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Graham L. Barron's picture

Top Rope IPA

March, 2016
Judges Rating: 
89
Aroma: 
21 / 24
Appearance: 
6 / 6
Flavor: 
37 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
8 / 10
Overall Impression: 
17 / 20

A golden, glowing amber beverage of excellent clarity greets the drinker. A moderate white head forms quickly and hangs around – and clings to the sides of the glass – until the last drop is finished. The aroma leaves no doubt that this is a hoppy beer. Loads of orange peel, grapefruit and resinous pine form a complex mélange with notes of toffee and caramel. The bitterness in this beer is very strong, but the brewer provides an assertive malt presence for balance. Strong flavors of citrus and dank, grassy resins flow over the tongue first, followed by caramel and burnt sugar, concluding in a somewhat long and bitter finish. Because of the generous malt content, this beer feels medium-bodied and more “full” than your typical West Coast-style IPA. This resinous, sticky beer will definitely satiate any hop lover’s demand for lupulin.