Beer Review: Double Crooked Tree IPA (2011, 1 year old)

Reviewing the Double Crooked Tree IPA from Dark Horse Brewing Company.
Score: 91

February 2011 vintage bottle served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 03/01/12.

Appearance: Pours a dark, super hazy and pulpy brownish-orange color with a moderately yellow hue. Held up to light, the center is a densely opaque, dark orange/brown color that fades into a layer of yellow highlight atop the glass. Two fingers of thick, foamy cream-colored head at pour slowly recedes into thin, creamy layer that gradually grows thinner over time. Average lacing, above average retention. 4/5

Smell: Grapefruit, lemon zest, apple/apple juice, pineapple, orange juice, mango and sweet apricot. Very citrus-forward. The hops are super subdued. Light amount of pine. This brew has a very pleasant, almost purely tropical, aroma. 4/5

Taste: Very balanced and smooth flavor. Neither too malty or too hoppy. Tastes more like a hoppy barleywine (like a Bigfoot or Behemoth) than a DIPA to be honest. Lots of citrus juice upfront, blended with a bitter barley malt and a slightly piney hoppiness. Grapefruit, lemon, and orange juice. Finishes with a "heavy" and lingering bitterness on the palate. As it layers, more bitter barley flavor grows on the midpalate. Super drinkable, save for the bitterness, with absolutely no booziness present. Was absolutely stunned when I learned that this was a 13.6% ABV beer. Super solid beer with a secretly strong booziness that slowly creeps up on you. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied with low carbonation -- especially for an IPA. The light carbonation really accentuates the heavier DIPA body and bitter characteristics of this brew. Oily mouthfeel. Dry, bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: The bottles claims that this beer "ages well," and that is no like. Tastes more like a "hoppy barleywine" than a traditional DIPA, but delicious either wat. I need to grab another bottle. This beer is super drinkable and deceptively smooth. Prost!

Recommendation: Unless you hate bitter beers, or if you hate Behemoth and Bigfoot, seek this brew out.

Pairings: Blueberry/strawberry pancakes.

Cost: $3.99 for a 12 oz bottle.