Well crafted Double IPA's are no strangers to the Best of Show round, so it isn't any surprise that King Tide from Island Brewing Company was one of three beers that made it to the BOS round in the inaugural beer competition for the 21st Annual Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew festival. 

Island Brewing is no stranger to the accolades, either.  Visit their website to see a complete list of their award winning beers which include gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup competitions.

Food Pairings for
King Tide: Double IPA

Kevin
Greek Cuisine: Lamb
Italian Cuisine: charcuterie/salamis
Vegetarian Cuisine: Grilled Asparagus
Cheese: Camembert, Humbolt Fog Bleu, Matag Bleu


Jason
Italian Cuisine:  Alfredo & grilled fish

Description from Island Brewing Company's website: 
On the odd chance you don't already know it, your new favorite beer has arrived here at Island Brewing Company. The King Tide, as we are calling it, has many beautiful things about it, the glinting and gorgeous copper color, that delicate lace producing head, the inscrutable Double IPA regalness. We're talking about 85 IBUs with Centennial and Zythos hops surging in to buoy your taste buds. The 9.8% ABV is sure to have you rummaging through some interesting parts of your brain, and sharing the finds with your friends. 

The #beersuggestioneers hit it big with Double Trunk from The Dudes' Brewing Company. We have some awesome food pairings and one non-food beer pairing for this GIANT beer.

Pairing Suggestions:
1. Quinoa salad with beets, goat cheese and pine nuts.
2. An EPIC movie, but you have to listen to the show to find out which one.
3. Popcorn

General Beer Pairing Suggestions:  
Cheese: Pepper Jack. Meat: smoked salmon. Cuisine: American, Mexican, Indian Curry  

Examples:  Pliny the Elder, Furious, Hopsickle, Hop Slayer

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Snifter

From the Dudes' Website: 
They say an elephant never forgets. When it comes to this double IPA, you won't either. This gentle giant certainly has mad hops, but ferments out dry so it's not too malty on the finish. Clocking in at 10.8 percent ABV, it's definitely not for the timid mice amongst you. Put on your trunks and dive in.

If you think all DIPA's are alike then you haven't tasted Saint Archer Brewery's offering. This DIPA has all kinds of tropical fruit, melon and bready aromas and flavors.

Food pairings suggestions:  
1. Rosemary Focaccia 
2. Pastrami sandwich on rye with baby greens
3. Pungent/earthy cheese

General Beer Pairing Suggestions:  
Cheese: Pepper Jack. Meat: smoked salmon. Cuisine: American, Mexican.   

Examples:  Pliny the Elder, Furious, Hopsickle, Hop Slayer

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Snifter

Aroma: Lots of tropical fruit, grapefruit, pine, and a hint of wet earth.  As it warms melon notes become apparent. 

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange with off-white head that leaves a nice lace

Flavor: Bready malt with a hint of rye-like spice and complex tropical hop flavors.  As it warms melon notes become apparent. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body

It's time for another IPA and the pints&pairings #beersuggestioneers are ready to dissect the aromas and flavors of Saint Archer's IPA.

Food pairings suggestions:  
1. Lemmon zest scones
2. Swiss steak with sautéed or caramelized onions

General Beer Pairing Suggestions:  
Cheese: Pepper Jack. Meat: Fish, smoked salmon. Cuisine: American, Mexican.   

Saint Archer IPA

Examples:  Titan,  Stone IPA, Two Hearted Ale, 11th Hour IPA 

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Pint Glass, Mug

Aroma: Pine resin hits first followed by a nice bready malt aroma that almost covers up a wonderful herbal hop aroma. 

Appearance: Pours a dark golden, straw color with a thick white head that laces nicely.

Flavor:  Piney floral hops abound with an accretive  bitterness that finishes some citrus zest.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body

The #beersuggestioneers enjoy IPA 395 from Mammoth Brewing company. IPA 395 is a truly unique beer that incorporates juniper and sage which lends itself to some really exciting pairings.

Food Pairing Suggestions:
1.  Mushroom and cream sauce dishes.
2.  Double cream brie (ex. truffle brie)
3.  Tangy sauces (horseradish, mustard) to resonate with the juniper flavors.

IPA 395 - Mammoth Brewing Co.

BJCP 20: Imperial/Double IPA

Other Commercial Examples: 

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Tulip, Snifter

Appearance:  Beautiful dark amber/copper color with a thick creamy head.

Aroma: Sage and juniper are front and center followed by copious amounts of tropical hop aromas. Subtle sweet malt and fruity esters become apparent as the beer warms.

Flavor:  The sweet malt flavors are balanced by juniper (softened by the sage flavors) and the hop flavor and bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-heavy with lots of prickly carbonation that help to lighten the mouthfeel. 

pints&pairings' beer suggestioneers let the beer do the talking, or rather the Imperial IPA induced impairment do the talking. I make fun of session beer, beer geeks and Jason provides the food pairings.  We can all be happy that he is around to save this show.

Basic food pairing suggestions for DIPA's
1.  Beef stews
2.  Spice cakes
3. Pecan toppings (spiced or sweetened)

Hop Slayer Double IPA by Wild Onion Brewing Co.

Examples:  Pliny the Elder, Surly Furious, Moylan's Hopsickle

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Snifter

Aroma: Think citrus (grapefruit), resinous pine, or even tropical fruit. There may be a slight sweetness present from the malt but the hop aromas will most likely cover up those aromas. 

Appearance: Colors will vary from medium gold to a reddish copper but they will all be clear unless they have been dry hopped and then there may be a slight haze.  Because the malt used has very little dark color the head will be white to off white and should persist.

Flavor: IPA’s are all about the hops (bitterness, flavor and aroma) and so there will be medium to high amount of hop flavor and bitterness that will reflect the American hop citrus qualities (citrusy, floral, resinous, pine).  Malt flavor will be low to showcase all the hop characteristics.

Mouthfeel: You can expect a medium body with a pleasing mouth puckering bitterness (think grapefruit) that helps to dry the beer out and creates a thirst quenching, refreshing beer.