Beer Review: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Double Simcoe IPA, Weyerbacher

Pour
Poured moderately foamy with a decent amount of carbonation being released.

Aroma
The nose on this beer is definitely aggressive. There are strong pine notes with some hints of citrus. These aromas blend nicely and, while assertive, are not overpowering as some double IPAs are.

Appearance
A dark orange-amber color with a light amount of haze. It settled to about 2/3 of a finger's width of head which left moderate lacing while it receded. The head receded fairly quickly.

Flavor
Pine. A very assertive pine flavor from the hops with a moderate amount of hop bitterness on the tongue. There is a light amount of lingering bitterness on the back of the tongue after swallowing. Just enough malt shows through to keep it balanced enough to drink. There is a slight sweetness from the malt that is critical in keeping the beer drinkable. After a few sips, an alcohol warmth slowly builds up in the throat, but the alcohol is otherwise undetectable.

Mouthfeel
An initially sharp bite from a relatively higher level of carbonation gives way to a chewy feeling, leaving the mouth slightly dry after the swallow. The beer is moderately thick, but easily drinkable.

Overall
The hop bitterness, while strong, is not overpowering. The Double Simcoe IPA is a very nice showcase for a delicious American hop variety, and goes just far enough with the malt to make it drinkable. If there was a small increase in the malt base, this beer would be a great example of what a double IPA should be. As it stands, though, this beer is really good and very enjoyable for someone who likes American hops.