Great North Double Orbit

Great North Double Orbit is a beer brewed in Massachusetts and released under the Esplanda name. The "Double" in the name points to an imperial or double IPA, though the details on file don't confirm the style, ABV or IBU, so check the can or bottle label for the exact figures. Double IPAs from the New England region generally run roughly 7.5 to 9.5 percent ABV and are built around heavy late-addition and dry hopping rather than sharp bitterness. If this follows that template, expect an aroma led by citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit or resinous pine, depending on the hop varieties used. On the palate, such beers usually have a soft, full body, a modest malt backbone that adds a touch of sweetness and a bitterness that is present but rounded, finishing with a lingering hop character. Hazy versions will look opaque gold to orange; clearer West Coast-leaning versions will be brighter and drier. Either way, a beer of this strength is best sipped slowly instead of finished quickly. For serving, aim for about 6 to 8 °C (43 to 46 °F). Straight from a very cold refrigerator the hop aroma stays muted, and a few minutes on the counter lets the fruit and resin notes open up. A tulip, snifter or IPA-specific glass with a tapered rim concentrates the aroma; a standard shaker pint works but releases it faster. Pour with a firm stream to build a head, and leave any sediment behind if the beer is unfiltered. At the table, hop-forward double IPAs stand up to foods with fat, spice or char. Good matches include a smash burger with sharp cheddar, fried chicken, carnitas tacos, jerk or Thai curries, and aged cheeses such as Gouda or extra-sharp cheddar. Carrot cake and other spiced desserts also work, since the beer's sweetness and fruit echo the cake's. Delicate fish and lightly dressed salads tend to be overwhelmed by a beer of this size.