Easton's Weyerbacher Brewing Company is known among beer geeks for producing well-crafted artisanal ales with an edge, aging high-gravity selections in bourbon barrels a few years before it became en vogue, and experimenting with as diverse an array of styles as you'd find at any brewery. Some of these experiments begin as one-off batches or seasonal rotations until demand dictates they become a regular part of the lineup.

Double Simcoe IPA was one of those successful experiments, catching on as a perennial favorite after being born at the cross-section of two separate IPA brewing trends. As a double IPA, the beer boasts a stiff 9% ABV and an all out assault of hoppiness, while as a single-hop brew, it provides a uniquely clear window into the flavor profile of the sole hop variety employed throughout the brewing process. The variety in question is the Simcoe hop, a dry and bitter hybrid whose flavor evokes grass stains, pine tar, and lemon rind. The liberal dose of Simcoe is undoubtedly the focus behind the flavor of this beer, and the acidity on the palette is not unlike chewing on a handful of hop pellets. The malt profile is just enough to keep the taste buds from being fried from the tongue, adding hints of thick paste and syrup to both the nose and the mouth.

Double Simcoe is a great kickoff to a session, but is a bit too intense, both in flavor and alcohol content, to string together more than one or two. Look for kegs and bottles in your favorite beer pubs, four-packs at your local take-out, or come visit us at Drink Philly Headquarters (239 Chestnut) on October 1 for our First Friday Tasting and Art Showing to witness the explosion of hops that is Weyerbacher Double Simcoe.

RSVP for our First Friday Tasting event here

About Beer Geek Steve:
Steve spends as much time as his wife will let him tracking down rare beers and trying to analyze the intersection between quality beer, hype, and viral marketing. When he's not reviewing beer for Drink Philly, he writes about his adventures in chasing bottles and taps at his blog, Beer Geek Steve. You can also follow him on Twitter, where he tweets about happenings in the craft beer industry and often locates some of the best barrels in southeast PA.