White Out Imperial IPA

Double IPA | Special Release | United States

By Garrick van Buren

Judges Rating: 90
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 18

Huge rich malt notes full of caramel, toast, and dark fruit explode off the aroma and are supported by earthy hop notes and wisps of vanilla and alcohol. It’s a brilliantly clear, copper-colored beer with a persistent, rocky, head of beige bubbles. The same assertive caramel, dark fruit, and maillard notes persist in the malt-forward flavor, complemented by a blend of earthy and woody hops, some light citrus and a few vanilla notes. A firm alcohol warming blends with the rich body and medium carbonation for a sweet and complex finish. While the hop-forward aroma and flavor expected in a double IPA have been subdued by the bourbon barrel-aging, a firm bitterness persists — transforming this Double IPA into an amazingly complex and rewarding brew.