Moat Mountain’s 20 DIPA

We are more than half way through our summer vacation time in this interesting year that changed history. Wearing a face mask when entering a business or restaurant is the new norm. Signs still appear on floors of markets and pharmacies showing the proper spacing between customers… aka Social Distancing. I wondered how long it would take a brewer to use this term within the name of a brew. Well, wait no longer. Our friends at Moat Mountain have used it within a celebratory creation.
Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Company, located in North Conway, NH is celebrating its twentieth year in business. Their food is great with a spectacular menu and well worth a visit. Although they still brew on premises at their eatery which is the original location (smaller batch seasonals for the restaurant and growler fills), their newest brewery upgrade is a state-of-the-art “barn” and is artfully done. This place is their main 20 barrel brewery created in 2013. They added the canning line in the following year. It is not open to the public though. You can find out more about their offerings with a name search on Facebook or at their website: www.moatmountain.com
I personally love the double IPA style because it’s a great format because everything is bigger. India Pale Ales generally are a bit more hoppy than a pale ale. Hops help preserve beer which is why England started producing beer with more hops for the early colonists in India. A double IPA style is not just more hops but more malt backbone against the hop profile.
20 celebrates twenty years making well balanced recipes of malt and hops. It is interestingly referred to “Social Distancing DIPA”. And 20 is a testament to that blend of just the right amount of Pilsner malt and flaked oats which adds to the sparkling white head. This New England style double IPA is a light hazy orange and incorporates Chinook, Mosaic and Galaxy hops. Some might notice spicy notes along with pine and mild citrus. Your first introduction leaves you trying to decide between which is more; malt or hops (only 50 IBU’s). There is a creamy side to this beer that brings a semi-sweetness to the tongue at the end of each taste. By the time you get through half of your pint, you’ll begin to notice the soft hammer of an 8% beer. This is why they sell this offering in 16 oz four packs.
Finding only one reviewer on BeerAdvocate.com and no official rating made me search Untappd instead. Make sure and also try the other offerings from Moat Mt such as Iron Mike Pale Ale, Bone Shaker Brown, East Intervale IPA and Hell Yes! Helles Lager, all in 16 oz cans. You can purchase Moat beers at Case-n-Keg, Meredith as well as other fine providers. Moat Mountain; brewed in New Hampshire for the love of the beer!