Odell Double Pilsner

Odell Brewing Double Pilsner

IBU's: 40

Alcohol Content: 8.1%

This is the fourth beer from Odell Brewing that I have formally reviewed.  The others were their standard IPA, their Myrcenary IPA, and their signature 90 Shilling Ale.

It would be easy to say I have a love-hate relationship with Odell Brewing's beers.

Odell Brewing 90 Shilling Ale

90 Shilling Ale

Scottish-Style Ale

Odell Brewing Co.

IBU's: 27

Alcohol: 5.3%

Once upon a time there was a guy named Bob.  

Bob loved beer.

Bob's voice of reason (aka his wife) was out of town. 

Bob subsequently decided it would be a great idea to attend the 17th Annual (2011) Mountain Brewers' Beer Fest anyway.

Bob made a poor decision.

The Mountain Brewers' Beer Fest is an annually held event with 140 breweries, 1200 types of beer, and around 6700 people in attendance.  While that's not huge by the German Beer Fest standards, it's a pretty damn massive event for us people here out West.

And it wasn't like I was trying to taste every single beer there, but I may have gotten close...  Too bad my wife wasn't there to tell me to slow down and pace myself. 

For a frame of reference, here are some shots I took with my cellphone.  This first pic was right after I got to the Beer Fest.  (There were many huge tents such as this FYI)

   

Fast forward one hour and who in the hell knows how many beers later and here is another pic I took of the crowd:

See any difference?  That's right.  I got wasted.
Getting drunk wasn't my goal at all for the Beer Fest, but more a natural result of me wanting to try as many delicious craft beers as I could shove into my pie hole.  After all, you only pay the entrance fee and it's as many beers as you want after that for no additional charge.  It's a pretty sweet deal.

Naturally, I went from brewery to brewery, lap after lap, around through the tents.  Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) the lines for the really awesome beers were spectacularly short since most people like shitty, watery beer, even at a beer festival.  The first lap I tried as many porters, stouts, and barley wines as I could.  Very good stuff.  The second lap was all IPA's.  Still good, good stuff.  The third lap, well that's pretty much a blur. 

Then we tried to eat at TGIF's, which was stupid.  There's a picture I saw of my goofy drunk face chomping on a bread stick with one eye open.  Guess that's just how I roll.  Next thing I know, I'm laying next to a toilet puking on the tile floor.  Apparently I was confused about where my projectile vomit was supposed to go.  Why, oh why, did my wife have to be out of town?!  She's really the only person who reigns me in from being a complete idiot at times.          

Anyway one thing is for sure, in my drunken, craft beer guzzling delirium on a sunny, 90+ degree day, one beer stood out for whatever reason: 90 Shilling Ale.  I remember going back over and over again for the 90 Shilling Ale and it tasted awesome.  So naturally, a couple weeks later I start looking for Odell Brewing's 90 Shilling Ale... and guess what, I found it.

Now, Odell makes some freaking delicious IPA's, especially their Myrcenary Double IPA.  I assumed that 90 Shilling Ale, their flagship beer, would be just as good as their IPA's especially with my fond memory of it standing out at Beer Fest.  Well, guess what?  It's not.

90 Shilling Ale pours a caramel-amber color and has malty, nutty aromas.  You take a sip and get subdued toffee, light malts, and a finish that's reminiscent of mineral water.  There are no hops that I can taste.  This is supposed to be a Scottish-style ale, but guess what?  It's like a mass-marketed Americanized version of one.  You know what I call that?  BORING.  This is watery and marginally better than Bud Light.  Maybe this really was better out of a keg at Beer Fest, but from my memory this bottled version tastes totally different.

Bottom line, this beer tastes better when you're hammered and it's out of a keg. 
Sorry Odell, I will stick to your tasty IPA's.


Drink This: only from a keg when you're drunk at Beer Fest on a burning hot day.
Don't Drink This: if you dislike watery beers.  I don't understand how Odell's IPA's can be so delicious, yet their flagship beer is so... boring.        

Odell Brewing IPA

 

Odell Brewing IPA

India Pale Ale

IBU's: 60

Alcohol: 7%

Some days only certain drinks fit your mood, which could be anything from a White Russian, bourbon served neat, or a nice glass of Pinot Noir.  Other days, it has to one thing: India Pale Ale.  IPA's are something of an acquired taste for many, especially those who prefer beer on the watery side of things.  The bitterness is something that once you get it, you love it.  Soon, if your beer doesn't have heaping buckets of hops you can smell ten feet away, you're dissatisfied.  Then it's official... you're a hophead.  For hopheads, there's nothing better than a good IPA.  

This all brings me to my point: Odell Brewing.  They make a couple really great IPA's.  A couple weeks ago I reviewed Odell Brewing's Myrcenary Double IPA, which is well, amazing and truly unique.  Today, I'm looking at Odell's standard IPA, an India Pale Ale with 7% alcohol and a moderate 60 IBU's (International Bitterness Units).  Whereas Myrcenary pushes the boundaries of IPA territory by having some rather distinct floral and fruit notes, Odell' standard IPA is a classic, American-style IPA.

Odell's IPA pours a semi-hazy gold and smells of strong yet sweet, piney hops, grapefruit peel, and a bit of toasted bready malts and caramel.  You take a sip and get well-rounded citrus, a bit of tropical fruits, some sweet malts, and a good hoppy, bitter finish.  It smells hoppier than it is, perhaps because the sweetness of the malts round the flavors out so well.  This is one very tasty, well above-average India Pale Ale. 

Drink This: if you want an above-average IPA.
Don't Drink This: if you're looking for something over-the-top or conversely if you don't like hops.  Personally, I prefer Odell's Myrcenary Double IPA, which is dynamic and unique, but then again the Myrcenary is much more difficult to find.  Regardless, if you like IPA's, this is a very good example of the style.  Cheers!  

Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double IPA

Odell Brewing Myrcenary Double IPA

Double India Pale Ale

IBU's: 70 (Reportedly)

Alcohol: 9.3% 

There are a couple styles of beer that I really love, Stouts and India Pale Ales, and all the variations of these.  Odell Brewing Company out of Fort Collins, Colorado makes a couple really great IPA's.  Their Myrcenary Double IPA is part of their 4-Pack Series which includes this Double IPA, a Double Black IPA, and a Double Pilsner.  

 

Usually I abhor sweet drinks.  Maybe that's too strong of word.  Okay, so I usually dislike sweet drinks, with only a handful of exception.  Odell's Myrcenary Double IPA is one of those exceptions... and it is truly something special.  

 

Myrcenary pours like most IPA's, a hazy damp golden hue.  Nothing special there.  The smell and taste, though, are where it shines.  It smells like sweet oranges, citrus zest, moderate hops, and almost overwhelming floral.  You really have to smell this to understand.  It is almost a lavender or lilac-type scent, but without becoming too effeminate.  While that may sound a bit weird, it fits in so well with the sweet oranges and bite of the citrus zest.  It tastes very hoppy as is expected from a Double IPA, but it's not astringent or bitter like one would think.  It somehow remains sweet (not overly so), yet deep, lively, and dynamic.  There are clear sweet citrus notes, almost tropical fruits (guava?), and a malty backbone.  The higher ABV somehow stays hidden.  Mycenary is really, really complex and has a lot going on through the whole drinking experience.  

 

This is probably the most dynamic and interesting IPA I've ever had.  It's not the hoppiest, strongest, or most bitter, but it has complexity and unique flavors in spades and is unlike any other IPA.  On paper the crazy floral notes and sweet orange taste don't really seem like my style of drink.  BUT, in the real-world, Odell's Myrcenary Double IPA is glorious, exceedingly delicious, and worth seeking out.  

 

Drink This: if you enjoy a good India Pale Ale and want to try a twist on the style.

Don't Drink This: if you dislike hops.  Like any IPA, this is hoppy.  Sure, it's not nearly as bitter as some, but for the beer-drinking newbies, this will still be a bit over-the-top.