Archive for June 30th, 2009

• @Whineaux glad you liked the review. I'm working on catching up…more soon. in reply to Whineaux #
• 2nite on the grill: tialpia fish tacos w/sour cream&lime slaw. #grilling #
• Beers 2nite: Smuttynose Robust Porter-nice but thick 4 summer.Saranac Summer Brew-lager&lemonade. Very crisp perfect summer grill beer. #
• Going to be in the Catskills (NY) this Sunday? Here's something to do: brewin' @chachahut grill club: http://chachahut.com/events/ #
• @AlaskanBrewing Glad you went Flash free. I advise clients against Flash unless audio/video content. Looking forward to your new site. in reply to AlaskanBrewing #
• July 1st: Victory Brewing @ Blind Tiger Ale house in NYC: http://bit.ly/NWCAC #

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Brewery: Long Trail
Location: Bridgewater Corners, VT
Style: Double IPA

Having enjoyed the the other member of the Brewmaster Series (Long Trail Coffee Stout), I could not pass up the opportunity to try the Double IPA. Add to this the fact Oliver’s Discount Beverage was selling bombers for $3.99 and it was a slam dunk to pick up two for the cellar.

As I have mentioned in several IPA reviews, I spent many years avoiding the hops. Stouts, porters and ambers were the standard drink for me. At the beginning of the warm weather here at OAB HQ, I declared this spring and summer the season of “Embrace The Hops”. I’ve gone out of my way on each cellar restock to find at least one hop bomb or big hop beer – much to the dismay of Mrs. Ohabeer. (She is decidedly not a hop fan…) While the Long Trail Double IPA does not qualify as a hop bomb, it certainly satisfies my desire for something hoppier than my usual fare and was declared by Mrs. Ohabeer: “too hoppy”.

It pours a slightly cloudy gold color with a clean foamy white head. The aroma is definitely an DIPA: large hop scent – citrus with a faint flower and malt scent. The flavor is a lovely balance of citrusy hops, a subtle balance of malt with a touch of flowery hop at the end. Mrs. Ohabeer and I discussed the citrus profile and decided it comes through mostly as lemony. It’s a medium light bodied IPA with a bit of “tongueyness”. By that I mean, it’s a slight bit dry on the end leading to that strange sort of feeling on the tongue. If you’ve encountered it you know what I mean. It’s not a bad thing – just a little unexpected in an DIPA.

Certainly lighter than most DIPAs in body, it’s 8.6% ABV is nicely hidden in the balance of citrus hop and sweet malts. A very mellow DIPA that could easily sneak up on you if you’re not careful. At $3.99 a bomber, drinking several – while economical – may not be the most advisable session on a BBQ afternoon.