BEER REVIEW: 353

BREWER: Elusive Brewing, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Double West Coast IPA

ABV: 8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

X: @ElusiveBrew

INSTAGRAM: elusivebrew

DATE OF POST: 12th July 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Well well well, here we are at stop two of our trek along Elusive’s Oregon Trail. Last week was the original brew. This week it’s the turn of the Double IPA version (just in case you didn’t absorb that bit at the top of the page).

Now it wasn’t my intention to compare this DIPA version to the original that we reviewed last week. However, now I’ve tested this weeks beer and coming to write this review it feels like it kinda makes sense to.

Is this brew as good or potentially better than it’s weaker older brother?

In a word, no.

However, it is still very tasty indeed!!!

The lovely creamy mouthfeel is what clearly links these two beers. It’s basically as you might expect, identical. The large hop presence is also very very similar but this time is balanced by an early sweetness. And because of the sweetness, the bitterness of Double OT is definitely less of a smack in the chops than the original OT. However, once swallowed and after a second or so all the bitterness and hoppy hits come flooding in.

Though not a patch on last week’s worldy, this is still a great brew.

Let’s see what the Double Red version brings next week!

EX. CI. TED.

Jymi’s Rating: 81%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Our epic saga continues, taking us deeper along the fabled Oregon Trail. This time, we encounter a formidable new brew: the Double Oregon Trail. Like a seasoned adventurer with stories to tell, it brings more complexity and intrigue.

Let us begin with the aroma, which is more complex than Oregon Trail: a rich tapestry of scents. There’s a delightful mix of mango and burnt caramel, as if the very essence of an (exotic) campfire feast in the wilderness has been captured in the glass. It’s familiar yet intriguingly different, hinting at the depth of experience to come.

The first sip is best described, as is often the case, as a tale of two halves. The initial sweetness greets you warmly, like an old friend traveling part of the trail with you, only to be swiftly followed by a robust bitterness that asserts itself with confidence, the kind you need on a long journey.  This double IPA is more complex than the original, a layered narrative where sugary notes quickly give way to a pronounced bitterness. It’s a well-balanced act, one that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Despite its complexity, Double Oregon Trail maintains excellent mouthfeel. It’s smooth and inviting, enticing you to take another sip and unravel more of its story. 

The packaging continues the thematic journey from the original, linking it visually to the Oregon Trail. While slightly lesser in detail, it still holds true to the adventure, keeping the story consistent.

The Double Oregon Trail is a worthy continuation of our epic adventure. It’s a different beer from the original, with a more complex flavour profile that adds depth to the journey. While it doesn’t quite reach the standout of its base predecessor,  Oregon Trail, it sets a high benchmark and keeps the adventure alive. The sweetness followed by a whopping bitterness is a thrilling ride, and the familiar ties to the original make it feel like a natural progression. 

The trail beckons us onwards, to new horizons and new brews.  Who knows what might lay ahead…

Sammy’s Rating: 87%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 84%

MOB review next weekend: DOUBLE SUNSET OREGON TRAIL by ELUSIVE BREWING

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Twitter: @museonbooze

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