The 2-4 Beers of Christmas 2019 Day: 20 Flight Plan Double IPA

Beer # 520 Flight Plan Double IPA

Brewery: Lake of Bays Brewing Company


Type: Independent Microbrewery    Est.:  2010

Location: Baysville, Ontario, Canada

Beer Style: Double India Pale Ale

ABV: 8.0 %      IBU: 84

Format: Aluminium Can  Size: 473 ml

Cost: $3.45 CAD     Purchased At: LCBO

lb_brewing

    @lb_brewing

Another great local brewery to me is Lake of Bays. They are situated just a half an hour up the highway from us here at Pint Jockey Headquarters. This hefty high alcohol IPA fits nicely into our category of warming beers for the holidays so I thought I would give it a shot.

Onto our beer...

Pours a classic amber with a generous white fluffy head made up of small bubbles. The nose is grainy and toasty with hints of caramel and raw alcohol. The first sip is grain forward and roasted malt with dark caramel. Hops are green and herbal and take a minute or two to develop. Mouthfeel is a little thin. Aeration gives us toast and caramel, and bitter hops.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 4/6 PASS
Re-Order:  5/6 PASS
Experience: 5/6 PASS
Christmas Cheer 5/6 PASS

Final Thoughts:

Just a little too thin on the mouthfeel for me. I know there is a lot of alcohol in there but I want a little more oomph when I drink my IPAs especially the double ones. Still an easy-drinking, excellent beer and certainly worthy of some time in your glass.

Cheers

CJT

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7 Hop IPA Rogue Farms

#213 7 Hop IPA Rogue Farms

Rogue Ales

Newport, Oregon, USA
Independent
Double India Pale Ale 
8.02 % ABV Brown Glass Bottle 650 ml.
$6.60 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @RogueAles

Down again to Newport Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Rogue Ales is certainly one of the defining forces behind the USA's craft beer movement. Not only do they have a commitment to innovation, they have a commitment to organics, and have gone so far as to open a farm when they can grow the raw ingredients for their beer. That is where this beer comes in. The four types of barley that went into this brew were grown on the Rogue Farm; and not only that, The SEVEN types of hops that went into it were grown there too! This double IPA contains Liberty, Newport, Revolution, Rebel, Independent, Freedom, and Alluvial hop varieties (sounds like someone is waving the American flag... Or are trying to remember the names of the shuttles from the movie Armageddon... )

Freedom and Independence Shuttles

Whichever, Rogue is always good for a well balanced flavourful beer... let's see how they do this time.

Begin the Hop revolution!


Pours a dark honey colour with a short off tan head made up of small bubbles. Aroma is bright tropical fruit, grilled pineapple, honey, some florals, and brown sugar. First sip is deliciously malty  like a softer West Coast ale, but is bursting with bright green botanicals, plenty more fruit, and a light brown sugar taffy. Notes of pine, chamomile, tansy, as well as guava and passion fruit. Plenty of grass notes and some hay. Aeration brings out toasty malt and caramel and intensifies the herbal quality. Alcohol is evident but not overpowering, Lips are left slightly sticky.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 5/6 PASS
Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL
Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL


Final Thoughts:

This is almost all you could ask for from a IIPA. A good strong malty character that complements a flavourful and complex set of hoppy aromas. The fruit and the pine balances well and no one aspect of the flavour tries to outshine the others... everybody just plays nice. If it were not for the 8.02 % ABV I could certainly drink this bad boy all day without complaint. However, Share this with a friend or pair it with some food: burgers, steak, ribs, pizza... this beer has you covered.


CJT


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Beer # 61 2XIPA, Southern Tier

2XIPA

Southern Tier Brewing Company 
Lakewood New York, USA (Independent)

Double India Pale Ale 8.2% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 355 ml.

$2.95 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Twitter @stbcbeer


@Twitter Hashtag of the Day: #IPAday

Well Happy IPA Day! As you may or may now know today was declared International IPA Day by a grassroots movement of Beer Bloggers and Craft Beer Producers and has become quite the sensation on Twitter. So @pintjockey is not one to be left out so I shall post an IPA today.


Heading south of the border again to what is quickly becoming one of my favourite producers: Southern Tier from Lakewood New York, today we sample 2XIPA as their website puts it: a "not quite imperial IPA" but a strong (8.2% ABV double IPA. Brewed with 4 hops and 3 types of Malt it has a very distinct flavour, and a beer I quite enjoyed tasting.


Onto the IPA


Golden in colour with a hint of green. Cream coloured head made up of tiny bubbles that disperse quickly. The nose is grapefruit and herbs. Dark malted flavours unusual for a lighter looking beer, more grapefruit some citrus sweetness, caramel and alcohol. Some wine or brandy/cognac notes near the end. The beer does not mask it's full 8.2% ABV the alcohol warms the beer and lingers on the tongue and in the throat. Bitterness seems mild however I would say it is balanced out by the other strong elements of the beer. Very drinkable and refreshing, but only one or two please... feeling the alcohol right away!

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional

                                                                                                               

Cost:  5/6  PASS

Colour:  5/6  PASS        

Beer Style:  5/6 PASS 

Re-Order:  5/6 PASS   

Experience:   5/6  PASS

Final Thoughts:


A very good turnout again from this great American Brewery. Time and again the USA is setting the standard for advancing the craft beer industry. What began in the kitchens of medieval homes has grown into the avante garde laboratories of modern craft breweries. With late night beer fueled ramblings turning into delicious experiments. Hop, malt, and flavour combinations never dreamt of before... it is a great time, to be a beer drinker.


Cheers

CJT