Sunday, May 4, 2008

Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double IPA



Beer: Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double IPA
Brewery Location: Akron, OH
Beer Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.2%


I haven't had any Hoppin' Frog in quite some time for some reason. I am not sure why I've strayed away from them, but this DIPA offering brought them right back for me. Hoppin' Frog has been in business for about eight years and make a well respected and solid line-up of beers. It was beautiful out today, so what better time for a double IPA than grilling out and sitting outside?

Mean Manalishi pours a deep rusted amber hue with a big two fingers worth of off-white head. This beer also leaves very good lacing as well as a small blanket of head for the entire beer. It is hard to miss the loads of fresh hops in the nose with big scents of resinous pine and pink grapefruit with little malt coming through. The flavor profile is in your face the entire way on this beer and come through so much better than the nose. The resinous pine flavor comes out full force with subtle flavors of caramel and citrus fruit. The pine flavor is so intense and lasts until the very last sip of the beer. The mouthfeel is quite nice on this beer even with the intense bitterness from the hops, but overall is quite smooth with very little alcohol noticeable on the mouthfeel. The drinkablity for this hop-head is perfect and I would go for another one of these.

Overall this is a very tasty offering from Hoppin' Frog. I really enjoyed the pine bitterness in the flavor profile that was bold enough to let you know it was there but not over the top in any way. This is a DIPA for hop-heads. Great effort Hoppin' Frog!

Cheers!
Matt

No comments: