Birthday Month Hop Latte Cold Brew Double IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co. was judged as BJCP 30A, Spice, Herb or Vegetable beer with 22A Imperial IPA as the base style. The beer opens with a faint whiff of grapefruit quickly overtaken by coffee aromatics. There is a touch of an herbal note combined with a little green. The overall aroma comes across a little disjointed for me, as it seems to be fighting against itself. The beer is very hazy -- nearly murky. It is a yellowish tan color with a white creamy head that held up throughout. The flavor starts out with moderate levels of coffee. Somewhat earthy and the green pepper is more elevated in the flavor than what was found in the aroma. The citrus makes itself know, and, as in the nose, it seems to be in conflict with the coffee. There is a moderate amount of bitterness from both the hops and coffee. The coffee also aids in providing a somewhat drying finish. While there is some residual sweetness via lactose that carries into the aftertaste -- providing the latte aspect of the beer. The lactose also aids in a creamy mouthfeel and medium body. The lower carb levels also play a part in the lightly mouth-coating viscosity.

Overall, an interesting concept, but, for me, it just wasn’t executed harmoniously. In my opinion, the coffee and citrus are conflicting flavors. I often have this same reaction to Black IPAs. There is something about roast and citrus that do not often play well together. I am aware that this is a personal preference, and if you love Black IPAs you’ll probably appreciate this beer. However, as a Double IPA, the base beer misses the mark. The overall hop levels are too low in aroma, flavor and bitterness. The addition of lactose to provide the latte character works against the desired DIPA effects. If I set aside style parameters and just evaluate the beer as its own thing, I still come to the conclusion that the beer is experiencing some cognitive dissidence. However, if you love a squeeze of lemon and cream in your coffee, this beer might be right up your ally.