Okay I'm going to apologize on this blog for two things right off the back, sorry for no May entries, it was a long month of school. And lastly sorry about the pictures, my camera broke so I'm reduced to my lame ass Iphone camera. That being said I'm going to kick off June with an IPA I fell in love with when I discovered it this winter. When most people, or the select few who have seen them, hear the word Vern they immediatley reminisce to the American cinema classic "Earnest" films. I assure you this beer is a much more fulfilling and enjoyable experience than any of those films could ever hope to be. It's pretty recognizable if your in the beer shop to, some nice spray paint decor. For IPA lovers though this is definitely one you should at to your list of trys. It's not an Imperial IPA heavy as far as the alcohol percentage weighing in at 6.33%, but it's incredibly well balanced so that the beer in general has a strong full flavor to it. Up front this has your typical strong IPA taste, with the stinging taste of hops that almost taste like they were plucked from the vine and dropped right into the boil. This beer definitely tastes dry hop and the oils kind of leave that dried out feeling your tongue to go along with it. It has a faint citrus aroma, but mostly the pure hop scent is what you smell. Now this is where most standard IPAs fall short and screw the pooch, the lingering and aftertaste. This beer has a strong malty back flavor that blends well in the aftertaste after the initial hop invasion of your tongue. It's what gives this beer a bold strong flavor throughout the palate. It's not quite malt liquor strong but your definitely getting that strong malted barley flavor on the end of it, completely unmolested. It helps to equalize the strong hop taste you get up front. This beer is also another prime example of how the eastern washington breweries are starting to dominate when it comes to IPAs, and lets face so close to the fresh hop supply they have the advantage. In any event I'm glad they've found an awesome niche to occupy in the NW microbrew arena. Vern is a standard IPA with flavor to be compared to most breweries double and Imperial IPAs and is definitely worth giving it a try if your a hop groupy. I've seen it at a QFC or two, 99 bottles, beer junction, and by the bottle in Vancouver awesome little place for those who live or venture extremely south. So kick back and enjoy another great example of an IPA from our Eastern WA brothers and sisters.
