Sierra Nevada Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA
I really like the marketing concept behind this bottle of Sierra Nevada Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA. Not only does it contain a pretty darn tasty brew, but it also serves as an invite to the seven-city traveling beer festival the brewery is hosting this Summer. I think that’s pretty clever.
As far as the beer itself is concerned, Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA is a big brew with big flavors. Weighing in at 8.5% ABV, the beer is packed with earthy hop character — it’s crafted with an undisclosed combination of five hop varieties, two of which went through the company’s “Hop Torpedo” dry-hopping device. The brew isn’t as fruity as many West Coast styled IPAs, but it does pack in a nice blend of floral, herbal and piney notes.
Appearance
A big, fluffy white head rests atop the clear, golden amber brew. It certainly looks inviting.
Aroma
Subtle, earthy character with pine notes, herbal hoppiness, grapefruit and hints of orange peel.
Taste
The brew leads in with herbal, piney hop flavors with hints of caramel and honey. It’s got a smooth, clean flavor with a peppery hop character and a soft malt sweetness that arrives late, lingering with a moderate bitterness. The finish is slightly drying and quite warming. There’s an overall earthy and leafy aspect to the beer that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Overall
Clever marketing and a tasty beer all wrapped up in one 24 ounce bottle — that’s what you’ve got with Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA. I do like the earthy, herbal character that the beer delivers along with its invitation, plus it’s not as overly sweet as many examples of the Double/Imperial IPA that I’ve had in the past, so that’s a bonus as well.
Rating: 3.75/5
This is a review of a promotional sample.
