Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale

Friday happy hour found me with a Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale in my hand. The label calls it "Triple Hoppy". So what exactly is a Triple Hoppy Ale?

Moylan's Hopsickle Imperial Ale, >100 IBUs, 9.2% ABV:
The color is copper. Pungent citrus, pine, and herb hop in the nose with a hefty malt background. The malt is present, but outweighed greatly by the hop vapor being released in this beast. Big malt upfront that is quickly replaced by citrus, pine, and herby resinousness. This beer is extremely bitter! Moylan's calls it a Triple Hoppy Ale, and they ain't lying!! This beer has the weight of a Double IPA, and the hops of a Triple IPA . . . Uhhhh, nevermind . . . That's just stupid . . . Of course, there's no such thing as a Triple IPA . . . sorry, Founders Devil Dancer and Dogfish 120. This Hopsickle Ale is a hop assertive Double IPA with the stress on the hops! As previously stated, Moylan's is not lying when they call Hopsickle a Triple Hoppy Ale. Call yourself a hophead? If so, you will be elated! If you're like me, a hopheadless, beer-loving fool that appreciates hops . . . you will find Hopsickle to be a hoppy Double IPA. If you don't like hops, don't even smell this beer. Stay far away. It's not for the faint of heart.

10 minutes after leaving the bar . . . hops still in affect.

This beer is extremely rare to find on draft in the Pittsburgh area. As stated, Hopsickle has the weight of a Double IPA, but is not nearly as malty sweet as a Double IPA. Hopsickle on draft is quite a treat.

Who's pouring this wonderful beer on draft locally?

Harris Grill
Rivertowne Inn
Smokin Joe's Saloon
Fat Heads Saloon
D's 6 Pax & Dogz
Carl's Tavern (3386 William Penn Hwy., Monroeville)
Bocktown Beer
Mad Mex-Cranberry
Mad Mex-Robinson

Green Flash Imperial IPA and Moylan's Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale

Welcome! First, I would like to thank you for visiting my blog, The Daily Mash. What can you expect from The Daily Mash? The Daily Mash will cover beer and beer-related occurrences that cross my path on my daily travels as the Craft Specialist of the wholesale beer distributor, Galli Distributing Company.

This is the first post for The Daily Mash, and it will cover a couple of beers that found their way into my hand (then mouth) on Friday, February 20, 2009.

The first of the two beers is Green Flash Imperial IPA. One of my favorite restaurants, Kaya, located here in Pittsburgh, is currently pouring this wonderful beer on draft! Green Flash Imperial IPA . . . super piney, resinous, bitterness, with hints of tangerine, leading to a beautifully, full-bodied Imperial (Double) IPA! This beer is special, and typically only available in 22 oz bottles, so get down to Kaya and grab one before it's too late!

The second beer I would like to mention today is Moylan's Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale. A stop to another local favorite spot of mine, Brillo Box, produced a memorable experience. I ordered the mac n' cheese: Farfalle pasta with smoked gouda, and topped with crisped shallots . . . Paired with a Moylan's Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale . . . Now you're talking! The Kilt Lifter had more than enough body to stand up to the smoked gouda mac, and the crisped shallots accentuated the bread crust and mild brown sugar notes of the Kilt Lifter beautifully! I found this to be an All Star pairing! The mac n' cheese and Kilt Lifter are both awesome by themselves, but together, they were in full blossom. Get over there and check them out!

Check back tomorrow. I'll be talking about the good times had by all at the 5th Annual Hell with the Lid Off Barleywine Festival!