Clown Shoes 'Space Cake' Double IPA. 9% abv. Amber color with two fingers of bubbly, ivory head. Superb retention, excellent lacing. Nose of bright, spicy hops, sweet bread, stone fruit. Malt aroma and further spice expression come through as the temp rises to room.

Front taste is caramel, bright citrus peel, herbal hops, with sweet malt and tangy orange zest on the back end. Aftertaste is bitter fruity hops, tangerine, botanical resin, with a dry finish. A taste of marmalade comes to mind down the glass. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, tangy, thick, slightly sticky.

This is an excellent beer, a DIPA whose Mosaic hops' spice notes punch up the flavor of its malty backbone while accentuating the herbal and bready expression throughout. Its tall bitter hop bill that is balanced well with its malt base and fruit pastry profile. Think of a holiday fruitcake soaked in Grand Marnier. If that imagined taste appeals to you, this beer is sure to please. It surely pleases me. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Why are Miracle Mike and his dog, Bionic, being chased by many evil laser beam shooting cupackes and two giant layer cake mother ships?  Because we’re straight up lunatic fools?  Well, maybe, but with a few brain cells remaining we managed to craft Space Cake double IPA, utilizing citrusy Mosaic hops and an immaculate West Coast style malt backbone.  Dude… chill out.  Enjoy some Space Cake."

[source: clownshoesbeer.com]

Founders Brewing 'Dankwood' Imperial Red IPA 2018. Aged in Bourbon Barrels. 12.2% abv. 65 IBU. Deep ruby color with two fingers of thick, frothy, off-white head. Outstanding retention and superb lacing that sticks to the glass all the way down. Nose of maple syrup, oak, bourbon, bright floral hops. The bourbon aroma stands tall at the temp rises.

Front taste is fruit pastry, vanilla, bourbon, roasted malt. Aftertaste is strong bourbon, herbal and citrus hops, wood and botanical notes sustain on the back end. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, sticky, clingy, astringent, boozy, woodsy.

This is an excellent beer, a big, boozy, barrel brew that attempts to balance the hop forward profile of an IPA and the amber malty backbone of a red ale with a nearly piercing oak and whiskey expression. It is one of the most complex flavor profiles I've tasted in a long time. Take note that this is a unique taste that will surely put off fans of those individual categories, but will sure to please connoisseurs of experimental beers that grab you firmly by the tongue. This beer is unafraid to combine the towering strengths of three completely different beers in one glass. If you welcome huge, complex taste, this is for you. Strongly recommended.


From the brewery:

"What do you get when a big, bold imperial red IPA meets an oak bourbon barrel? A palate stunner that’ll send your senses spinning or, as we like to call it, Dankwood. Rich caramel notes emerge from the depths of the IPA, highlighting strong malt character while the bourbon barrel-aging develops the complexity. A dank, sticky and slightly sweet sipper, Dankwood is the perfect alchemy of wood and hops... Dankwood is the third release of 2018 in the Barrel-Aged Series, preceded by KBS and Backwoods Bastard, our newest year-round beer."

[source: foundersbrewing.com]

Barebottle Brew Co. 'Muir Woods' IPA. 6.4% abv. 34 IBU. Pale yellow color. Hazy. Two fingers of white foamy head. Outstanding retention and excellent lace. Nose of fresh pine, grapefruit rind, cloves, white pepper, herbal-citrus hops. Aroma is pungent, grabbing my attention immediately, during the pour.

Front taste is grapefruit juice, orange peel, rye bread, pepper, with pine punching through on the back end. Aftertaste is grapefruit rind, abundant herbal hops, cloves, grassy, bitter citrus sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, clingy, carby, botanical resin, juicy.

This is a superb IPA with a flavor profile that's a myriad of juicy citrus, tall spice, and a complex basket of bitter herbal and citrus-fruity hops. The hop bill contains six different hop varieties, stepped into the boil at nine different times, resulting in a complex taste that ranges from bitter to spicy to candy sweet. The grain bill has five types of grain, again adding to a complex malt backbone that is less bready and more supportive of the citrus-spice flavors. This is the second beer I've had from this brewery, and they both leave me wanting more. I'm sure to visit their brewery for a flight or two. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"The Winner of our Muir Woods contest! This is like a citrus-laced pine cone, bursting with notes of pine needles and oranges. Rye malts add liberating spiciness both complex and refreshing."
[source: barebottle.com]

"Like drinking a citrus-laced pine cone. A portion of the proceeds will support Muir Woods National Park."
[source: bottle]

The bottle label includes the homebrew recipe for a 5-gallon batch. Very cool!

Sierra Nevada 'Hop Bullet' Double IPA Spring Seasonal. 8% abv. 60 IBU. Pale straw color. Slightly hazy. Thin, white, bubbly head that quickly drops to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Moderate retention, good lacing. Nose of ample herbal-floral hops, pine, bright spice. Aroma subsides significantly as the temp rises and the head recedes.

Front taste is cypress, cloves, bitter herbal hops, with a dry finish. Aftertaste is bitter herbal hop bundle, hop resin, faint flowers. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, carby, resiny.

This is a solid beer for fans of DIPAs that lean heavily toward hops over malt. The aroma is a hop head's dream, with a ton of spicy, bitter, herbal hops supported by floral tones. However, that wonderful nose falls greatly as the head dissipates, something that happens quickly with this beer. Within a few minutes, its tall, distinguishable aroma is nearly absent. Good news is that the lupulin-infused flavor profile is persistent throughout, as is the notes of pine an overall hop expression. 

This beer promises hops and it gives you hops aplenty. Just make sure you don't linger too long, as this beer is not designed for a leisurely stroll across the palate. Enjoy it within ten minutes for an optimum hop experience. Recommended.


From the brewery:

"Brewed with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust. Hops are the name of the game with a Double IPA, but we knew we had to take it one step further. With Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops."
[source: sierranevada.com]

"Hop Bullet Double IPA features a new technique: we're hitting the beer with a double-barreled slug of Magnum hops and lupulin dust - the source of hop flavor  and aroma - right into the fermenter for a ballistic burst of aggressive hop character."
[source: bottle]

Barebottle Brew Co. 'Unicorn Dust' New England IPA. 6.7% abv. 30 IBU. Hazy pale yellow. Finger of white soapy Head. Excellent retention, superb lace. Nose of grapefruit, lemon rind, bright herbal spice, mild vanilla. Spicy complex mosaic hop bouquet blooms greatly as temp rises.

Front taste of juicy grapefruit, cloves, fresh ground allspice. Aftertaste is all mosaic, with abundant bright herbal-floral hops mingling with bittersweet citrus. Dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, resiny, carby.

This is a wonderful IPA, one that more than delivers on the promise of a myriad of colorful flavors. The big mosaic hop bill is a perfect compliment to the hazy, unfiltered wort that makes a New England IPA. Citrus notes pop, layered in a juicy grapefruit-lemon foundation, with ample spice throughout. This is the best N.E. IPA I’ve had yet. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"It's said that Unicorns had special powers to make water drinkable -- and we absolutely agree, Unicorn Dust is unconscionably smooth. Brewed with rainbow Mosaic hops giving notes of peach, blueberry, tangerine, and papaya."
[source: barebottle.com]

"Magically smooth ale with an explosion of rainbow mosaic hops aroma."
[source: bottle]

Founders 'Doom' Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial IPA. 12.4% abv. Hazy honey-copper color. Two fingers of foamy white head that gradually falls to a sustaining thick surface. Outstanding retention and superb lacing. Nose of bourbon, vanilla, herbal hops, with whiskey and oak emerging as the temp rises. 

Front taste of rich malt, bourbon, sweet bread, toffee. Aftertaste is caramel, sweet fruit, tall hops, whiskey expression rises at the end. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, boozy, astringent, carby, round.

This is an outstanding little BBA, one that delivers on the usual promises of bourbon and wood, merging well with the malty backbone of a DIPA, but also plays well with the ample hop bundle of its base IPA. The everlasting head powerfully brings the aroma forth, especially once the temp rises to room, with lacing that clings without fade. The craftsmanship is clear and forward. Wonderful brew. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Doom may be impending but that doesn’t mean you have to fear it. A collision of worlds, the intense hop character of our imperial IPA mingles with the warm vanilla and oak notes imparted from time spent in our favorite bourbon barrels. Like all good things, Doom comes to those who wait."
[source: foundersbrewing.com]

Evil Twin Brewing 'The Only Thing I Know is That I Know Nothing' New England IPA. 6.5% abv. 68 IBU. Pale yellow color, like egg yolk. Dense hazy. Finger of white soapy head. Moderate retention, superb lacing. Nose of light fruit pastry, juicy grapefruit, floral and citrus hops. 

Front taste is bright citrus rind, notes of pepper and cloves, wide spice expression on the back end. Spice builds as the temp rises to room. Aftertaste is abundant bitter fruity hops, grapefruit pulp, white bread. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, foamy, clingy.

This is an excellent beer, a more aggressive version of a New England IPA. It's a cloudy, pungent, bitter fruity beer that blasts you with hops and tall spice throughout. The notes of pepper, cloves, and citrus rind build as the beer warms, resulting in an almost over-the-cliff flavor profile, giving you much more of what you sampled at first sip. Aroma follows suit, growing in intensity with time.


The relatively new category of N.E. IPA is growing exponentially in popularity, and I admit that I have not had many as of this writing. I'm still developing a palate for them, as well as sours, seemingly their second-cousins. However, I'm quickly learning to love them, and this is one of the first to truly grab my attention and make me remember it. Well recommended, particularly if you love bitter hop bite in your brew.

(No brewing description found)

Alpine Beer Company 'Pure Hoppiness' Double IPA. 8% abv. Golden honey color, hazy, some sediment. Two fingers of foamy ivory head. Excellent retention, nice lace. Nose of pine, bright herbal hops. Front taste of light malt, bitter herbal hops, botanical, resin on the back end. Aftertaste is tall bitter herb, vegetal, citrus rind, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is somewhat thin, sticky, slightly astringent.

This is a good DIPA that should be recategorized. It's an IPA. I don't care what the malt bill is. It could be a great brew if it were balanced better. Instead, we get a bitter hoppy standard IPA. 

When I have a DIPA, I look for a tall malt presence that complements an abundant hop expression. Perhaps a sweet finish. Perhaps a rich mouthfeel. Feel free to blame Pliny The Elder and Hop Stoopid for setting the bar in terms of that balance of flavor. Regardless, it's simply not here. In addition, the hop bundle is front and center, bright and forward, but not quite fresh in taste despite the dry hopping. The malt is nearly absent, evident in both its thin body and bitter-hoppy dominant taste. Citrus notes arise only in the tail of the aftertaste.

To be clear, I enjoyed this brew. However, I hesitate to recommend it, if only because it betrays its category, and because there is a sea of DIPAs that I would choose before having this again. If you love bitter hoppy brews, you will likely enjoy this beer. If you are looking for a big, bold, complex DIPA, seek elsewhere. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A West Coast Double IPA so mega-hopped it will take you to hop heaven. We’ve used hops in the boil, more hops in the giant hopback, and added to that, an incredible amount of dry-hopping for that cutting-edge 'hop bite.' Once you’ve tasted this unique beer, all others pale in comparison."
[source: alpinebeerco.com]

Firestone Walker 'Easy Jack' Session IPA. 4.5% 45-50 IBU. Gold-yellow color. Clear. Finger of white foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose is tropical, sweet bread, floral hop bouquet, light fruit, distant grapefruit. 

Front taste is bitter floral hops, light malt, botanical herbal on the back end. Aftertaste is bitter hoppy, grain, grassy, vegetal, round citrus, dry finish. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, clean, bright, thin, effervescent.

This is a good category IPA, a true West Coast creation that firmly plants its flag in its subcategory. The floral hop tastes tips the scale over the light malt, with a light body and feel that makes it easy to drink. 

I admit, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a watered down version of the lawnmower-to-order 805. Instead, a found more flavor here than most beers this sessionable. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Easy Jack came about when Brewmaster Matt Brynildson went to the mountain top and returned with a vision for a different kind of Session IPA, one that would be brewed and dry hopped with a globetrotting selection of newer hop varieties from Germany, New Zealand and North America. He foresaw a beer that would deliver massive hop aromas, surprising dimension, a signature malt balance and an empty glass before you knew what hit you. And so the newest member of our Jack IPA family was born."

[source: firestonebeer.com]

Green Flash Brewing 'Le Freak' Belgian Style Imperial IPA. 9.2% abv. 101 IBU. Orange-honey color. Hazy. Two fingers of foamy white head. Nose of bright sweet citrus, orange, biscuit, tropical fruits. Outstanding retention, excellent lace.

Front taste is passion fruit, strong pine, bitter herbal hops. Aftertaste is marmalade, abundant floral and herbal hops, strong citrus rind, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, jammy, sticky.

This is an exceptional beer, a big DIPA with a ton of tropical and citrus flavors, particularly orange, complemented by huge herbal hop bite. This beer is actually a blend of Green Flash's superb Belgian Tripel and Imperial IPA, a wining recipe that's become a reliable favorite and classic American craft ale. 

The bottle I enjoyed was aged for at four years, which no doubt helped mellow the tall hop bill, allowing the round bittersweet citrus tastes room to spread their wings. The result is a wonderful balance of flavors. I'm curious to compare this to a new bottle of Le Freak in a little flight. I'll look into it. In the meantime, this beer, regardless of age, is definitely worth your palate. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"First of its kind Belgian-American freak. Le Freak is the first-ever hybrid ale of its kind: the convergence of a Belgian-Style Trippel with an American Imperial IPA. This zesty Amarillo dry-hopped, bottle-conditioned marvel entices with fruity Belgian yeast aromatics and a firm, dry finish. Aromas of orange and passion fruit with sweet bready malts, and flavors of orange marmalade and citrus fruit pith. Experience a legendary beer."

[source: greenflashbrew.com]

Mikkeller 'Vanilla Sky' IPA brewed with Vanilla Beans. 7% abv. Light honey color. Hazy. Two fingers of white foamy head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of vanilla, light malt, floral hops. Sweet bread emerges as the temp rises. 

Front taste of light fruit, bitter citrus rind, vanilla. Aftertaste is bitter citrus hops, botanical, vanilla on the sustain. Light body. Mouthfeel is warm, tangy, pungent, juicy in the aftertaste.

This is a good IPA with a slight variation that I suspect would be missed by occasional beer drinkers. The vanilla aroma and taste is surely there at the start, but as the temp rises it becomes nearly hidden under the bushel of strong citrus hops. 

If you want the promised vanilla, it's yours to smell and taste promptly after the pour. Just know that minutes later the vanilla will be barely distinguishable. Good news is, when the vanilla drops off, you are still left with a decently good category IPA, one with bright juicy bitter citrus flavor. Recommended. 

From the brewery:

"India Pale Ale brewed with vanilla beans. Brewed at D’Proef in Belgium."

[source: mikkeller.dk]

Dogfish Head 'ApriHop' IPA. 7% abv. 50 IBU. Orange-copper color with a finger of white foamy head. Good retention and lace. Nose of apricot, white bread, light fruity hops. White wine berries emerge as the temp rises. 

Front taste of golden raisins, apricot, vanilla, tangerine, herbal on the back end. Aftertaste is citrus rind, melon, bitter herbal hop sustain, sweet finish. Light body. Mouthfeel is warm, thin, tangy, juicy, round.

This is a pleasant little IPA, one with plenty of light fruit flavors from start to finish. It wouldn't be an IPA without a basket of hops in each sip, and this beer surely has its share. It also delivers on its promise of apricot, starting with a smooth round aroma, leading into your first sip. The flavor profile is abundant with nearly all components mild, slightly sweet, bright, juicy. It's a nice departure from the standard category IPA. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our fruit beer for hopheads! Aprihop is an American IPA brewed with Pilsner and Crystal malts. It's massively hopped -- in the continuous fashion, of course! -- and the flavor is complemented by the addition of apricot juice. After fermentation, the beer is dry hopped with irresponsible amounts of Amarillo hops. The beer has a hoppy aroma, with the apricot playing a supporting role. The flavor is rich with late hop notes, and its bitterness is tempered by just the right amount of malt sweetness and fruity undertones from the apricot. This is one of our most popular seasonal beers and we've been brewing it each spring for quite a while now. We release the beer each March, and you should find it on the shelves through May."

[source: dogfish.com]