Tricerahops Double IPA - Ninkasi Brewing Company

joe1510

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz Bomber

This was thrown in as an extra in a box I recieved today from msbulldog25, thanks again Brian! Ninkasi's Tricerahops enters the glass a hazy apricot orange that glows when the beer is backlit. A soft pour didn't produce much head so I sped things up on the second half of the glass and was met by a dense three finger ecru head. The head slooowly fell to a finger and left sticky webbed lacing all over the glass on its way. I don't see much carbonation rising to the surface but what's there crawls very slowly. This is how an IIPA should look!

The smell comes across with a solid spattering of grapefruit rind. A few lightly sugared grapefruit segments here and there compete with alcohol soaked apricots, both finishing nose to nose. There seems to be a little earthiness flashing through along with a squeeze of orange oil. The malts show signs of caramel, orange blossom honey, and a cake like sweetness that stays where it should, in the back.

The flavor seems to follow the aroma closely. The flavors in this beer are mellow and come together very nicely. The hops are the main point in the flavor profile and come across as grapefruit, both sweetened and bitter. The quick apricot zing flashes through and orange peel shows itself throughout but stays back enough to let the grapefruit do its thing. Caramel maltiness lays down the base and tries to balance this beer out but falls just short. The grapefruit tends to linger on the swallow just the way I like it.

The body of this beer is close to perfect for the style and something I don't come across too often in IIPAs. The mild carbonation and moderate weight make the body of this beer slide through the mouth like velvet. It's incredibly silky smooth.

The drinkability for the style is high. I have to force myself to slow down with this glass but I keep picking it up regardless. This drinks more along the lines of an IPA which could easily get me in trouble.

Ninkasi makes a damn fine IIPA. I wouldn't mind having a couple more of these. It's not as big and bold as others of the style but that's part of the reason it's so refreshing and a nice change of pace. I'm digging this one. Thanks Brian!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2008 23:47:04 | More by joe1510

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

3.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber to a pint glass the liquid is dark yellow with gold hues and ok carbonation. The head is small white yet leave a bit of lace.

The smell is earthy hops with a few pine and citrus notes.

The taste is fuller nice citrus tasting hops, also a good caramel malt that is equal to the hops.

The mouthfeel is good nice better then medium but less then full body and good carbonation.

The drinkability is good, not the biggest DIPA on the block but plenty hopy and big that is quite drinkable. Very nice well rounded brew. Prosit, MK

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 04:15:22 | More by MuenchenerKindl

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to yllwsmly to trading this to me and giving me a chance to try this beer. I just missed this coming out the last time I was in Portland, so I was happy to be able to get some from this fairly interesting brewery. Pours a slightly hazy orange with a fairly nice head that fades quickly to a cap that sticks around for a while. Some loose lacing. Very nice aroma of grapefruit and orange from the lovely hops. Some floral aromas as well. Quite delicate. The taste is also clean and somewhat delicate but very clean and pure tasting. Nice flavors of orange and grapefruit citrus again, quite bright. Slightly sweet, so the malt is there, but it is a bit thin, and the flavors could be a little longer as well. Still, very tasty. Nice level of carbonation. The body is on the thin side, but it worked with the clean flavors. The slight sweetness gives it a nice finish. Quite nice, although it is on the light side for a double IPA, the pure, citrusy flavors and slight sweetness makes this a pleasant experience.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2008 01:54:16 | More by Georgiabeer

tayner

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle from LS poured into a tulip glass.

The liquid is a medium brown color, slightly opaque but not completely, and it is topped with a 2-3 finger foamy white head that is comprised of tiny, compact bubbles. It is very sticky and is clinging to the glass everywhere and leaving lots of foamy lace. Very pleasing to the eye.

Smell is very muted. For DIPA I was expecting something bold. I get some slight floral hop tones, but everything is very muted in the nose. There must not be many aroma hops in this bad boy, I hope that is all it is.

The taste is nice, although not nearly as bold as I expected. It has some citrus/pithy hops noted right up front but that is quickly hijacked by a strong malt profile that makes this beer sweet toward midpalate. The finish saves it for me as it ends with a bitter green, unripe citrus bite that lingers for a bit. I am not sure I would call this a Double IPA, but seems more along the lines of an IPA or a Double PA, but regardless, I think it has good, and more importantly, balanced flavors that work well together.

This one has plenty of carbonation to make it easy to drink and only medium bodied.

Drinkability on this one is too good. It is 9.7%, but I had 2 slices of pepperoni and jalapeno pizza for lunch and put down the entire bomber while eating those two slices. The beer stood up well to the spicy food. I felt the % for sure but did not taste the alcohol. It is surprisingly well hidden behind the malt. Be careful with this one, tastes more like a session, but has a hammer in it if you do!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2008 19:36:18 | More by tayner

RustyDiamond

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my SA beer glass. Hazy, bright orange with a faint little white frothy head. Aromas of pine & citrus. Head quickly dissipates leaving a white ring of film.
Sweet taste at first, which becomes piney and chalky. Very drinkable for 9%...almost too easy. Honey in the mouthfeel...dry hop finish. Very clean for a big IPA like this.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2008 21:19:06 | More by RustyDiamond

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light orange color with a below average head, average lacing and average carbonation. The dominate smell is heavy citrusy floral hops and mild malts. First taste is light, sweet, and a very crisp hoppy note. Light in body and taste. The 9% ABV is very well hidden. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 03:32:58 | More by ATLbeerDog

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Tricerahops is double of everything you already love in an IPA. More hops, more malt body and a higher gravity define this Double India Pale Ale. Fiercely flavorful, guaranteed to satisfy."

--Tricerahops Double IPA label

Polished kumquat with a handful of swirling yeast that settle into suspension shortly after the pour. Unfiltered (hoppy) beer looks better, smells better and tastes better. The bone white cap tops out at two fingers and more than does its part to add to the attractive appearance. Hopefully, lotsa lace means lotsa hop resins.

Once the foam melts a little, the nose is able to be appreciated. It's pretty good, but it isn't roaring out of the glass. The citric cheesiness brings Cascade to mind. One other variety might be present; it's hard to say for sure.

This Ninkasi offering isn't a rampaging, slavering, ripsnorting, carnivorous beast of a DIPA, but then triceratops were placid plant eaters, weren't they? Yeah, I'm well aware that the beer's name is TriceraHOPS, but with a name like that it should be hoppier. If the brewery is claiming that this DIPA is twice as hoppy as Total Domination IPA, I don't believe it for a second.

The biggest reason it's still above average is that it's closer to a big IPA (as all versions of the style should be) than a barleywine in disguise. In other words, there isn't so much malt that it gunks up the taste buds with sugars. It provides a modest amount of sugar cookie sweetness, then gets the hell out of the way. Trouble is, hops don't exactly rush into the breach.

Candied lemon and grapefruit peel are present, as is a modicum of funky cheesiness that adds another level of flavor interest. The IBUs might be higher here, but this beer doesn't seem as hoppy as Total Domination... which wasn't a hop bomb anyway. Fresh and right out of the keg it just might be killer. Too bad I'll probably never know for sure.

While the mouthfeel is a fraction lighter than the style average, it doesn't deserve to be dinged for it. It has just enough smooth stickiness to be enjoyable, while still allowing one to sip or drink quickly with equal ease. The ABV tastes and feels like a misprint. I'd have guessed at least two percentage points lower.

Tricerahops is a great name for a DIPA. Too bad the beer isn't as spectacular as the name. I'm sure there are those who think the world of it, but from my perspective, if the brewery wants to keep this offering from becoming extinct, they need to use a bigger shovel when adding hops to the kettle.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 21:45:01 | More by BuckeyeNation

cswhitehorse

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The Tricerhops pours a cloudy light autumn orange with a solid 1-2 finger foam head. There was some intermittent lacing that left its mark.

The aroma is heaven for a hop head like myself. I could glean the lovely cascade smell with some real sweetness.

The taste was really smooth with not alot of bite but a lot of hop flavor. It was like drinking a DIPA ice cream cone. On the finish there was some dank bitterness that left a pleasant feeling in the mouth. Overall a wonderful effort by the Eugene brewers. I would drink this just about any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2008 01:34:08 | More by cswhitehorse

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from bottletrek, pours an effervescent bronze with 1+ finger of pearl white head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Some citrus hops & honey as this warms

T: Biscuitty & honey malt, lemony & orangey hops, plus a touch of dryness up front. Booze starts sneaking in along grapefruitty & piney hops as this warms, I also get toffee balancing out the hops with the help of some passion fruit & tangerine. Finishes with resiny & citrus hops, caramel, a bit more booze, pineapple & a touch more grapefruit & a good amount of honey

MF: Medium bodied, fairly creamy with superior balance, skews a bit malty, but I like em that way, a bit hotter than I'd like. Has some stickyness to it as well

Drinks too easy for the style, well put together, just a touch too much boozeyness to session, unless you have a death-wish!

Bring back the Cretaceous Era!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 07:32:30 | More by russpowell

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got this in the mail from CCrida, thanks! I love the name.

Amber color with a very small white head. Leaves a little bit of lacing.

Not a strong smell, just a little floral hops.

Tasty. Bitterness up front gives way to citrus in the middle. Follows with a little dry piney flavor. I notice just a little sweet malt backbone in the finish. VERY smooth. Maybe the smoothest DIPA I've had, and well balanced too. Great brew, medium bodied.

This is a very drinkable beer. Smooth, well-balanced. Super high drinkablitity. Shared this with a few guys who aren't BA's and they loved it too.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2008 16:03:05 | More by Hojaminbag

abankovich

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a 22oz bomber into my snifter. Nice warm deep amber color with very little head that was a clean white color.

Not too strong of an aroma compared to other DIPAs that I've had. Noticeable citrus hops and sweet caramel malt smells. Some toasted hints and also buttery notes present.

The alcohol on this is masked very well. This is a very smooth drinking DIPA. Sharp and bitter tastes up front that pass over the tongue very easily, nice and well rounded. Hop bitterness is present on the back end. The well-roundedness of this beer is fantastic.

Mouthfeel is light-medium and clean making the drinkability high on this one. Very refreshing beer and I'm glad that I got a chance to try this from a trade. I'll look for it next time I'm passing through Oregon.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 00:32:09 | More by abankovich

1whiskey

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

22 oz bomber poured into a glass chalice. Bottle says 8.8% ABV. Tricerahops poured out a hazy soft amber with a big, silken white head.

This is probably the sweetest, freshest smelling hop perfume I have ever experienced. Wow. This aroma is unreal.

Taste is just as pleasurable as the aroma. Tons of hops flavor, nice level of bitterness, a hop lover's dream. But at the same time, it's very well balanced, with an almost honey-like sweetness. The alcohol can't be detected at all...very well hidden. This is a big beer that doesn't feel like a big beer.

Super drinkable...it tempting not to just quaff this down. Mouthfeel is very creamy with medium viscosity.

Another Ninkasi beer lives up to and exceeds the hype. This IPA is ridiculous. Seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2008 07:58:39 | More by 1whiskey

Beertracker

Oklahoma

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ninkasi's Tricerahops Double IPA pours up with a soapy white head that persists above the slightly hazy, orangish-amber body. The hop accenuated aroma is mildly pungent with Pacific Northwest hops. The overall character is fruity (apricot, grapefruit, tangelo) with faint pine tar notes. There's a moderate graininess with hints of caramel that's constant in the background. The flavor starts off with some moderate caramel sweetness that's quickly cut by a surprisingly mild bitterness. The lightly warming finish is fruity, grainy, and slightly grassy. Light bodied per style with some astringency that detracts. This is a finely crafted DIPA that reperesents Oregon well. Here's to the Goddess Ninkasi and her namesake brewery from Eugene!

CHEERS! Beertracker

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2008 22:02:54 | More by Beertracker

jakon

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle purchased for $4.99 on 4-2-4 at Whole Foods Portland.

This beer pours a golden orange with a nice tall eggshell colored head that leaves behind a solid wash of lacing as it recedes.

Bright tropical fruits and floral notes come through big in the aroma. The taste is big on grapefruit, pine, orange zest and dandelions with a light malt sweetness in the background.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable beer that I plan to purchase with regularity now that it is in bottles and such a fair price.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 04:58:06 | More by jakon

BeerZack

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22oz bottle says 8.8% alcohol.

Cloudy orange color with thin covering of foam, leaves some small patches of lace.

Surprisingly mild nose. Mostly citrus hops with some floral and spice. Overripe tropical fruit, touch of caramel with a hint of aspirin-like astringency.

Very mild in the malt department, very light, no complaints here. Tastes like hop-water, not astringent at all, but full of hop flavor. Grapefruit, pineapple, some musky/floral dankness.

Soft & smooth, easy and deceptively drinkable light-bodied DIPA. Dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 06:02:10 | More by BeerZack

SurlyDuff

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy copper orange with a big rocky head. Lacing grabs onto the sides of my glass and won't let go, even when I try to soak them away while drinking.

Incredibly piney and grapefruit citrus. A tad one-dimensional, but it is oh-so-good, as far as IIPA's go.

Alcohol pokes through, almost like rum or other liquor. SLight tart apple comes up with the minimal carbonation. Double IPA's don't really have much carbonation, not really expecting it, but there's a nice balance in this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2008 03:51:13 | More by SurlyDuff

mattmaples

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This 9.6% hop fest is a masterpiece of brewing. It pours light amber in color with a small cap of dense foam. The aroma is huge with orange hops and just a hint of malt sweetness. The flavors is also big on the orange hop profile but the malt brings in some chewy caramel without being overly sweet. The mouthfeel is smooth and has a medium body. This is one of my favorite double/Imperial IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2008 00:49:18 | More by mattmaples

HopHead84

California

3.45/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark gold with a small, half finger head. The head lingers for a short time and leaves some lacing on the glass.

S: Sweet malt. There's a strange smell I can't put my finger on and that I've never smelled in a SDPA. It's a sweet smell that's a cross between a banana and a cantaloupe. Doesn't smell very hoppy and the normal characteristics of the style (pine, citrus, etc.) are not present.

T: Well balanced. Mild hop bitterness for the style. Minimal citrus notes and not a long finish. The alcohol is well masked.

M: Oily mouthfeel, medium bodied, and carbonation is lacking.

D: Very drinkable for an 8.8% beer. The low level of bitterness will ward off the palate fatigue for a while.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2008 04:04:28 | More by HopHead84

sinistermadman

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden color with a slight head. Slight lacing. Nice hop aroma, although somewhat subdued for the style imo. Still, a nice bouquet. Taste is weighted in the hop direction with plenty of juicy citrus notes. Nice bready malt backing that doesn't intrude on the hop's territory. Oily hop goodness is the story here, though. Not at all brash, actually pretty easy drinking for 8.8%. This drinks like a plain-jane IPA. A finely crafted brew. Hats off.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 04:12:06 | More by sinistermadman

unclederby

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Ninkasi is a Eugene located brewery that's gaining considerable street cred here in the PNW. The Tricerahops in particular is receiving quite a bit of attention and earning formidable praise.

I've had it a few times on draft, and always thought it was pretty good... remembering that the first time i smelled this ale (about a year ago) I thought it smelled like a fat sack of dank weed. So now, with much anticipation and fanfare, i get to sample it for the first time from a bottle. Woohoo.

Yep, there it is again. The first whiff reminds me that cannabis and humulus lupulus are in the same botanical family. Needless to point out to Pacicfic Northwesterners, it's a very inviting nose. This initial blast of funkiness does abade after a bit; much like the frothy, one inch head this ale pours out with.

It's attractive too. A murky tangerine/orange in color, it has little, if any, visual activity suggesting carbonation. Spotty lacing dots the glass.

The flavor comes off alot livlier than the nose might lead you to anticipate; that is, it has a zesty and piney, and substantially citrus appeal with the just the faintest bit of earthiness in the aftertaste. Blanketing this is a solid malt backbone. Juicy.

Hoppy from start to finish, it doesn't however wreck the taste buds, but rather cleanses and refreshes.

Mouthfeel is a tad thin for my tastes in the style, and perhaps a bit more carbonation would give it more bite, but it's fine on it's own accords.

Overall a nice beer: tasty and very drinkable. The nearly 10% ABV is very well hidden and if I were given a guess i'd say it was much lower. I'm afraid I might be able to session this.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2008 05:32:41 | More by unclederby

Dubbercody

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Concordia Ale House, served in a pint glass. Holy cats, this is a nice beer. Nice combination of malt and hops in the nose. This follows into the taste too. Great balance for a double IPA. Alcohol doesn't come out and hit you, it's nicely incorporated.

Can't wait to have this in a bottle soon.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2008 06:39:15 | More by Dubbercody

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Well, I'll forgive the misspelling of "Tricerahops" for such a fine beer; enjoyed this pint at Henry's Tavern, 9/7/2007.

A: Pours a hazy, amber/orange with a 1/4 " cap of creamy head; light soap bubbles and a thin film of frosty cream as it settles. Slow carbonation rising sporadically. Modest lace in thin bands.

S: Big aroma of fresh hop cones; purely citrus and pine. It's nothing intricate, just bold and full, with an ample dose of caramel malt.

T: Oh, wow. Superb balance; it's understandable why this won the Concordia Cup recently as favorite DIPA. Outstanding balance, I was very impressed by the melding of sweet/sugary and chewy caramel malt with a burst of citrus. Bitter bite is minimal in the end, coming off as gently pithy but pleasingly floral and herbal.

M: Silky, medium-full mouthfeel. Nothing syrupy/heavy, just a smooth an balanced feel that expertly masks that nearly 10% alcohol heat.

D: One of the most drinkable DIPAs I've enjoyed. Quite well-balanced, with malt and caramel flavors mashing up beautifully with orange/citrus hoppiness.
This may be my new favorite of the ubiquitous NW IPAs - a treasure worth seeking out!

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2007 02:47:08 | More by msubulldog25

ccrida

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had a nonic on draught at the Beer Stein in Eugene, Ticerhops poured a cloudy light rust color with a thin, off-white collar and surface skim, leaving light lace.

The aroma is very strong hops, all pine, with a touch of alcohol as it warms.

The taste is fantastic, more complex the then nose, and remarkably balanced in spite of the extreme hops and high ABV. Still all about the piney, earthy hops, but tempered with a nice english ale yeast fruitiness and enough pale and crystal malts to give it backbone without making it to sweet or heavy. Very smooth, with a firm, bitter finish. I can see why this won the cup, it's very well crafted.

The mouthfeel is oily yet has a moderate amount of creamy carbonation. It's medium bodied.

This is a very tasty IPA, so smooth and easy drinking, you can really get into trouble if you loose track of the ABV, which is barely noticeable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2007 18:36:12 | More by ccrida

josiahschlender

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

When at the Concordia Ale House, found out that this beer was the best Double IPA out of 10 competitors in the Concordia Cup. I had to try one for myself.

The Tricerahops came out hazy, golden orange with a white moderate head that left a decent amount of lacing as I drank it.

Despite not much of a head, the aromas wafted powerfully out of the glass the whole time I drank it. You know how it's hard to smell some beers when you get all the way down and have just a little bit a the bottom? Not so with this one. Pine, citrus and floral hops all mingle and assault my nostrils. Very complex. Sweet smelling, as well. I'm not sure if it's a little of the malts coming through, or just the nectar citrus/floral hop smells.

I was a little surprised with how cold it came out. I was expecting it to be served a little warmer. Even so, the taste was also excellent. A huge surprise was the difference of taste from the nose. Taste was much more earthy than I expected. The citrus and pine hops were still stong, but definitely got a bit of a dust/earth taste that I'd expect from the hops used in a porter or stout. Very interesting. The malts are mild, not as sweet as some other DIPAs I've tried. I didn't notice much alcohol flavor, or smell, but it also doesn't seem like it should be too hard to hide with the overpowering hops.

Mouthfeel was about medium body, not as thick as some DIPAs, with a long finish. I also noted the dry finish, which complimented the earthy flavors.

Overall, an excellent, very interesting beer. I hope I make it back soon enough to try this beer again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2007 05:23:58 | More by josiahschlender

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this beer on tap at the Horsebrass pub the other night. I confess that I'm a bit surprised that I'm the first one to review this beer, as it's been out for a bit now and, at least in my opinion, is the most impressive beer Ninkasi has made to date.

This beer pours the quintessential light gold/orange DIPA color, with decent head retention and excellent lacing. On the nose one gets a blast of citrus and pine resin. There is no comparison between this beer and the regular IPA (which I confess has never impressed me); it's in a completely different league. This smells like it will be a fabulous DIPA, which of course it is. On the palate this stuff is just hop heaven nectar. Huge hops on the palate, with apple, citrus and pine. The beer does not have a huge malt presence (thankfully - no one will mistake this for an East Coast/midwest DIPA), and in fact it comes across as a bit dry. The beer has a lovely light mouthfeel (for a DIPA), and is a joy to drink. Yes, the abv. is a bit noticeable on the finish, making it a bit tiring to drink, but then again we are talking about a nearly 10% DIPA.

This is an outstanding beer. Frankly, I've not been as impressed as others by Ninkasi beers, but this one had me going "wow." I guess the name is a nod to the background of the brewer, who as I recall worked previously at Steelhead Brewing. Hoposauraus Rex and now the tricerhops.... two huge, mammoth, dinosaur of a DIPA. Very well done....

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2007 03:29:39 | More by johnmichaelsen