Hot off of a double gold, triple silver medal winning performance at the Great American Beer Festival, I think now is an apt time to review a beer from one of California’s emerging craft beer talents. Located in Buellton, CA, Figueroa Mountain Brewing is a bit off the beaten path for your average LA beer lover. However, the recent addition of a Santa Barbara tasting room and a steadily growing network of retailers and tap handles have helped secure Figueroa Mountain as a staple of the LA craft beer movement.
Though their recent medals celebrate their darker side, Davy Brown Ale and Stagecoach Stout taking gold, there are many other winners in the Figueroa Mountain lineup. I feel that their black ale is one of their strongest offerings, but has yet to be bottled for release in the LA market. I wasn’t surprised to see them awarded with a silver medal for their Oktoberfest, which I find to be exceptional. Another great offering is Hurricane Deck Double IPA, a hoppy offering worth picking up for under $10 at your local bottle shop.
| Name | Hurricane Deck Double IPA |
| Brewery | Figueroa Mountain |
| Style | DIPA |
| ABV | 8.0% |
| Availability | Wide release bottles and draft |
| Rating | 4 out of 5 |
The pour on Hurricane Deck is enticing, showcasing a finger of foamy off white head resting on a deep copper body. There is some nice lacing for the style. The nose is dominated by strong, fresh, citrus hop, which is backed up by a blend of sweet fruit, grass, and pine resin.
Taste is right in line with the hoppy, bitter profile I expect, but with the nice addition of a sweet malt body. Flavors follow suit with the same grass, fruit, citrus hop, and pine notes of the nose. Carbonation is spot on and the mouthfeel is great, lending the drinkability of a single IPA to this 8.0% DIPA. The finish is slightly dry with a nice even bitterness encouraging further investigation.
Overall I find this to be a great DIPA. It achieves the bitter hop you expect from a West Coast IPA, yet remains balanced and drinkable, stopping short of blowing out the palate. Given its wide availability and reasonable price, Hurricane Deck Double IPA is a great value and I look forward to sampling future beers from Figueroa Mountain.
Cheers,
Dave