I’m in Boulder, Colorado for work, and we’re free for the evening. I was excited to make it back to Boulder in order to try a few beers I couldn’t get back at home in Illinois. After a stop at Twisted Pine Brewing and trying their Hoppy Boy IPA and Bough Breaker Barleywine, it was time to get some dinner. Right around the corner was Boulder Beer Company, which had a nice menu and some great beers. They also had a nice outdoor patio with hops growing around it.
I actually started out with their Hoopla Pale Ale, brewed for a recent beer festival, but forgot to take a picture and review it… I blame the Barleywine. I knew I had to get this one next, as it was also a limited quantity available there at the brewery, and the fact that I enjoy IPAs and barrel aged beers.
Location: Enjoyed a glass mug on the patio at the Boulder Beer Pub in Boulder, Colorado.
Numbers: 6.8% ABV, ~ 215 Calories
Ingredients: Grains: Pale malt, wheat malt, and 20L Caramel malt. Hops: Amarillo and Centennial.
Appearance & Aroma: It’s hazy and orange in color with a very thin white head on it. There was a big aroma which was a mix of fresh oak smells and citrusy, slightly floral hoppiness.
Taste & Feel: The body was medium and the mouthfeel was smooth with a slight crispness. The flavors up front were sweet and citrusy with lots of grapefruit and a bit of maltiness in the background. After the initial sweetness, the bitterness kicked in a bit in the middle before a big citrusy and oaky flavor kicked in. The oak flavor continued into the finish and reminded me a bit of fresh oak barrels or chips (rather than traditionally charred oak).
Food Pairing: Whenever I get a chance to have a bison burger I take advantage of the opportunity, and did so at the Boulder Beer Pub. This beer went very nicely with my burger, as the burger helped to cut down on the big citrus and oak flavors, yet the oak flavor went nicely with the flavorful burger.
Overall Impression: I’ve only had a few barrel aged IPAs, and the oak and hop flavors are always an interesting mix. This IPA definitely had plenty of citrusy bitterness, as well as oakiness. The two went fairly well together, but the oakiness certainly overpowered the other flavors. I thought it was a pretty good beer, but the oakiness was a bit too fresh and green for me.
My Rating: 
Reader Ratings[five-star-rating]
