Ninkasi Tricerahops Double IPA
Brewed by by Ninkasi Brewery (named for the Sumerian goddess of fermantation) out of Eugene, Oregon, this beer packs a wallop. Incredibly hoppy, 8.8% ABV, 100+ IBUs. Wowie.
The most astonishing thing is the floral hops. I took my first sip and must have made a face, because my wife asked if I didn't like it. I was simply amazed at the floral tones. She asked, a bit derisively, what flowers taste like, and I offered her a taste (she doesn't drink beer as a general rule). She sniffed, and said, well, I guess I smell some flowers, and then took a sip. Her eyes got big. Oh, yeah, I see what you mean, she said, handing the glass back.
It's really drinakble for a near 9% alcohol beer: light, dry and not too malty. Lots of citrus on the front, and a bit of pine as well. The aftertaste is nicely bitter but not acrid. Overall, very well balanced, but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone but a dedicated hophead. For a hophead, though, it's close to the holy grail.
I wish I'd bought more than one, but at 22 oz, I think I've had enough for now.
7 comments:
The Ft. George out of Astoria, OR has a wonderful "Very Hoppy" beer, I think was called Vortex, the ETOH % is also pretty high so it does not take much to reach desired effect.The complex flavors and sheer pleasure of the consumption reminded me of days long ago and of certain, other, floral buds. but that was long ago...Glad become aware of the still vibrant and diverse small brewers of the NW.
Nigh on 9% is more like a barley wine than a beer - strong beers also tend to be sweeter. I much prefer much weaker 'real' beers - 3.8%-4.5% - but I'm posting from London, UK, so our % alcohol may be not the same as yours? Like the gallon...
Britons generally have a significant baseline blood alcohol level going in, so for us, a 3.8% beer will be more of a topping-up than anything, leaving others to play catch-up. I'm guessing this is why bloodletting was popular, back in the day: hops shortages.
yummmmmmm.....
This is, of course, where I point out that hops *are* flowers, right?
carrast
Dogfish Head....check it out
I tend towards the piney/citrusy IPAs myself.
Speaking of holy grails, how would you compare this one to the plinys brewed by Russian River? (elder or younger)
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