It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for Tuesday Tastings on Hapa’s Brewing. Up for review this week is Trout Hop Black IPA brewed by Grand Teton Brewing Co. in Victor, Idaho. Before checking out the review, feel free to click here for a quick refresher on tasting protocol. WIthout further ado:
Appearance
No misnomers here; as the name suggests this beer is dark, on the verge of being completely black. Holding the glass up to the light reveals hints of dark brown. The tan colored head of the beer is full and creamy and sticks around for nearly the entire tasting.
Smell
Taking in a deep smell of this beer will leave you thinking of grapefruit and pine, and most likely a frothy nose. Hops are the star in the nose; a bit of foreshadowing for that first sip.
Taste
A surprisingly malty first sip! The sweetness that hits the tongue initially, complicated with hints of citrus, balances very well with the hit of bitterness from the hops that follows. The long finish includes flavors of dark chocolate and burnt toast that expose the use of roasted malts.
Mouthfeel
While the roasted maltiness of this beer would suggest a full and heavy bodied beer, Trout Hop feels much lighter in the mouth. This very smooth drinking beer would best be described as medium bodied.
Drinkability
Trout Hop Black IPA is served out of a 750 milliliter bottle that proved too small. This beer was thoroughly enjoyed by all who tried it as was evidenced by the disappointed faces when the last glass was poured. Overall grade for Trout Hop IPA: A
Trout Hop Black IPA
Up next on Tuesday Tasting: Emelisse Espresso Stout.