High Pines by Highland Brewing Co. is a Double IPA and is being evaluated as a Double IPA (category 22A in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). The focus of the Double IPA style is hops, hops and more hops. Additionally, despite being a high-alcohol content style, Double IPAs are fairly drinkable and lack a heavy malty body, which are more typical traits of beers of this strength. High Pines is brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe, Centennial, Comet, El Dorado and Apollo hops.

High Pines pours golden in color, is brilliantly clear, and sports a big, fluffy off-white head. The aroma is of moderately strong hops of resins, citrus and tropical fruits. The flavor is again prominent hops of citrusy, tropical fruit and resiny flavors with a light backbone of nutty malt. The beer finishes with a moderate bitterness with pronounced hop flavors of resins and citrus.

High Pines is an exceptional Double IPA. The hop character is prominent and complex, as can be seen by the grocery list of hop varieties. The bitterness is toned down (at 35 IBUs) from the high bitterness seen in West Coast Double IPAs but does not leave the palate with a “lack of bitterness” perception that is experienced with many New England IPAs (and even some New England Double IPAs). At 9.0% ABV, this Double IPA is scarily quaffable. Hop heads, seek out this exceptional Double IPA!