Ten Bends’ Northern Heights DIPA

Anyone who frequents this column knows I have an affinity for double IPAs. I just like their little extra flavor and malty goodness. You see, a double IPA is not necessarily more hoppy or bitter. Actually, in a DIPA, the hops are trying to keep up due to more grains in the recipe. The result of more grains equals more ABV percent. And much of what makes a New England-style IPA unique is its hazy, orange juice-like appearance. Couple both of these attractive elements together and you’ve got a real crowd pleaser. With that said, let’s focus on this week’s selection; Northern Heights.
Ten Bend Beer Company, based in Hyde Park, Vermont, refer to themselves as providers of small batch ales. Mike Scarlet and Jason Powell created their first beer recipe and brewed it in Jason’s workshop one weekend not long ago. Though the climate and lack of good equipment were some of their initial stumbling blocks, the beer turned out amazing. With fresh enthusiasm of turning a hobby into a business, they decided to go for it. And the name Ten Bends comes from the amount of turns the nearby Lamoille River makes as it winds through Morrisville and Johnson, Vermont. Today, they are still a three barrels brewery in a 1400 square foot building. You can stop in and chat with them and appreciate one or all seven of their taps. Only one of their beers is below 5% ABV and they appear to focus primarily on IPAs. Open only Friday and Saturday, they are located at 590 East Main St, Hyde Park, Vermont. Check out their website, TenBendsBeer.com
Northern Heights is one of two DIPAs offered by Ten Bend. The other is named Cream Puff War at 8.3% ABV. Northern is 8% (their most popular beer), and delightfully fresh tasting with an abundance of aromatics, luscious mouthfeel and swelling flavor. With a glistening white and healthy head, you realize lots of tropical fruit, citrus and orange peel lather your tongue on the first sip. Another additional interest in this beer is that Ten Bends puts useful info on the can label. Hops are comprised of Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo and Warrior. Each of these four hops are very creative in what they contribute to the taste but all in the same beer is what hits this one out of the park.
BeerAdvocate.com has officially rated Northern Heights as ‘Outstanding’ and awards it a 91 out of 100. Contributors to both Beer Advocate and Untapdd rave on this one.
You can find 16 oz four packs of Ten Bends Northern Heights at Case-n-Keg in Meredith as well as other fine beer providers. Yes, great tasting double IPAs are my favorite and Northern might be one of my top DIPAs.
Clearly they taste better than Corona… sorry, that might not have come out right.