Silverback Double IPA (review)

Its a sweltering Sunday in July here on the NY/PA state line, a perfect day for running trails and drinking beers. I got the trail running part out of the way this morning. Now its time to enjoy some beers. For today's review I'll be sampling Silverback Double IPA produced by CB Craft Brewers (company history) of Honeoye NY, and purchased at The Jolly Farmer, Waverly NY.

Brewers Description:

Description: A bonifide hop-head’s delight. This is a beer truly bursting at the seams with juicy, tropical hop presence.  Beginning with pineapple, mango and guava the ride continues into a pleasant citrus finish. The conjunction of malts add an assertive tangy counterbalance to this hop parade to remind you this is a real brazen beast.

Malts: Superior Pilsner, Wheat, Melanoidin, Sauer 
Hops: Summit, Apollo, Columbus, Centennial, Falconer's Flight & Experimental 05256

Original Gravity: 18 Plato
Bitterness Units: 78 IBU
ABV: 9%

In this case, the brewers description is certainly apt. This is the most "tropical" tasting IPA i've had since Saranac Imperial IPA, though a bit more balanced than that particular brew. At a claimed 78 IBU's this is certainly a hoppy beer, though not noticeably less bitter than the 100IBU Ruination Double IPA i had the other day, which calls into to question the accuracy of how bitterness is measured. This beer is plenty "malty" as well, but not obtrusively so, for IPA drinkers who prefer "all hops and nothing but the hops, so hop me god."

At 9% ABV, expect significant alcohol warmth on the back end.

Musical Pairing: Light in the Black by Rainbow

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