More traveling = More new beer experiences for me. Since we're a bit "sheltered" from the "good stuff" in Alabama, I've been like a rat in a cheese factory lately. Not long ago I wrote about "Blithering Idiot," a wonderful 11.1% ABV barleywine. I've found another fine nectar from the Weyerbacher brewery: Double Simcoe IPA. This one is 9% ABV, and is it ever GOOD! Another one of those sippin' beers, if for no other reason than it tastes really good, however there is a chug factor that kicks in once half way through a bottle. The resultant belch is most obnoxious in terms of decibels, yet surprisingly pleasant in that there is no bitter aftertaste. Highly recommended, but be aware that the four pack will take just over twelve singles to acquire, and this is another beer best consumed when you are settled in for the day. Cheers! 
Have I mentioned that third shift SUCKS? 
Weyerbacher has created a gem of a brew, to be short and concise. The eclectics among us know the unique flavor of the simcoe hop and as a home-brewer I realize the time and attention it takes to infuse the quality of the hop into the brew, overall A great brew has been made here! I've been disappointed with other weyerbacher offerings in the past, and I'm glad to report that this beer did not fall into the same category. Overall, this is a solid imperial IPA that has a hefty grain bill as well. It does however tend to be a bit 1-dimensional with such a strong focus on the simcoe hop. It starts with the citrus and pine of the hop, then leads you into malty areas. The malt is sweet and strong enough to be tasted of the simcoe but balanced enough not to take over. As it flows further in your mouth and down your throat the hops take full charge again and eclipse the malts. You can feel the bitterness bite the sides of your tongue. There is even a slight metallic bitterness that starts off the aftertaste. You are left with the residual sweetness of the malts playing nicely with the hops in the warm glow of the higher ABV. A very tasty beverage that warms you on those cold winter days
Simcoe is a relatively new hybrid variety similar to Cascade but higher in bitterness. What attracts brewers and drinkers to the variety is a distinctive citrus aroma combined with a high alpha-acid content that imparts a strong but pleasurable bitterness. Research into the hybrid was initially a financially-motivated enterprise (big surprise)... megabreweries trying to get more hop bang for their buck. It is a proprietary hop, and the name "Simcoe" is a registered trademark of Yakima Chief Ranches, LLC. This hybrid hop was created to allow maximum aromatic oils, along with low cohumulone (harshness) levels, so that brewers can really load up a lot of 'em in a beer and not have any harshness. The piney, citrusy notes are all here, and in a very clean (non-harsh) way, as well as having an aroma with impact.
I've done a few brews with Simcoe hops, and have found them to give some unique grapefruit or tangerine - like notes to pale ales. I haven't really used them in huge quantities, but with their relatively high AA% they can surly make a big impact on a beer. I think they are a great hop that has been flying under the radar for quit some time now, and I particularly like using them in conjunction with Amarillo hops to add a floral Bouquet to the mix.
To give a beer a impressive hop character I use Simcoe hops at three points in the brewing process. To begin with, I use a technique referred to as first wort hopping, in which Simcoe is added to the sweet wort as it enters the kettle. When the wort comes to a boil in the kettle I add Amarillo hops, adding another layer to the bitterness of the beer. Later in the brewing process I steep a large amount of Simcoe in the whirlpool to impart a distinct hop aroma. Finally, after transferring into my Cornelius keg, I dry hop the beer with a mixture of Simcoe & Amarillo, which instills a hoppy aroma with notes of pine and grapefruit. It brings back some great memories of the Memorial Holiday beer I did last year
Kegged 10ga. of the pale Ale today, took a sneak taste before carbonation, real smooth, crisp clean pale. i'm dry hopping with a mixture of Simcoe & Amarillo, gives it this citrus-floral hop character, very similar to cascade but no bitter bite at the end. trust me you cant just have one. 
I just push it from the carboy to the keg with a little CO2, pressurize it for three days, let it sit a week (yea right) and DRINK
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Topic: Friday Beer Thread (Read 923783 times)