Happy Memorial Day everyone! Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend. Congratulations well to Aeromech for their winning of the Ski to Sea race on Sunday! It was an impressive race, with Aeromech barely beating Boundary Bay Brewing. Whether competing, volunteering, or watching the race, it was an overall beautiful weekend in Bellingham.

To celebrate the culmination of Memorial Day and Ski to Sea weekend we are going to end with a big, hoppy celebration from Fremont Brewing — Endurance IPA. This humongous double IPA is brewed with four hop varieties: Amarillo, Mosaic, Southern Cross, and Jarrylo. It was brewed specially, just to commemorate the Ski to Sea race. The bottle, which is adorned with the map of the Ski to Sea race also states that, “Fremont is a mythical brewery located on the outskirts of your imagination and the edge of the possible. Should you choose to seek us out, know that once you step onto this road, you cannot go back to the life you led before. The quest for craft beer will alter your perception of yourself and those around you, particularly after two or three beers. So, stand up straight, tighten your laces or fasten down your velcro straps and pack your bags, if you choose to look for Fremont, you will need some…Endurance IPA. Enjoy the ride, Because Beer Matters!” Quite a lead-up for this beer from Fremont, usually adept with hops, this one should be no exception. Those who have enjoyed Interurban IPA, or the Sister Imperial IPA from Fremont should enjoy this as well.

Brewery: Fremont Brewing Co.
Beer: Endurance IPA (2015 Ski to Sea Race)
ABV: 9.75%
Cost: $4.99 / 22oz Bottle

Appearance (4.0/5) — Pours a deep and bright copper color. Initially a tall bright white head forms, but dissipates to a thin layer that coats the inside of the glass. Lacing left behind is consistent and sticky, resinous almost.

Aroma (3.75/5) — Fairly muted initially, smells of rich caramel malt sweetness balanced by a wonderfully juicy and bitter hop note. Big notes of pineapple, mango, citrus, and tropical fruit juices develop, as well as little alcohol heat and bitterness.

Taste (4.25/5) — Tastes of strongly juicy and bitter hops, this is a hop wallop for sure, Mosiac hop notes are very juicy and sweet, big mango, pineapple, peach, nectarine, lemon, pine, citrus, little bit of a sweet malt finish to balance the juicy and bitter hop profile.

Mouthfeel (4.25/5) — Very much an Imperial IPA here, rich and almost thick, slightly heavy. Finish is long and lingering, warms on the way down, can almost definitely detect the high ABV.

Overall (4.0/5) — A very nice beer and a great representation of the double IPA style. Comes with a nice and sweet malt profile without being overly cloying, very juicy and fresh hop profile is very complex, high ABV is almost undetected. This is a great beer to commemorate the end of a wonderful holiday weekend. If you enjoy fresh and juicy hops you will enjoy this, wonderfully balanced between bitter, sweet, rich, and dry. Nicely done Fremont.