Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Across America West Coast Double IPA

The 2014 Beer Camp Across America featured a special 12-pack release from Sierra Nevada Brewing of Chico, California. They invited craft breweries all across America (2,800 of them) to join in a collaboration brew with them, and their invitation was sending a bottle of this beer to all of them. They then took a Beer Camp Tour with seven stops across the USA as they made their way from their Chico Brewery to the site of their new brewery in Mills River, NC (there was an eighth mini-camp at El Bait Shop in Des Moines, Iowa). 

This 8.5% ABV double India Pale Ale pours dark golden orange and apricot in color. There is a tall, thick, foamy white head. The aroma is tropical fruits, full, ripe, rich, along with a tang of citrus. There seems to be a touch of pine in there as well. The taste follows the aromas, rich, full, ripe tropical fruits, citrus, orange and tangerine, a bit of pine, with enough malt to hold it up, but still let the hops shine. It has a dry and moderately to intensely bitter finish. It has a very smooth, rich and inviting mouthfeel. This is an overall wonderful beer, what a great invitation!