BIIR Brewers Belgium Equinox Triple IPA American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.4% ABV | 100 IBU (Craft Beer Advent Calendar #10, 330 ml, best before 20-Jul-2018, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 10-Dec-2016)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with a massive rocky ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (5/5) Aroma: resiny pine, pithy grapefruit, mango, caramel. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)
Advent calendar day #10 brings us a completely seasonally inappropriate beer, that I nevertheless enjoyed thoroughly. (Near double-digit ABV’s and triple-digit IBU’s tend to endear me, go figure.) This is a huge hop bomb that’s nonetheless pretty drinkable, with massive hops leading the way over a smooth caramel malt that’s well in the background (where it belongs). Actually, it reminds me of a couple of Mikkeller’s hop bombs – which is all to the good. Despite the aforementioned near double-digits, the ABV is well integrated and barely makes its presence felt. I really quite enjoyed this, and I’m starting to feel like the calendar might have begun to pull out of the nose dive it was in! (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
