Florida Beer Co.
Melbourne, FL
Available: FL (soon in VA)
In addition to this double IPA, the company brews the Ybor Gold, Key West, Hurricane West, Cuban La Tropical and Indian River beer brands.
ABV: 10
ABW: 8
Color: 9
Bitterness: 83
Original gravity: 1096
An interesting comparison with the previous beer, Swamp Ape is paler—gold with a hint of bronze—and has an aroma of over-ripe pears and equally squashy strawberries, balanced by tart, spicy hops. The fruit overwhelms the palate at first but ripe malt and bitter hops break through. The finish also starts intensely fruity but ends with a blast of pungent hops and rich malt. An India pale ale from Florida—it’s truly a well-traveled beer style!
The color is burnished dark gold, the foam is thin and sparse. The aroma is rich—sherry, bready malts, mint, caramel and hard candies. Sweetness steps forward first, candy-like and intense, and then bitterness steps in to set the whole thing upright again. The hops carry the zingy fruit out to a long off-dry finish. Let’s make one thing clear—this isn’t a “double IPA” a regular IPA, or any other kind of IPA. It doesn’t smell or taste like an IPA at all. It is, however, a very spiffy pale barleywine. It would be pretty tasty with Mexican pork in a green pumpkin-seed sauce.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.
