Garrison Brewing Company 20th Anniversary XXX (2017) American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 100 IBU (C$8.61 at NLC Howley Estates, 650 ml, packaged in 2017, acquired 26-Jun-2017, reviewed 15-Aug-2017)
Appearance: clear medium amber with two fingers of rocky beige head diminishing gradually to a thick creamy cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: floral, earth, caramel and toffee, grapefruit, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter, moderate alcohol. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish lingering and building bitter finish. (4/5)
The label describes this as a hybrid between an Imperial IPA and a Barleywine, and I think that’s actually a fair description. The malt character is heavy and nearly syrupy, but balanced well (and actually very slightly edged out for dominance) by the emphatic hops. However, the hops themselves tend towards floral and earth, instead of the citrus or pine one might typically expect for an American DIPA, suggesting this would actually be best described as a hybrid of American Barleywine and English Imperial IPA. Several media sites call it a “triple IPA” (which is of course a meaningless term) but Garrison’s web site doesn’t have any details at all, so I can’t find any authority beyond the “Extra Strong IPA” on the label. Classification aside, this is a surprisingly approachable beer given its near double-digit ABV and its reported triple digit IBU: the high sweetness is tempered by the high(er) bitterness, resulting in a brew that is emphatic but not overwhelming. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
