Matt Swihart and Charlie Devereaux crossed paths while working at Full Sail Brewing in Hood River, Oregon. In February 2006, Swihart caught glimpse of a “For Lease” sign in one of the few light-industrial-zoned storefronts in downtown Hood River. St. Patrick’s Day 2007, Swihart and Devereaux opened Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom in said spot, named after Swihart’s orchard, Double Mountain Orchards — where one can look in one direction and see Mt. Adams and then look in the other direction and see Mt. Hood. With a mash tun paddle and one hand and a banjo in the other, Swihart ran the brewery while Devereaux ran the pub, creating a pizza that draws as well as their, Belgian inspired yet Northwest centric craft beer. Eventually Swihart became sole owner celebrating opening taprooms in the Portland neighborhoods of Woodstock and Overlook. Today, Peaks & Pints will be a top Tacoma destination as we present a Tuesday flight of Double Mountain beer — a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Double Mountain.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Double Mountain
Double Mountain Kolsch
5.2% ABV
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 Vaporizer Pale
6% ABV
Double Mountain’s OG Vaporizer Pale is brewed with 100 percent Gambrinus Pilsner, their sweet and supple house malt from Gambrinus Malting in British Columbia and Challenger hops grown on a single farm in the Yakima Valley. Double Mountain dry hops Vaporizer to pump up the hoppy goodness. It’s an appetizingly dry, clean, and pure-tasting take on a hoppy pale ale.
Double Mountain Hey Porter!
6.2% ABV
Hey, Porter! is a robust porter — a style known for its depth, dry finish, and stronger alcohol content. Robust porters are bold and complex, with a drier, roast-forward flavor compared to their sweeter counterparts. This beer pours dark garnet, nearly black in color, with enticing aromas of roasty toasty coffee. Each sip offers notes of toffee and a hint of raisin, balanced by a mild lingering bitterness that finishes crisp.
Double Mountain Hop Lion IPA
6.7% ABV
“Tropic resin, tangerine / Petrichor and evergreen / Fill your chalice, fill it wide / Then pass it upon the left-hand side” — so states Double Mountain Hop Lion hype. Hmmm … Matt Swihart is a music freak, Hop Lion’s bottle sports Jamaican colors and “left hand side” … could it be a nod to British Jamaican reggae band Musical Youth? Whatever. This IPA is delicious with bitter, citrus peel like aroma and gritty, malty, earthy and tangerine flavors, mon.
Double Mountain Fa La La La La
7.6% ABV
Winter warmers are top-fermenting ales that offer plenty of malty and sweet flavors alongside a balanced hop character. Many of these tasty brews are blended with spices, which give the style its trademark “warmth.” Double Mountain’s winter warmer is a big, malty hop bomb. Brewer Matt Coughlin loads the brewery’s holiday brew up with Gambrinus Organic Pilsner, Munich malt, imported Crystal malts and enough Centennials to fill Santa’s toy bag.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
