Orion
Midnight Oil Brewing Company

First time and I really liked it. Would buy again. I always drink IPA's. Anything over 8% is what I like.

Midnight Oil Brewing Co. "Orion"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating. Sampled on 21 May 2023
$4.99 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is a double IPA brewed with CTZ, Amarillo, and Centennial hops. It's poured a hazy deep gold body with visible particulate in suspension. It looks like hops to me which is just fine. The head is a massive cap of creamy white foam. I've let it sit for a moment and topped it off and I've still got a good thumb's width of foam. The aroma is hoppier than I sometimes find in double IPAs and yet the bready malt is still there. It's floral, citrusy without being very clear as to what the fruit is, a touch tropical, and lightly herbal. The flavor follows, but fuller of course. The malt remains bready and lightly caramelish, and I'm getting hoppy notes of orange, apricot, nectarine, "dankness", peppery spiciness, and dried herbs. It's solidly bitter, and along with the alcohol it finishes dry with lingering notes of herbs, black pepper, and something like black licorice. How strong is this? 9%! That explains the alcohol coming through then. I expect some alcohol to show in a double IPA, and it's certainly here, yet it remains balanced against the sweet malt. Nice. Could it be better? Yeah, I think so, but it's pretty good as it is. In the mouth it's medium-full in body and gently crisp then smooth across the tongue. Surprisingly given the strength, I still have a creamy head of foam that covers the entire surface of the beer. There's some decent lacing as well although it could be better. All in all this is a really enjoyable beer, but also one that has to be reckoned with. I would be very hesitant to have two in a row unless it was late and I was just about to head to bed. Certainly worth trying.
Review #8,628