Nitro: Smoky Red Velvet (AKA stinky cheese)

10 lbs  2 row
2 lbs    Flaked Barley
2 lbs    Carared
1 lb     Peated Malt

Mash

60 mins   Carared and Peet Malt 155F
60 mins   2 Row 151F (leave above malts in mash for a total of 120 mins)

Hops

60 mins  Magnum 1 oz
20 mins  E. Kent Golding 2 oz

Irish Wyeast  Yeast

Serve on nitro

OG 1,056. 6 gallons

FG  1.010  5 gals 2 pints

6% ABV

Nov. 8 - Mar 28 - very successful and interesting nitro beer. I replaced the black roasted barley with carared and peat malt. Aroma and flavour changed from stinky french cheese to smoky peat. Mouth feel and body was perfect. Very creamy. Peat took a bit of time to mature and come through. 

Next time I would replace the black roasted barley with a mixture of black and biscuit malts and aim for a complex flavour. 

Beer tasting - Double IPA only

Propeller IIPA- From Halifax, a heavier and darker IIPA than all the rest I've tasted. It's loaded with malts. Small sips are very nice however the mouthfeel and the hop flavour place this in the category of a good try but further refinement of the malt selection and late addition hops is required for my taste. Even drinking a single pint seemed a bit of a challenge. A good IIPA but I expect more.

From the left: Propeller and Boxing Rock 

Flavour      - 2

Aroma        - 3

Mouthfeel    - 3

Drinkability - 2

Total        10/25

Mission Brewery's Shipwrecked Double IPA - Coming in a can from San Diego this was my favorite of all the beers I tried at the Mission Brewery. Crisp, hoppy and smooth. This is a bit lighter than I expected which made this very drinkable with a pleasant mouth feel. It competes toe to toe with Pliny the Elder. I also found this beer at Costco for $6. Amazing.

Flavour      - 4

Aroma        - 4

Mouthfeel    - 5

Drinkability - 4

Total        22/25

Russian River Brewery's Pliny the Elder IIPA - This beer is very distinct. A low mash temperature (148F I'm guessing) and a very low flavour malt bill (less than 5% I'm guessing) along with the abundance of Simcoe hops making this piney aroma and flavour like no other. Very light in colour. It is always a pleasure to drink but does not deserve the attention it has gotten over recent years. There are other better IIPAs on the market that are not talked about.

Flavour      - 5

Aroma        - 4

Mouthfeel    - 5

Drinkability - 4

Total        23/25

Wormtown Be Hoppy IPA - A wonder of citrus hops and red malts. Smooth and refreshing. This beer is all about the hops. The bitterness is well balanced.

Flavour      - 4

Aroma        - 5

Mouthfeel    - 4

Drinkability - 4

Total        22/25

Moylan's Hopsickle IIPA - Wow. The hops are so over the top. I would place it in the category of an IIPA that should be enjoyed on rare occasions. I'm surprised my lips did not have lupulin residue from drinking this. Interestingly the hops are not abundant with citrusy or piney falvours. A must try  beer. All other IIPAs have less hops in them. 

A Must try Beer!!!

Flavour      - 5

Aroma        - 5

Mouthfeel    - 4

Drinkability - 4

Total        23/25

Ready Topper from The Alchemist - This beer seems to be revered on the east coast much the way Pliny is on the West coast. This beer has a lot of things going for it. The hops selection is distinctively different from Pliny. Pliny is all about Simcoe's piney hops aroma and taste. This beer is about striking the right chord of hops to deliver a well balanced IIPA.

no picture

Flavour      - 5

Aroma        - 5

Mouthfeel    - 4

Drinkability - 4

Total        23/25

Boxing Rock's The Vicar's Cross from Shelburne, Nova Scotia.  I would have to say this is my favorite IIPA. The complexity of this beer seemed more refined and enjoyable than most IIPAs. The malt notes were there but not over the top and the hops balanced out the beer leaving you with a nice mouth feel. Well done. From looking at their web site they look small. They only produce two beers.

A Must try Beer!!!

Flavour      - 5

Aroma        - 5

Mouthfeel    - 5

Drinkability - 4

Total        24/25