Feature Beer Friday: Old Rail's Don't Forget The Flowers DIPA

by Eric Ducote

Hello everyone, it's been a week since my last Feature Beer Friday post... which of course means it's time for another one! Funny how that works, right? Today's Feature Beer Friday (Hashtag FeatureBeerFriday) is coming to us from the Old Rail Brewing Company out of Mandeville.  If you're wondering why you haven't seen any beers from Old Rail on tap or in stores around town, it's because they are a brewpub and sell 100% of their product out of their restaurant and taproom in the heart of historic Mandeville.

Old Rail's tap list features a handful of regular offerings like their Seven Sisters IPA and Cow Catcher Chocolate Milk Stout, but they are also putting out some really phenomenal seasonal and specialty beers.  I was over that way a few weeks ago and stopped in to see what was new, and the Don't Forget The Flowers DIPA caught my attention, so it was an obvious add to my flight.

Old Rail's Don't Forget The Flowers DIPA

Don't Forget The Flowers clocks in at 7% abv which leaves it on the low end for a DIPA, but that's fine with me, I don't drink to get drunk, I drink because beer is delicious.  The team at Old Rail describes the beer as, "Clean, Smooth, Soft, Citrusy and Tropical, Juicy Hop Character, Sweet Malt" and the name is derived from the train that used to run right next to the brewpub.  They say, "You stand on the platform waiting for your beloved to arrive, flowers in hand. The complex aroma wafts from the large colorful bouquet as you hear the whistle in the distance and you begin to smile. You didn’t forget the flowers. The trains no longer run here and no one comes waiting with flowers but that doesn’t mean we can’t find inspiration to invigorate our senses and bring a smile to our faces."

I without a doubt get a strong floral aroma, coming from some hops that aren't used as much in the current hazy New England-style IPA trend that's dominating the industry currently.  The floral aroma gives way to the light-bodied smooth and slightly sweet taste that's dominated by a complex hop flavor of flowers and citrus with hints of the tropical fruit they mention.  The finish is easy and it lets the hops linger without being overly bitter, making me want another sip right away.  They have an easy drinking winner here with this DIPA, and it's still on tap, so if you are looking for something to do this weekend, head on over to Old Rail and give it a try.  Just remember to be responsible on the road!

Cheers everyone!  

Beers with Chuck: Big DIPA Release at Gnar-Fest

by Chuck P

Gnarly Barley's Big DIPA is perfect for front porch sipping on a hot Louisiana day.

The Gnarly Barley Brewery located in Hammond, Louisiana, is one of my top three favorite local breweries. Their passion for making delicious craft beer comes through in spades in the final product, and owners Zac and Cari Caramonta might be two of my favorite people in the whole world.

With word of them introducing a new brew to their line-up, a double IPA called Big DIPA, at their second annual Gnar-Fest, I knew I couldn’t miss this event.

That Saturday the brewery was packed with craft beer lovers inside and out as the cool sounds of Casey Saba and Andrew Robin filled the brewery. The food truck lines were long, and the line for beer was longer, but both were moving fairly quickly. After weaving my way through the crowd and saying a few hellos, I ran into Jay at the side of the bar (obviously) and jumped in line to get my first taste of the Big DIPA.

Wow. Just...wow. This is one of the most easy drinking DIPA’s I’ve had. It comes in right at 8% ABV, so it’s got some bite to it. The aroma is spot on, the golden color of the beer is beautiful, and I found the overall bitterness of the beer more subtle than I expected, but it still packed a nice hop punch. Since it was a brewery-only release, I knew I’d have to grab a few bottles before leaving.

After a few more glasses of Big DIPA, I tried some of the other specialty brews on tap. The selection included Raspberry Catahoula Common, Imperial and Barrel Aged Korova Milk Porter, but I had to grab a glass of one of my favorites, the Korova Peanut Butter Porter. It’s like a liquid version of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Perfection.

Hopefully the Big DIPA will make its way to store shelves here in Baton Rouge soon. In the meantime, it’s the perfect excuse to take a little road trip to Hammond.