Beer – #366 – Baird – Suruga Bay Imperial IPA

Second of two – Baird – Suruga Bay Imperial IPA

Brewed by Baird Brewing Co. in the style of an  Imperial/Double IPA and they do that in  Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan

Again the odd sized 360 ml bottle, which has a 90 IBU rated beer, (which is smack in the middle of the 80-100 number for DIPA,) and a 7.8 ABV beer, being all up a   2.2 standard drink units worth, and also for the belt concious has 225 calories in it.

 This extraordinarily complex yet balanced Double IPA is dry-hopped twice with whole flower cones and then krausened at packaging. The hop character (bitterness, flavor, aroma) is profound – vast and impactful like our local Suruga Bay is deep and magnificent.

 The first key to a great Double IPA is dryness of character despite the high original gravity. This is accomplished, foremost, through high attenuation by the yeast during

Selfie

fermentation. We aim for an apparent attenuation around 85% which yields relative dryness and alcohol strength. The second key is a fantastic and powerful hop aroma. This we achieve by dry hopping Suruga Bay Imperial IPA with several varieties of pungently strong American hops. We conduct this dry hopping not once but twice, in two separate tanks. Then, at packaging, to ensue a vigorous secondary fermentation and natural carbonation, we krauesen Suruga Bay with a percentage of peak fermentation beer from a different batch. Suruga Bay Imperial IPA is a wickedly compelling flavor experience. Its hop character is as rich as Japan’s Suruga Bay is deep (it is Japan’s deepest bay and Baird Brewing is located on its inner shore). The greatness of Suruga Bay Imperial IPA resides in a supreme drinkability that pervades in spite of the potency.

Baird Beer is unfiltered and thus yeast sediment gathers at the bottom of the bottle. We recommend pouring Baird Beer gently, leaving most of the yeast sediment in the bottle. 

So what’s the odds that I’ll just get in and pour the whole thing in one go?

Lot hoppier and yeastier on opening, ton of hiss….

Pours a lot paler than I though, more yellow golden than darker.  despite a head seems flat in the glass. Might be my fault though. Always is.

Lots of the hop aroma in the glass.

Aa cracking amount of hop bitterness and I get lemon and other citrus things, and it then tends to a dry finish.  That’s nice.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing.

It’s not brash or sharp, it has a nice bitterness and a lovely sweet carry, and a finish to dry. But it’s not spectacular or demanding of a place in the top tier. the IPA and DIPA market are awash with good beers from good brewers, This would be nice to drink out if it was a choice, and it’d be a choice well made, but I might not take it home with me after.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes I am.
2. Would I have another? I mightn’t though
3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don’t think this is cuts the mustard as a companion heer,

Challenged I’m listening to @Peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony – This is the track – No Stars In The City. Google them, you can pay what you like for the Album. It’s trippy.

IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA

Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support.