Meet Melvin Brewing, Masters of IPAs

By Lee Heidel March 18, 2017

Wyoming-based Melvin Brewing brings fun and flavor to its IPA series.

The craft beer scene is full of colorful characters. There’s something in the DNA of brewers and founders that prioritizes individuality and the pursuit of fun.

As a case in point, Melvin Brewing’s co-founders have the creative titles of “Field Hoperative” and “Head Donkey.” That spirit of irreverence carries over to the tagline of Melvin’s flagship Double India Pale Ale 2×4 with an inscription that reads “If your beer is not madness, it’s not beer.”

That said, there’s a method to Melvin’s madness and it’s paying off in delicious ales. 2×4 is the jewel in Melvin’s crown, having received multiple industry awards, including back-to-back wins at the Alpha King Challenge. The hefty Double IPA has earned 96 points out of a possible 100 on Beer Advocate’s user scorecard. After a single tasting experience, it’s easy to understand the hype. 2×4 pours from its can a clear, clean golden color with an expansive, fluffy off-white head. The aroma is orange zest with a touch of pine. Just enough alcohol and bitterness come through on the flavor to balance the sweet citrus and biscuit-like malts.

melvin brewing asterisk — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Not content to coast on the accolades of 2×4, Melvin has gone on to create a line of other boozy hop bombs dubbed the Rotational Imperial India Pale Ale Series. DIPA was a direct result of 2×4’s success, brewed as a beer competition replacement. The heavy use of mosaic hops gives the beer its tropical fruit notes and the light, drinkable body makes it hard not to guzzle. Drunken Master IIPA is an award winner at last year’s National IPA Championships, with a blend of Citra, Columbus and as-yet-unnamed hop varietals. Citradamus IIPA is a dense, full Double IPA brewed with 100% Citra hops. The final beer in the series, Lambda Lambda Lambda IIPA ups all the good stuff with even more hops and more alcohol than its sibling beers.

Melvin Brewing’s beers are currently available in Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Vermont and British Columbia. The brewery’s sponsored National 2×4 Day celebration is held in bars around the world on February 4th.

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Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…

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