Lost Continent Double IPA

Grand Teton's Double IPA was born in our renowned Cellar Reserve program. Fans of our Double IPA and XX Sweetgrass demanded we brew the style on a regular basis. In response, we created Lost Continent in 2009 and updated it for 2010. This year's version is brewed with well over three pounds of hops per barrel in the kettle and another half-pound per barrel of "dry hops" in two additions during conditioning. A revised fermentation program has produced a more traditional Double IPA flavor profile--drier, less malty, more hoppy.

We use only American Pacific Northwest hops. Galena hops are added early in the boil for smooth, balanced bitterness. We add Columbus, Centennial and Amarillo later in the boil for flavor, and Columbus, Centennial and Simcoe in the whirlpool for aroma.

For even more aroma, we dry-hop with Summit, Columbus, Amarillo and Cascade hops in the conditioning tank, and dry-hop again right before bottling with whole-flower Cascade hops. The result is fruity, floral and complex, with notews of tangerine zest and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

Idaho 2-Row Brewers' Malt and German CaraHell and Vienna malts give this ale its lovely pale copper hue, with flavors of orange marmalade and dried apricots, supported by a strong backbone of hoppy bitterness.

The hops provide citrusy, resinous spiciness, making this beer a great match for any bold, flavorful food. Try it with prime rib, Indian food, Cajun blackened pork or chicken, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine. For a rare treat, serve Lost Continent with roast wild duck and orange sauce.

India Pale Ales were originally brewed to quench the thirst of the British who occupied India in the 1700s. Lighter, sweeter ales of the day would spoil and sour long before reaching their destination. The stronger, heavily hopped IPAs could survive the long, arduous voyage through tropical waters and twice across the equator.

To the delight of hopheads everywhere, the style has survived through the centuries and has become the beer of choice for adventurers with the curiosity to discover what lies over the horizon.

Specifications

Malts: Idaho 2-Row Brewers, German CaraHell & Vienna
Hops: Galena, Columbus, Centennial & Bravo Dry hopped with Columbus & Cascade
Original Gravity: 18 Plato (1.072)
International Bittering Units: 90+
Alcohol by Volume: 8.0%