Every week we post tasting notes from our Friday Staff Tasting, providing you with our take on all the latest craft beer arrivals. This week’s theme is huge imperial/triple IPAs from local breweries. Driftwood, Phillips and Lighthouse all released their big guns. Also a couple of nice beers from Portland and, if you’re a fan of Saison Dupont, you definitely need to try the dry-hopped version.
BTW, it’s worth noting that if you purchase Phillips’ new 3rd Blind Mouse Triple IPA, or any Phillips product, you can enter to win tickets to this year’s Rock the Shores.
Parallel 49 Tricycle Grapfruit Radler 3.5% 6-packs (Vancouver)
Pours a cloudy pink grapefruit juice colour. Grapefruit, with a hint of bread malt on the nose. On the palate it has a strong citrusy grapefruit flavor, complete with strong acidity. Really tastes like grapefruit juice with a hint of beer. Tangy and refreshing.
Saison Dupont Cuvee Dry Hopping 6.5% 650ml (Belgium)
Pours a hazy rich yellow-orange colour. Fresh notes of pineapple, spicy belgian yeast and grassy hops on the nose. A fruit and spice bomb on the palate with notes of pineapple and spice and a nice grassiness on the bitter finish.
Gigantic Catch 23 XPA 5.6% 650ml (Portland)
Pours a coppery orange colour. Rich malt notes on the nose with hints of orange and mint. On the palate it’s dry with grainy/biscuity malt notes and notes of mixed citrus and herbs. Creamy mouthfeel and nice finish.
Breakside Salted Caramel Stout 6.7% 650ml (Portland)
Pours a deep chocolate brown/black colour. Notes of caramel, toffee and molasses on the nose. On the palate it’s not so much “salty” as it is a bit briny, with rich chocolate notes. A tasty dessert beer.
Phillips 3rd Blind Mouse Triple IPA 10.2% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours a clear, rich yellow colour. The nose offers big notes of acrid grapefruit, pine and resin. On the palate it’s everything the nose (and label) promise: it’s sweet and boozy with huge fruit and pine notes and suitably bitter finish. Very well balanced.
Driftwood Twenty Pounder Imperial IPA 9% 650ml (Victoria)
Pours an orangey colour. Smells like a grapefruit wrapped in fresh-cut cannabis. Taste is quite hot and boozy with a lot of spice/heat from the megadose of hops. Tons of grapefruit and funky ripe tropical fruit on the palate. Excellent bitterness. Creamy mouthfeel.
Lighthouse Numbskull Imperial IPA 9% 650ml (Victoria)