Beer- #179 – Left Coast – Hop Juice

On a theme then Left Coast Hop Juice, Brewed by Left Coast/Oggis Pizza and Brewing Company in the style of a Imperial/Double IPA in somewhere called Del Mar, California USA

At Left Coast Brewing Co. we pride ourselves on being one of the pioneers of Double IPA style craft beer. This hop monster uses Premium American 2– Row and a touch of light crystal malt to create a solid malt foundation. Five different Hop Varieties are used in the Hop Juice. It spends two weeks dry hopping in fermenter contributing to its great hop aroma. Starts out sweet and finishes with the crisp bitterness of a Double IPA. This drinkable blend will have you HOPPING till nights end.

9.7% ABV which is about 5 standard drinks, but it is a “pint” so that’s, er. ok then :-).

There is hops on opening, not a bit hit, but you know what should be coming…

Rich Amber pour small, but a predominant aroma of bready yeast rather than hops.

The taste is sweet, richly malty, and this is an extreme counterpoint to the hops. It’s like there there is a battle for supremacy going on. Starts sweet, has a backing band of bitter and finishes sweet.

They really should have backed themselves with this, and left off the malts which does nothing but get in the way and make this it a bit cloying and sugary. The yeasty aroma lingers around, and the taste reminds of me of turkish delight. And to be honest I don’t need that when I’m having a beer.

the pdubyah-o-meter thinks that, on reflection that this is a 6.5 – average to good – on the scale of it’s own making. I’ve had better, tonight to be fair, and I will have better tomorrow.

It seems to be over yeasted, over malted and under done on many levels. To be fair it’s strong on alcohol which is well hidden, but that shouldn’t be the whole trick. Despite I had the Garage Projects Pernicious Weed beer before this I think this is a pale comparison, and possible not even in the same class.

Left Coast should back themselves and go the whole hog on bitter, adding the sweetness might be a local thing. Treat yourself to either the Garage Projects or the Rogue OREGasmic ale if you want a cracking good bitter bitter beer.