2XIPA
A thick,two-finger white ceiling lies over a very pilsner-looking, straw-colored ale. Only the thick lacing residue clues you into the big-boy company we're supposed to be keeping. Its body is surprisingly light. Smell is solid: solid hop additions to a strong malt backbone. Its malty foundation reminds me of 90min, but the nose is hoppier than that. It's good--I never would've disputed that. It represents perfectly, however, the oversaturated hop market in craft beers these days. This showed up at my local Harris Teeter, and I was glad to see it! Still, I can get Two-Hearted there. I get Sweetwater IPA at the local Wal-Mart. This is a malty version of one of those. It's good, but lacks hop appeal of the near-perfect Two Hearted selections and ratios. Had this beer beat 90Min down here, we'd be watching Southern Tier on Discovery Channel. Though good--even among those peers, it's nothing better than what's already around locally. It's mouthfeel falls short of both the aforementioned beers (Two Hearted citrusness and 90Min's malt profile are simply better), but I suppose it's a worthwhile hop rep. A IIPA rep...? I smell an acquittal!