Bitter Valentine

A few notes about this rare seasonal craft beer:

Williamsburg Alewerks:
Bitter Valentine (Double India Pale Ale)
Format: 22 oz bomber
Served: 45F // 20 oz Tulip Pint Glass
Enjoyed: 25 Feb 2012

No Bottle Date – Obtained 25 Feb 2012

Other Technical Information:
ABV: 9.00%
SRM: ???
°Plato: ???


Appearance:

Pours rich gold, almost the color of a light copper, and is clean and
transparent.  Head develops moderately, forming loose and porous.
Dissipates quickly, leaves minimal foam on the surface and minimal
lace on the glass. As this beer was enjoyed, the lacing was more
impressive than I originally predicted.



Aroma:

Resinous pine dominates the nose, slight undertones of vanilla as the
head fades into the beer. There are also hints of dank and herbal, but
these all but disappear with the head and give way to the pine. Sweet,
sweet caramel aromas from the malts sneak in under the piney hop
predominance, suggesting that there might be some residual sweetness
from the malt to balance the bitterness. A decent nose, but I confess
that I usually expect more aromas from a beer of this style, usually
cultivated from a clever dry-hop schedule.

Taste:

Tangy citrus flavors lead the charge, but the pine dominating the
aromas bring up the middle and the rear. Sweet caramel malts and
residual sweetness balance the firm bitterness. Finishes with
perceptible alcohol and slightly acidic. As the beer warmed up, I
enjoyed how the flavor evolves through the quaff, supported by the
moderately chewy body.

Mouthfeel:

Medium chewy mouth-feel, no doubt garnering support from the residual
and unfermented complex sugars. Personally, I enjoy a beer of this
style with a heavier body, such as this one has. The evolving flavor
profile of this beer is supported by the beer having a moderate body,
and the relationship between the perceptible alcohol in the finish,
and the heavier body, lend a warming character as it passes down the
throat into the belly.

Drinkability:

This is arguably my favorite style of beer. This beer has a present
aroma, a fun character profile, a residual sweetness I find balances
the IBU and a substantially moderate body that I personally enjoy in
an Imperial/Double IPA. As I commented, I expected more from the nose
on this beer, considering its style, but the aroma presentation was
enjoyable and I do have high expectations of I2PAs. Overall, a
thoroughly enjoyable beer, and I would not think twice about a second
purchase. This beer is a beer that should be poured slightly cold and
enjoyed slowly, giving it an opportunity to warm and open up. This a
beer you want to try at least once.