This is Odell’s homage to the Myrcene – the oil in the hop flower that provides its beautiful aromas and flavours. And boy they have done justice to honouring this oil, essential to those hop-forward beers that Odell are such masters of creating.

Odell have used a blend of hops that contain the highest levels of Myrcene for this double IPA and this creates a beautiful floral aroma and bountiful tropical flavour, with notes of grapefruit and pine. Typically of Odell beers it is wonderfully smooth and balanced. At 9.3%, one expects a certain spirit-like alcohol burn. This is not the case with the Myrcenary. Instead a touch of bitterness helps to provide a beautiful clean finish. It is dangerously drinkable for such a strong beer.

This beer is pretty pricey, mainly due to its high alcohol level along with the US import cost, but in my view worth every penny.

My favourite beer of the year so far.