Two Doubles
Sixpoint Resin Double IPA
3.98/5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A chilly tall, narrow can is poured into a glass mug. There is a best by date of 30 July 2012 stamped on the bottom. Thanks to smakawhat for sending me this one!
The beer is darker than some other DIPAs I’ve had the pleasure of drinking; it’s somewhere between a brown ale and an amber. A uniform head of tan foam rest on top. It was a small head as I poured the beer, but it filled out at the end. It’s now two fingers in size. Good lacing rings are left behind as I work through the beer.
A strong hop aroma greets my nose as I inhale. Citrus notes dominate. There is a touch of malt sweetness at the back end to balance things out, but obviously, this one is all about the hops.
This is a big bitter beer. The hops keep going and going. It feels like it is more bitter after I swallow—maybe my tongue just needed to catch up. The hops have some citrus and pine qualities and there is plenty of oil. A slight taste of alcohol is there, but the hops generally mask it. Some malt sweetness can be tasted, to remind you this is a double ale.
The beer is thick and sticky, like many beers of this caliber. Carbonation feels average, possibly slightly low. The hops don’t tingle my tongue as much as I thought they would; perhaps all of the oils dull that sensation.
This is an interesting DIPA. It’s not my favorite example of the stye, and I don’t think it’s going to challenge Pliny and Heady for the top spots, but I’m glad I was able to get a pair of cans. The 103 IBU’s are nothing to laugh about. Resin is recommended to any hop head.
Lagunitas Cruising With Ruben & The Jets Double Stout
3.6/5
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a cellared bottle I’ve had since August, 2009. I’ve poured it into my Lion’s Pride tulip.
The beer is opaque and colored dark brown. Small spots of ruby are visible where the light makes its way through the liquid. A thin head of tan foam formed as I poured the beer, but now it has settled to a mere skim. Swirling the glass leaves plenty of film and patchy foam on the sides, but the head itself doesn’t reform. Streams of carbonation can be seen rising to the top, but only near the top and right at the sides of the glass.
The beer still has plenty of big chocolate notes in the aroma. There is still some alcohol discernible. Also present is a scent that recalls dark fruits, like plum. It is still an enticing aroma 2+ years after bottling.
The flavor is still good as well, although no longer too complex or robust. Chocolate, raisin, coffee bitterness and alcohol are all present. There isn’t too much sweetness, although you can still tell this is a malt forward beer. There is also still a roasted aspect, but it is minor. I can taste it as the beer first hits my tongue, but it doesn’t last long.
The beer is full-bodied and has medium carbonation levels. The bubbles still manage to tickle my tongue. A pretty good layer of stickiness is left on my lips, but the internal coat isn’t too thick.
This stout is enjoyable, but it is probably past its peak at this point. I never drank it fresh, so I can’t know for sure. If you have a bottle in your cellar, I’d recommend opening it soon. If you never were able to try it, don’t go looking for a bottle now.
