Judge’s Review: 94 Rating - Blind Pirate by Monday Night Brewing

Blind Pirate Double IPA by Monday Night Brewing was reviewed as a Double IPA (BJCP style 22A). Light copper in color with a slight haze possibly due to dry hopping. The white head was soft and foamy, hard to see the carbonation from the haze.  Some very small hop particles confirmed the possibility of dry hopping.

The aroma was comprised of caramel, pine and dank hop notes. Stone fruity esters and bready maltiness round it up. One thing to note was that the dankness slightly overwhelms.  

The flavor has a high pine note, and fruitiness in the way of blueberries. There’s very little malt presence, it’s just enough to balance the bitterness. The malt is sweet and grainy, nearly biscuit-like. Balanced toward the hops.  This beer finishes moderately-high in bitterness with a fruity aftertaste. The hop character is so prominent it makes want to exhale the essence.  

The body and carbonation are medium-high with a moderate amount of warmth but not hot.

A big bold DIPA, with an assertive hop flavor that makes it stylistically on point.  It does not overwhelm or seem under-attenuated as some New England-style IPAs. This one resembles the West Coast style yet fresh by taking on today’s popular hop character and showcasing them upfront and center.  Cheers!