“Doom may be impending but that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. A collision of worlds, the intense hop character of our imperial IPA mingles with the warm vanilla and oak notes imparted from time spent in our favorite bourbon barrels. Like all good things, Doom comes to those who wait.”
Served in an IPA glass. Slightly hazy amber hue with a steady stream of co2 rising up to retain the solid two finger head. Healthy lace work sticks to the glass as it ebbs.
The nose is very dank, very heady and boozy with a firm showing of bourbon from the months aged on bourbon barrels. In light of this though, we still pick up undertones of pine resin, woody oak, stewed citrus and grassy/herbal hops. Certainly can’t ignore the sticky and almost syrupy malt structure either. Good Lord this smells incredible.
Wow, the flavour hits the taste buds for six! Not on palate-wrecking level but bloody close to it. We get an overwhelming rush of burning alcohol and aggressive bitterness on entry. Some residual sugars and caramel malt sweetness hang around but never get the chance to make any real impact. Tasting woody oak and vanilla as it rolls in to a sharp and ultra bitter finish that offers piney and grassy hop notes on the rear.
The texture is quite sticky and dense but also extremely bitter and dry. Co2 is low and the 100 IBU ain’t afraid to show us.
Barrel aged IPA’s?! Now we’ve seen it all. It literally takes the preconceived idea of drinking them fresh and throws it out the window…..or in this case, in to a bourbon barrel. Definitely a slow quaffer and a pretty good one all the same.