Emelisse TIPA

by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende

In the words of the brewery, ‘sometimes double is just not enough’.

The TIPA is a monster IPA, pouring a rich copper colour with a small white foam.  Brewed with Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade and Amarillo hops, the aroma is a smorgasbord of tropical fruits – mandarin, orange, grapefruit and even strawberry, plus resiny pine notes.

The information on the label declares 103 IBU’s, so you expect huge bitterness.  And it is there, but balanced out by a big sweet malt body.  The mouthfeel is quite thick, with low carbonation, and creates a creaminess unexpected with such a hop bomb, but dries out on the finish.

And then you remember that this beer is 10.0%, because the alcohol goes almost unnoticed. 

History of Emelisse:  founded in 1998, the brewery moved to its present home in 2005.  The copper brewing vessels form the centrepiece in the dining space of a high-end restaurant.  But in the bowels of the building, since 2011 brewmaster Kees Bubberman and his assistant Jon are working hard to produce a huge range of delicious and varied creations.

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