8 Anniversary IPA
Double Nickel Brewing Company

A wonderful pour that emptied the contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug begins the research. Why wonderful? In this day of modern IPAs, with all the wheat and oat laden foam, this poured out just like a traditional IPA. Golden-amber in color, it has a modest, but sustaining just-off-white head. There's a bit of a malty aspect to the aroma, but it's mostly earthy hops, plus a little alcohol. The little alcohol to smell also becomes a little alcohol to taste, as it integrates nicely into the overall. The malting is just enough for body and counterbalance, whilst the hops provide an earthy and piney, yet dryly sharp bite. There's really nothing out of whack here. Maybe a little too much alcohol lingers during the aftertaste, but it's hard to find fault with this as an Imperial IPA. Although the glass lacing wasn't special, it did manage that stratified markings that should earn some look points. But, that's accessory. Flat out, this is a good Imperial American IPA and very much worth the try to those that like them.