Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/541538
FIVE STARS (94) Victory DirtWolf Double IPA. Based on smell and appearance alone, few beers match the piney allure of the hazy orange Dir tWolf. Grapefruit and spice notes pepper the palate ini- tially, but the fi nish tends to be a bit too bitter and dry. Watch out, as DirtWolf can sneak up on you quickly at 8.7% ABV. (94) Straight to Ale Monkeynaut. Malty citrus fl avored with a mid-to-heavy hop taste. Soft mouthfeel and well balanced. (94) New Glarus Scream Double IPA. Pours a golden-straw color, with one fi nger of head, and jolts from the glass with juicy tangerine aromas. Palate is creamy with a variety of citrus fruits, crisp English malt backbone and moderate residual hop bitterness. This beer is terrifi cally balanced given the 9% ABV. (94) Odell-Myrcenary IPA. 9.3% ABV, 70 IBUs. The beer has a creamy and hazy sunset appear- ance. A nice variety of aromas, like a bag of Star- bursts, Melon, tangerine and pineapple. Taste is well balanced with Citra hops and light malt. Very easy to indulge, considering the ABV. The 4-pack price may seem high for fi rst-timers, but worth it. (92) Peak Organic Brewing Company IPA. 7.1% ABV. Golden color poured to a half-inch head. Aroma is not overpowering, and there is smooth- ness to the taste. Easy going down. Hoppy fl avor comes at the fi nish. The sneakiness of the al- cohol content is a refl ection of the smoothness. IBUs in the 40s. (92) Summit Unchained Hop Silo Double IPA. A nose full of citrus-and-pine-hop accents jumps out of the glass as you pour. Color is a rich bronze, backed up by a sweet, malty body. Rich malt fl avors balance out the 101 IBUs very well. 8.3% ABV. (92) Sierra Nevada-Hop Hunter. 6% ABV, 60 IBUs. Appearance is pale orange with a fresh and fl oral nose. Quite inviting. Nothing unique about the head. The taste has a defi nite creamy citrus follow-through. Lush on the tongue, but not heavy. Sessionable beer. After taste is fairly clean, doesn't linger too long. FOUR STARS (91) Yard's Brewing Company Rye IPA. 6.2% ABV, 55 IBUs. Pours dark amber, with a full head that dissipates quickly. Medium inten- sity aroma of spice and citrus. Medium intensity on the palate. Medium full bodied texture that has a bit of creaminess, notes of citrus, spice and pine — well balanced. Unique overall, a very good beer. (91) Drake's Hopocalypse Double IPA. 9.3% ABV, 100-plus IBUs, resulting in a sweet and ex- tremely bitter beer. Pours a clear gold with hues of orange and a small, white head. Pine, mango and orange peel aroma and taste with a biscuit quality. Oily mouthfeel with prickly carbonation makes for a deceptively smooth and fruity IPA. (90) Monday Night Nerd Alert. Light amber color with a light, soft mouth feel. Lower IBU with a nice citrus taste. Low bitter and a wild Belgium fi nish. (90) Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA. Quietly one of the best bang-for-your-buck IPAs on the market, a three-time Gold Medal winner in the World Beer Championships. The Commodore isn't fl ashy, but this medi- um-bodied brew carries a slightly sweet malt that leads into a dry, citric and tropical fruit fi nish. www.beveragedynamics.com July/August 2015 • Beverage Dynamics 49 ★★★★★ Five Stars (93-100) A top-flight beer. Superior in taste and char- acter, providing an outstanding price/value relationship. ★★★★ Four Stars (86-92) A very good beer at an excellent value. A beer for which customers will keep coming back. ★★★ Three Stars (80-85) An above-average beer at a reasonable price point, which many consumers will enjoy. RATING SYSTEM BEER SELECTIONS R E TA I L E R A ROUNDUP OF INTERESTING IPAS FOR THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL RETAILER BEER PANEL REVIEWS, we asked panelists to taste IPAs. These reviews include brief tasting notes, ratings and information about ABV and IBUs. All beers should be widely available (for sale in at least three major metro markets). If you're a retail or off-premise professional who would like to learn more about participating in our panel, please contact Kyle Swartz at (203) 855-8499 ext. 225 or kswartz@specialtyim.com. The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Beer Panel recommends a lineup of top quality/value IPAs.