Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Gnarly Barley IIPA by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.

Double IPA | Limited Release | United States

By Jim Koebel

Judges Rating: 90
Aroma: 23
Appearance: 4
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 17

Gnarly Barley IIPA by Gnarly Barley Brewing Co. is a Double IPA, judged as BJCP Category 22A. This DIPA is expectedly juicy, fresh and fruity smelling. The hop burst can be detected from over a foot away. It looks a bit like orange juice in the glass with a small white head. The taste isn’t as flavorful as the aroma would lead you to believe, but it still carries a solid hop presence. It has a slightly sweet impression but dries out into a spicy, herbal-tasting finish. It’s on the creamy end of the mouthfeel spectrum with a medium-full body and a warming sensation. Many drinkers might find this to be a low-key example of a DIPA, but it’s still very enjoyable. Alcohol content is not listed on the can, which is a reckless thing to do for a DIPA. Hopefully it is prominently displayed on retail packaging.