Style: American Imperial IPA

ABV: 8.5 IBU: 84.0

87/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 17
Mouthfeel: 3

AleSmith Brewing Company Double IPA

What the brewers say

“The flavor imparts orange, grapefruit, and tangerine hops notes with earthy, spicy, and pine undertones. A sturdy malt backbone balances the profound hops bitterness to create an assertive and vibrant beer that offers a bold expression of fresh American hops.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Distinct and unique blueberry hops flavors up front, with some nice mango and lemongrass. Light dank, onion hops aroma with a touch a malt sweetness. Capers? Gin? Definitely in the pine family, but more of a cousin.”

Flavor: “Nice hops fruitiness with an even blend of blueberry, mango, and grapefruit rind. The hops bitterness and the light sweetness accentuate a piney hops character (a bit of Christmas tree) that helps balance and dry out the beer. A nice touch of boozy warmth also helps to fill out this beer. Bitterness lingers just a little too long, into the point of unwelcome aftertaste.”

Overall: “A complex hops profile that just barely rises above the intense hops bitterness. It could use some malt to balance it out.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: IPA Today (August-September 2017) (View All Issues)


REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Double Jack

**Aroma:** “Bright fruit/citrus hop up front: lemon zest, subtle orange, some floral character, some wildflower honey notes. Slight alcohol notes. Light malt sweetness. Clean and crisp. Good level of complexity.” **Flavor:** “Fruity, intense hops carry through—pine, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, some cattiness. Bitterness compliments the rich malt profile well. Lingering bitterness.” **Overall:** “Very tasty DIPA with a complex hop profile and complex bitterness.”

Four Peaks Brewing Hop Knot

__Aroma:__ “Orange and lemon dominate with a touch of strawberry, melon, mango, guava, passion fruit, and a little mint. Low-medium intensity aroma. Some malt sweetness in the background, but the malt is hiding behind the hops.” __Flavor:__ “Good balance for style, though a the tropical fruit sweetness is a touch sweet for my taste until the very finish. Hops are same as on the aroma yielding a slightly sweet fruitiness in concert with significant bitterness to balance. Carb is a bit low, which makes the beer feel a bit heavy.” __Overall:__ “Aside from the low carb kind of dragging the aroma and lightness of body down, this is a pretty solid WCIPA. Hops are smooth and continuous without any rough edges. It’s rich and filling—like a German stollen bread with fruit and frosting.”

Stone Brewing Company IPA

**Aroma:** “Citrus and piney hop notes dominate with little-to-no malt aroma. Dank, citrus rind, tea, orange marmalade-like with light peppery spice and slight cattiness. As it warms, some graham cracker-like maltiness. Malt is subtle but shows up in the background as toasty.” **Flavor:** “Complex hop flavor without any singular flavors dominating—citrus rind, some floral, and citrus juice character, subtle pine. Balanced well with light sweet malt character. Citrus up front with juicy grapefruit and some pine, earthy hop flavors add complexity. Bitterness prominent and lingers only long enough to beg for more.” **Overall:** “Very enjoyable with good balance of piney notes and citrus/grapefruit. The hops are definitely in the front of the beer. Very nice IPA that has great, complex hop profile that is rounded perfectly with a nice, lingering bitterness. Very tasty.”

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