     Tricerahops Double IPA (Ninkasi Brewing Company)
Tricerahops was probably the greatest of all the dinosaurs. A strict eater of hops, the tricerahops had a gentle disposition (as long as it had access to a steady diet of hops) and was known to be friends with all of the other dinosaurs. In modern times it would have gotten along especially well with the Hop-a0lot-amus. Okay, I just made all that up. If you believed any of it then you have had way to much to drink. From the Ninkasi site: "Hops, hops and more hops, combine with enough malt to make this a very balanced 8.8% beer. Floral and smooth, dry hopped for aroma, an outstanding Double IPA." Here we go... Pour - amazing dark golden in color with suspended sediment that makes it almost look frozen. The head is creamy and resembles pancake batter. Lots of lacing inside the glass makes this pour extremely appetizing.
Aroma - lots of fresh, piney Pacific Northwestern hops come jumping out of the glass. Some sweet, syrupy malt follows and a smell of red licorice as well. Slight hints grapefruit and orange juice combine with cotton candy to round things out.
Taste - big and bitter up front with a boat load of malt backing things up. This is definitely a vamped up IPA with some tongue tingling hoppiness and a warming alcohol level. A bit buttery and citrusy with some very nice piney flavors that coat the inside of the mouth. As a hophead I am not let down, this covers all my needs and then some.
Overall - With so many big IPAs out there its getting nigh impossible to really pick out the great ones from the very good ones. This one is definitely very good and well worth seeking out. Plenty of hop flavor and with a better drinkability than others at this strength.
Would I buy more of it? - definitely. What I wouldn't do to have a pint of this at the brewery the first day it is being poured. Talk about hop heaven.
Note - Ninkasi is the ancient Sumerian matron goddess of the intoxicating beverage, beer. Also, Ninkasi Brewing has just recently upgraded their brewing equipment and has sold their previous set up to my buddy Luke who is starting Baxter Brewing up in Lewiston, Maine.
Posted by Russ Labels: American IPAs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
