Melvin IPA
Melvin Brewing, Alpine, Wyo.
Style: India Pale Ale
Stats: 7.5 percent ABV, 80 IBU
Available: 12-ounce cans at many local bottleshops and select grocery stores.
My thoughts: There are few breweries as hot as this one from the vast expanse of flyover country in Wyoming. They caused a “ruckus” at last year’s Seattle Beer Week, according to SBW co-founder Ian Roberts, and are back to do it again with a week full of events. In between, Melvin was named Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival, and earned a GABF gold medal for its Chchchch Cherry Bomb, a fruit beer, and a bronze for its Melvin IPA.
I’ve been noticing their cans more and more at stores while I’m shopping. I finally picked one up when I saw that Stanwood’s Ale Spike was hosting a brewers night with the dudes from Melvin on May 20 as a part of SBW.
I’m not a big “hype beer” guy, but there are definitely reasons brewers like Evil Twin and Holy Mountain get so much attention: They make great beer that is not only on the vanguard of craft beer brewing but is also exceedingly interesting.
Melvin fits that role well. I was taken aback by the Melvin IPA. It’s a really, really good IPA. It pours a beautiful amber color and has a creamy head. I expected it to be a big, bombastic bitter bomb, but it wasn’t at all. It was smooth and rather malty and abundantly caramely. The hop flavor is tropical and balanced, from beginning to finish. It’s a beautiful beer.
I’m glad I also grabbed a can of the Hubert MPA, the little brother to the Melvin, to enjoy later.
Besides Friday’s event, Melvin will be at the Pine Box in Seattle on May 21 and at Brews Almighty on June 8. I encourage you to check out one of the events … or at least pick up a six pack.
From the brewery: You can’t always get what you want … but sometimes you get lucky. It’s all about the right hops, at the right time. This is how Melvin grew up: Fruity, intense, but not bitter like the rest of them. As long as you don’t take advantage, we think this is the hoppiest relationship you could ask for … hold my hand?
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