Hop Valley Alpha Centauri

Beer Name: Alpha Centauri Imperial IPA
Brewery: Hop Valley Brewing Co. (Eugene, OR)
ABV: 9.0%
How sold: 22 oz. bottles
Where bought: Safeway (Vancouver, WA)
Price: $3.99 for 22 oz.bottle

Date Purchased: April 30, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: May 1, 2015
IBUs: 100
When brewed? Rotating/limited-time beer
Where distributed: Unknown; the brewery does ship to the Pacific NW, of course. Check to see if Hop Valley Brewing ships your area!

What's on the Bottle/Website: "Big flavor. Intense pine and citrus aroma. We keep the malt profile clean in this imperial IPA to let the love lights shine on the fine Oregon hops."

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured a clear golden-orange color into a pint glass. Good carbonation. A few millimeters of white head to start, but almost no head or suds after a couple minutes. Some lacing on the glass. 4.25/5

Smell (25%): Dank. Sweet-malty with pine and grapefruit characteristics. Balanced. 4.25/5

Taste (40%): Initially hop-forward, bitter, and malty. Grapefruit is a winner. Heightened bitterness hits midway, then abruptly decreases to a silky smooth finish. Full of flavor. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, malty, and good carbonation. Bitterness stays on the tongue for a bit, then decreases over a matter of seconds. Very smooth for 9%. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): A great Double IPA. Intense flavor, yet smooth and balanced. A "dangerous" beer because it drinks far easier than the listed 9% ABV. I can't detect any alcohol, but this lightweight was feeling it 3/4 through the pint. Unclear whether this beer had a "bottled on" date or a "best by" date, but it tasted quite fresh to me. Amazing to think this was at Safeway for $4. Score another one for the local beer scene. 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.4/5