It feels like a long time since I've had a double IPA. I seem to have shied away from them a lot lately. Their overwhelming ABV (this one comes in at a heady 8.6%) combined with the heavy malt is not conducive to imbibing with the rapidity one might go for with an IPA or a lager. I'm not saying that I like to drink a lot, or that I like to drink very quickly, but the style of beverage that is quaffable is the kind that is relaxing. Sometimes, I want to beer that is challenging and thought-provoking, and sometimes I just want to sit down and enjoy beverage. Double IPAs are the former.
The quite hazy beer has lots of small specks of white that are suspended in the center of the beer where it is at its most orange. The head is off-white and will be leaving lots of lacing in its wake. The aroma is tropical and citrus fruits, and I can't express enough the allure of that scent. The heavy malt is sensed rather than smelled, and it lurks in the background. Will this be a return to DIPA greatness? Let's find out.Tangerines, grapefruit, orange, and starfruit all seem to be mixed together in just a simple sip. The malt is not nearly as heavy as I had initially feared, and it's bready nature is imposing without being an imposition. As a result, the beer doesn't taste of its rather high ABV, and the heavy malt does not detract from the smoothness of the fruits. As a sip, it's pretty darn good. Let's see what a gulp is like.
Tip-in is sweet tangerine and grapefruit with mild carbonation that feels like it might be building. The middle shifts the carbonation to the roof of the mouth to burn while unbridled fruits mix with a heavy, dark bread to inundate the senses through the center. The finish becomes bitter and dry as the beverage doesn't know how it wants to finish itself before leaning into a bit of dankness.
Bottom Line: Not bad, but sipping is probably best.
2.75/5