Double IPA (Brewmaster Series) - Long Trail Brewing Co.

mactrail

California

3.33/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light amber in the tall tulip. Modest head and pretty short on bubbles in the glass. Reasonably carbonated on the tongue. Aroma of fruit cocktail with some resin. A minty flavor takes you off the beaten path.

This seems to be an unusual variety of IPA. Very thin in the mouth, very light bodied. More astringent and sharp than any DIPA I've tried. Plenty of hops, and verging on the queasy for me. Strong with alcohol, but more of a hopped up malt liquor flavor. I get the taste of canned peaches and pine. It's oddly on the sweet side for being so tart after the first malt taste. The sweetness stays on the lips and the fruity flavor returns even as the stays with the aftertaste. Not so intensely bitter, but more than enough.

Well, this is a different one. 22 oz bottle from Liticker's in Ocean Beach.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 05:33:00 | More by mactrail

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in a snifter.

pours a bright, hazy golden / amber tone yielding 1 and 1/2" foamy off-white head. respectable marks for both retention and lacing.
fragrant nose is rife with citric hoppiness (grapefruit, orange, lemon zest), some pine, and a bit of malt.

citrus strongly pulls through in the taste; a lot of orange with some grapefruit, apricot, and, to a lesser extent, pine. good mix of balancing malt. bitter hoppiness in the finish. medium-bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall this is a fine double IPA. doesn't really do enough to separate itself from the plethora of great DIPAs out there, but tasty and well balanced. solid brew.

(originally reviewed: 05-10-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 01:55:59 | More by BostonHops

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

a hazy orange pour with a finger of white head which quickly disappeared. smells of pineapple, orange, raspberry, honey.... this is odd for an iipa...

ok.. just checked the bottle for a date.. 03-31-11... i just bought this a few days ago. damnit, i hate when ipa's are this far from their freshness date, there's going to be absolutely no hop character on this.

very malty with a slight citrus backbone. a hint of grapefruit bitterness is followed by a zesty orange flavor and a caramel like overall taste. not gonna lie, it's not absolutely terrible, but like i thought - there's no hop flavor.

medium body, slightly creamy feel towards the roof of the mouth. mild carbonation.

there appears to be a decent amount of lacing throughout the glass.

overall, this is a decent beer (i am including the non fresh date in judging this). i'm sure it is completely different fresh and am going to have to try it again. all the flavors i tasted should still be there but should only be subtle as a backbone to the supposed 86 ibu's this bad boy has. i'm hoping to see a fresh bottle of this soon so i can compare.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 08:21:42 | More by facundoCNB

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep yellow in color with an orangish hue and a light chill haze. Poured with a short white foam that quickly reduced to a wispy cap. Light citrus and orange hop aromas with an underlying caramel malt sweetness. A bit subdued for a DIPA. Medium bodied with aggressive tangy carbonation and a thick finish. Pungent citrus hop flavors up front: orange and grapefruit, that slowly intensify, arresting the taste buds, through the middle. Subdued malty sweet backbone supports the hop intensity. Tangy citrus hop bitterness peaks at the finish where slight pine hop and alcoholic flavors show through. Finishes with a pleasant, lingering pine hop bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 20:01:26 | More by IronLover

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, slightly hazy honey-gold coloring with a tall, chunky, dense, off-white head that sits a steady inch tall on the surface of the brew. Aromas of cut grass and pine lead the way, with a subtle grapefruit citrus highlight behind it. Flavors are hop forward, with a subtle roasting overall, and a tangy citrus and pineapple balance. Hops are resiny, peppery, and rich, and give a bold punch to the palate. Great cling of lace left along the glass as you go, and the body of the beer remains full and smooth despite the bitter characteristics. The aftertaste is bitter, with a good island fruit mix of pineapple, grapefruit, and mango. Smooth, slightly bitter finish. Very easy to drink, although the flavors can become overpowering with subsequent bottles. Good, solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 22:24:38 | More by GarthDanielson

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Thick, white frothy head, light golden color, decent carbonation, good lacing

S: Nice blend of hops with some pine and citrus, a bit of malts on the back end

T: Sweet citrus up front, then some bitter pine, and finishes with a decent malty backbone

M: Smooth, good carbonation, medium bodied, somewhat viscid

O: Good Double IPA, drinks pretty easy, just doesn't excel outside of appearance for me. Would recommend and will try again

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 02:12:44 | More by derkfromwi

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a finger tall soapy white head. The head reduces to just a ring of bubbles at the edge of the glass very quickly. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Some very light grains with multiple different hops - citrus, pineapple, pine, and floral. A really enjoyable aroma.

T: A really enjoyable hop profile - citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, and floral. There is a slight underlying sweetness but a nice bitterness in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly syrupy/sticky.

O: One of the more enjoyable offerings from Long Trail that I have had recently, I really like the hop profile. The taste is pleasant but this is not very sessionable (too intense hops bitterness and high ABV).

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 00:47:33 | More by dbrauneis

kennylopez

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: a fingers worth of creamy white head that floats atop a hazy light amber light golden colored ale.

Smells: a faint pine and floral hop character.

Tastes: this is a tasty balance with generous citrus hops in the front and as it warms up a little the floral/pine hop note bites with a toasted malt.

Mouthfeel: the carbonation on this brew lasts until the last sip leaving a pine hop bite in the aftertaste that is smooth with the 8.6%.

Overall: I picked up a bottle of this for $4 and I have to say Long Trail always does it right and the Brewmaster Series has yet to disappoint me.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 22:19:12 | More by kennylopez

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Nice caramel-gold color with a finger of white head. Great retention.

S - Aroma of clean grain, citrus hops made up of pineapple and grapefruit, sweet caramel.

T - Pineapple, astringency, grapefruit, caramel providing a balancing sweetness. Some grass.

M - Medium body, hot alcohol, little change as you drink, meaning that it starts out ever so slightly dry and stays that way through out.

O - Overall an average DIPA that once time in the past surprised me with intense pineapple flavors, but that experience wasn't replicated today.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 00:38:53 | More by greenmonstah

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We pour a brew that glows the color of the sun at dusk. A rough pour produces a one and a half finger head of massive cream-colored bubbles. This retains nicely, leaving sticky, thick lacing as it goes. There are flecks of sediment, with a moderate haze, and light carbonation. The aroma is full of big soapy hops, sweeter orange fruit, and bittering rind. There is a stark mineral quality, with souring and sulfur. The malts are pale, and border on wheaty. The yeast is funky and musky, and slightly Bretty. With warmth comes fusel alcohol. As we sip, huge grapefruit hop action hits up front. There is an independent lemony flavor, mixing with the paler malts and their slight toast. Metallics are bittering, and sour along with the minerals from the nose. The middle shows a play between bitter phenolic clove and hoppy slickness, with a dash of sweetness in the mix. These persist to the finish were smooth malts come in for a crisp finish. There are also notes of finite sweetness from the citrus and the hops, with a surprising fruitiness of pears. Booze is light, but apparent. The aftertaste breathes with puckering soapy hops, more peppery and biting booze, dirty mineral, and oregano and leafy herbs. The body is medium to full, and the carbonation is average. The feel is tart and puckering, with great cream, froth, and slurp. Ultimately we are left dried. The abv is appropriate and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we found to be the most enjoyable thing about this brew was the hops and the mineral inclusions. These are both highly active in the nose and the taste, affording a really earthy vibe. We also enjoyed the funk in the nose, and the little translation into the taste. For a negative we were looking for more of a hop presence, but what was there was great and robust in itself.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 16:57:42 | More by TheBrewo

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A hazy golden color with some burnt orange high lights. A pretty tall white foamy cap that's loosely structured and fades with spotty light lacing. Some carbonation.
Aroma has a light hop bouquet featuring no particular hop variety that I can tell. Caramel malts are present too.
Taste is a balance of bitter hops and caramel malts. Not too much going on here.
A medium high feel on the palette and quite bitter well into the aftertaste.
I was desapponited with this beer. It really lacked in hops. I believe a DIPA, hops should be the feature both in aroma and taste and that does not happen here.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 12:21:20 | More by micromaniac129

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wonderful pale golden color. Lots of white, lace-producing foam. Crystal clarity. Big American hop smell...herbal, citric, and a little pine. The taste is hoppy as well...bitterness that's accentuated with a serious warmth. Nice. Some malt as well, but the beer is a hop-bomb. Lingering bitter finish. Full and satisfying mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 19:35:10 | More by Suds

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a bright hazy orange with about a 1half finger head. Herbal and floral hops escape the glass as the brew pours. Very nice combo of biscuit and citric sweetness up front. Balances out with a nice oily floral hop finish. Light to medium in body with lots of carbonation, very refreshing. Some lingering notes of grapefruit and pineapple, very nice. Better than I expected. Not bad in the least.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 17:37:29 | More by jtierney89

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Long Trail's Double IPA opens with kind of nose that means your tastebuds are in for a serious hoppy workout: huge blasts of grapefruit, grapefruit rind, pine, lemon zest, eucalyptus, and rose hips stream out of the bottle, almost tangibly running in rivulets down your fingers. The smell is strong enough that it slightly tickles the back of your nose and throat, as if the IBUs had somehow become airborne. Thick brown sugars and lighter fruit esters (apricot, orange) from the malts help temper this somewhat, but by far hops are what present themselves first and foremost, announcing this as a hop-lover's utopia.

On the tongue, the beer is just as hoppy and bitter as could be expected from the nose, flavors such as pine sap, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, and rose hips immediately dominating the flavor profile, biting at the tongue and soft palate with all the stinging force of their 86 IBUs*. Left long enough in the mouth, these IBUs and citrus zest flavors will actually leave the tongue ever-so-slightly numb after swallowing. The beer does have a ton of sugar, mainly coming across as brown sugar, as well as apricot and orange fruit esters, with hints of orange liqueur, and Grape Nuts cereal-like grain notes in the background. That these are even noticeable speaks highly of how much care went into crafting this IPA, given the Brobdingnagian number of hops present in the brew. The aftertaste is more hops, though a strong toasted grain--or perhaps just wheat toast-- backing comes through nicely. Mouthfeel is a syrupy medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, there can be no doubt that this beer was made for hopheads, the hop flavors coming through in massive and tongue-numbing waves. Thankfully, Long Trail has chosen a Chinook and Cascade hops mix for the beer, giving the hop flavor profile a lot of variety and nuance, as opposed to some Double IPAs that come across as one-note wonders. The IBUs are extreme, and probably outside the comfort zone of many beer lovers, but the beer is delicious and balanced, and well worth trying.

*My bottle of Double IPA, bottled on 06/22/11, specifically says "86 IBUs" on the label; however, Long Trail's website currently (as of 10 November 2011) says the beer has "100+" IBUs.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 21:16:40 | More by jondeelee

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a over-sized wine glass.

Appearance: Cloudy amber, vaguely transparent. Has a 1/2 inch white head when poured quickly settles after the first taste.

Smell: Surprising smells sweet, not many IPA's have this smell which surprised me. It was good and great longevity...definitely unclogged my nostrils.

Taste: One word-YUMMY. I am still tasting this I as I typing it at the same time. I am absolutely in love with the taste. Stays within after finishing and super smooth. Not heavy on the pine but just enough to convert beer drinkers to real beer drinkers.

Mouth: Medium-light carbonation not bad at all...like I have said before this flavor just "hugs your cheeks"

Overall: After my first IPA review I am surprising myself not to go higher on this one but I suggest to keep this one around for a long time. Few beers could supplant what Long Trail has done with this bad boy. Not to malty, slight caramel i do mean slight...and enough pine to balance keep you coming.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 00:56:03 | More by BlurryVisi0n

WMEugene

Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a tulip glass

A - Golden Orange in color, thick head with ok lacing.

S - Strong notes of pine and general hops. Faint notes of citrus and some malts. It smells like a DIPA, but it is a little too heavy on the pine notes.

T - Decent hop profile trending more to pine flavors than citrus (though both are present) and it's a little too bitter even by DIPA standards.

M - Medium bodied, ok carbonation and is a little oily.

O - I was disappointed by Long Trail's Double IPA. By any standard, it is an average Double IPA. Nothing really stood out to me, it was a little too pine-oriented and bitter. I would have it again, but I wouldn't necessarily buy it. It's ok for the style - luckily for it, it's a great style.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 19:52:08 | More by WMEugene

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy bright orange in color, pretty much opaque. Thin sea foam white head on top, dissapating down to a thin sheet. Citrus and resin from the hop aromas, the hop resin backing up a soft orange-like citrus. Biscuity malt in the background as well.

Fresh orange in the forefront of the palate, with a nice engulfing grapefruit and resin bitterness in the back. A little more than a breath of booze, but not much more, and certainly not something that takes away from the overall experience. Light in body, prickly carbonation on the tongue that gives it a refreshing quality that is sometimes hard to find in DIPAs. Booze and a light bitterness linger in the aftertaste, but mostly that bready maltiness manages to be just enough of a balancing factor in the overall tasting without taking anything away from the very nice hoppy flavors hangs around.

Overall, this is a very solid brew. Nicely balanced with some very good flavors that all seem to compliment each other.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 04:53:48 | More by chodinheaven

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have seen this on the shelf in many places around here. The price has always been pretty low, and I was not really impressed with their offering in the past. So, my expectations were a little low. I was wrong.

This is a pretty good example of a double IPA. It smells, looks, and tastes proper for a double IPA. They don't do anything different.

Based on interactions with a couple other friends, this opinion seems to be consistent.

I like this double IPA, and it is probably the best bang for your buck version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 00:31:16 | More by ummswimmin

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at the Iron Frog in Simsbury, Conn.

A: Deep copper color with orange highlights beneath a thin, wispy head of white carbonation that left little lacing. Quite the chilled haze on this brew also.

S: Robust hoppy aroma with a buttery, toffee-like scent as well. Hints of spiced orange and grapefruit are in the mix.

T: Dank, viscous malt flavor with a brassy and herbal hop resin that rolls across the tongue to dry things up a bit. Floral and grassy notes spring forward behind a receding malt backbone. Finish is a bit boozy and bitter with traces of plum and sticky sweetness.

M: Full-bodied, viscous and biting with hops at select moments. A sipper that was served a bit too cold for my tastes. I suggest allowing it to warm a bit.

O: Few DIPAs can achieve the balance of tested giants like DFH 90, and this brew of lesser strength at 8.6% ABV cannot achieve that either. The density of this brew is not carried out well at all times, but it's a pretty enjoyable hopped up DIPA nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2011 22:06:56 | More by Gambrinus1184

mtdewa1

New York

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from growler into pint glass.served at 45 or so degrees.

A: poured with 2 finger foam and moderate lacing. Mild amber color but nice and clear

S: Hoppy smell, a little pine like yet floral

T:Definitelly taste the hops but taste great.Very smooth finish

O: Good beer with bold but not over bearring hop taste.would def get again

Serving type: growler

10-08-2011 15:31:13 | More by mtdewa1

andrewm190

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The Long Trail Double IPA is one of the best beers I've had in a while. The hops are terrific without being overwhelming - it was one of those finely crafted beers that really seemed to meet each threshold my taste buds required. Even with a slow pour, the head came out big and strong. The aroma wasn't tremendously powerful but it was immediately promising. I would absolutely rank this beer as one of my favorites in the style and gladly pick up another. Many breweries are just slapping cool artwork on average beer these days, and this new entry from Long Trail was a pleasant surprise. I'm looking forward to trying their other offers.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 05:36:35 | More by andrewm190

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a deep orange color with good carbonation leaving a small white cap

S: Has a nice dose of pine, light floral and citrus notes

T: Has a pretty evident booze bite and crystak malt which I can pretty easily detect. Has a nice citrus, pine element which is coupked with crystal malt;provides a nice bite medium sip to finish

M: Medium body, tasty and a bit warming

O: A pretty good IIPA

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 03:48:01 | More by barleywinefiend

ommegangpbr

New York

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

$4.99 for 22 ounces at the Hoboken Shoprite.
Looks are dark amber with a bright white, sticky head.
Smells like a style of IPA that I don't prefer; sweeter notes, english biscuit tea type things.
Not my favorite style of IPA; more English than American style. Tasty for what it is trying to do.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 04:34:00 | More by ommegangpbr

mpyle

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pale amber color, good clarity. Pours a moderate sized white head, creamy and with good retention.

Malty sweet aroma coupled with a nice citrus/grapefruit hop aroma. Don't smell alcohol, but it does smell like a "big beer".

Some malt, but a strange flavor that feels like an odd mix of hops and alcohol takes over midmouth. Hop flavor seems quite earthy, not like aroma. Never overly sweet, but the hop bitterness isn't overpowering, and the finish is only gently bitter.

MF - big and chewy mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Some alcohol warming as expected with the style.

Overall slightly disappointing. I remember liking it more when doing a tasting at a shop. Could be that allowing it to warm up a bit was a mistake. Very drinkable, just don't love the flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 22:56:20 | More by mpyle

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pour produces two fingers of creamy, fluffy foam, pockmarked and cratered. Lasts a long while and produces a ton of lace over time. Color is a shimmering copper. All very attractive.

Aroma is candy-like, herbal and caramel, with seemingly as much attention paid to the malt as the hops. Some cinnamon and brown sugar, and a pinch of pine clippings.

Taste is pointedly herbal, a bit tart and somewhat resiny, with a good bit of candy-like sweetness, and the alcohol being supportive in providing just a bit of spicy warmth, but never being obtrusive. This beer is helped further by the round, creamy, slightly sticky texture, body is on the heavy side but never unwieldy or unwelcome.

An excellent example of the style, no more or less.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 00:35:18 | More by Metalmonk