Not Exactly Trailer Trash: Boulevard Double Wide Double IPA

I admit to generally spurning the double IPA, a style born of America's extreme beer movement. I've endured enough scorched tongue campaigns from Flying Dog, Rogue, Stone and breweries trying to out-hop each other. This excludes Imperial IPAs such as Avery's Maharajah, which improve their high-alcohol contents by choosing balance. 

Presentation is gorgeous, as with most in the style. Almost ruby in color, the massive head wastes no time in bubbling down to a comfortably thin lace. 

Double Wide shows a craft often lacking in the rush to extremes. The bouquet comes off flowery and with a stiff backbone of burnt citrus, mostly grapefruit with supporting roles for orange and lemon. They roll into the first  taste, where the hop impact does coat the tongue with firm bitterness. Fortunately, it does not get excessive. 

Boulevard bottles all it Smokestack Series in 750's with corks, but the double IPA suffers for it. A 12-oz. bottle would tackle the palette more gently. By the time I finish the bottle, I want nothing to do with hops for a while, but Double Wide helped me see the merits of the style when not intent on scouring away every trace of taste buds. 

Rating: 7/10