Ee Tah! IPA

Ee Tah! IPA is a Double IPA, and was evaluated as a Double IPA (2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Category 22A) offering according to BJCP guidelines. I sampled this beer in two different glasses, the recommended snifter as well as an IPA glass.  For this style, the main characteristic is drinkability, while balancing intense hops and strong alcohol without too much malt or harshness.   Ee Tah! IPA showcases hops aroma and flavor while providing harsh alcoholic heat and hop astringency.

The aromas when sampled in an IPA glass, revealed an enviable fresh bright pine resin, frothy cream of wheat, a whiff of bourbon vanilla bean pith, and torn herbal mint leaf, as well as a blend of freshly squeezed pineapple, mango, and lemon juice.  Even after an hour, the pineapple and a light caramel note are noticeable from two feet away.  The aromas, when sampled in a Belgium snifter, were more one-dimensional in comparison to the IPA glass, showcasing an integrated light caramel malt and pine resin, candied pineapple aroma.   When poured from a 12 oz can, a golden amber color shows, with fine bubbles slowly and consistently rising from the bottom of each glass.  The off-white head is creamy and leaves an ocean wave foam splash pattern on the glass. 

The flavors when sampled in an IPA glass, briefly taste of slight mint, then hop astringency. In mid-palette, this falls away revealing a clean frothy white flour and pine resin aftertaste.  The resin leaves a physical impression on the tongue. On the second taste, pine resin becomes more prominent.  It coats the tongue, like a butter made of pinecones being spread on your tongue with a knife.  After five minutes, the flavors are now a thin caramel glaze on a pineapple/pine resin tart. In the Belgian glass, the hop bitterness and astringency dominate the flavor but are less defined, backed by a soft, white bread character.  After five minutes, more hop pine resin and caramel candy wafers appear. 

The IPA glass showcases a well-integrated, moderate carbonation, a dry, slight mouthwatering finish, with a non-intrusive alcohol warming.  In the Belgium glass, the IPA shows more lingering alcoholic heat.  In both glasses, overtime, the heat builds.  Overall, the flavor and mouthfeel are all heat and hops.  Outstandingly fresh hop aromas and bright flavors but lingering warming heat builds and becomes harsh and is not complimented by the hop astringency