Sierra Nevada "Fantastic Haze" Imperial IPA

The haze trend continues for Sierra Nevada with this - a new DIPA. It seems like the trend of DIPAs have just about died out. I don't know why they are becoming less favored, unless it is in favor of the new sour trend, and I can assure you that I will not be jumping on that train any time soon.

The deep gold beer turns a bit brassy in the middle and generates less head than most IPAs; I don't recall if DIPAs have tended to be less voluminous in their bubble eruptions than their IPA counterparts. The aroma is tropical and citrus fruits that wait under a thin and incomplete layer of small bubbles with no lacing. The aroma also has the familiar, sweet and thick malt with a bit of a floral scent creeping in.

First sip is thick and bold, and it is a delight. I haven't had a DIPA in quite a little while, and I forgot how they had managed to snuggle up against the Belgian ales at the top of my list. These things are full of flavor and fruit meat. This particular one has nectarine, tangerine, orange, and mango. This is really nice.

Tip-in is nearly alarming carbonation burn with a tangerine and orange grove starting to grow in a toffee field underneath it. The middle rises with a smoothness that is slicker than a wet orange skin; the fruits rising are tamped down with the sweetness from a now grainy malt. The finish is a noticeable turn to bitter and dryness before the dry fruits lead into the trail off.

Bottom Line: Solid and complex enough to stand apart.

3.25/5