Brewdog: IPA Is Dead: Chinook (Scotland: IPA: 7.2% ABV)
Visual: Clear yellow gold. Some carbonation. Half inch of yellowed froth.
Nose: Good hop oils and resin. Crisp hops. Kiwi. Lime jelly. Moderate bitterness. Toffee. Slightly musty.
Body: Good bitterness. Smooth texture. Slight woodiness – pine needles. Creamy texture. Moss. Light dried apricot. Kiwi.
Finish: Bitterness and prickly hops. Grassy and slight earthy notes. Moss. Light apricot.
Conclusion: Of all the American hops I have run into, this seems to be the most “No nonsense”, and also the hop that most overwhelms the malt base.
About ninety percent of the beer seems to be just a clean kick of hops – resin, oils, bitterness, this mossy feeling of hop greenery. You know, hops. Good bitterness and really feels at the organic and greenery end of the spectrum.
Now, digression time. Yes I know that is unusual for me. This does however remind me of a discussion I had with a coaster enthusiast from America. He mentioned how he preferred British beers as (and I am paraphrasing as it was a while back) all American beer taste of apricot and peach. Now I think he is being a tad harsh on American beers, but it comes to mind as here, behind all that hop greenery is .. yes … some dried apricot notes. Maybe he was on to something.
Digression on a digression. I still owe that guy massively for helping out when my mate ended up in hospital. If you read this – seriously many thanks – you rock!
Digression over. As a single hop beer this is kind of single minded. Very much an assault of the rawer characteristics, but even as that I enjoy it. The intensity from the hops means that the traditional, drier, take of this years IPA Is Dead base is night unnoticeable.
As a hop it provides a backbone to other, more subtle and bright, hops. As a beer in itself it is impressive in energy and assault if not range. A good end to this year’s set.
Background: Last of the 2015 run on Brewdog’s single hop series. This one a USA hop. This year’s run has been pretty good, second only to the original run in my eyes for overall quality. Drunk while listening to Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell album. Because .. erm, both USA? Yeah, I’m sure that works. As always I am not an unbiased actor on Brewdog beers.
