Rogue is, undeniably, an excellent brewery. That means this beer should be good, especially when you add on that it is a double IPA, and I am particularly fond of that style of brew. The last beer I had from them, however, was bland, and that isn't a trend that needs to continue. We need a return to form. Let's see what they have.
First sip is delightful. It is complex enough to be a full meal in and of itself, but it is not overly challenging. While there is bitterness attendant to the tropical and citrus fruits, it never seems to overtake the beverage at all. Instead, a full-bodied and full flavored beer extends itself through the entire sip with a trailing bitterness that simply reminds you that your drinking a derivation of IPA.
Tip-in is mild carbonation tingle with orange and grapefruit rinds pushing past tangerine peel like they own the place. The middle is more caustic than it was in the sip, as the acidity moves to the roof of the mouth with carbonation and the fruits surge underneath as fruit meat mixes with rinds and seeds and a bitterness slowly creeps in. The finish is a crisp snap where bitterness takes the fruits, but it does not stab. Instead, a bitter and fruity trail off ends the time of the beverage.
Bottom Line: Delightful.
4.0/5
