Deschutes Brewing has released the next version of their Hop Henge Experimental IPA.  As you’d expect, this monster is big on hops: huge aroma, giant floral taste, and a whopping bitterness to balance out the malt blend.  This is an IPA pushed to the edge of balance supporting  8.75% ABV and 95 IBUs.  For an IPA lover, this is a great creation, and fairly complex rather then just a hop bomb.  Sure, it’s a showcase for hops, but to make the most of this type of beer, you’ve got to display these hops on a great stage.  With this beer, the stage is set with crystal, pale and carastan malts, driving up the yeast fuel and leaving a residual sweetness in the finish.  But enough words, go and get some!  It will be available January through April on draft and in 22oz bottles.

“Hop Henge Experimental IPA is our annual exercise in IBU escalation, combining several new hop processes and techniques to create a unique and unexpected beer. An outrageous amount of Centennial and Cascade hops are added to each barrel, with a heavy dry-hop presence as well. The blend of crystal, pale and carastan malts creates an overall biscuity characteristic, dense and muscular, building the alcohol base to support the truly monstrous hop profile.”

Hopworks Urban Brewery, Organic IPA. In the past couple of weeks, Hopworks beer has been popping up on shelves around town. It’s great to have another local beer to support when out at the store, especially the Hopworks releases: Deluxe Organic Ale, IPA, Survival Stout, and Crosstown Pale. So, get out there and get some!

“Workhorse is a true West Coast IPA, featuring over-the-top hop flavor and aroma. Three separate dry hop additions in the fermenter make this one of our hoppiest beers to date.”

Stats: 7.5% ABV, 17º Plato O.G., 3º Plato T.G., 80 IBU