Name: Incredible Hop Imperial India Pale Ale

On the label of the Incredible Hop, brewer Adam Glaser promises a beer that is “highly hopped” and “palate crushing.”

True to his word, he brews a strongly hops-flavored beverage best savored without a food pairing. Although it makes a nice complement to smoked meats and strong cheese, at a staggering 10.8 percent alcohol by volume, this double imperial India pale ale can sneak up on you — this serving is equivalent to about five cans of a light beer.

Smell: This beer has a strong hoppy scent with a hint of a fruity aroma.

Appearance: The head is large, lasting, and buff-colored, and the body is dark, golden amber and lightly carbonated.

Taste: The Incredible Hop initially delivers an extremely powerful, hoppy taste. The consistency is a bit malty, but it pleasantly coats the palate with a balance of sweet and bitter flavors. Overall, the flavor is comparably lighter than other double India pale ales.

Overall: With its palate-punching level of hops and a whopping five servings of alcohol, the Incredible Hop is a beer to be slowly savored after a meal or shared with a friend as a precursor to responsible students’ night out.

— by Dan Verhille