Thanks to +Russ for the photo.

The Pike Double IPA, which was originally conceived to commemorate the inaugural Seattle Beer Week in 2009, is making its return as Pike Brewing’s Spring seasonal for 2011. Available this week on draft and in 22oz bottles (yes, Spring doesn’t officially start for almost seventy more days), this is the third year of production for the Double IPA. The recipe came from the brain of assistant head brewer Dean Mochizuki, which he then tweaked with the added assistance of head brewer Drew Cluley.

Full Press Release:

SEATTLE, WA – January 10, 2011
The Pike Brewing Company celebrates the New Year with the early release of their Spring seasonal, Pike Double IPA.

Originally brewed to commemorate the 1st Annual Seattle Beer Week in May 2009, Pike Double IPA is a reflection of Washington State terroir. Our state is a veritable “hop nirvana”; we are the World’s second largest hop producer.

In 1991, Pike was among the first breweries in America to brew an India Pale Ale. Hopped at 60 IBUs, our IPA reflected the hopping levels of the 18th Century. At the time it was a palate shocker! In his book “300 Beers to Try Before You Die,” Roger Protz, the noted British beer writer, chose it as a classic example of the Northwest style.

When we introduced Pike Double IPA, it was our answer to the Northwest’s trend to test the limits at even higher levels of bitterness. At 80 International Bittering Units, it is hopped with Yakima Valley Columbus, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade, and dry hopped with Washington Amarillo and Palisades. It delivers a rich bouquet of herbal flowers followed by the dry, crisp, evergreen and citrus character of humulus lupulus (hops) on the palate. This hop elixir is balanced with a smooth, biscuity, earthy malt flavor from a variety of five different malts.

Technical Details:
OG = original gravity = 1.076
TG = terminal gravity = 1.016
Alc./Vol 8%
Target IBUs 80

Like other Pike beers our Double IPA is food-friendly with just the right balance of floral hop and biscuity malt. It is unfiltered to preserve all the wonderful hop character and aroma.