Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA | Dark Horse Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Michigan, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.00%
Availability: Spring
Notes / Commercial Description:
Have you read the description for the regular Crooked Tree yet? Well this beer is almost the same just double the flavor and alcohol. We actually took the Crooked Tree recipe and doubled all of the ingredients except the water, just the way a DOUBLE should be made. Big hops balanced with tons of malt give this beer a huge body. Although this beer is as cool as "The Fonz" when first purchased, it gets really mellow and smooth with some age. After a year or two stored in a cool dark place you'll notice the heavy caramel and malt flavors are trying to sneak past the hops. This beer is hugely delicious so it will need your undivided attention (the chores can wait....trust us).
98 IBUs
Added by putnam on 03-05-2005
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 915 | Ratings: 2,777
3.47/5 rDev -15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle dated 1/23/15
Looks as beautiful as all of the pics I have seen. A big reason I grabbed a 4 pack at $16. A deep, hazy ruby orange with a slightly off-white head.
Smells of strong alcohol, sweet caramel malts, pine and floral hops all in that order to me.
The alcohol really comes through in the taste. I am shocked by the reviews that say it is hidden. I would swear it was 15%+. Also rock candy like sugars, some citrus hops that I didnt notice in the aroma, still some piney flavor along with bitterness and nostril burn toward the end.
Nice thicker bodied beer with a slick resin feel, but finishes very harsh. Average carbonation.
Overall, most of the good qualities of this beer are squashed by boozyness. I can probably list 2 dozen beers that are at this ABV or higher that don't taste/feel anywhere close. It may be one of few ipas that will improve with cellaring. I have 3 more, so I am going to find out.
★ 938 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle dated 1/23/15
Looks as beautiful as all of the pics I have seen. A big reason I grabbed a 4 pack at $16. A deep, hazy ruby orange with a slightly off-white head.
Smells of strong alcohol, sweet caramel malts, pine and floral hops all in that order to me.
The alcohol really comes through in the taste. I am shocked by the reviews that say it is hidden. I would swear it was 15%+. Also rock candy like sugars, some citrus hops that I didnt notice in the aroma, still some piney flavor along with bitterness and nostril burn toward the end.
Nice thicker bodied beer with a slick resin feel, but finishes very harsh. Average carbonation.
Overall, most of the good qualities of this beer are squashed by boozyness. I can probably list 2 dozen beers that are at this ABV or higher that don't taste/feel anywhere close. It may be one of few ipas that will improve with cellaring. I have 3 more, so I am going to find out.
★ 938 characters
4.31/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
The nose on this is amazing, and the color is a deep red. Overall the beer is exceptionally balanced, but is still too dark and sweet to be great. It hides the 12% ABV very well though, and I would still consider this to be a world class beer.
★ 243 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
The nose on this is amazing, and the color is a deep red. Overall the beer is exceptionally balanced, but is still too dark and sweet to be great. It hides the 12% ABV very well though, and I would still consider this to be a world class beer.
★ 243 characters
4.03/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great smell upon opening but it fades. Tastes sweet almost fruity with a hint of dank pine and flowers. Not much foam. Kind of thick lightly syrupy On the tongue. Really nice. Hides its 12% ABV well.
★ 199 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great smell upon opening but it fades. Tastes sweet almost fruity with a hint of dank pine and flowers. Not much foam. Kind of thick lightly syrupy On the tongue. Really nice. Hides its 12% ABV well.
★ 199 characters
4.4/5 rDev +6.8%
From notes on 3/25/14
On tap at the brewery while walking through the tour. Excellent beer. Wow could this easily sneak up on you at over 13% ABV. Sure doesn't taste like that. Love the cloudy body of this beer. Aroma is very hoppy. Taste is hop forward. Nice and citrusy flavors. Great malt backbone. Decided to visit Dark Horse on my way up to the KBS release in Grand Rapids and was very pleasantly surprised. Great beers, starting with this one.
★ 450 characters
From notes on 3/25/14
On tap at the brewery while walking through the tour. Excellent beer. Wow could this easily sneak up on you at over 13% ABV. Sure doesn't taste like that. Love the cloudy body of this beer. Aroma is very hoppy. Taste is hop forward. Nice and citrusy flavors. Great malt backbone. Decided to visit Dark Horse on my way up to the KBS release in Grand Rapids and was very pleasantly surprised. Great beers, starting with this one.
★ 450 characters
4.25/5 rDev +3.2%
A-clear amber with a small head that did not stay around long
S-malt sweetness with a deep hop aroma
T- strong hops flavor with a strong hop aftertaste that has a alcohol warming in the finish
M-low carbonation and medium body
O-this beer has an outstanding taste I really enjoyed the beer
★ 289 characters
A-clear amber with a small head that did not stay around long
S-malt sweetness with a deep hop aroma
T- strong hops flavor with a strong hop aftertaste that has a alcohol warming in the finish
M-low carbonation and medium body
O-this beer has an outstanding taste I really enjoyed the beer
★ 289 characters
3.78/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a rich, perfect amber, into a traditional pint glass. Head quickly dissipates, and there is little lacing. Usual IPA scents of pine, citrus, and a hint of honey, breadiness, and certainly detectable booziness. Taste is similarly citrusy, with a more heavy breadiness component that lends an overt sweetness to the citrus. Despite a heavier boozy note on the tongue, it is much less bitter than expected. This contributes to a heavy but balanced and not overpowering mouthfeel. Recommended, for a higher ABV, yet very drinkable, double IPA.
★ 545 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a rich, perfect amber, into a traditional pint glass. Head quickly dissipates, and there is little lacing. Usual IPA scents of pine, citrus, and a hint of honey, breadiness, and certainly detectable booziness. Taste is similarly citrusy, with a more heavy breadiness component that lends an overt sweetness to the citrus. Despite a heavier boozy note on the tongue, it is much less bitter than expected. This contributes to a heavy but balanced and not overpowering mouthfeel. Recommended, for a higher ABV, yet very drinkable, double IPA.
★ 545 characters
4.21/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance is a amber red color with a one finger white head that faded fast.
Aroma is bready, malty, sweet honey. Faint pine.
Taste is sticky sweet, malty and bready flavors that are well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium to full with a perfect bitterness.
This is a great example of a high high abv ipa.
Reminds me a lot of gorillanaught. I'm impressed.
Would love to drink this again!
★ 383 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance is a amber red color with a one finger white head that faded fast.
Aroma is bready, malty, sweet honey. Faint pine.
Taste is sticky sweet, malty and bready flavors that are well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium to full with a perfect bitterness.
This is a great example of a high high abv ipa.
Reminds me a lot of gorillanaught. I'm impressed.
Would love to drink this again!
★ 383 characters
4.01/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I did not have anything special sitting in my cellar for my 700th review but I figured that I’d at least go big for such an auspicious occasion.
Appearance was a brownish copper color with golden edges. The thin film of head faded in no time. This offering was oddly fizzy as well. The nose had definite citrus notes. The body was hearty and the flavor profile was quite malty for a DIPA. The finished has more citrus notes and some decent hop bitterness.
This offering was quite good and unique in a world where too many DIPAs are carbon copies of one another. Frankly, I’d consider this more of an American Strong Ale than a DIPA, but no sense quibbling over style.
★ 673 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I did not have anything special sitting in my cellar for my 700th review but I figured that I’d at least go big for such an auspicious occasion.
Appearance was a brownish copper color with golden edges. The thin film of head faded in no time. This offering was oddly fizzy as well. The nose had definite citrus notes. The body was hearty and the flavor profile was quite malty for a DIPA. The finished has more citrus notes and some decent hop bitterness.
This offering was quite good and unique in a world where too many DIPAs are carbon copies of one another. Frankly, I’d consider this more of an American Strong Ale than a DIPA, but no sense quibbling over style.
★ 673 characters
4.12/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at Acme Bar and Pizza in Rochester, NY.
I don't care what the description sayas, this is an American Barleywine. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this is the maltiest DIPA ever. Just a ton of everything- malt, hops, alcohol- in this monster beast of a beer.
Pours a murky, slightly hazy amber, with a small, quarter inch head, and not much lacing.
Smells very malty, lots of sweet caramel and toasty bread, with an underpinning of piney, grapefruity, and dank hops. I smell a bit of booze too. This one's gonna be a monster.
The taste follows exactly as I'd suggest. Big, spicy booze burn up front, with some sweet, almost cloying sugary malt flavor, and then a big bitter kick in the face from the hops- grapefruit and orange rind, grass, pine. Just a ton of flavor shoved into this one. And surprisingly, given my usual feel on overly malted IPAs...it actually kind of works. It's fatiguing, and it'll never be my favorite style of IPA, but it does taste really good.
Medium bodied, thick and sticky mouthfeel, the alcohol is quite noticeable, making it a bit of a sipper.
An extreme beer if I ever saw one, this was one very tasty and impressive.
★ 1,169 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap at Acme Bar and Pizza in Rochester, NY.
I don't care what the description sayas, this is an American Barleywine. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this is the maltiest DIPA ever. Just a ton of everything- malt, hops, alcohol- in this monster beast of a beer.
Pours a murky, slightly hazy amber, with a small, quarter inch head, and not much lacing.
Smells very malty, lots of sweet caramel and toasty bread, with an underpinning of piney, grapefruity, and dank hops. I smell a bit of booze too. This one's gonna be a monster.
The taste follows exactly as I'd suggest. Big, spicy booze burn up front, with some sweet, almost cloying sugary malt flavor, and then a big bitter kick in the face from the hops- grapefruit and orange rind, grass, pine. Just a ton of flavor shoved into this one. And surprisingly, given my usual feel on overly malted IPAs...it actually kind of works. It's fatiguing, and it'll never be my favorite style of IPA, but it does taste really good.
Medium bodied, thick and sticky mouthfeel, the alcohol is quite noticeable, making it a bit of a sipper.
An extreme beer if I ever saw one, this was one very tasty and impressive.
★ 1,169 characters
3.38/5 rDev -18%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: This poured a nearly opaque light copper with a little white head.
S: It smelled like sugary figs and candied cherries and faint copper and butter scotch.
T: It tasted like candied apricots and herbal hops, with some artificial strawberry and unripe pineapple. It had a somewhat clean sugary aftertaste with lingering bitterness.
M: It was thick and chewy with a little carbonation. Very full body.
D: This was not nearly as good as I expected. The scent and taste were super sweet with little bitterness. The body was over the top, and the finish was a little harsh. So it wasn't easy to drink. I'm not impressed at all.
★ 624 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: This poured a nearly opaque light copper with a little white head.
S: It smelled like sugary figs and candied cherries and faint copper and butter scotch.
T: It tasted like candied apricots and herbal hops, with some artificial strawberry and unripe pineapple. It had a somewhat clean sugary aftertaste with lingering bitterness.
M: It was thick and chewy with a little carbonation. Very full body.
D: This was not nearly as good as I expected. The scent and taste were super sweet with little bitterness. The body was over the top, and the finish was a little harsh. So it wasn't easy to drink. I'm not impressed at all.
★ 624 characters
4.02/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Strong malt character, straight caramel to the face. Well balanced flavor with a little alcohol residue in the aftermath. Hazy coloring and an almost nitrous head deliver an initially pleasant mouthful. Overall a good east coast IIpa that's easy to drink.
★ 255 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Strong malt character, straight caramel to the face. Well balanced flavor with a little alcohol residue in the aftermath. Hazy coloring and an almost nitrous head deliver an initially pleasant mouthful. Overall a good east coast IIpa that's easy to drink.
★ 255 characters
3.5/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Deep bronze beer with good amount of head. Has pine and citrus smells. Good mix of citrus and hops in its taste. Lots of hops and malt give this beer a good body. Can taste the hops as soon as it hits the tongue. Great beer that goes well with both food as well as on its own.
★ 276 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Deep bronze beer with good amount of head. Has pine and citrus smells. Good mix of citrus and hops in its taste. Lots of hops and malt give this beer a good body. Can taste the hops as soon as it hits the tongue. Great beer that goes well with both food as well as on its own.
★ 276 characters
3.54/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: deep orange color. Fairly hazy and near opaque. A small off white head that fades to nothing.
Smell: citrus and pine hops blended with sweet crystal malts. Smells more sweet than hoppy.
Taste: lots of hops. Resin, citrus, light pine, floral. Little to no malt taste.
Mouthfeel: strong bitterness that lingers for a long time. Fairly light and no alcohol for 13%
Overall: a good dipa but left way behind by all the competition in my opinion. Also way off at on the price point.
★ 496 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: deep orange color. Fairly hazy and near opaque. A small off white head that fades to nothing.
Smell: citrus and pine hops blended with sweet crystal malts. Smells more sweet than hoppy.
Taste: lots of hops. Resin, citrus, light pine, floral. Little to no malt taste.
Mouthfeel: strong bitterness that lingers for a long time. Fairly light and no alcohol for 13%
Overall: a good dipa but left way behind by all the competition in my opinion. Also way off at on the price point.
★ 496 characters
3.74/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a shaker glass.
Original quick rating was a 3.5 in April 2014. Full review on 4/5/15 is below.
One of the more well-balanced IPAs I have drank. Lots of malt to balance lots of hops. – 3.75
A – Pours a quite cloudy (-) brownish orange, amberish with a two-finger off-white solid head. Great lacing, a curtain of lacing. Long lasting thin layer of head. – 3.5
S – Floral and piney hops aromas, sweetness, some black tea (?) – 3.75
T – Starts sweet, smooth, caramel and malty, with a resiny hoppy finish. - 3.75
MF - Smooth creamy start with a biting hoppy dry finish. Medium bodied. - 3.75
★ 617 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a shaker glass.
Original quick rating was a 3.5 in April 2014. Full review on 4/5/15 is below.
One of the more well-balanced IPAs I have drank. Lots of malt to balance lots of hops. – 3.75
A – Pours a quite cloudy (-) brownish orange, amberish with a two-finger off-white solid head. Great lacing, a curtain of lacing. Long lasting thin layer of head. – 3.5
S – Floral and piney hops aromas, sweetness, some black tea (?) – 3.75
T – Starts sweet, smooth, caramel and malty, with a resiny hoppy finish. - 3.75
MF - Smooth creamy start with a biting hoppy dry finish. Medium bodied. - 3.75
★ 617 characters
4.39/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- dark, burnt orange and cured tobacco golden brown
S- citrus and pine, sweet. Alcohol presence on the nose and malty sweetness
T- Hop bite as soon as it hits the tongue and the malt backbone comes through after swallow. Sweet, citrus and spice blend together well and beg you for another sip
M-crisp on the first swallow and full-bodied just as a DIPA should be. Coats the mouth and leaves a tingling of hops and bitterness. Almost a sweet licorice after-taste mixed with orange, tangerine and melon.
Not a huge hop bomb, but very, very drinkable for a strong DIPA. This is a very tasty beer and one that I'll be looking to have again. Never had heard of this brewery before my Bro in Law introduced me to them and glad he did.
★ 767 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle poured into a snifter
A- dark, burnt orange and cured tobacco golden brown
S- citrus and pine, sweet. Alcohol presence on the nose and malty sweetness
T- Hop bite as soon as it hits the tongue and the malt backbone comes through after swallow. Sweet, citrus and spice blend together well and beg you for another sip
M-crisp on the first swallow and full-bodied just as a DIPA should be. Coats the mouth and leaves a tingling of hops and bitterness. Almost a sweet licorice after-taste mixed with orange, tangerine and melon.
Not a huge hop bomb, but very, very drinkable for a strong DIPA. This is a very tasty beer and one that I'll be looking to have again. Never had heard of this brewery before my Bro in Law introduced me to them and glad he did.
★ 767 characters
4.35/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap, pours a cloudy amber with lots of lacing and a thin head that lasts and lasts.
Light smells of citrus hops, and grapefruit
Tastes hoppy but not overbearing with a good malt backbone, citrus hops with a little pine and just a hint of the high abv.
Light carbonation and medium bodied, not nearly as syrupy as you would expect
Overall, great easy drinking DIPA at 13.5% abv.
★ 386 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap, pours a cloudy amber with lots of lacing and a thin head that lasts and lasts.
Light smells of citrus hops, and grapefruit
Tastes hoppy but not overbearing with a good malt backbone, citrus hops with a little pine and just a hint of the high abv.
Light carbonation and medium bodied, not nearly as syrupy as you would expect
Overall, great easy drinking DIPA at 13.5% abv.
★ 386 characters
4.32/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: orange, cloudy, good head sustained at half coverage, easily re-formed with a swirl of the glass
S: floral and citrus, but with a very earthy backbone
T: pretty much in line with other DIPAs, sweeter to start, a bit of alcohol burn (this might be a notch above others at temp). Sweetness is caramelly (making that up), but cast against a grapefruit back.
O: very enjoyable, and given it jumps the ABV even for a DIPA, might be well worth it.
★ 444 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: orange, cloudy, good head sustained at half coverage, easily re-formed with a swirl of the glass
S: floral and citrus, but with a very earthy backbone
T: pretty much in line with other DIPAs, sweeter to start, a bit of alcohol burn (this might be a notch above others at temp). Sweetness is caramelly (making that up), but cast against a grapefruit back.
O: very enjoyable, and given it jumps the ABV even for a DIPA, might be well worth it.
★ 444 characters
3.95/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks to WCW for this one.
Poured from a 12oz bottle, no #freshbeer info.
Pours a nice dark amber body, big creamy head that's bubbly and lasts a while. Smell is sweet and strong hops. Nice flavor, lacks a bit of depth considering the ABV but very drinkable.
★ 261 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Thanks to WCW for this one.
Poured from a 12oz bottle, no #freshbeer info.
Pours a nice dark amber body, big creamy head that's bubbly and lasts a while. Smell is sweet and strong hops. Nice flavor, lacks a bit of depth considering the ABV but very drinkable.
★ 261 characters
4.15/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. Bottleneck says 3.14.14.
A- Pours a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains well before slowly retreating to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves a broken ring behind.
S- Hops bring a tropical fruit aroma with notes of pineapple, grapefruit and orange. There's also some sweet malt behind that along with some mild solvent-like alcohol.
T- Flavor isn't as citrusy as the sweet malt makes itself more known. Bitter but not as much as expected. The hop flavor is nice and lingers a while commingling with the booze and slight toastiness of the malt.
M- Semi-sharp from the hops and booze with medium carbonation and a body leaning toward the fuller side.
O- It does dance in barleywine territory but not so much so that I would call it that rather than an IPA. Whatever you call it, it's immensely drinkable given the ABV. Now, the question is, is it worth $19.99 for a 4-pack? That's a matter of opinion but I say no.
★ 1,056 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. Bottleneck says 3.14.14.
A- Pours a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains well before slowly retreating to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves a broken ring behind.
S- Hops bring a tropical fruit aroma with notes of pineapple, grapefruit and orange. There's also some sweet malt behind that along with some mild solvent-like alcohol.
T- Flavor isn't as citrusy as the sweet malt makes itself more known. Bitter but not as much as expected. The hop flavor is nice and lingers a while commingling with the booze and slight toastiness of the malt.
M- Semi-sharp from the hops and booze with medium carbonation and a body leaning toward the fuller side.
O- It does dance in barleywine territory but not so much so that I would call it that rather than an IPA. Whatever you call it, it's immensely drinkable given the ABV. Now, the question is, is it worth $19.99 for a 4-pack? That's a matter of opinion but I say no.
★ 1,056 characters
4.43/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured Double Crooked Tree IPA into a Belgian Tulip.
A - Pours a dark cloudy amber with a half finger of off white head.
S - You can smell this baby as soon as I opened the bottle cap. Grapefruit, mango, pineapple, some piney hops. Smells really nice.
T - On first taste getting some tropical citrus, pineapple, grapefruit. Mid palate getting smooth malt and a kiss of sweetness in there. On the aftertaste getting more citrus with orange peel, and smooth hops and more sweetness.
M - Got to give this a perfect score here. Smooth medium mouthfeel with medium to low carbonation.
O - Very nice, smooth Imperial IPA. Highly recommended ! Cheers!
★ 649 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured Double Crooked Tree IPA into a Belgian Tulip.
A - Pours a dark cloudy amber with a half finger of off white head.
S - You can smell this baby as soon as I opened the bottle cap. Grapefruit, mango, pineapple, some piney hops. Smells really nice.
T - On first taste getting some tropical citrus, pineapple, grapefruit. Mid palate getting smooth malt and a kiss of sweetness in there. On the aftertaste getting more citrus with orange peel, and smooth hops and more sweetness.
M - Got to give this a perfect score here. Smooth medium mouthfeel with medium to low carbonation.
O - Very nice, smooth Imperial IPA. Highly recommended ! Cheers!
★ 649 characters
3.55/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Beer Trappe (Lexington, KY).
Medium amber with excellent clarity and a large, bone-colored, durable head. Excellent coating of foam gets left on the glass.
Remarkably sweet up front, but there's a load of hops in here and it turns moderately bitter by the finish. Complex hop mix give off a mostly herbal and fruity aroma but are herbal, piney and floral in the mouth, and a bit earthy in the aftertaste. Some citrus too.
Feel: medium body and carbonation.
O: a hop bomb for hop heads, particularly if a lower level of bitterness is desired.
★ 561 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Beer Trappe (Lexington, KY).
Medium amber with excellent clarity and a large, bone-colored, durable head. Excellent coating of foam gets left on the glass.
Remarkably sweet up front, but there's a load of hops in here and it turns moderately bitter by the finish. Complex hop mix give off a mostly herbal and fruity aroma but are herbal, piney and floral in the mouth, and a bit earthy in the aftertaste. Some citrus too.
Feel: medium body and carbonation.
O: a hop bomb for hop heads, particularly if a lower level of bitterness is desired.
★ 561 characters
4.13/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a balloon glass.
A: A deep amber color with minimal head and moderately cloudy. There was a significant amount of yeast material in the bottom of the bottle.
S: Nice hop aroma with a blending of malt sweetness. The hops have more of a dank aroma with no perceptible fruit presence.
Taste: Surprisingly well balanced considering the ABV level. Nice level of malt sweetness and a compliment of hops. The alcohol level is present in the throat, but is not overly obtrusive in the mouth.
M: Good carbonation level.
Overall: This is a nice DIPA and worth try. Surprisingly well balanced for such a high ABV beer. Give it a shot.
★ 640 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a balloon glass.
A: A deep amber color with minimal head and moderately cloudy. There was a significant amount of yeast material in the bottom of the bottle.
S: Nice hop aroma with a blending of malt sweetness. The hops have more of a dank aroma with no perceptible fruit presence.
Taste: Surprisingly well balanced considering the ABV level. Nice level of malt sweetness and a compliment of hops. The alcohol level is present in the throat, but is not overly obtrusive in the mouth.
M: Good carbonation level.
Overall: This is a nice DIPA and worth try. Surprisingly well balanced for such a high ABV beer. Give it a shot.
★ 640 characters
3.75/5 rDev -9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
A: Pours a very hazy copper color - I poured the dregs in this immediately (because I like cloudy IPAs), and the haziness in particular was downright hideous. So were the chunks of yeast sediment that fell to the bottom. On the plus side, the one-finger off-white colored head has excellent retention for 12%, and a soft texture that leaves behind plenty of lacing on the glass.
S: Intensely sweet, but also intensely boozy. This one genuinely pricks the nostrils with its aroma. The aforementioned alcohol notes seem to have a nice fruitiness instead of just being like pure rubbing alcohol. Ultimately, the dominant notes are caramel, brown sugar, and piny hops - the malt backbone would do a barleywine proud. I know exactly what kind of DIPA this is going to be. Here's a hint: it's not going to be one of those lean 8% ones.
T: Subtly piny hops open this up, before the prodigious malt backbone really goes to town. The middle sees the hops become more grapefruity, even creating a bit of juiciness when combined with the sweet malts. There's some booziness on the finish to go along with the increase of both caramel and dank hops - I can't call the alcohol hidden, but I can call it well integrated. At first, I thought this was just another malty-ass DIPA with a bit of hops on the side, but the layering of the hops catch up to me: it goes from piny to citrusy to dank to even minty all in the span of a couple seconds. Given the fact that the flavors seem to switch from caramel to dark fruits to (mild) booze from sip to sip, I'd even call it complex.
M: To the surprise of nobody, this is big, heavy, and sweet on the tongue. I mean, it's 12% (with the slight tingle to prove it), how easy drinking is this going to be? Medium carbonation tries its damnedest to lighten and dry the finish up; I'd say it's about 25% successful. It's not so heavy as to render it undrinkable, and it's not so sweet as to render it cloying. But, it's ridiculously chalky-feeling as well - my tongue is practically coated with yeast, and that's what makes it a pure sipper.
O: This shouldn't work, but it just does. As a DIPA, it's fully aware of the fact that it's shameless and over the top, and doesn't try to be anything it's not. I respect that. I'm beginning to realize I have a soft spot for these ridiculous monster DIPAs like this, Devil Dancer, and Hi-Res. One beer is absolutely enough; there's more going on here than there would be in three mediocre DIPAs.
★ 2,498 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
A: Pours a very hazy copper color - I poured the dregs in this immediately (because I like cloudy IPAs), and the haziness in particular was downright hideous. So were the chunks of yeast sediment that fell to the bottom. On the plus side, the one-finger off-white colored head has excellent retention for 12%, and a soft texture that leaves behind plenty of lacing on the glass.
S: Intensely sweet, but also intensely boozy. This one genuinely pricks the nostrils with its aroma. The aforementioned alcohol notes seem to have a nice fruitiness instead of just being like pure rubbing alcohol. Ultimately, the dominant notes are caramel, brown sugar, and piny hops - the malt backbone would do a barleywine proud. I know exactly what kind of DIPA this is going to be. Here's a hint: it's not going to be one of those lean 8% ones.
T: Subtly piny hops open this up, before the prodigious malt backbone really goes to town. The middle sees the hops become more grapefruity, even creating a bit of juiciness when combined with the sweet malts. There's some booziness on the finish to go along with the increase of both caramel and dank hops - I can't call the alcohol hidden, but I can call it well integrated. At first, I thought this was just another malty-ass DIPA with a bit of hops on the side, but the layering of the hops catch up to me: it goes from piny to citrusy to dank to even minty all in the span of a couple seconds. Given the fact that the flavors seem to switch from caramel to dark fruits to (mild) booze from sip to sip, I'd even call it complex.
M: To the surprise of nobody, this is big, heavy, and sweet on the tongue. I mean, it's 12% (with the slight tingle to prove it), how easy drinking is this going to be? Medium carbonation tries its damnedest to lighten and dry the finish up; I'd say it's about 25% successful. It's not so heavy as to render it undrinkable, and it's not so sweet as to render it cloying. But, it's ridiculously chalky-feeling as well - my tongue is practically coated with yeast, and that's what makes it a pure sipper.
O: This shouldn't work, but it just does. As a DIPA, it's fully aware of the fact that it's shameless and over the top, and doesn't try to be anything it's not. I respect that. I'm beginning to realize I have a soft spot for these ridiculous monster DIPAs like this, Devil Dancer, and Hi-Res. One beer is absolutely enough; there's more going on here than there would be in three mediocre DIPAs.
★ 2,498 characters
3.78/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Overall unimpressed for a Special release double IPA. ABV is very well balanced (read: Hidden) in this single serving Bottle I had at 5$ per. Average experience for that price point.
Pours caramel with orange hues. Cream colored white head.
Aroma is heavy malt & caramel sweetness,
Palette is syrupy to match the sweet. Heavy. Light Viscous.
Taste is heavy on the caramel. Mango & some pine. Some bitterness with minute long hang time.
Abv is dangerously hidden.
★ 469 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Overall unimpressed for a Special release double IPA. ABV is very well balanced (read: Hidden) in this single serving Bottle I had at 5$ per. Average experience for that price point.
Pours caramel with orange hues. Cream colored white head.
Aroma is heavy malt & caramel sweetness,
Palette is syrupy to match the sweet. Heavy. Light Viscous.
Taste is heavy on the caramel. Mango & some pine. Some bitterness with minute long hang time.
Abv is dangerously hidden.
★ 469 characters
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA from Dark Horse Brewing Company
4.12
out of 5
based on 2,777 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Too malt forward for my taste. I get a very sweet knose with hints of caramel. Those sweet smells come out in the tase. Not enough resiny pine and citrus notes.
★ 160 characters