95 Rating: Hoppyright Infringement by NOLA Brewing Co.

Double IPA | Year-Round | United States

By Michael Heniff

Judges Rating: 95
Aroma: 24
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 19

Hoppyright Infringement IIPA by NOLA Brewing is a Double IPA (Category 22A by the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines).  The focus of this style is hops, hops, and more hops.  Additionally, despite being a higher alcohol content style, Double IPAs are fairly drinkable and lack a heavy, full body and strong caramel malts which are more typical traits of Barleywines.
From a can, this “hazy, juicy, dry-hopped” beer pours a very hazy, golden color with a big, fluffy off-white head.  The aroma is intensely hoppy showcasing strong resinous, grapefruit, and cedar-like hop aromas with lighter blackberry and mango characters.  The flavor continues the hop-forward theme with strong grapefruit, resinous, and mango hop flavors.  A hint of pale malt compliments the hops.  The medium body allows for excellent drinkability and hop astringency is absent despite the heavy hop load.  The beer finishes moderately bitter (perhaps a little low for a typical Double IPA) with a long-lingering grapefruit and mango hop flavor.  
This is a well executed Double IPA with a pleasant, intense, and complex hop character.  At 7.6% ABV, this Double IPA is on the low end of the category for gravity and bitterness but it will hold up well against its peers.  Hop heads enjoy!