Leafer Madness and the Great Hop Shortage of 2008

Leafer Madness is a Doubel IPA by the Beer Valley Brewing Company of Ontario, Oregon. On the website the brewery states that Leafer Madness was brewed during the Great Hop Shortage of 2008. The rise of microbrews, the destruction of a big hops wearhouse in Washington, and severe, crop-killing weather in europe, and changes in agricutlure prices created a perfect storm for a drop in hop supplies.

This has an interesting effect on the microbrew industry. Brewers began looking at where there hops came from and re-evaluated the benefits of usingh hops shipped in from other parts of the US or world. There is now a strong movement to use locally grown hops. So beer is now moving into the buy local movement.

A friend got this from BevMo. It has an ABV of 9%.

The beer pours a cloudy, dark golden color, with a sizeable, fluffy white head. There are good lacings too. The aroma has assetive pine hops, with citrus, floral and spice hop notes. The taste follows the aroma with strong pine hop punch, sweet malts with a little roast, and hints of breadiness. The taste finishes with citrus and floral hopes. It's medium bodied, nice bottled conditioned carbonation, and dry. 

Overall, its a good Double IPA, and I suggest you Try It. It has the big hop flavor that you look for in a DIPA, with a nice malt balance. I like the haziness, which is a clear sign of bottle conditioning.