The Gemini is inexplicably capped with some sort of strange concrete/wax hybrid that was annoying to get off, even after utilizing various kitchen tools of various sharpness and flexibility.  It was a fork, I beleive, which dealt the seal it’s death blow, and I was finally able to crack this fucker open.  I didn’t quite know what to expect from this brew, but it was definitely surprising on a few levels.  Poured a beautiful color that’s a bit darker maybe than the average Double IPA, but had a nice huge head and had a big variety of hop flavors going on in the nose.  I was pleasantly surprised that this beer was lighter in body than the Unearthly, and lacked a bit of the somewhat excessive sweetness of that brew.  The Gemini is therefore a more balanced Double IPA, but I would hardly call it restrained.  At a whopping 10% ABV and in a bomber, this beer set me straight almost immediately.  I took some time with it and drank it over the course of about an hour, and the warmish end of it was very intensely flavorful.  Sometimes I drink these beers too cold, especially on hot days, and I’m glad I took my time with this one in front of the AC.  The malt flavors were great, very drinkable and this pleasantly carbonated Double IPA is probably even better if it’s super fresh, and without the physical challenge attached.

Manalishi starts the epic stink as soon as you open the bottle, and as you let it sit and drink it slowly over the course of an hour, it really develops into something interesting. A dark and beautiful amber color with a nice thick and quickly dissipating head reveals a brew with a syrupy mouthfeel which accompanies the malts. But of course, this brew is all about the enormous amounts of Hops, and this jam delivers a huge bouquet of stank grapefruits and some pine as well. Malty and sweet up front, hoppy all the way through, and lingering on the tongue, this is what I like in a DIPA — complexity and extremity. I scored a few other Hoppin’ Frog beers which I will definitely be writing up, and between my first Bell’s last night and my first Hoppin’ Frog tonight, my haul is already looking outrageous.