Juice Above the Clouds by Altamont Beer Works is an in-your-face Mosaic rendition of the BJCP 22A Double IPA style. That said, the complete package comes through as a very enjoyable and quaffable version of a style that typically does not exhibit this level of drinkability.
A very strong Mosaic hop nose comes through nicely upon the pour. Little base malt character is evident behind this. There is a bit of alcohol noted in the nose, as expected for the style. The beer is a medium-golden color with brilliant clarity and a white, small bubbled lacy head with very good retention. This is a very attractive beer
The flavor is a huge smack of Mosaic hops from start through finish. The malt backbone is light to moderate, and, while it hides behind the hops, it is still evident. The middle and finish retain the same character. Hop bitterness is moderate to high. The body is medium, the carbonation is moderate, and the slightly sweet finish does dry out well enough in the finish before the next sip. The overall fermentation character is very clean, which allows the hop character as well as the malt that is present to be able to be well experienced in the flavor.
Juice Above the Clouds is a very well crafted and designed Double IPA that is very approachable and enjoyable! From my experience, this is quite unusual for this style. This is not just a hop bomb – the malt and hop bill deliver a very nice balance for the style.