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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe

This is no ordinary IPA. The Simcoe hops are GENEROUSLY infused into this rich and lovely beer from Weyerbacher. Actually, it's quite amazing how many varieties of hops and recipes can vary from beer to beer. I'm trying to compare this brew to something familiar, but I can't really come up with anything quite like Double Simcoe. You can tell right away that it will be a hop-lover's delight simply from the aroma. It's so inviting--floral yet manly. Does that make sense? Oh, drink it from a wide-mouthed glass so you can stick your honker right up in there. The fragrance seems to hover over the foamy head like a soul leaving its body, looking down from above and seeping into the ether, half in this world, half in that...

Double Simcoe is packed with body for such a bitter, hoppy ale. The consistency is a tad oily, which lends a sinuousness to the fanciful uber-hopping that can leave some IPA's in the playground thinking that hops are enough to make a great brew.

Weyerbacher's stable of big beers shows the average brewer that size matters as long as there is artistry to go along with it. And no catalogue is complete without a killer IPA. Double Simcoe is a serious brew with tons of hops. Is there a touch of sweetness? Maybe a little, right in the middle of the swig. Starts smooth, then sweet, then dry, then bitter. But remember to start with a huge whiff of the fragrant hops, double-plus-good. Not for beginners--the hops may scare them off. And at 9% abv, maybe Double Simcoe is best left to professionals.

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA:

Representation: 1.0
Accessibility: .85
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .95

Total: 3.8