The Sparrow has a bunch of double/imperial IPA's on tap this week, and they're doing flights. Yeah, I love everything about the concept of beer flights. Anyway, this meant I got to sample five different beers - which isn't as easy as it sounds, you know - and three of them I'll review today: Sun King's Amarillo the Princess Warrior (wtf?), Bell's HopSlam, and Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA. Double India Pale Ales (DIPAs) are essentially high-alcohol IPAs, often with expanded hopiness (thought these are milder in that respect). Sometimes they're called Imperial IPAs, after Imperial stouts, which have a similar philosophy.
Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA: By now, this could be considered a classic. While DH's stuff disappoints me as often as it excites me, I always respect their creativity and risk taking. You could almost call this boring by their standards, but being continually hopped AND dry hopped, it was certainly and innovator in its day. Not to mention it's a hop-focused beer that actually tries (and succeeds) in balancing that bite, unlike a certain Indiana DIPA which was also in last week's flight. This was actually the first time I'd tried this on tap, and i have to say it's much improved fresh off as opposed to bottled. Light bodied, golden amber in color with citrus notes forward, balancing out the hoppy floral notes. There's a surprising bready maltiness here, but nothing overwhelms and it finishes with a lovely mild bitter hoppy bite. Eminently drinkable - just remember it's 9.0% ABV. 8/9 on tap (7.5/9 bottled).
Bell's HopSlam: Wow. Again, first time I've had this on tap, and while I've always enjoyed this beer, this was impressive. Strawberry. Slightly overripe strawberries. On the nose and the palate - I shit you not. And it's damn smooth over the hops. It's a darker amber, positively lovely all around. It's hard to believe that this is 10% ABV, but I'm going to keep it in mind as I could down several of these in a sitting if I let myself forget what the next morning might feel like....I give it an 8.5/9, maybe even higher...I need to try this again when I haven't been sucking down a bunch of high gravity beers, heh.
Sun King Amarillo the Princess Warrior: Sun King is an up-and-comer out of Indianapolis, and they apparently take craft brewing seriously. This is the second of their beers I've tried, the first being a black IPA which was quite refreshing and unique. This one is named for the Amarillo and Warrior hops involved. Of the three, this is likely the most approachable (though all are mellow for DIPAs). The body is medium to light, hops are forward but not overwhelming, the citrus gives way to more floral notes, and neither malt or hoppy bitterness is overwhelming. Reminds me a lot of Two Hearted, actually, but there's more depth here (and more alcohol, at 9%). 7.5/9, but I probably need to spend some more time getting to know this one, without four other DIPAs clouding my palate.
