Hopmouth Double IPA

Arcadia Brewing Co.
Battle Creek, MI

Available: IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, NJ, OH, PA, WI

Arcadia brews ales in British style, using barley from England, Pacific Northwest hops and Ringwood yeast in its 25-barrel Peter Austin brewery.

Alcohol (wt.): 6.4
Alcohol (vol.): 8.1
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 76
Original Gravity: 1080
Final gravity: 1015
Malts used: English two-row Pale, Cara,
Chocolate, Maris Otter
Hops used: Cascade, Centennial, Columbus

The turbid amber robe, crowned with a magnificent deep creamy head, is sensual and inviting. The nose is exciting, like sticking your schnoz in a freshly opened bag of Goldings. On the palate, the flavor is exceedingly herbaceous and hoppy with fine malt character that provides a good backdrop and balance. Not a beer for all foods, I liked it with choucroûte garni, the sauerkraut seasoned with caraway, a complementary spice.
- Charles Finkel

This mouth speaks like a declamatory actor who can project his voice and make his presence felt, without shouting. That nettle-like aroma, that sense of the forest floor after rain, has me half-believing that I am walking through a grove of hops. A very spicy variety of hop, I would say. A vanilla character could equally derive from malt; a hint of cinnamon, perhaps from yeast in fermentation. Purists may find this too fruity (thick cut orange marmalade?) for an IPA, and too toffeeish. As the full color suggests, it is malty for the style, but that sweetness balances and rounds a steely punch of bitterness in the finish.
- Michael Jackson

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Michael Jackson
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.