Epic Barrel-Aged IPA

Epic Brewing Company
Auckland, New Zealand

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3: Gold color, foamy head, slight haze.

AROMA: 3/4: Hoppy nose. Citrus, pine, some pineapple. Slight oaky nose, maybe.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Lots of pineapple, some apricot, nice subtle lemony hints at the end.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Whiskey-oak sour up-front, big bitter middle.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: A bit thin, could use more body. Woodiness overwhelms.

OVERALL: 2/3: Tastes like a booze-infused beer. They should have blended this. Not bad, but the barrel-aging is overwhelming.

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: I appreciate the effort, but it's a bit much. Add body, blend it to tamp down the oak, and we're in business.
Ben: Grows on me the more I drink it. It's okay—good, but falls short of great. Almost too much oak flavor, like it's an extreme barrel beer; should be more subtle.

Dogfish Head and Epic Porto Marillo (Collaboration)

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, Delaware
and
Epic Brewing Company
Auckland, New Zealand

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Rocky, foamy almond head. Dark brown color.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet/sour nose—sour dominant. Subtle pepper, smoke.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Roasted sourness to it—woody, smoky, malty.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Woody hop bitterness, sour that lingers. Bitter finish. Slight vegetable aftertaste, like roasted squash.*
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Very full, appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2/3: Todd likes it, Ben and I think it's okay. A nice smoked beer, if somewhat difficult to define.

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Interesting, smoky, organic. Tasty, but kind of weird. Glad I tried it, but I wouldn't chase it.
Ben: A really unique flavor—roasty, but sour. A lot of vegetable character. Starts high, finishes low. Interesting.

* Todd was convinced that because we read the label and it said some kind of weird roasted New Zealand tomatoes were used in this, Ben and I were just imagining the vegetable notes. Todd is something of a know-it-all.