Already in the Holiday Spirit, The Lost Abbey will be releasing its latest addition to its seasonal lineup, Merry Taj IPA. With a release date preceding Thanksgiving each year, Merry Taj IPA will be an extra-hoppy Holiday IPA, a first on The Lost Abbey roster.

With an already established Holiday beer like Gift of the Magi (Strong Bier de Garde w/ Brett), The Lost Abbey wanted to give its brewers (who already make exceptional hoppy beers) a chance to do something with this year’s new hops. Merry Taj IPA was able to take advantage of some of the freshest hops available, harvested in September, and will feature five different varieties (Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe) used throughout the brewing process.Merry Taj IPA begins with an aroma of crisp floral notes of citrus rind and tropical fruit. Initial flavors of clean sweet caramel malt will give way to a spicy bitterness on the finish thanks to the addition of the Simcoe hops. Merry Taj IPA will not be bottled, only kegged, to get the beer out to consumers as quickly as possible.The name “Merry Taj IPA” pays homage to the holiday celebrations going on from sea to sea, encapsulating the hope of a new year as we inch closer and closer to 2014. It’s also a play on a term from the wine world, Meritage, which loosely translated means: A damn fine blend (of hops in this case).