*Pairs well with a puzzle based game, an open world game.

Welcome to another weekly craft beer review (Officially every Wednesday) for Games And A Glass! This week I am reviewing a craft beer from Tonewood Brewing, in Oaklyn, New Jersey. This week’s selection is their Improv, a double dry hopped double IPA. Say that five times fast. Of course, before going into the review itself, let’s talk about Tonewood Brewing.

Located in South Jersey, this brewery has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best in the local craft beer scene. With their craft hits like the hazy and fruity Fuego IPA, the more simple but reliable Freshies American pale ale, or the darker Revolution porter, Tonewood is giving us the goods that we can’t get enough of.

As an aside, I work at a liquor store, and we see new craft beers every week. While some are unique in their style or flavor profile, and some are just excellent all around, the bread and butter for our broad selection is always going to be Tonewood Brewing. Whenever someone asks for a recommendation for an IPA, my first choice is always Tonewood’s Fuego. As an IPA fan, it’s fruity, hoppy, and delicious. And it’s only a matter of time before I do an official review of it.

Regarding their name and their story, Tonewood provides a cool but brief excerpt on how Tonewood came to be.

“Wondering how Tonewood Brewing got its name and what it means to its brewers? For music enthusiasts, the name should strike a chord. Tonewoods are types of wood used to construct instruments. In the hands of the right craftsmen, the instruments made by Tonewoods are works of art in their own right. In the hands of the right musician, these Tonewoods produce art that is unforgettable.

Tonewood Brewing embraces the spirit of these woods. By taking the simplest of ingredients – water, malted grains, hops, and yeast – we plan to craft our own works of art. And, we hope in your hands, they are unforgettable.” (https://www.tonewoodbrewing.com/single-post/2016/05/17/Whats-in-a-name-1\)

Their notes are provided on their website and read, “Improv  8.0% ABV – Double Dry Hopped Double IPA  – When the grain delivery gets delayed in a snow storm and you want to brew a DIPA anyway, you could end up with a fantastic improvisation of artistry and science. Its’s all in the note you don’t heat.”

Like me, you might be asking yourself, “What the hell is a double dry hopped double IPA? What is a double IPA?” Well, after a bit of research, beeradvocate.com provided some insight that might be of use.

“Basically, a Double IPA should be hop-centric and assertive both in aroma and flavor, and have a higher alcohol content than a standard IPA (not “double,” per se, just higher), achieved by adding more malt.”

And now onto my thoughts!

Nose: As I open the can to pour it into a glass, I immediately notice the burst of hops that fill the area. It sets the mood for what the beer will smell like and what it’s trying to portray. Now poured, the hops dominate the smell. Despite this, there’s a very subtle whiff of fruit or citrus that hides somewhere among the hops. This can be connected to its color and look; the beer itself looks hazy and cloudy. And by this I mean the beer is a darker shade of gold that is veiled by the hops. Perhaps amongst all the hops there is some kind of fruit or citrusy flavor that goes with what I’m smelling.

Palate: At first taste, it’s loaded with hops as the description of the beer suggests. This isn’t a bad thing though because the hops aren’t bitter as some IPAs can be. It’s more on the fruity side and I think it works well because I can’t imagine drinking a beer with a ton of hops that doesn’t have something to go along with it or calm it down. After a few sips, I finally pick up on the subtle citrus in the beer. It leaves a quick and subtle finish to slightly balance the hop flavor. The beer itself is refreshing and is something that IPA fans would appreciate. At eight percent ABV, it’s definitely a beer that will stick with you and that you’ll want to enjoy over time, rather than drinking it quickly.

Overall: This is another solid beer from Tonewood! It’s very hoppy but in a way you can enjoy it. I hate to sound like a broken record but it starts out by presenting that heavy abundance of hops, and the subtle citrus leaves you curious to explore. I love its color and the flavor profile that matches it. It’s refreshing and the backend of a citrusy flavor is a nice change of pace to balance everything out. I think it would be a nice beer to show to a friend who is curious in a double IPA, or a great choice for someone who wants something really hoppy.

I’d like to thank you for reading my craft beer review. If there’s ever a craft beer you’d recommend I try and/or review, please let me know and I will try, to the best of my ability, to acquire it! And remember, like a fine alcoholic beverage or a memorable video game, please enjoy in moderation.