If you are reading this, and are the type that reads ratings, prepare yourself for a semi coherent rambling that is only beat by Dennis Miller, on a very rate occasion. Rating my 3000th beer tonight, a milestone that isn’t exactly a sexy number that rounds out evenly, its still a milestone that a few years ago when I fell in love with both craft beer and this incredible website, I never thought I would reach. It reminds me of one of my most memorable ratings. Elysian Beer 3000. A rating that I was sitting by myself, rambling on and on, a lot like I am doing right now. Relating non beer topics to beer topics. Explaining my true belief that half of a beer’s quality is the situation that surrounds drinking and enjoying it. I’m sure I’ve had less than good beers in my day that were rated highly due to the significance of events that paired with it. Beer 3000 was a ramble and comparison to the movie Mr. 3000, which was fun in so many different ways. Happy to share the nickname for one rate. Though if this is anything like the movie, 3 of my ratings will get merged our erased, and someday I will have to come out of retirement to rate 3 more beers to reclaim my title. I’m not retiring, but the thought makes me chuckle a little. I promise I will get to the beer notes soon. Alright, now. This keg was put on tap in front of my very eyes. 3 straight growler fills of the previous imperial IPA here at Hop and Hound were filled, eventually killing that keg, and leading to my incredible fortune to try a beer that I’ve wanted to try for a long time, and probably would have found sooner than later. Pours a golden orange with a haze to it, and a patchy fizz head. Pure, fresh, amazing hop aroma. It’s like I’m standing in the middle of the hop field with my eyes closed. I will recreate this experience some day and prove this theory. Flavor is very true hop character. Dank is a word that comes to mind, though that word seems weird still to this day. Reminds my of the San Francisco episode of BrewDogs, when the guys first heard and used the word and laughed about it. I still do as well. If you can’t laugh at yourself. Such delicious hop flavors here. Never before have I ever had an IPA of near double digit strength that has such a smooth body and flavor, paired with such immediate recognized complexity. Better with every sip. A slight warming feel very late, but that is the only indication. Other than that, it is just a top of the line imperial IPA that IPA’s all over the world should look up to and appreciate. Finishes slightly dry, but leaves an overwhelming, delicious hop flavor to look back. I’ve done a lot of playing around with my rates over the years. Referring to events going on in my life, joking around about years that lined up, and most fun of all, trying my hardest to hit a certain character count on a rate to make it tie in with the beer. Rating number 3000, why not hit 3000 characters. Now I know, That’s a lot of beers!

Grunt fill from Albertsons. Hazy golden body with thick fluffy head. Potent piney, hoppy aroma. Taste follows on with a huge hoppy hit, silky, velvety body . All around excellence here, ABV present but not overwhelming. Been a long day, so this really enjoyable.

On tap at bier thirty. pours out a crisp golden topped with a white head. nose is great big pine tropical fruit caramel sweetness. taste is more of the heavy juicy fruit hops pine resin and a nice malty caramel sweetness.

On draught at the Keg & Cork. 12 ounce globe glass.

It arrives looking oh so pretty. A hazy orange goldish coloured brew with a 2"..1"..head of foam. Lacing is outstanding.

Mosaic hops are the highlight of this DIPA and they do stand out in the smell. Bitter, very dank, floral as hell. A complete opposite of 2X4 and about equally enjoyable with all the sniffing I’m doing.

Dankness of flavour hits me straight out the gate. Mild bit of malt sweetness vs what 2X4 offers. Grapefruit mixed with a mild onion like taste that can either be a plus or a minus. In this case it works.

I am very glad that this is so different from 2X4; redundancy would be futile!

The general mouthfeel kicks it.

I hate to be redundant but. ..I appreciate Melvin taking this DIPA in a different direction. Worthy of trying is an understatement.

On tap at Elizabeth Station, pours a hazy golden with a large foamy white head. Aroma is very dank, with loads of herbal pot-like hops, a citra blast, and pine - amazing aromatics. Flavour is orgasmic, with truckloads of dank citra hops blasting through, along with loads of pine and some resin. Just enough malt backing without imparting any sweetness. Impeccably crafted and too easy to drink. Phenomenal.