Beer Review – Northmont (Yellow Bridge Brewing)
Sometimes the only thing to do after a long day of dealing with customers and mowing the lawn is to come home and crack open a cold one. Isn’t that what we all want? The question then becomes; what should I reach for? Keep reading as I attempt to answer that poignant query.
Yellow Bridge Brewing is a small, family-owned brewery located in Delmont, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh, near White Valley. If you are unfamiliar with the name, it is probably due to their distribution being centralized around Western Pennsylvania. If you know the right people (thanks Tyler!) or make the trek westward — from Central PA –, Yellow Bridge is most certainly a worthy stopping point.
The Brew
Beer: Northmont
Brewery: Yellow Bridge Brewing
Style: Double India Pale Ale/Imperial/Double New England
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 64
Untappd Description: ” Copiously dry hopped with four of our favorite hops – Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Simcoe! The hop profile is nicely balanced with notes of ripe nectarines, orange peel, subtle pine, and a touch of earthiness. This heavy hitter drinks nice and smooth, finishing with a soft bitterness.”
Enjoy In: IPA Glass or Teku
Drink At: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit
The Review
It was love at first pour. The closer to the top of the glass the liquid rose, the more excited I became to drink in this glorious nectar. A stark white, airy, and pillowy head sat atop the golden brew practically begging me to drink it. However, I let it sit for a while, to let the beer warm to life outside the cooler. Allowing a beer to warm allows the aromas and flavors to come forward so that they might be properly experienced.
At 8.5%, Northmont leans towards the higher end of the Double IPA ABV scale, but still manages to drink like an IPA weighing in at 6%. How Yellow Bridge manages to do this is beyond me, but they do and I am extremely grateful. My nose was tickled by floral and candied hop notes and sweetness and my tongue revelled in the deep and dry fruit flavors purveyed by the Citra and Mosaic. There is a certain thickness to the flavor, but not overly so as Northmont never felt heavy or overbearing.
With temperatures soaring into the 90’s, one might think it odd for me to knock back an 8.5% Double IPA. While I do understand this trepidation, I also must point out that Northmont, at no point, came across as anything but a drinkable, playful, gluggable beer. There is something to be said for breweries that can make high ABV beers accessible.
My Untappd Rating: ****-1/4
Global Rating: 4.05 (as of 6/26/19)
PROST!
-J.Doncevic
