Mike McDole's joins a proud few, a fraternity that includes brewers like Jamil Zainasheff and John Maier. Winning last year for his Eisbock, Mike goes in a different direction with a full on hop blast with his DIPA.

From Mike's notes:

As anyone who tasted my Double IPA would tell you, it's based on Vinnie's Pliny The Elder recipe (2004). I've modified his recipe by adding a Northern Brewer addition at 15 minutes and a cascade hopback treatment. I also reduced the amount of corn sugar by two thirds. Mine’s a bit maltier but the additional hops seem to balance that out. Once you get over the bitterness and alcohol, the most impressive thing about this beer is the great mouthfeel from the dexitrins and layered hops.

Notes:

The water was R/O to which was added gypsum, Epsom Salt, and salt to bring it to Ca-110ppm, Mg-118ppm, Na-17ppm, SO4-350ppm, Cl-50ppm.

Malt extract was added to the boil because of insufficient mashtun capacity.

The 0 minute hop (cascade) was a hopback. A hop addition at flameout could be substituted.

Pitched 2.5 gallon starter.

The fermentor was roused every 3 days after the first week.

Half of the dryhop was added after one week and the other half after two weeks (two weeks in secondary.)

Fermentation temperature was 69F.

Actual O.G was 1.094. F.G was 1.025.

A 7 micron filter was used after two weeks of cold storage.