This weeks DIPA Reviews
By doubling the hops and malts and giving yeast more to feast on the ABV will usually be 7 to 9%
Drowned Lands (NY) White Terra DIPA 8%
New
2 hops (Nelson & Strata) 3 sip rule ...
Dual fruit aroma with an herbal note. Nelson's full grape aspects are on display & are enhanced when holding the sip. This remains dominant start to finish. Body is soft & carbonation minimal further letting the flavor shine.
Note that Strata has more than just its spicy character , which is evident but as well a tropical nuance in flavor. Body & flavor are the essence of this craft.
Finback (NY) Every night DIPA 8%
In Stock
3 hops (Mosaic, Meridian & Simcoe)
An all fruit aroma subtly deep but not dank. Sip 1 gets you wondering about the above with initial & medium bittering being seemingly dominant but flavors of light berry, orange & nuances of lemon take over remaining out front & balanced from then on. Carbonation is medium & the body is soft which keep the hop flavor contributions getting better as you go. Bittering while present never again is the overwhelming factor you envisioned at the start
Dancing Gnome (PA) Infinite Highway DIPA 8%
New
3 hops (Citra, Galaxy & Mosaic)
Complete mixed sensual fruit aroma that draws you in. Lightly bitter to start but all 3 hops oil properties press the fruit flavors to the front showing off orange, peach & pineapple that remain dominant. Blending of all aspects keeps a perfect balance. A pillow soft body & light carbonation promote all the above.
3 hops that pair well together & combine in this craft to create another quality offering from this brewer.
Grimm (NY) Tesseract 8%
In Stock
3 hops (Citra, Mosaic & Falconer Flight)
Falconer Flight is a blend of 7 Northwest Pacific hops.
Late additions imparts an aroma of mixed fruit with earthy undertones. Medium carbonation & a light crisp yet soft body. Orange notes dominate & lead the way with light flavors of melon & a perfect earthy Mosaic ending.
What you smell is what you get which is a balanced craft that doesn't disappoint.
Hudson Valley (NY) Archangel 9%
New
DDH with Citra, Racua & Motueka
Rakua imparts aroma of orange & apricot. Soft & flavorful. Light carbonation & bittering. Flavors dominate with a nice blending but there is a playful tug of war between the aspects & ends with both agreeing to share the spotlight in harmony. Light woody notes end each sip.
A well done mix of hops that will tease the senses of more than one craft camp thanks to DDH. A sneaky 9%
District 96 (NY) Nasty Snarky Question 8%
New
No hop info.
Dirty aroma begins our sojourn into a soft body & earthy notes with medium carbonation & bittering. All this gives way to orange flavor that weaves through the offering which is enhanced as you go & remains consistent throughout. Light backend bittering & a subtle note of spice complete the balance which is satisfying in all areas of hop contribution.
Tropical fans will look elsewhere while all others will find this another quality offering from this brewer
Phase 3 (IL) Invisible Wings 7.8%
New
1 hop (Galaxy)
A soft body wraps around medium carbonation & light bittering that remains start to finish. The flavor aspects though take control with notes of peach & citrus that are welcomed into the mix. This craft balances out into a light dry finish. Flavors dominate a bit warmer but will be enjoyed at any temperature.
7.8% is the sweet spot here. All camps could find this in their fridge.
Hop Butcher (IL) Galaxy Bowl 7.5%
In Stock
1 hop (Galaxy)
3 sip rule please. High in myrcene oil Galaxy provides more enhanced fruit flavor & aroma over bitter.
Subtle herbal aroma underneath a fruit bouquet. Light bitter beginning is immediately overtaken & balanced by peach, tangerine & citrus flavor that dominate going forward. While the herbal notes & bittering are backround present they always recede letting maximum flavor dominate. The soft body helps in this aspect.
A well done representation of what Galaxy can impart.
Equilibrium (NY) Lucid Dream Wave 8.2%
In Stock
4 hops (Citra, Amarillo, Galaxy & El Dorado) Dry hopped
A soft pungent mixed aroma. Amarillo while not dominant seems prevalent in its aspects from herbal to bittering & flavor contributions beginning with the initial light herbal notes that then mix with flavors of pineapple , peach & citrus that come forward as you go. While the body is soft it's also lightly dry. All aspects are nicely layered & make multiple appearances throughout each sip giving this craft balance. Warmer enhances flavor.
Drowned Lands (NY) Early Leaf (8.4%)
In stock
2 hops (Cashmere & Simcoe) An earthy/fruit aroma compliments of both hops. Body is silky bringing forward a pleasant blend of multiple fruit flavors & light bittering. A note of light herbal pine sneaks in at each sip end creating another layer to the offering. Flavor dominates throughout but let all aspects contribute. Balanced at all temps
Weldwerks (CO) Extra Extra Juicy bits 8.6%
In stock
3 hops ( El Dorado, Citra & Mosaic) DDH
Semi dry fruit aroma & nicely carbonated. Initial bittering, lighter due to DDH. Fruit aspects of all 3 hops are on display. El Dorado appears a bit dominant but doesn't detract from Mosaic or Citra contributions. Blending of bitter and flavor is just right for this style. Body keeps all in balance & ends as it began, lightly dry. An appealing craft for all camps & a possible introduction for those just entering our sphere.
Hop Butcher (IL) Gulf Coastal 8%
New
3 hops (Mosaic, Anchovy & Amarillo)
Don't freak out, it's not what you think. It's an Anchovy hop.
Multiple fruit aromas from all hops. Lower carbonation & a spft body. Bright citrus flavors are the major flavor contribution with pine & bittering hiding in layer providing the needed balance to complete the offering. A very subtle Mosaic earthy ending.
Well balanced in all aspects
Hop Butcher (IL) Through the uprights 8%
New
4 hops ( Citra, Nelson, Amarillo & Simcoe
Sweet fruit aroma starts the offering. Soft body & light bittering. Around mid sip flavors present themselves with multiple aspects from all hops with grape slightly dominant & remain in front thereafter. The white wine dry contribution of Nelson permeate the offering making for an unusual but nice blending & work towards a well balanced ending.
Full in every aspect
Burlington (VT) It's complicated being a Wizard 8%
In stock
3 hops (Simcoe, Idaho 7 & Chinook)
Earthy fruity aroma. Oats provide a pleasantly soft body that wraps around citrus flavors which are continually out front & mix into medium bittering throughout. Again oat malts keep this from drifting into the realm of a West Coast style & allow all aspects to blend. An earthy/cannibus spice like ending completes the balance in a light subtle way.
Crafted nicely
Hudson Valley (NY) Double Pillow Hat 9%
Available
1 Hop (Citra)
A drier citrus aroma to start. A bit higher in carbonation but it seems to add to flavor aspects. Orange notes are pulled out through the body. Light bittering makes its presence at the end of each sip.
No 1 aspect detracts from another, rather all make for a crisp blend a bit different & enjoyable. A quiet 9% kick.
Hazy & tropical fans may want to look elsewhere. All others should check out a well created craft
District96 (NY) Hyper Local 8.5%
Available
2 hops (Sabro & Citra)
A Sabro tropical aroma . Light bittering which remains consistent throughout & mixes with flavor profiles being light coconut, tropical & citrus in no particular order. A soft creamy body creates the base for the above.
Very mellow start to finish. A subtle hint of vanilla was a nice touch to the ending. Balance is well done. Colder was preferred.
A candidate for hazy & tropical camps
Grimm (NY) After Image 8%
Available
Light grapefruit aroma with other fruit side notes. Hold the sip and surprisingly El Dorado jumps into the lead with grape flavors & softens the offering letting orange come to play & simcoe providing light bittering mixing with earthy Mosaic aspects .A soft body and late to the game carbonation round out the craft.
All contributors mix into an enjoyable craft
Tripping Animals (FL) /Mast Landing (ME) On the Loose 8.7%
Available
5 hops ( Citra, Citra cryo, Simcoe, Idaho 7 & Idaho 7 cryo)
3 sip rule ...
Dry orange aroma with light earthy undertones. Medium carbonation mixes into medium bittering while we wait for flavors which appear 3 sips in & take control thereafter.
An interesting mix of cryo hops that keep the flavor dominance while still letting bittering aspects to remain along with the consistent earthy nuance.
Lolev (PA) Double Prismatic 8%
In Stock
3 hops (El Dorado,Idaho 7 & Citra)
Light tea, grassy and pineapple aroma just as described. Soft & carbonated with steady light bittering. Fruit aspects take over & are the reflection of aroma and brighten as this warms. All aspects don't really retire or give way as much as weave. Each sip ends on a sweetly tart raspberry note.An interesting blend of hops that gives us a craft a bit different in taste
Finback (NY) HighLow DH 8.4%
In Stock
9 hops... Read the can on this one! DHing these hops you'd think creates a tropical bomb but some influences keep the balance. Deep fruit aroma from most of these hops. The same in flavor with a spiced earthy bottom. If you know these hops pay close attention & you can identify almost every contribution. Soft body & light carbonation. All bittering is relegated to the backend. ABV appears there as well. Warmer preferred.
A complex and successful craft
Lolev (PA) Aurantia 8.2%
In Stock
1 hop (Citra)
All aspects of Citra are on display starting with aroma. No one aspect overwhelms another. Holding the sip brings you bright orange flavor. Carbonation is medium and mixes into an equal body. Bittering is consistent but doesn't ever come forward to disrupt more becoming a stable actor. Start as cold as possible for balance and from there enjoy how all aspects greet you as it warms.
Equilibrium (NY) Element Carbon 8%
In Stock
2 hops (Idaho 7 and Citra)
Idaho 7 is an aroma hop whirlpooled here to extract more oils and enhance flavor profiles. Light in nature start to finish. Bittering is noticed but not out front. Flavors of citrus and melon make an appearence and blend into the above. While neither aspect dominate they create a weave and a light spiced ending is icing on the cake.
All aspects are balanced and light enough to be refreshing vs heavy
KC BC 8th Orbit 8%
In Stock
5 hops ( Citra Galaxy Nectaron Nelson and Hallertau Blanc)
Nelson and Hallertau produce a dry wine aroma and contribute later to flavor. A soft body, minimal bittering and medium carbonation. Completely multi fruit flavored from orange peach citrus and the above mentioned grape. The expected dry wine finish never materializes. All hops balance and blend continuously.
Hazy tropical fans, this is a craft that needs your attention. All craft beer lovers as well.