Westbrook "Three Claw" Double IPA

I was unhappy with the first two beers I got from Westbrook in that they tasted like coffee, but it didn't say anything about that on the label. Since then, I had their IPA, and that was serviceable. This is the DIPA, and that has just about become my go-to style of beer, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do.

Condensation on the outside of the glass made me think that this was hazy, and a quick wipe with a finger revealed that it is, in fact, a clear yellow-gold with a sticky, patchy head that leaves just a little bit of lacing on the sides of the glass as it goes down. The aroma of tropical and citrus fruits full of tartness rises from the beverage as if it is unencumbered by the uneven layer of bubbles on top of the beer.

First sip is less of a remarkable feast of fruits than the aroma was. The result is a light cocktail of fruits with a spritely malt of dough, tartness, and a bitter hue to the whole beer. It is actually a remarkably good sipping beer, and that is not at all what I expect from a DIPA. It's smooth and crisp while having a lot of flavor.

Tip-in is very light carbonation burn with mostly tropical (but notable citrus) fruit meat on top of a floury dough. The middle slides in with a very muted mix of the fruits and the doughy bread with quite a bit of water, but it's not too watery. The finish is tartness and bitterness finally catching up to the beverage, but they don't take over when the crisp snap trails into fruity bread.

Bottom Line: Solid performer.

3.75/5