Yard's Cape of Good Hope

Reviewed By: Rick S.
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 8.1%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Amber color, clear, with nice a head and good lacing



Smell: 8
Pine, citrus, peach, mango, and sweet malt

Taste: 8
Initial metallic taste, but then the flavor follows the aroma, with a pleasant balanced finish

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Full-bodied and creamy, with low-medium carbonation.

Drinkability: 8.5
May I please have another?

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
Yard's consistently puts out good product, but this may be their best bottle release to date.  I am not a huge fan of the pronounced grapefruit flavors and aromas present in many of the American PA's regardless of strength  Thankfully, this fine DIPA only had hints of grapefruit, and the beer was very balanced.  Nice job Tom, Prost!

Oskar Blues Gordon Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 8.7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Varga Bar



Look: 9.5
Deep amber/copper color, clear, solid tan head with good retention & very good lacing

Smell: 9
Sweet malt, caramel, pine citrus

Taste: 9.5

Up Front: Caramel, toffee Finish: Sweet malt, pine & citrus hops

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, creamy

Drinkability: 9.5

Highly quaffable!!!

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 8

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00 ($3.25 during Happy Hour)

Overall Impression:
Another Uber Good beer from Oskar Blues. I have yet to have a beer from them that was not in the upper echelon for the style.

Port Hop 15

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Varga Bar

Look: 8.5
Golden amber color, clear, medium head with decent retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Pine, citrus, caramel malt

Taste: 8.5

Up Front: Resinous hops, mostly pine & citrus. Finish: Malt, slight caramel

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body & carbonation, sticky bot not cloying

Drinkability: 8.5

Quaffable despite the high abv

Overall Score: 8.6

Value: 7.5

Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00 ($3.25 during Happy Hour)

Overall Impression:
A well balanced Double IPA. If you don't like sweet IPA's or Double IPA's, this is one you should try!

Founders Double Trouble

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 9.4%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Local 44

Look: 9
Light copper color, small frothy head, thin lacing

Smell: 9.5
Hoppy, pine, citrus, honey

Taste: 10
Up Front: Malt, grapefruit, grass, caramel, pepper, alcohol
Finish: Slightly bready and sweet, then the spiciness of the hops hit

Mouthfeel: 10
Creamy and smooth with a touch of carbonation

Drinkability: 10
YOWZA! So much going on! If it wasn’t for the high ABV, I could drink this all day!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50

Overall Impression:
This one goes on the Mikey Likey List for sure! A nice hoppy punch in the face with a sweet malty backbone makes this one a winner!

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 13.6%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 8.5
Deep copper/amber color, clear, slight head with decent retention & lacing.

Smell: 9
Caramel, malt, molasses/brown sugar

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Sweet malt. Finish: Citrus hops, caramel/toffee

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium/full body with medium carbonation, nice oily texture

Drinkability: 9
You'd think this had half the abv. Super smooth and balanced

Overall Score: 9.1

Value: 8
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25

Overall Impression:
Huge malt backbone, balanced out nicely with herbal/citrus hops. Loved the caramel/toffee flavors in the finish. Was not as hoppy as I would have thought, but it worked! It was not cloying or unbalanced - very well done! If you like big malty beers, this one is a must!

Allentown Brew Works Hop'solutely

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 10.5%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 7.5
Deep copper/amber color, slight haze, almost no head with little retention & lacing.

Smell: 8.5
Tons of malt, with caramel, citrus

Taste: 7.5
Up Front: Very sweet malt, toffee, caramel. Finish: Citrus and pine hops, more malt

Mouthfeel: 7
Full body with little to no carbonation, very cloying

Drinkability: 7
I had a tough time with this one

Overall Score: 7.5

Value: 6
Cost/12 oz serving: $5.75

Overall Impression:
The malt/toffee,caramel flavors were really nice, but I felt the beer was flat, too sweet, not nearly hoppy enough, and thus unbalanced. If you like super sweet beers, you'll love it.

I'd like to throw out some kudos to Chris and his staff over at Hawthorne's Cafe in Philly. Very courteous & knowledgeable staff, great food & atmosphere, and an impressive selection of Quality Craft Beer. PROST!

Stoudt's Double IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 10.6%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Medium golden color, fluffy head, nice sticky lacing

Smell: 8.5
Grass, citrus, strawberry, hops, honey

Taste: 9
Up Front: The sweetness and malt hit you first, then…
Finish: The hoppines really kicks in with some slight alcohol

Mouthfeel: 9
Sticky, bread, slight carbonation

Drinkability: 9
The 10.6 ABV is well hidden. I’ve had sessions with this brew! It is a fun beer!...heehee!

Overall Score: 8.8

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.14

Overall Impression:
I’ve had this beer on tap at Stoudt's brewery at a Microfest and it was yummy! It is malty for an Imperial IPA, but it is a nice departure from some of the West Coast IPA’s. If this beer was aged in oak….OH BOY! I can dream…can I? OH CAROL! ….We needs to talk!

Dogfish Head Burton Baton

Reviewed By: Herr Rick & Herr Mike
Style: Double/Imperial IPA (Barrel Aged)
State/Country: Delaware
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ the Hulmeville Inn

Look: 9
Deep copper color, clear, medium head with decent retention & great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Pine, caramel, vanilla, oak

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Pine hops, apricot, sweet malt. Finish: Vanilla, oak, caramel, booze

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Full body, low/medium carbonation, really coats the palate

Drinkability: 9
The 10% abv is very well hidden, but 3-4 of these would probably hit you like a ton of bricks

Overall Score: 9.3

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $4.25 - The Hulmeville ROCKS!!! This would be $6+ elsewhere

Overall Impression:
This beer almost reminds me more of a Barleywine than a Double IPA, yet it still has the drinkability of an IPA. It has a flavor profile very similar to Troegs Nugget Nectar, however the flavors are more concentrated, but the hop bite is subdued by the vanilla and oak. Very interesting. I LOVE this beer!!! In fact, I bought a 4-pack of it ($3.75/12 oz serving) the next day. Every one I cracked open made me VERY happy! --Herr Rick

Firestone Walker Double Jack

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 9.5%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Sidecar Bar & Grille

Look: 8.5
Deep copper, clear, medium head, decent retention & lacing.

Smell: 8
Citrus, malt, caramel

Taste: 8
Up Front: Pine & grapefruit from the hops. Finish: sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body with light carbonation

Drinkability: 8.5
You could easily throw a few of these back!

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 7
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00

Overall Impression:
The problem with this review is: I tried this beer after Pliny the Elder. Yes, I cleansed my palate and waited a few minutes, but you cannot follow that act!!! I'm sure if I had this first, I would have good things to say about it, but at the time, my taste buds were simply underwhelmed. If I see it again, I will definitely try it again.

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 8%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe

Look: 10
Deep golden color, clear, with a think head and excellent lacing

Smell: 10
A citrus hop ASSAULT!!! Sweet malt. Incredibly floral. The freshest smelling beer ever - ahhhhhhh

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Tropical fruit, sweet malt. Finish: Hops balance out the the sweetness

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body, creamy & smooth, and perfectly balanced

Drinkability: 10
Ridiculously crisp and refreshing

Overall Score: 9.8

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $7.00

Overall Impression:
It appears that I saved the best review for last amidst the Chaos at Monk's Cafe. Although Pliny the Younger is considered by many to be the best Double IPA on the planet, I feel that Elder was better, or at least more in line with my palate. Double IPA is my favorite year-round style, and this is without a doubt the best one I've ever had!!! I wish I could have had more, but I was fading fast. I think I may have to move to California...within walking distance of Russian River Brewing Co

Russian River Pliny the Younger

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 11%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Monk's Cafe


Look: 9.5
Deep golden, slightly amber color, clear, with a medium head and great lacing

Smell: 9.5
Powerful citrus & pine hops, malt, caramel and toffee

Taste: 10
Up Front: Grapefruit, then pineapple, then apricot. Finish: Malt, with hops picking up steam along the way

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Medium body, incredibly smooth, balanced, and a stickiness that coats the tongue and palate

Drinkability: 10
Alcohol is well hidden, and it's uber-drinkable!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $8.40 - $7 for a 10 oz glass. That plus tip, a parking ticket, and 4 other beers from Russian River, and I still think it was worth it!!!

Overall Impression:
This is the most hyped beer on the planet at this time. With all the hype surrounding this beer I was concerned that I might be underwhelmed. I was not, and the hype is warranted. However, this turned out to be my 2nd favorite Double IPA of the day (I preferred Pliny the Elder), and my 3rd favorite of all time. Simply amazing! Too bad only 2 sixtels were sent to PA, and now we have to wait for next year to have another opportunity to enjoy it.

Bell's HopSlam Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 10%
Serving Type: On Tap @ The POPE

Look: 9 .5
Golden amber, clear, with a medium head and decent lacing (perhaps it was the glass?)

Smell: 10
Massive citrus hop aroma! Malt and a slight amount of honey also present

Taste: 10
Up Front: Sweet malt and hops do battle, grapefruit, apricot. Finish: Honey, with malt and hops still duking it out

Mouthfeel: 10
Medium body, incredibly smooth and balanced!

Drinkability: 10
Alcohol is well hidden, uber-drinkable, but watch out, it's a shit kicker!

Overall Score: 9.9

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $7, but worth every penny!!!

Overall Impression:
I started and ended my session with the mighty HopSlam. This is the best Double IPA I've had to date! That may not last though, because Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger are coming to Philly on March 1. (Edit: as it turns out, I actually preferred Hopslam to Pliny the Younger, making this my 2nd favorite Double IPA, second only to Pliny the Elder)

This beer reminds me of Boulder's Mojo in that it has honey and apricot flavors in addition to the typical grapefruit. Of course it's much higher octane, and the flavors are significantly more intense. Truly Nectar of the Fucking Godz!