Double Mountain Brewery is marvelously consistent with its beers, particularly its hoppy ones, with solid hop presence and balance with characterful malts for a satisfying experience. I’d received two such examples not long back, which I’ve got reviews for here; let’s go:

Hi Friend! IPA

Double Mountain collaborated with Tacoma’s E9 Brewing for this easy-drinking, juicy-ish west coast IPA, which clocks in at 6.3% ABV and 45 IBUs. The description reads:

Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery is excited to release Hi Friend! IPA , a collaboration with our friends to the north at E9 Brewing Co. A warm welcome of ripe grapefruit, tangelo, and bright forest greet the nose of this IPA, like old friends getting together for a high five and a few laughs. It’s certainly been a while, hasn’t it? Dry and quenching, light on the tongue, and pulling sticky citrus and forest aroma; it’s a perfect beer to welcome friends (safely) on those warm evenings when the spring is waning and summer is getting started.

More details here (posted when I received the bottle). My notes:

Appearance: Golden color with an inflection of copper; lacy and foamy white head. There’s a slight chill haze giving an unfiltered look.

Smell: Passion fruit, slightly sweaty, with mild radish greens. Dried tropical fruit candy, orange marmalade, a bit of pine bough with a light citrus touch (like new spruce or fir buds).

Taste: Grapefruit bitterness with resiny hops that’s spicy and sticky (along with light mustard seed and herbal spice). Black tea-like light astringency, mild enough to present as “dry” with a touch of bitter citrus pith. Tasty, crackery malt and wild greens. The long hop bitterness is herbal in character, not harsh.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a dry, long finish, with a nicely crisp snap.

Overall: No big revelations here, it’s simply a really nice IPA.

Splendor Single Hop IPA

Single hop beers are always interesting, particularly when introducing a new experimental hop. Splendor is Double Mountain’s take on just such a new hop in its 2021 seasonal, which on the website says is designated HBC 630. The description from the press release when the brewery sent me a bottle says:

Owner and Brewmaster Matt Swihart created this year’s dry, intriguing, and beguiling single hop IPA by choosing to highlight an experimental hop variety. Brought to Double Mountain by the experimental hop breeding program, this is a promising new hop that is in the early stages of brewing and growing trials. Showcasing the balance of hop citrus and dank loveliness with a rich English Marris Otter malt, this single hop emphasizes Double Mountain’s love for single hops. Sensationally earthy, and bright, kick back and enjoy this Splendor in a glass.

It’s 6.8% ABV and 60 IBUs.

Appearance: Amber-brown color, a bit murky, with an ample light tan head.

Smell: Catty, dank, earthy with a bit of moss and a deep, subtle currant fruitiness. Foresty with some more wild berry as it warms. Warming, toasty malt aromas.

Taste: Moderate hop bitterness that’s earthy (damp forest) and clean, a bit of radish greens, and it’s mildly spicy like a mild mint. Dry and bready malts that could go in a brown ale direction with a bit more caramel, and they complement the “mixed greens” of the hops for a savory/culinary appeal.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a dry finish and an earthy-bitter aftertaste.

Overall: The experimental hop is interesting and the malt/recipe formulation is a good complement to the hop for an enjoyable profile.