Cone Zone

ARTWORK BY MARK FAULKNER

GREEN HOP DOUBLE IPA
8.1% ABV
SEASONS CHANGE

A magically true, local phenomenon of a brew. A story of discovery where lush bines of luminous Cascade hops were found growing in the open Glaswegian air…

Back in September the very generous, green-fingered Gary of Queens Park allotment fame, kindly offered up his fresh bounty of fragrant hops. Gary- we salute you! 

This hopportunity was just too good to pass up. So we got to work. We mashed in at the crack of dawn then went to the top of Queens Park, empty buckets clutched in our hopeful hands, to reap our reward. 

Six kilos of the zingy-green Cascade hops went in at the very end of the boil. The beer went on to become a Goliath of a Double IPA: a whole load of Admiral was added at the dry hop stage to bulk up the orange-citrus character of the beer. A smidgen of Eclipse, Enigma and Azacca also went in to complement both the orange and piney-resinous flavours. 

Cone Zone also sees Dookit’s first foray into heritage malt varieties. Plumage Archer has been making a come back for some time now and it’s great to finally brew with it. The thickly pleasant caramel notes brilliantly softens the high alcohol content. 

This strong IPA should please most hop heads. There’s enough balance between the piney notes and fruitiness to satisfy West Coasties. But it’s not too bitter and has a pretty soft mouthfeel, so East Coast fans please gather round, don’t be afraid. And more: the malty sweetness and lower carbonation give the beer a kind of smooth weight the real ale and traditional British IPA enthusiasts will love. 

The beer pours a deep golden marmalade colour. On the nose there’s sweet tinned tangerines soaked in a boozy punch. And on the palate the peppery bitterness from the much loved Pilgrim hop blends real nice with the herbal quality of the green Cascade hops.