Crisis Averted through Consumption

Posted by Jim on Jul 19th, 2011
2011
Jul 19

21rst Amendment Hop Crisis Imperial IPA

A- / 4.13
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I picked up a can of this beer a couple of weeks ago while in Massachusetts. It has been sitting in my cellar, but I popped it into the fridge to chill it slightly before pouring. It’s poured into my Lion’s Pride snifter.

The beer is very clear and colored dark orange. The occasional carbonation bubble can be seen rising form the bottom of the glass. The head is slightly darker than pure white, and foamy. Great lacing as the head recedes. Swirling the glass leaves a foamy film coating the sides. It’s very pretty.

Warm alcohol and warmer hops make up the aroma. Sweet citrus hops are predominant. It certainly smells bigger than a regular IPA, but I would believe you if you told me it belonged to a hoppy barleywine.

While this beer tastes hoppy, it isn’t as powerful as the nose lead me to believe…there’s also a lot of maltiness here. Some sweet grains make themselves known, but the bitter hops fight for dominance, and end up winning, completely taking over by the time I swallow. Warm alcohol is there after I swallow. I guess there is a little bit of oak mixed in as well, but I don’t find it to be very strong. Still, a tasty beverage.

This beer, while not heavy, does have a heavier than normal body. Carbonation is high, but it does foam up a lot in my mouth (maybe I should have let it chill a bit longer). There is some stickiness, but it is easily ignored. Plenty of warmth is provided by the alcohol, and it also provides a sharp bite, along with the hops.

This is a pretty enjoyable DIPA. It’s a bit strong, so I wouldn’t end up having too many of these. Also, it has to make the long journey across the country for me to enjoy it. I find there are comparable beers more local to me. I’ll probably choose them in the future, but if I do find myself back in 21rst Amendment’s distribution area, I wouldn’t skip over this beer.