough malt to balance that out, a light doughy thing from the yeast to me, robust and largely familiar. the flavor runs the same track, good structure and malt presence there the entire drink, hops start midway through, juniper and spruce and dried flowers to me from the hops, could almost be whole cone, high saturation, oily, bitterness but really only at the end. some burnt orange peel from the hops gives it depth, and with the strength, almost a cocktail vibe as it warms. there is a woodiness to the grain that i like, a smooth full body with some balanced linger on the palate, well made, flavorful, and substantial, more winter than summer to me with all the malt, kind of a cozy vibe it has, overall very solid if you like ipa how it used to taste. underrated.

On tap at brewpub. Fairly pedestrian IPA, but a nice look and feel to it, creamy lacing rings the glass. Aroma equal parts malt and hops, hops take over in the flavor, finish is kind of soapy/metallic.