Golden Valley IPA Vs Brut

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Batch 2, Sampled September 2007
Pours with a lightly hazy, rich amber hue, but shows a bright copper color when held up to the light. The head starts out almost three-fingers in height and is a frothy, creamy, light tan color. Aromas of hemp, pine, a touch of green onion and citrus like orange peel are found easily in the nose. Underneath this caramelized grain, toasty malt, biscuit-like malt and lightly browned soda cracker aromatics play a secondary, yet vibrant role. Spicy, almost hot, oak notes play a role here as well, though they are almost not noticeable as a distinct entity, but instead contribute to the overall character of the aroma.

Much sweeter tasting than I anticipated (for some reason the aroma had me subconsiously thinking this would be dry; though it is only lightly sweet, and well in line for a double IPA), this certainly accentuates the citrus hop notes, but these still don’t play nearly as prominent a role as they usually do in an American IPA. The beer finishes with a drying, herbal, pine-like, even menthol feeling flavor and bitterness. The hops definitely have a hemp-like character to them, it is almost even dank and oily at times; though these notes are well contained and balanced. Spicy with a light woodiness to it, the barrel character seems to meld quite well with the hop notes; in fact the sharper, herbal leaning notes of the beer may well be accented and even contributed by the barrel character. The malt sweetness, general hoppiness and oak spiciness combine to form a component that is almost like cinnamon. Flavors of grapefruit, tangelo, lychee and orange zest mix with spicy notes of hemp, definite pine tar, spicy pepper and a green menthol note all mix together with a bunch of other flavors that I just can’t quite put words to. This beer has a nice heft to it, it is light enough to be easy drinking yet full enough to carry the substantial flavors of hop and oak.

I really like how subtle the oak character is here; it is more subtle in the aroma but even in the flavor if I didn’t know it was here I could almost be convinced that the flavors were from something else like the hops. The barrel character really adds to the complexity of this brew, especially as it warms. So many layers of aromatic notes and flavor notes become noticeable; I almost think I can taste the chardonnay influence at times. This is quite good; I almost feel like the individual components of this brew would not add up to a beer as tasty as this, but the combination definitely works on many levels for me.

Purchased via mail order: Liquid Solutions

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Medium orange color. Aroma is fruity, hoppy and sweet. A medium bodied IPA. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are grapefruity and spicy. Very floral and fruity. Very smooth. Nice soft and round carbonation. Touch of oak as well. Nice beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.