Founded on St. Patrick’s Day 2007, Double Mountain Brewery has a clear mission: “Make great beer for craft beer fans.” Ever since then owner Matt Swihart (when not playing guitar in his band GreenNeck Daredevils) has worked hard to meet this mission, focusing on uncompromising beer quality, with ingredients such as two-row pilsner malts from British Columbia, Belgian yeast strains, fruit from Hood River orchards and Northwest hops. Famed for both their hoppy and sour fruit beers such as IRA, Vaporizer and Devil’s Kriek as well as the brewpub in downtown Hood River’s awesome pizza, family friendly atmosphere and live music, Double Mountain has become a top Oregon destination. Today, Peaks and Pints will be a top Tacoma destination as we’re hosting Double Mountain tonight and companion all-day beer flight we call Craft Beer Crosscut 2.22.18: A Flight of Double Mountain.
Double Mountain Dry Cider
6.7% ABV
Double Mountain had long toyed with releasing their own hard cider, occasionally featuring housemade cider on at the taproom made from owner Matt Swihart’s own apples. The brewery finally releases its own Dry Cider in December 2017, blending freshly harvested heirloom apples from Double Mountain Orchards and Hood River Newtowns, Braeburns, and Hanners for old world complexity. Double Mountain gave it plenty of time to dry out and develop the aromas of juicy pear, lychee, green fruit, and chamomile. It finishes tart, crisp, dry and quenching.
Double Mountain Peche Mode
8% ABV, 10 IBU
When I’m with Double Mountain Peche Mode baby
I go out of my head
And I just can’t get enough
And I just can’t get enough
Double Mountain grabbed silver at the 2016 Willamette Week Oregon Beer Awards for its peach ale, Peche Mode, a play on the 1980s band Depeche Mode, which is French for “fast fashion,” but of course the Peche Mode is made slowly and meant to be enjoyed that way. It’s brewed with 700 pounds of peaches from Double Mountain founder Matt Swihart’s orchard in Odell. Red Haven and Elberta peaches are puréed and added to a three-week old strong Belgian ale along with the same Brettanomyces culture. This particular beer wasn’t aged as long as the brewery’s krieks, so the Brett character is not as tart and assertive. The peach aroma comes through nicely, providing a sweetness alongside the slight sourness provided by the Brett.
Double Mountain Kolsch
5.2% ABV, 40 IBU
Double Mountain built its empire around two-row pilsner malt sourced from British Columbia. We’re a big fan of pilsner malt — it imparts a definite smoothness to the brew, including Double Mountain’s Kolsch. A tribute to the style of beer native to Cologne (Koln), Germany, this beer is a very light straw pour with just a touch of haze and a decent egg-shell-white head. A little pepper crosses the nose along with sourdough bread, biscuit and light hops. Firm, tangy hops come through on the palate — Sterling and Perle — which is a nice combo of soft malt, fresh grain, spicy pepper and citrus. The finish is light and refreshing.
Double Mountain IRA
6.5% ABV, 65 IBU
This India Red Ale pours a deep red-brown with a frothy white head. With a more-balanced hop profile than most IPAs, it’s a best seller at the Hood River brewery. The hybrid has the hoppiness of a Northwest IPA and the earthy maltiness of a red ale. Dip the nose in for initial sweet, bready malt followed by light citrus and piney hops. On the tongue, expect orange and grapefruit hops balanced by earthy malt, honey and light herbal spiciness.
Double Mountain A Zone IPA
6.8% ABV, 72 IBU
Crafted and brewed with Double Mountain’s buddies at Mt. Hood Meadows to celebrate the ski resort’s 50-year anniversary, A Zone IP pours a traditional burnt orange. Breathe in the fruity/citrusy hop profile with spruce tips riding in the chair. Taste is a little less fruity and has more spruce and pine notes. Expect a soft mouthfeel, a touch of honey, light herbal notes and dry, biscuity malt.
