Bottle of the Week: Timber Beast, Beardslee Public House, Bothell

Timber Beast

Beardslee Public House, Bothell

Style: Triple IPA

Stats: 10.6 percent ABV, 90 IBU

Available: On tap and 22-ounce bottles for $10 at the brewery

My thoughts: Bring out the hops. The Hop Mob Roadshow, a touring collection of triple IPAs, recently finished its jaunt to pubs and bottleshops across the Puget Sound. Beardslee’s head brewer Drew Cluley brewed up Timber Beast for the occasion. It’s not a shy beer. Weighing in at just over 10 percent ABV and nearly triple-digit IBUs, Timber Beast is a big, bold IPA, with a big nose and a full hop flavor profile. Made with Equinox hops, Timber Beast’s hop aroma is very fruity and juicy. There is just a bit of alcohol flavor up front, but that’s to be expected for such a strong beer. It’s bold without being overpowering. There’s good reason Cluley decided to make it — along with Beardslee’s Old Growth Barley Wine — the brewery’s first bottled beers. Beardslee is bottling 20 cases of each, and will release them Feb. 29.

From the brewery: A beast of an Imperial IPA with lingering bitterness and abundant hop aroma that takes your palate over the edge of hop sensibility, yet throws you a lifeline and brings you back for a much desired next sip. Featuring Equinox hops. The Old Growth Barley Wine is described as an American-style barley wine that melts in the mouth. Fruit forward with hints of toffee and water cracker.

— Aaron Swaney