Upslope Brewing Company Upslope Imperial India Pale Ale American Double / Imperial IPA at 10% ABV ($6.31 at Specs Main Branch, 568 ml, best before 13-Dec-2014)
Pours clear deep gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel malt, tropical fruit, pithy citrus, faith hint of resiny pine. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate to strong bitter. (7/10) Medium body, low carbonation, slightly sticky finish. (3/5)
Tending to the light-bodied and malt-forward, especially for the style. Yes, it’s six weeks past its best before, but as a high ABV DIPA, that should be somewhat less of a concern. The malt-forwardness can perhaps be explained away by the age, fair enough, but it could stand a bit more robustness in the body and in the carbonation as far as I’m concerned. The integration of the high ABV is pretty impressive, though, and is apparent only as a slight alcohol sweetness in the mid-flavour, and an eventual gentle warming on the finish. I’d like to try this fresher, but as it stands it’s a pretty middle of the pack DIPA. (15/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
