Bale Breaker Bottomcutter IIPA
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Tasting Notes
Bottomcutter leads with a dense wave of tropical and citrus aromas — think mango, grapefruit pith, and a hint of pine resin — drawn from the hop fields that literally surround the brewery. On the palate, the bitterness is assertive but not harsh, balanced by a firm malt backbone that keeps the whole thing from falling into purely bitter territory. The body is medium-full, with a slight sweetness that softens the hop bite mid-sip. The finish is long and resinous, with lingering citrus and a dry hop character that invites another sip.
About the Brewery
Bale Breaker is based in Yakima, Washington, and was founded in 2013 by members of the Loftus family, whose roots in hop farming go back four generations. Operating in the middle of the Yakima Valley — one of the most important hop-growing regions in the world — gives them unusually direct access to fresh hops and a close relationship with the agricultural side of brewing. They're known for hop-forward beers that reflect the regional terroir, and Topcutter IPA is their flagship.
Food Pairings
Spicy Thai or Vietnamese dishes work well here because the hop bitterness cuts through chile heat while the malt body cools things down. A well-charred cheeseburger pairs naturally, the caramelized beef fat and sharp cheddar meeting the resinous bitterness without either overwhelming the other. Strong washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio complement the tropical hop notes while the beer's bitterness scrubs the richness off the palate. Grilled chicken with a citrus marinade mirrors the beer's own citrus character and ties the whole plate together.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial IPA is essentially a bigger, bolder version of the American IPA — more malt, more hops, more alcohol, typically ranging from 7.5% to 10% ABV. The style originated in the early 2000s as American craft brewers began pushing IPA intensity further, with Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA and Russian River's Pliny the Elder helping define the template. Where a standard IPA is built around balance, a Double IPA tilts deliberately toward hop intensity, using extra malt not for sweetness but as structural scaffolding. It differs from a barleywine in that the hop character dominates over malt complexity.