Pour -
A medium caramel color with the expected carbonation and little to no head. A few moments rest really didn't make a difference as there was no head to begin with, no lacing. Quite frankly I was little underwhelmed, especially after enjoying the Captain Lawrence the night before...
4/10
Nose -
A lot of scents here, firstly the sweetness in the oak aging is prevalent. The underlying hops are fresh and pleasantly piney, another West Coast inspired IPA apparently. After few moments the oak dies down and the hops come out more, also revealing the booze. This definitely smells like a DIPA.
6/10
Mouthfeel -
Very syrup sweet with the oak and alcohol really making themselves known. Something like the bastard son of an irish whiskey and an english bitter, the sweetness really steps in front the hops. Completely different in every way from the C.L., and this surely isn't a session beer.
6/10
Taste -
It's tough to be fair to this one. It's just not the way I like my IPAs. The oak really moves in and makes the hops it's bitch. I do enjoy the fresh, smooth sweetness that the aging brings but when I look for the IPAs crisp refreshing hops, it seems they are in the kitchen making Oak a sandwich or a taquito or something. I mean, they're present but they're an after thought, in the other room and they can't hear you calling because Oak's music is too loud.
But, to be fair. The sweetness here is quite relaxing and pleasant, this just isn't a summer beer for me. Trade the ocean beach chair for an adirondack in the October breeze and you have yourself a evening.
4/10
So a bit of a disappointment for me here, 20/40. I won't totally write this one off though, it does have some very enjoyable qualities that I just wasn't expecting or wanting at the moment. I'll give it another try in a few months.
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