In the background of all the #FlagshipFebruary stuff I was tipping away at some new beers. Some are new additions to the market and some new to me.
Sierra Nevada California IPA 4.2%
This is possibly my favourite Rye River small batch release so far. I know there has been many different styles released from a Belgian stout to a New England IPA juice bomb to a double IPA but this just sits with me perfectly. The drinkability of this is really great, loads of flavour, not massive in ABV but still feels like a full and satisfying beer which Im guessing is due to the use of wheat (sorry coeliacs, this ones not for you) Its got Summertime stamped all over it and I would genuinely love to see this being brewed regularly.
The hop bill is impressive but I gotta think its all about the mandarin bavaria delivering that orangey citrusy nectarous goodness. Impressed.
DOT Brewing Tequila Barrel aged IPA 5.5%
 Tequila barrel aged stuff is something that first appeared on my radar with while living in Canada and more recently in Ireland at Christmas with the imported <a href=)
Bourbon and whiskey barrel ageing can take a hike, its over done now, everything has gotten the bourbon or whiskey treatment. Tequila, like rum barrels adds a whole different element to ageing stuff.
Big tequila influence on this in both taste and aroma and it dominates it, the joys of working with barrels I suppose. I would love to taste both the non barrel aged stuff and the barrel aged stuff as a comparison. In short this is tasty and different, those DOT guys love their barrels.
