Mt. Carmel Brewing Company - Take Home IPA

Pouring a bright golden hue with a robust head of persistent off-white foam that laces well as it recedes, Take Home IPA presents an expressive aroma to go with its bright appearance. Look for luscious fruity citrus notes melded with soft floral tones, pineapple and other tropical notes, touches of pine, some herbal grassiness, and wisps of berry and white pepper. On the palate, this brew delivers beautiful hop expression, as a mixture of sharper herbal pine and citrus notes of orange and grapefruit are softened by tropical fruit impressions and floral tones. The malt core provides structure but, in the so-called "West Coast" style of IPA, remains mostly out of the way, playing second fiddle flavorwise to the expressive hops. Mt. Carmel built this IPA around a trio of Pacific Northwest hops (although technically since Zythos is a blend of hops, it's more than a trio), and the end result is a tasty, classic IPA that really hit the spot. Possible pairings include Indian dishes, spicy fajitas, fish tacos with mango salsa, or Thai lemongrass chicken. Cheers!

Situated at the western edge of Appalachian Ohio is Mt. Carmel, a Cincinnati neighborhood home to Mt. Carmel Brewing Company. The business was founded by Cincinnati natives Mike & Kathleen Dewey, originally using a tiny two-vessel brewing system down in the storm cellar of their farmhouse home which was built in 1924. The planning for the business began in 2004. Mike was a successful homebrewer, and he and Kathleen recognized that Cincinnati was a bit behind the curve of the craft brewing renaissance. Despite the fact that up until that time no local microbrewery had been very successful, Kathleen ultimately believed in her husband's brewing skill and passion, and convinced him to go pro.

Just one year later, in 2005, the business was underway and the first drops of Mt. Carmel beer were flowing into the local Cincinnati market. Then, in the midst of trying to build the business, their children came, providing the pair with the dual challenge of managing a fledgling business and a growing family. Fast forward to the present day, and their hard work has paid off handsomely. They've long since grown out of their cellar brewery to an 80 barrel brewhouse, and their beers see distribution throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Currently, Mt. Carmel offers five year-round beers, four seasonals, and about a half-dozen limited release beers, including the two tasty brews they've brewed for us this month. For more info about the brewery and their Public House Tap Room, call 513-240-2739 or visit them at mtcarmelbrewingcompany.com.