Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, MI

So after all my adventures with the dark beers in Michigan, even a man of stouts needs a good lighter beer from time to time. I’ve encountered some really good Arcadia beers in the past (London Porter, one of my favorite Scotch Ales), and I was happy to find an IPA of theirs on the beer menu at a nice beer place in East Grand Rapids, Derby Station. And though I was maybe looking for a lighter beer in comparison to the stouts I’ve been devouring, I couldn’t pass up a double IPA from a brewery I like. Plus, with a name like Hopmouth Double IPA, it was just too good to pass up. Hell, I was on vacation, all right?

Pouring into a pint glass, the Hopmouth Double IPA was a splendid orange-tinged amber color, and throbbed with the smell of flowerly and citrus hop notes. The head was rather rich on the beer as well, a sign of a thick and delicious IPA, in my opinion. But something was a little off with the beer, and I might have to chalk it up to the fault of the establishment I was at: the beer tasted much too cold. The carbonation and bitterness were easily apparent, with the Hopmouth having a good bite to it that complimented the thick and beefy dry-hopped tidal wave. Some subtle touches of lighter malt sat in the middle of the beer, while most of the citrusy and sweet hops hints stayed behind curtains of a more earthy and crop-like hop flavor. But even finding all these flavors in the beer was tough because of the temperature of the beer. Most of the strong elements came through near the end of the glass after the ice-cold pint had warmed. Warning to all drinkers: let this one warm up a bit–you’ll be missing great characteristics if you don’t.

For a double IPA, the Hopmouth was a surprisingly drinkable and tasty affair that didn’t have the extreme hop sucker punch you can get from some doubles. If you were to tell me that this was actually a regular IPA, I would have believed you. The 8% ABV and the 76 IBUs made this a stronger beer, but not overpowering. Now, as to whether I would considering getting a glass of this again? Sure, I would. It’s a very tasty and earthy-type IPA that is striving to be something more intense than it actually is. And remember, not all beers are best chilled. Let this one warm first. Then let it warm your heart.