Every journey begins with a single step, so what beer did I pick to begin this beer journey of mine? I decided to kick this off with a bang and not pick something typical – I went with an Imperial India Pale Ale, “Son of Malice”, brewed by Heathen Brewing out of Vancouver, Washington. More like a first step with a little pirouette thrown in for good measure, huh? Born from a love of good beer and home brewing, Heathen Brewing is a small set-up literally brewing out 10 barrel batches out of a shed using seasonal, local ingredients. It may sound simple, but the results are nothing short of amazing.
Like a pilot going through a pre-flight checklist, I performed my newly adopted “pre-drink” steps: Is the beer at the correct temperature? It’s been waiting patiently in my fridge, so check! Is the glassware the correct shape as well as clean and dry? Check, check! Now pour – what does the beer look like? This IIPA has a rich, dark amber color, cloudy, with a thick head and solid lacing. And the aroma? The smell alone while I was pouring it let me know that I was getting something different – you could smell the hops from across the room! And when I took a few whiffs with my mouth open (not an attractive look!) I could actually taste the sweet, sweet bitterness. Imperial India Pale Ales are fairly strong, a regular IPA stops at 7.5% ABV and IIPAs keep going all the way up to 10.5%. Also know as Double IPAs, this brew employs lots of malts to attain the high alcohol level, but the challenge lies in keeping the beer dry since malt adds sweetness. Personally, I feel Sunny Parsons and Rodney Styker, Heathen Brewing Owner and Head Brewer, respectively, did a damn fine job with “Son of Malice.” While it has an 8.7% ABV and 95 IBU, it is still smooth and doesn’t have that alcohol heft that leaves you feeling bogged down with each sip. The description accurately described it as a “deceptively potent brew” – I fully enjoyed the sharp, hoppy taste, like something I could savor on a hot, summer day. Yet less than halfway through I could feel the “lulling” affects, but in a nice, mellow way. All in all, a unique beer high in hops and high in deliciousness! To read the previous beer blog post (Let’s Get Started) Click Here