Hop 15
I've enjoyed this beer before, but this is the first time from the production brewery. Very malty with caramel aroma and a hint of diacetyl and lots of ripe fruit aromas. Hops are present but seem to be taking a back seat to the malt. some floral aroma from hops. Old bottle? Not really what I remember. Deep amber with a small head that leaves a ring around the glass. Very little rising carbonation. Clarity is very good. Flavor is initially very hoppy with lots of bitter resins. But there's a strong malt component with brown sugar and caramel and melanoidin flavors. Mid palate I get a good dose of hop flavor, slightly grassy and a little bit citrus too. On the aftertaste I get some woody hops and lots of hop oil. Nice and well balanced. Mouthfeel is very big bodied. Carbonation level semms pretty light though so it comes off as a little syrupy. This is a big huge mother of a beer. I remember the old champagne style bottles being way hoppier so I wonder if I got an older bottle. still a very nice sipping beer.