Tag: Double IPA

Sixpoint Brewery Resin Double IPA

Sixpoint Craft Beer Resin in a Tulip Glass
Sixpoint Resin Double IPA in a Tulip Glass

Copper colored like a brand new penny and sporting a slight haze.  The Resin Double IPA has a frothy white head which leaves sticky lacing along the glass as it settles.

As soon as I poured this beer I picked up an aroma of floral hops with hints of pine. The smell bursts from the glass but it’s not overwhelming at all.  It’s very inviting.

First taste is spicy, floral hops with hints of sweeter malts.  They linger slightly as mild malty sweetness follows. It’s the perfect balance of hops and malt making it easy drinking. There’s virtually no trace of alcohol to warm of the beers higher ABV.

It’s got a medium body and the mild bitter finish you expect from an IPA – not nearly as bitter as I expected.

All-in-all it’s well balanced, easy drinking, and easy to recommend.  Up next, the Hi-Res!

Resin Double IPA Specs:

  • ABV: 9.1%
  • IBU: 103
  • SRM: 9.5
  • Available in “sleek” 12oz cans packaged in 4-packs and 6-packs.
  • Best By Date located on the bottom of each can.

Why That Glass?

With a name like “Resin” I had a pretty good idea of what kind of flavors I should expect from this beer.  A tulip glass (especially one with a taller neck) serves well for showcasing a beer’s more delicate volatiles and it helps retain the kind of dense sticky head you expect from an Imperial IPA.

More About the Resin Double IPA

Sixpoint Brewery is located in Brooklyn, NY but their beers are readily available at many Central Mass liquor stores.  You’ll recognize them instantly for their cans which feature their sixpoint star logo and brightly colored metallic schemes.

The Resin Double IPA is part of their core line of beers including the Sweet Action, Bengali, and The Crisp.

Along with the Resin Double IPA, Sixpoint also brews a Triple IPA that they call Hi-Res.  The Hi-Res is part of their Cycliquids line – we’ll be reviewing that in the next couple days.

 

The Right Glass for an American IPA

American IPA
American Double IPA

For an American IPA start by reaching for your nonic pint glass.  You could also reach for a seidel or mug.  The wider mouths and bodies will allow for bigger sips and better enjoyment of the beer’s aroma.  These glasses can also showcase the different colors and clarities that an American IPA may exhibit.

For higher ABV or more flavorful entries go with either a tulip glass or snifter.  These glasses help focus the beer’s more subtle aromas making for better enjoyment of the bolder versions of the style.

About the American IPA

American IPAs have strong floral or citrusy hop flavors which can include piney and resinous notes.  These bright flavors are often followed up by a malty backbone which gives the beer a bit of a sweet, sticky finish.  The beer can be smooth or sticky bodied and on stronger versions the head can stick to the glass almost like a foamy syrup.

American IPAs range from 5.5%- 7.5% ABV.  Stronger versions are also split into the Imperial IPA category.  These beers can be clear to slightly hazy and pale to reddish in color.

While the style is immensely popular on the craft brew scene I personally find it to be a bit overpowering at times.  I usually find it best in warmer weather and in limited quantities.  There’s something about the strong hop characters (especially in the bolder takes on the style) that overwhelms my palate very quickly.

Sub-Styles

Imperial IPAs or Double IPAs are American IPAs with higher ABVs.  These beers range from 8% ABV up to a whopping 15% depending on ingredients and brewing techniques.

Notable American IPAs

  1. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: 60 Minute IPA
  2. Ballast Point Brewing Company: Sculpin IPA
  3. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
  4. Anchor Brewing Company: Anchor Liberty Ale
  5. Lagunitas Brewing Company: Lagunitas IPA

The Tulip Beer Glass

Ballast Point Red Velvet on Nitro in a Tulip Beer Glass
Ballast Point Red Velvet on Nitro in a Tulip Beer Glass

The tulip beer glass is similar in stature to the snifter but rather than ending at a taper, it flares out at the mouth. The flaring at the top of the glass can be relatively mild or rather pronounced depending on the glass maker. Below you’ll see a variety of different tulip glasses.  They’re all tulip glasses but they’re slight variations are worth examining.

You may notice that the term “tulip” is also used to describe other types of glassware.  Glasses like the tulip pint glass and Stella Artois’ Tulip Chalice either end mid bulb or round back in slightly.

Benefits of the Tulip Beer Glass

You’ll usually be using the tulip glass for beers which pour with thick foamy heads or lots of effervescent bubbles.  The bulbous body and tapered neck of the tulip beer glass helps to support this head and capture volatiles in and around the glass’s mouth.

When you’re drinking from this glass you’ll be able to pick up on some of the beer’s more subtle characters which might otherwise be overwhelmed in a glass with a larger mouth.

What Beer Goes with Tulip Beer Glasses?

The tulip glass is also occasionally called a “Belgian Ale Glass” which can give you a clue where to start.  This glass will handle most Belgian ales including Darks, Pales and Strongs.

The glass also goes well with double and imperial IPAs.  Because it focuses subtler characteristics, it’s great for picking out hoppy or floral notes over some of the alcohol bite that comes with the finish.  The same is true for wild ales and farmhouse ales.

A modified, or tweaked, version of the tulip beer glass is the thistle glass.  If you don’t have one of these the tulip will serve well for Scotch Ales as well.

In all, the tulip glass is pretty versatile!  There are some that even argue it may be the only glass you need in your collection … but where’s the fun in that?

Where can I buy a Tulip Beer Glass?

Libbey has a great starter set called the “Libbey Craft Brew Sampler Clear Beer Glass Set.”  This set includes a “Belgian Ale Glass” which is essentially a taller version of the tulip glass.  This set runs about $30 on Amazon but can be found for around $20 in places like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

La Chouffe, Duvel, and Tripel Karmeliet often have gift sets around the holidays which contain tulip glasses as well.

There are also sets of four Tulip Beer Glasses available on Amazon for around $15.

Stone Enjoy by 02.14.17 Chocolate and Coffee IPA

Stone Enjoy by 02.14.17 Chocolate and Coffee IPA
Stone IPA in a Tulip Glass

This chocolate & coffee IPA pours dark amber with lots of particulate bits floating around.  It starts with about a half inch head that settles pretty thin.

The first thing I’m getting in the nose is a pretty basic citrus hop aroma but over time a mild hint of chocolate milk is noticeable.

First sip is a sledge hammer of black coffee flavor right to the face. Up front, strong and unmistakable. As the tasting progresses the coffee flavor gives way and a spicy, floral, hoppy flavor takes it’s place.

It’s mild bodied and not nearly as sticky as other sweeter IPAs.

At 9.4% ABV you’d expect a bit of an alcoholic bite but a bitter hoppy-ness and dry finish round out this beer’s finish.

Ultimately, I might recommend this for a mix-six addition just to give it a shot.  Not sure I’d go out of my way looking for it, though.

Why That Glass?

The last IPA we reviewed was the FAT BOY Double IPA for which we chose a nonic pint glass.  At the time I mentioned that there was a toss-up ultimately decided by how big the can was.

For this Chocolate & Coffee IPA we’re going with a tulip glass.  This is kind of my go to whenever I know a beer is going to have moderate to heavy carbonation and any sweet flavors (like chocolate.)

You could also very easily go with a snifter glass for this beer.

More About this Specialty American IPA

This beer is part of Stone Brewing Company‘s Enjoy By Series.  Chances are that this is a limited run that won’t see a future batch (totally a guess on my part here).

It’s available in six packs of 12 ounce bottles or as 20 ounce bombers.

FAT BOY Double IPA by Big Elm Brewing

Big Elm Brewing Fat Boy Double IPA
FAT BOY Double IPA in a Nonic Pint

Hazy golden caramel in color with a thick creamy head, this Double IPA is a bit milder than other entries in the style. This beer pours with a thick, sticky, off-white head but is only lightly carbonated.

There’s a mild, citrusy aroma which leans towards grapefruit with hints of pine. It’s full yet smooth bodied with some up front bready malt flavor.  The finish has the bitter IPA tang which always reminds me of dandelions.

The more you drink the more that tang fades away to hints of tropical fruit that’s enjoyable in moderate proportions.  The FAT BOY clocks in at 8% ABV but is surprisingly smooth.  It doesn’t have the kick, or bite, that I expected.

Why That Glass?

Double IPAs (And Imperial IPAs) are stronger flavored beers and have a higher alcohol content.  Normally those factors would point me towards a tulip glass or a snifter.

Mostly out of convenience I went with a nonic pint.  The nonic pint is a larger vessel capable of handling the one pint can … sometimes it’s all about convenience.

More About this Double IPA

Big Elm Brewing brews FAT BOY Double IPA as a specialty beer.  I’m not sure if this means seasonal or just occasional.

You can buy it in four packs of one pint cans.