Heavy Seas - Big DIPA (2013 - )
Heavy Seas Beer

Heavy Seas - Big DIPA (2013 - )Heavy Seas - Big DIPA (2013 - )
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From:
Heavy Seas Beer
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 9.46%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
167
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 27, 2015
Added:
May 03, 2013
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  10
When we decided to resurrect the Big DIPA, we knew that we needed to make it bigger and better. We've brought the beer back with the same 10.5%ABV as before, the same massive amounts of hops as before, but this time, we've aged it on oak spirals. Oak spirals suspended in solution allow more surface area to come into contact with the beer increasing the oak presence without increasing exposure time. This results in a smoother oak flavor and further compliments the extraordinary hop characteristics. Cheers!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheAnk:
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Rated by TheAnk from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -4.9%

Sep 24, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Mitchster
Reviewed by Mitchster from Michigan

3.77/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
$4.99 for a 22oz bomber, 2014. No specs per the website. Pours out to a medium copper, hazy, forming a tall poofy dark yellow head with beautiful retention and lacing. Carbonation is a little on the soft side, ~2.0 carbs or so. This is probably about a year old at this point, so I don't expect the nose to be as brilliant as a fresh one, still, it's got plenty of hop nose, just not obscene screaming hops. Smells more akin to Arrogant bastard at this point, which nice caramel notes, soft fruity esters, a clean ferment. The mouthfeel is smooth with a little hop acidity, no burn or boozy character, astringent hop finish with a big body, lightly syrupy. The taste opens with lots of hops, mostly piney, little to no tropical fruit or skunk/dank hop character at this point. Malt is in the background, only adding body, with no discernable malt character. Bitterness is firm, again astringt hoppy finish with a resinous piney aftertaste.

This is a decent beer, would like to try it fresher. In a world of standout DIPA's, this is average, closer to a double bastard.
Nov 27, 2015
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.54/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
"The English used to ship their biggest pales ales to India in oak barrels. Big DIPA harkens to that time, when beer had a distinctive oak character and a full herbal and earthy hop flavor. To round out the obscene amount of hops and strong malt backbone in this beer, we add oak spirals to the tanks, allowing the beer to mellow as if on its own voyage." Brewed in the style of an American Double India Pale Ale aged on Oak Spirals. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a tulip glass. Served above 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a maple cream complexion over a densely hazy burnt amber body with light, lively carbonation and moderate sediment. Retention is good and lacing is light and spotty. 3.75

(Smell) Herbal, lemony and piney hop aromas with soft toasted oak presence, a lightly toasted caramel syrup and grain profile and a modest sweetness. Potency is medium. 3.5

(Taste) Lemongrass, pine resins, dry caramel and pale malts, light sweetness, fairly clean, delicate hint of oak flavor and a moderate drying finish. Interesting and fairly enjoyable, although the oak doesn't come through all that profoundly in the flavor. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, lightly chewy, moderately dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a medium frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is moderately earthy, grainy and hoppy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) It's an interesting but fairly simple Imperial IPA and the oak spirals have a noticeable but shallow impact on the flavor profile, although I think that the body is light enough that the amount of oak in this beer is satisfactory. Was hoping for a stronger malt and hop presence for a bigger Double IPA. 3.5

Vertical Notes:
2013 (2+ Years Aged): Pours an equally smooth, creamy head over a slightly brighter and clearer body with ample carbonation, retaining well. Moderately tart malt aroma with a lightly exposed graininess and some smooth oak. The flavor is similar, with some syrupy slickness and a tangy malt profile, moderate grain alcohol, a virtually nonexistent hop profile and bitterness. Texture is syrupy, slick, oily, residual, moderately dry, with less oak impact than the fresher vintage. Obviously a bit dated, my recommendation is to drink this as fresh as possible for the best preservation of malt, hop and even oak character, as they have all faded with time.

Heavy Seas Beer's
The Big DIPA (Oak Aged Double India Pale Ale)
3.54/5.00
May 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Apr 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MaseFace from Kentucky

Feb 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by JNForsyth from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Martyrob from North Carolina

Nov 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Cr1ms0nGh0st from New York

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.04 by BeerBeast from Florida

Oct 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by sbrock22 from Rhode Island

Oct 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.84 by cfadams17 from Pennsylvania

Oct 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BradC from Pennsylvania

Oct 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by mcdsports from Texas

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.8 by cjgiant from District of Columbia

Sep 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by JMUbrewz from Virginia

Sep 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by MarkQ617 from Massachusetts

Sep 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ChipMurray from Pennsylvania

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by richobrien from California

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by jl2414 from Pennsylvania

Aug 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by BigFatOgre from Rhode Island

Aug 24, 2014
Heavy Seas - Big DIPA (2013 - ) from Heavy Seas Beer
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 167 ratings