Marin Eldridge Grade White Knuckle Double IPA

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I’ve had White Knuckle several times thru the years. It’s always been a favorite of mine on tap and inthe bottle. Not exactly sure how fresh this bottle was, but it was still spectacular and another reason why I enjoy Marin’s products. The beer starts out with a cloudy amber/ dark orange body with a sticky light tan head. No floaties visible, okay lacing. Aroma has an incredibly fresh aroma. Stunning that there are strong notes of citrus, spruce, rose petals, peaches and some light cat piss. The aroma is kept in check with the strong malt showing, but the star of the aroma is clearly the hops. Body is thick, slightly cloying but nothing outrageous. Aroma was equally as impressive as the aroma, with a assertive hop profile. Bitter grapefruits, blood oranges, tropical fruits, herbal, wet earth and caramel. All bouncing around the palate, all easy to detect, all easy to enjoy. Thanks Marin!

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

more like a super hopped IPA than sister brewery Moylan's Moylander, which has the body of a barleywine. super bitter for you hopheads, and very aromatic. one of the better dbls around

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 8

03.30.05 Bomber purchased at Whole Foods, SF, CA. First impression is that this brew reminds me greatly of DFH 90min IPA, and, although that’s not shocking or unfortunate, it’s not what I expect from a west coast IIPA. Dark and hazy orange pour with spiffy tan head and thick, sheeting lace. Beautiful beer that looks exactly like I imagine an IIPA. Aroma is mega-resinous though betraying the deep malt structure to come. Like 90min, I also get a bit of an odd vegetal aroma, sort of herbal, root-ish. Flavor is all about balance. Big citrus, grapefruit, pine up front mellows and melts across the palate, sugar-coated and creamy. Finish is abusively bitter with a lingering hop chomp. Solid bready, grainy, and herbal throughout.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 7

Dark amber with a thick white head that leaves a good amount of lacing. There's a heavy dose of fresh hop aroma that's reminiscnet of lemon soap. The flavor is very sweet but not heavy. It would improve if a little less sweet, but still is pretty tasty.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Surprising malt aroma. Hops are in there just taking a back seat.Beautiful mahogany color with a thick tan head. Thick palate almost like a barleywine.This is akin to the 90 min. IPA. Great brew and I hope this style catches on.

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

Wow, where did this come from....?? I've always respected the brews from Marin Brewing Company (had their christmas ale just last week), but surely didn't see this massive Double IPA coming. Excellent brew, with just right ratio of hops-to-malt (favoring the bitterness, of course). Now, if I can just find a place that has this on-tap.... :)

3/31/03 Re-review: Damn, if only I can get this more often! This might actually sneak into my Top 5 Double IPA's if I can get it more often! Anyway, adjusted the score up a little, since I must have had an off-night the first time I reviewed this....

7/05/03 Re-review: Split a bottle of this while hanging out over at my buddy Richard's house last night. Maybe it was the fact that up until this beer, we had been sampling Mainer Summer ales and Weyerbacher beers, but this Double IPA's hoppiness in comparison just seemed to leap out of the glass. Very nice in the front, middle, and the dry/crisp/hoppy finish. :)
//TB

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 8

Copper Orange Color, small head. Aroma is floral and grassy, very bright. This is a big and bold IPA! Malty and very hoppy. This stuff WILL kick your ASS! It only 8% but it will knock your socks off. Malts are sweet and very pronounced. Hops are aggressive and slightly spicy. This is a very tough beer to describe. There is some fruity sweetness (grapefruit and orange) coming though the hop assault. Very thick beer, the CO2 bubbles have a tough time getting to the top of the glass. Taste is very chewy, nearly syrupy. Hoppy, yet not very bitter. Mouthfeel is very full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter, with a slight alcohol bite. This is a VERY good IPA.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

re-rated after 3 Jan 2004 Imperial IPA tasting Clear amber color, hoppy, citrus aroma. Great hop flavor up front w/ a smooth finish. A winner

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

Poured a hazy orange color with a small, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Very nice aroma of floral hops, spicy citrus, grapefruit, and light sweet malts. Aroma reminded me a bit of Dreadnaught. Very hoppy, with a touch of sweet malts, lots of grapefruit. Nice hop burps followed.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

The bottle poured this one out as a burnt orange with a hint of cedar color. A waft of some of the finest hopps fills the air, though it slightly smells like bong water. Doesn't give much head. The malts do not at all taste burnt, but seem to have a very sticky caramel and butterscotch quality to them. A non sugared/ sour red grapefruit taste is also present, but is still at the discression of the caramel and butterscotch. A very clean fading finish. This is good, its damn good, not the shit, but damn good.