Back in 2009, there was a mistake made at Drake’s Brewing. The head brewer at the time had accidentally added a second dry-hopping to the already hop-driven Drake’s IPA. The resulting brew was so delicious it took bronze at the annual Bistro IPA Festival and was featured at the Grand Opening for local beer bar Taps. In 2012, the brew has evolved and is Drake’s summer release, attracting fans from far and wide for a special release party at the brewery. This week’s Beer of the Week is Drake’s Brewing’s Aroma Coma IPA.
Aroma Coma is our summer seasonal India Pale Ale. We’ve brewed it annually since 2009 for a local IPA festival where it was selected one of the tope three beers in the competition. The malt bill consists of almost all 2-row barley malt with a touch of Caramalt for body – leaving you with a delightfully hop-forward experience. Generous amounts of Cascade, Chinook, CTZ, & Citra hops create the citrus, pine, and floral notes. Breate’em in an enjoy!
With a name like Aroma Coma, the beer should announce it’s presence with authority. Rich hop aromas bubble out of the brew with pineapple, citrus and a firm resinous dankiness. On the palate the beer is light, washing over the tongue with a quickness and finishing with a hoppy bite. A lingering lemon pith bitterness sits on the tongue but quickly disappears.
Aroma Coma is a unique kind of IPA in that it’s not about the back-end of the beer. Many would assume this beer were stronger and more bitter due to it’s pungent qualities, but the beauty lies in the easy drinking nature of the beer. Reminiscent of the Drake’s spring release, Alpha Session, Aroma Coma is a grown-up, full-bodied brother of the 3.9% hop tea. Lovers of hops should not miss this beer.
