Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Odell Mountain Standard Reserve 09


Yet another brew from Odell that I picked up while in Denver. This one is an interesting take on an IPA. First the hops while not unusual (Chinook and Cascade) where they are grown is. Instead of coming from the normal places of the Northwest (or Europe) these come from Odell's back yard. While not literally, figuratively at least having grown on the Western Slope. It's also double dry hopped to create a more intense beer. All packaged in a beautiful bottle with a great green label and capped with a champagne cork and cage (picture courtesy of Odell's website). Now you know the background let's get to tasting.
The Beer: This one weighs in at 8.5% and has 54 IBU's. It pours a dark ruby read with a thick dense head of cafe colored foam. Nose is hoppy, grapefruit, citrus peel. Chewy mouthfeel, hoppy at all points of the palate, start, middle, and finish. Some balanced malt flavors come forward, caramel, floral, bready, malty notes, cereal graininess even. Notes of cherry, vanilla, spices, almost a bourbon quality show up as it warms. I check the bottle again, nope no barrel aging, but the flavors seem to be there. Some sweetness in the final sips as it finishes warming, molasses even.
Intense hop flavor, I can't believe this beer is only 54 IBU's it seems twice that. Yes its intensely hoppy, but it comes off balanced when all is said and done. Really great beer that gets an A- from me. Here's what the folks at BA had to say.

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