Voodoo "Good Vibes" IPA

You're probably thinking the same thing I was thinking. I assumed that I had already had something from Voodoo before. I was sure I had. It turns out, I was either thinking of the New Belgium Voodoo Ranger series or the one off Evil Czech Voodoo Vanilla Rye Porter. I have not had a beer from these guys, and I welcome this opportunity. At 7.3% ABV, it should be a fun ride.

The predominantly clear, gold beer has enough head that I couldn't get the whole 16-ounces in the glass in one pour, but it was just barely that much. As the off-white head goes down, it leaves a delightful webwork of lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is enough to make me take a double-take at the can. The complex smells are dank melon, crusty malt, and citrus frizzle (yes, I'm going with frizzle).

First sip is VERY dank. The aroma was striking, but the actual beer is over the top. I check the label again, and it says, plain as day, that the ingredients are hops, water, barley, and yeast. I don't know which of the hop varieties they are pulling all this dank from, but they are pretty potent. They are overwhelming the other ingredients. I am okay with dank, but this is a bit much. 

Tip-in is dank flowers and crusty crackers and a slight honey. The middle rolls through with melon, citrus meat and acid, light carbonation tingle, and the dank sinks into the background to reveal a very smooth center. The finish is a bitter and dry pill that echoes the dank, but the dank isn't running the show. The trail off is a longing for another drink.

Bottom Line: Intimidating and inviting.

3.25/5