Great Heck, Yakima IPA

Terrific IPA from Great Heck. Overly-hoppy madness typical of the Yakima valley produce (the hoppiest hop?). Deep copper pour, not an insane nose, but a severe and thick hop taste that I've only recently started to appreciate (see this post for an amateur's take on this type of flavour......). Very bitter aftertaste indeed. Morish, smooth, delicious and very importantly: cheap - under £2.50 from Mr Lawrence.

Arbor Ales, Yakima Valley American IPA

It's with beers like this one that my inexperience really tells. I'm afraid I wasn't into this IPA by Arbor Ales at all. Perhaps I had a bad bottle? Basically, I'm not sure! I've had the Yakima Red from Meantime - they describe the Yakima hops as imparting "spectacular fruit and citrus flavours". This IPA from Arbor using similar hops did not impart such flavours. It had a sickly, caramely taste, not entirely dissimilar to those super strength lagers like Helden Braü, Special Brew and the classic Steinberg Super. I've had 2 beers relatively recently that've had that same distinctive sweet cloyingness: Dark Star 6 Hops and the Old Dairy Brewery Hop Top. Is this a style of beer that I simply don't like? Or perhaps I've had a bottles from a ropey batch? Post a comment to let me know!