Mast Landing Ddh Tell Tale

Mast Landing's Tell Tale carries the DDH tag, short for double dry-hopped, which means hops go into the fermenter twice, after the boil, to build aroma without adding much bitterness. Beers labeled this way are usually hazy, New England-style IPAs, so expect a cloudy, pale golden pour with a soft, full mouthfeel and a nose led by hop oils rather than malt. The listing gives no ABV or IBU, so treat the following as the style's typical profile rather than measured figures for this can: citrus and tropical fruit such as grapefruit, orange peel, mango and pineapple, sometimes with a resinous or piney edge. Bitterness in this style tends to stay low and rounded, and the malt is a quiet, bready backdrop that mostly exists to carry the hops. Serve it cold but not ice-cold, around 40 to 45°F (4 to 7°C). Straight from a very cold fridge, the hop aromatics mute; a few minutes on the counter lets the fruit come forward. Because the whole point of a double dry-hopped beer is its aroma, pour it into a tulip, a wide-mouthed IPA glass or a stemmed snifter instead of drinking from the can. The curved bowl concentrates the volatile hop compounds, and a rough pour into the glass releases some carbonation and brings the aroma up. Drink it fresh, since hop character in beers like this fades with time and warmth. At the table, the juicy citrus and low bitterness suit foods that would flatten a harsher, more bitter IPA. Fish tacos with lime, grilled shrimp, Thai or Vietnamese dishes with herbs and chili, and carnitas all work, as do pork banh mi and spicy fried chicken. Soft, tangy cheeses such as fresh chèvre or young cheddar pair well, and the beer's fruitiness also balances the heat of a good curry. Very sweet desserts will tend to overpower it, so keep it for the savory part of the meal.