beer_name: Stoudt's Double IPA (India Pale Ale)
text: 12oz bottle bought at State Line Liquors (DE) for about $2.50. Bottled on date of 8/4/10 (I think), so this one isn't that fresh at about 5 months. Appearance: Slightly cloudy, orange or light amber color. Half an inch of head reduces to a thin white layer. Very little lacing that sticks around. Aroma: Very sweet. Solvent and boozy aromas of strong caramel, crystal malts are prominent. Sweet oranges and grapefruit are what I get from the hops. Smells like an American Strong Ale more than a DIPA. Taste: Boozy right off the bat. Flavorful but it doesn't hide the 10% ABV well. Very little perceived bitterness at the start, but this comes in a bit in the middle and end to temper the sweetness. The sweet booziness is the first thing you taste and the caramel flavor sticks around in the finish. The finish is sweet with a bit of citrus, but not enough for my preferences. Really too malty and not enough bitterness or fruity/citrusy hops. This might be a lot better if it were only 8 or 9% and a bit dryer. Mouthfeel: Low carbonation which doesn't hurt it. The caramel sweetness lingers which is not pleasant. Drinkability: I wouldn't be able to drink more than a snifter of this; I'm glad I'm splitting the 12oz bottle actually. It's not a terrible DIPA, but not something I will seek out again. If I see it on draft, I'd like to try it fresh(er).