Double Secret Vacation
Vitamin Sea Brewing

My first from this five year old. Probably got Double Secret from Beer Drop, my source of new brewers since before the pandemic. I'm only familiar with a few micros who specialize in NEIPAs to the extend that Vitamin Sea does (probably because I drink so little from New England micros.) I went on Vitamin Sea's website and while it looks pretty, it is not informative about what motivates them, who the founders are or how much they mean to the communities they serve. So, a five year should have a better site. But, I still give them pretty good Overall Hugs... and they do have food trucks.

As for Double Secret, it Looks only slightly above the style's average and that includes evocative seaside label graphics. Smells get the same rating as this NEIPA fruit punch melange has little distinguishing it from the others. However Tastes are well balanced with hop bitterness playing a subsidiary role and my mouth Feeling pretty full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can from Canton St Dec 2021

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. snifter glass
Price: n/a
From: Darin
Purchased: n/a; Received Jan. 2, 2021
Consumed: Jan. 13, 2021
Misc.: Canned on Dec. 10, 2020 at 9:42 a.m. ET

Thanks, Darin!

Was lucky enough to have this and nine others sent to me by Darin. Had heard of Vitamin Sea Brewing but had never had any of its beers prior to this shipment. Untappd called for a “New England DIPA hopped with Citra and Michigan Copper.” Damn. Had never heard of Michigan Copper. Looking it up, the profile called for Hawaiian fruit punch, black cherry, red hard candy and hibiscus resin. Sweet!

Poured a medium yellow-to-light gold hazy color with 3-to-4 fingers of rocky-to-frothy head. Lots of fast-moving bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass, kind of looking like a snow globe. Perfect foamy spiderweb lacing. Almost perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled Citra, red grapefruit, passion fruit, plum and herbal, and pretty much all the notes of the profile of Michigan Copper (first time having it), including Hawaiian fruit punch, cherry candy and black cherry. Just as good out of the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted about as good as the nose. In order got red grapefruit, passion fruit, Hawaiian fruit punch, cherry candy, black cherry, plum, herbal, hibiscus, rose blossom, floral and guava. Citra and Michigan Copper, even though it was my first time having the latter the hop profile nailed this to a T. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, juicy finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This one grew on me. Was really liking that Michigan Copper. Excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.12 | 92 | A-

 

 

Pineapple