Here’s another beer I enjoyed from Decatur, Georgia’s Blue Tarp Brewing Company, another draft only Georgia brewer whose beers I am seeing on an almost regular basis at my local Taco Mac. Today’s beer is Blue Tarp Mother Hoppin Double IPA, a double IPA/Imperial IPA in style (duh).
Here’s what Blue Tarp says about the beer on their website:
Our second offering. Not for the hop squeamish. Anti-sessionable in nature, Mother Hoppin’ is deep orange in color, rich in malty sweetness and heavily dry hopped with Amarillo hops.
So apparently this was the second style Blue Tarp brewed up, though I’m just getting to try it now. Blue Tarp has only been around for a few years now, having opened their doors in December of 2012. The first Blue Tarp beer that I enjoyed was their Bantam Weight Ale in April of 2013. Mother Hoppin Double IPA is the first strong beer that I have tried form this brewery.
Blue Tarp Mother Hoppin Double IPA has an alcohol content of 10.1% and an impressive 93 IBUs. The beer runs $5.25 for 11 ounces at Taco Mac, which isn’t all that bad for a high strength beer these days. I don’t mind high gravity beers in 11 ounce glasses as much as I do high gravity beers in 11 ounce glasses that cost ten bucks a glass.
My Blue Tarp Mother Hoppin Double IPA arrived a dark amber in color with a very minimal head formation a leafy, herbal hoppy notes in the nose. Taking a sip, I get some really big chewy malt up front, dark fruity caramel apple, grassy hops and slightly citrusy notes too, not as much bitterness as the IBU count implies but a big alcohol warmth at the last.
The dry hopping in this one reminds me of Orval a bit in the hop aroma here and in the taste, and I was surprised this one did not have more hop bitterness. There was some there, to be sure, I just expected more from a double IPA. I can say that I loved the hop aroma, and I would buy this one again for that as well as the big caramel apple on a stick fruitiness. This small GA brewer continues to impress me, and I will continue to seek out their beers.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler