When I asked the bartender at Karl Strauss what specialty beers they might have on tap , I was not expecting to be told they had a cask double IPA. How could I order anything else? The carbonation and temperature of the beer was what I had expected, low and warm, however the flavor was not. I have had some of the specialty beers from Karl Strauss before and they have blown me away. Their Boardwalk Black Rye as well as their Tower 10 IPA are exceptional beers with a presence that demands respect from every taste bud in your mouth, however this cask style double IPA did not march to the beat of that drum. This double IPA came off slightly acidic and grassy as far as the hops were concerned, and if you couple that with the lack of carbonation, there was just not a strong presence to this beer. That is not necessarily a bad thing though. If you can make a beer that weighs in around 9% ABV and drinks like a session beer, then by all means, I’ll take two. Besides, I didn’t need outrageous hop flavoring to enjoy this beer, the fact that Pat was still at work and I could send him pictures of me indulging in my new found cask treasure while he slaved away at the hand of his employers was all I needed to bring this beer up in the rating system for me. I’ll give it a 6.75.
Commercial Description:
When we kicked-off this series of intense hoppy beers, we wanted to go big. Imported New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops provide a vibrant tropical aroma that raises eyebrows and expectations. Aggressive amounts of Warrior and Ahtanum hops produce an assertive bitterness that stands out against a firm malt backbone. Balanced even at 90 IBUs, Big Barrel leaves a considerable first impression that serves as a prelude of things to come.
