Project Dank | La Cumbre Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
La Cumbre Brewing Co.
New Mexico, United States
lacumbrebrewing.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by ONovoMexicano on 01-11-2014
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 96 | Ratings: 777
4.49/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I had this wonderful and dank (in a good way) IPA I had at the La Cumbre Brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Look: It has a golden semi clear hue with an inch white head leaving a very nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrus and pine, and dank.
Taste: It's pine, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and it's dank, it is very, very dank, it's all dankness.
Feel: Medium body with a long dank piney finish.
★ 389 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I had this wonderful and dank (in a good way) IPA I had at the La Cumbre Brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Look: It has a golden semi clear hue with an inch white head leaving a very nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrus and pine, and dank.
Taste: It's pine, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and it's dank, it is very, very dank, it's all dankness.
Feel: Medium body with a long dank piney finish.
★ 389 characters
4.03/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle purchased at the brewery. This has been on my wants list for years.
Transparent orange body with a frothy white collar. Steady effervescence emanating from the bottom of the glass. Aromas of citric hops, followed by light malt, dank hop character. Hop forward for sure, but tempered by a sturdy malt bill. As far as "balanced" IPAs go, this is solid. Lingering tangy grapefruit juice / zest adds a piquant note in the finish. Tasty.
★ 448 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle purchased at the brewery. This has been on my wants list for years.
Transparent orange body with a frothy white collar. Steady effervescence emanating from the bottom of the glass. Aromas of citric hops, followed by light malt, dank hop character. Hop forward for sure, but tempered by a sturdy malt bill. As far as "balanced" IPAs go, this is solid. Lingering tangy grapefruit juice / zest adds a piquant note in the finish. Tasty.
★ 448 characters
4.39/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewery. Nice deep gold color with healthy head and nice lacing. Aroma is complex citrusy/piney/tropical with good malt character. Flavor followed. Delicious with nice mouthfeel. The lingering bitterness of the Elevated IPA was more moderate here providing a delicious drinkable big IPA. As noted in my other La Cumbre review. I brought 4 of these home as well and sent a care package of Tree House beers (Julius and Green) out to them to try. I understand that the recipe changes from batch to batch but this would be my go to beer if I lived in Albuquerque
★ 580 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewery. Nice deep gold color with healthy head and nice lacing. Aroma is complex citrusy/piney/tropical with good malt character. Flavor followed. Delicious with nice mouthfeel. The lingering bitterness of the Elevated IPA was more moderate here providing a delicious drinkable big IPA. As noted in my other La Cumbre review. I brought 4 of these home as well and sent a care package of Tree House beers (Julius and Green) out to them to try. I understand that the recipe changes from batch to batch but this would be my go to beer if I lived in Albuquerque
★ 580 characters
4.06/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: deep gold color, nice lacing white head
S: tropical and citrus fruit with some pine
T: follows the nose a lot, with just enough bitterness
F: long finish, really coats the entire mouth
O: outstanding, highly recommended
★ 224 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: deep gold color, nice lacing white head
S: tropical and citrus fruit with some pine
T: follows the nose a lot, with just enough bitterness
F: long finish, really coats the entire mouth
O: outstanding, highly recommended
★ 224 characters
4.63/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L: Copper gold color that is very clear with a creamy white head and lacing all over the glass.
S: Pine needles and grapefruit and other ripe citrus and tropical fruit. Very inviting aroma
T: Lots of citrus and tropical fruit, lots of earthy pine and a nice bitterness that isn't over the top. Very tasty IPA.
F: Creamy and smooth, really easy drinking.
O: One of the best IPAs I have had.
★ 393 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L: Copper gold color that is very clear with a creamy white head and lacing all over the glass.
S: Pine needles and grapefruit and other ripe citrus and tropical fruit. Very inviting aroma
T: Lots of citrus and tropical fruit, lots of earthy pine and a nice bitterness that isn't over the top. Very tasty IPA.
F: Creamy and smooth, really easy drinking.
O: One of the best IPAs I have had.
★ 393 characters
4.56/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Crystal-clear, copper colored body; thick, frothy, sculpted head; lacing down the glass. Big, bold dose of pine and citrus aroma; oranges and pink grapefruit. Mellow, bready grain flavors and soothing, bitter hop presence. Heavy but with a soft, airy quality; warm; creamy.
An awesome, big hop IPA done right. Complex with deep, appealing taste and aroma qualities, and it doesn't look half-bad either. I'll be looking for this one again when visiting Taos or Santa Fe...
★ 472 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Crystal-clear, copper colored body; thick, frothy, sculpted head; lacing down the glass. Big, bold dose of pine and citrus aroma; oranges and pink grapefruit. Mellow, bready grain flavors and soothing, bitter hop presence. Heavy but with a soft, airy quality; warm; creamy.
An awesome, big hop IPA done right. Complex with deep, appealing taste and aroma qualities, and it doesn't look half-bad either. I'll be looking for this one again when visiting Taos or Santa Fe...
★ 472 characters
4.59/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up from the brewery. Poured into a teku.
Look is a copper color with minimal lacing.
Smells is dank. So much pineapple and hops. Great nose.
Taste follows the nose. Huge beer. Dank, hoppy, slight bitterness. Great.
Feel is medium bodied with a long finish of pine and hops.
Overall it's outstanding. Glad I got one. Love this. Comes in a bomber and I wanted more. Wish this was destro'd here.
★ 414 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Picked up from the brewery. Poured into a teku.
Look is a copper color with minimal lacing.
Smells is dank. So much pineapple and hops. Great nose.
Taste follows the nose. Huge beer. Dank, hoppy, slight bitterness. Great.
Feel is medium bodied with a long finish of pine and hops.
Overall it's outstanding. Glad I got one. Love this. Comes in a bomber and I wanted more. Wish this was destro'd here.
★ 414 characters
4.31/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 4/06/16. Super Fresh. Never had this before.
aroma: wow, big, big pineapple. Like over-ripen pineapple. It's sweet but it carries an earthy quality underneath the big fruit aspect.
taste: taste follows the nose with the pineapple. It has some creaminess to back it up, but finishes very bitter.
overall: the body does lack a touch, as the beer dries out a little bit on the back end. But it tastes great. I think I do enjoy Elevated a tad more than this one though, but it is really close.
★ 503 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 4/06/16. Super Fresh. Never had this before.
aroma: wow, big, big pineapple. Like over-ripen pineapple. It's sweet but it carries an earthy quality underneath the big fruit aspect.
taste: taste follows the nose with the pineapple. It has some creaminess to back it up, but finishes very bitter.
overall: the body does lack a touch, as the beer dries out a little bit on the back end. But it tastes great. I think I do enjoy Elevated a tad more than this one though, but it is really close.
★ 503 characters
4.5/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Love everything this brewery does and this is no exception. Being in upstate NY I can only dream for the day their distro expands. this beer lived up to the name the pony citrus nose hits hard, and the taste does not disappoint. 4.5/5
★ 236 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Love everything this brewery does and this is no exception. Being in upstate NY I can only dream for the day their distro expands. this beer lived up to the name the pony citrus nose hits hard, and the taste does not disappoint. 4.5/5
★ 236 characters
4.01/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottled 03/15/16. Clear and vibrant light orange-gold color with a finger of white head and heavy lacing. Amazing bottle art, too. There is indeed a dankness and slight skunkiness to the aroma, with a mix of orange, pine, pineapple behind and a whiff of nuttiness in the malt profile. Way heavier-bodied than expected, with some prickliness to the mouth feel along with the heft. The dankness is more prevalent in the taste than the nose, both with an initial burst up front and lingering in the bitter aftertaste. The orange, pine and pineapple mix is present, too, though, mid-palate, with a little citrus lingering, too. Very nice.
★ 641 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottled 03/15/16. Clear and vibrant light orange-gold color with a finger of white head and heavy lacing. Amazing bottle art, too. There is indeed a dankness and slight skunkiness to the aroma, with a mix of orange, pine, pineapple behind and a whiff of nuttiness in the malt profile. Way heavier-bodied than expected, with some prickliness to the mouth feel along with the heft. The dankness is more prevalent in the taste than the nose, both with an initial burst up front and lingering in the bitter aftertaste. The orange, pine and pineapple mix is present, too, though, mid-palate, with a little citrus lingering, too. Very nice.
★ 641 characters
4.53/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bomber bottled on 2/29/16. Pretty orange/amber hue, nice half inch head, good retention and lacing. Huge aromas of tropical fruits, pine and I swear it smelled like weed. Lots of of mango and pineapple in the flavor with a touch of sweetness and just a hint of bitterness. Nice oily mouthfeel, medium bodied. Just a super tasty beer, glad that La Cumbre is regularly distributing to Colorado now. Really looking forward to enjoying this a lot in the future
★ 470 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bomber bottled on 2/29/16. Pretty orange/amber hue, nice half inch head, good retention and lacing. Huge aromas of tropical fruits, pine and I swear it smelled like weed. Lots of of mango and pineapple in the flavor with a touch of sweetness and just a hint of bitterness. Nice oily mouthfeel, medium bodied. Just a super tasty beer, glad that La Cumbre is regularly distributing to Colorado now. Really looking forward to enjoying this a lot in the future
★ 470 characters
4.61/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Marcos for hooking me up with a fresh bomber.
L: Light amber to dark orange hues with very minimal haziness and a 3mm white foamy head with moderate retention
S: Nose is bursting with peaches, pine, and tangerines - the dankness if evident, but not overpowering
T: Hop forward on the palate, but complemented nicely by grapefruit, kumquats, and mangoes; the finish is crisp and dry
F: Light to medium mouthfeel with moderate carbonation
O: After (happily) drowning in many juice bomb-IPAs lately, it is refreshing to go back to a hop bomb-IPA that supplements its flavor with a healthy profile of citrus and tropical fruits. True to its name this is a dank, floral, and over-hopped brew that delivers an interesting and tasty experience. Well done.
★ 759 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Marcos for hooking me up with a fresh bomber.
L: Light amber to dark orange hues with very minimal haziness and a 3mm white foamy head with moderate retention
S: Nose is bursting with peaches, pine, and tangerines - the dankness if evident, but not overpowering
T: Hop forward on the palate, but complemented nicely by grapefruit, kumquats, and mangoes; the finish is crisp and dry
F: Light to medium mouthfeel with moderate carbonation
O: After (happily) drowning in many juice bomb-IPAs lately, it is refreshing to go back to a hop bomb-IPA that supplements its flavor with a healthy profile of citrus and tropical fruits. True to its name this is a dank, floral, and over-hopped brew that delivers an interesting and tasty experience. Well done.
★ 759 characters
4.1/5 rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Consumed 1/29/16
Cheers to Dustin for this beer
A: Medium to lightly burnt orange with some tangerine around the edges - lightly hazy - pours with a medium size, lightly off white head, fades to a a nearly solid cap, maintains a medium collar, leaves some streaks and spots of lacing
S: A unique and odd blend of hoppy aromas - dank is not the first thing that comes to mind - fruity, with some floral citrus and super ripe grapefruit juice - perfume-like at times - candied orange - tropical notes, with melon and mango - herbal notes and yes, some dank, resinous weed - light sweetness and some pale malts at the base
T: Easier to comprehend than the smell - very hoppy, with citrus, including floral grapefruit and grapefruit juice - lightly oily and decidedly resinous - some fresh pine needles, pine resin, and herbal notes - moderate bitterness that lingers - some pale malts, light sweetness, finishes dry
M: Medium body, medium carbonation, very smooth, finishes with some oil
O: More than just dank
For a beer named Project Dank, this is not the most dank-smelling beer I've had (not even close, actually). But I'm not complaining. This is very interesting. The floral citrus and fresh, resinous pine notes are very interesting. This is definitely worth a try.
★ 1,276 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Consumed 1/29/16
Cheers to Dustin for this beer
A: Medium to lightly burnt orange with some tangerine around the edges - lightly hazy - pours with a medium size, lightly off white head, fades to a a nearly solid cap, maintains a medium collar, leaves some streaks and spots of lacing
S: A unique and odd blend of hoppy aromas - dank is not the first thing that comes to mind - fruity, with some floral citrus and super ripe grapefruit juice - perfume-like at times - candied orange - tropical notes, with melon and mango - herbal notes and yes, some dank, resinous weed - light sweetness and some pale malts at the base
T: Easier to comprehend than the smell - very hoppy, with citrus, including floral grapefruit and grapefruit juice - lightly oily and decidedly resinous - some fresh pine needles, pine resin, and herbal notes - moderate bitterness that lingers - some pale malts, light sweetness, finishes dry
M: Medium body, medium carbonation, very smooth, finishes with some oil
O: More than just dank
For a beer named Project Dank, this is not the most dank-smelling beer I've had (not even close, actually). But I'm not complaining. This is very interesting. The floral citrus and fresh, resinous pine notes are very interesting. This is definitely worth a try.
★ 1,276 characters
4.54/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep gold orange with an of white head. Left minimal lacing. The smell is grapefruit, onions and weed. The taste is malty sweet with a lot of grapefruit and bitter hops. This is a fine and balanced beer.
★ 203 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Deep gold orange with an of white head. Left minimal lacing. The smell is grapefruit, onions and weed. The taste is malty sweet with a lot of grapefruit and bitter hops. This is a fine and balanced beer.
★ 203 characters
3.88/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle share. Silky smooth, super hoppy aroma and taste, mildly viscous, light on presentation but huge on taste. Just great. Can't wait for my trip to Albuquerque.
★ 164 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle share. Silky smooth, super hoppy aroma and taste, mildly viscous, light on presentation but huge on taste. Just great. Can't wait for my trip to Albuquerque.
★ 164 characters
4.41/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a snifter
Appearance: yellow-golden and slight haze - hazy with lupulin stickiness. The head maxed out at a light tan 1-fingered head, which faded quickly.
Aroma: hops! Pineapple, lots of fruit and fresh (new growth) pine. The malt comes through sweet and bready. From the aroma, I expect this to be a tropical fruit/pineapple hop bomb.
Flavor: resinous and piney with some floral hoppiness. None of the tropical fruits in the aroma appear in the flavor. Great hops and dry. The malt is right on. Sweet malt, a perfect canvas for the hops at this abv. Very good. The booze is hidden, yet you know its there with each sip.
Mouthfeel: light-medium. Body-wise, this beer is lighter than a 2X IPA but heavier than a standard IPA (muck like its 7.5% abv).
Overall: a solid beer head to toe. I value this beer and view it as a 2X IPA despite the sub-8% abv. Damn delicious. La Cumbre's hop bombs can rival most anyone's.
★ 932 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a snifter
Appearance: yellow-golden and slight haze - hazy with lupulin stickiness. The head maxed out at a light tan 1-fingered head, which faded quickly.
Aroma: hops! Pineapple, lots of fruit and fresh (new growth) pine. The malt comes through sweet and bready. From the aroma, I expect this to be a tropical fruit/pineapple hop bomb.
Flavor: resinous and piney with some floral hoppiness. None of the tropical fruits in the aroma appear in the flavor. Great hops and dry. The malt is right on. Sweet malt, a perfect canvas for the hops at this abv. Very good. The booze is hidden, yet you know its there with each sip.
Mouthfeel: light-medium. Body-wise, this beer is lighter than a 2X IPA but heavier than a standard IPA (muck like its 7.5% abv).
Overall: a solid beer head to toe. I value this beer and view it as a 2X IPA despite the sub-8% abv. Damn delicious. La Cumbre's hop bombs can rival most anyone's.
★ 932 characters
4.34/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I found the version on tap (1/2/2016) to be quite exceptional.
Look: was golden and mostly clear. Nothing that would catch the eye but if it isn't hazy (NE style IPA) I tend to pay very little attention to it.
Smell: I found hints of fruit with a little pine. Hop scent was present but not overwhelming. May have been muted a bit by how cold it came out of the tap.
Taste: Came through in spades. Hoppy, tropical fruit with a hint of citrus as well as an underlying pine feel that brought everything together very well. The hint of pine kept this from going into the fruit bomb category and I loved every second of it! The hops used for this version seemed to fall together quite nicely. Not as sticky as other versions have been described but this didn't detract from the way the hops were brought forth.
Feel: Not a beer that really coated the mouth however it ended with a dry finish that allowed the taste to linger on the tongue which was a pleasant surprise.
Overall this was a great beer and I would definitely attempt to seek it out again if I'm ever in the Albuquerque area (or they start distributing to Colorado!). I most certainly exhausted the "3 beer limit"!
★ 1,191 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I found the version on tap (1/2/2016) to be quite exceptional.
Look: was golden and mostly clear. Nothing that would catch the eye but if it isn't hazy (NE style IPA) I tend to pay very little attention to it.
Smell: I found hints of fruit with a little pine. Hop scent was present but not overwhelming. May have been muted a bit by how cold it came out of the tap.
Taste: Came through in spades. Hoppy, tropical fruit with a hint of citrus as well as an underlying pine feel that brought everything together very well. The hint of pine kept this from going into the fruit bomb category and I loved every second of it! The hops used for this version seemed to fall together quite nicely. Not as sticky as other versions have been described but this didn't detract from the way the hops were brought forth.
Feel: Not a beer that really coated the mouth however it ended with a dry finish that allowed the taste to linger on the tongue which was a pleasant surprise.
Overall this was a great beer and I would definitely attempt to seek it out again if I'm ever in the Albuquerque area (or they start distributing to Colorado!). I most certainly exhausted the "3 beer limit"!
★ 1,191 characters
4/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tough to rate Project Dank since each batch offers a new recipe. Rated as my overall opinion of the series. Some batches I like more than this (such as the January 2016 batch, which has been my favorite I have so far tried), other batches I have liked less.
★ 258 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tough to rate Project Dank since each batch offers a new recipe. Rated as my overall opinion of the series. Some batches I like more than this (such as the January 2016 batch, which has been my favorite I have so far tried), other batches I have liked less.
★ 258 characters
4/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good beer but not over the top amazing. I don't understand how this beer is listed as a single beer when the recipe of this beer changes significantly every month or so. The malt and hops change so should the entry in BA but that's my opinion.
★ 243 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Good beer but not over the top amazing. I don't understand how this beer is listed as a single beer when the recipe of this beer changes significantly every month or so. The malt and hops change so should the entry in BA but that's my opinion.
★ 243 characters
3.75/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
(Draft, La Cumbre Brewing) IBUs are listed with a question mark. 2120lbs of grain, 160lbs of bittering/aroma hops (86lbs CTZ/82lbs Chinook) went into this beer. Not overly bitter . Picking up that vinegar thing again. Very enjoyable beer.
★ 238 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
(Draft, La Cumbre Brewing) IBUs are listed with a question mark. 2120lbs of grain, 160lbs of bittering/aroma hops (86lbs CTZ/82lbs Chinook) went into this beer. Not overly bitter . Picking up that vinegar thing again. Very enjoyable beer.
★ 238 characters
4.22/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
After some of the reviews I was ecstatic to try this. Bottle dated 10/13/15. Ok...it's a very good IPA. Great? I wasn't blown away, but it is very solid and super smooth. No dank and the aroma seem subdued a little compared to the elevated IPA. I know they change the recipe every so often so, maybe this is just a different batch of hops and new techniques. If you have a chance to try it, go for it. I was hoping for an epic beer and felt slightly let down with this batch. Maybe others batches are, or will be better. YMMV.
Final thought: smoothest high ibu IPA in recent memory. A-/B+
Update 11/13/15- So I smuggled a bomber back in my checked bag and tried it properly tonight (bottle dated 10-13-15). Nose and flavor were both subdued but I would say the main descriptor I would use for both would be pineapple. Odd, because as fruity as IPA's have become, I can't say I have ever tasted straight pineapple juice in a beer (albeit, a strong secondary note). I haven't really changed my opinion from my previous tasting. Good....glad I tried it, not in my top 10 IPA's, but enjoyable. This batch I will rate a solid B+
★ 1,125 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
After some of the reviews I was ecstatic to try this. Bottle dated 10/13/15. Ok...it's a very good IPA. Great? I wasn't blown away, but it is very solid and super smooth. No dank and the aroma seem subdued a little compared to the elevated IPA. I know they change the recipe every so often so, maybe this is just a different batch of hops and new techniques. If you have a chance to try it, go for it. I was hoping for an epic beer and felt slightly let down with this batch. Maybe others batches are, or will be better. YMMV.
Final thought: smoothest high ibu IPA in recent memory. A-/B+
Update 11/13/15- So I smuggled a bomber back in my checked bag and tried it properly tonight (bottle dated 10-13-15). Nose and flavor were both subdued but I would say the main descriptor I would use for both would be pineapple. Odd, because as fruity as IPA's have become, I can't say I have ever tasted straight pineapple juice in a beer (albeit, a strong secondary note). I haven't really changed my opinion from my previous tasting. Good....glad I tried it, not in my top 10 IPA's, but enjoyable. This batch I will rate a solid B+
★ 1,125 characters
4.38/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
We split a bomber into our Founders snifters. It shows the color of old peach flesh, and puts off a soapy one and a half finger tall head of white, slightly toasted looking bubbles. This is beautifully reproducible with a flick of the wrist. This retains very well, leaving dusted plateaus of lacing across our glasses in a jutting, stepwise fashion. Haze is dense, but no sediment is found. Carbonation appears to be lightly medium. The aroma includes incredibly present hoppiness, offering up notes of heavy, syrupy nectars, dripping pines, light citrics, and massively perfumed florals. This bountiful blend plays against a backdrop of sticky butterscotch caramels, pale and caramel grain sweatiness, coffee cake crumbles, apple cider sugars, latex plastics, dripping wet peachy and pineapple fruit juiciness, dank scotch-style (but not mossy or peaty) booziness, raw white rice, candy corn cloy, cork and balsa wood, white pepper, crayon waxiness, and fresh olive oil stickiness. With warmth comes a juniper fruitiness, and an enhanced piney hoppiness. Wow, what a supremely bitter beer!! West-coast (land-locked?!) through and through. The hops come first, exploding with the highest citrics and soaps around, before melding into the background, where they loosen up and become dank, earthy, and crystalline. The body that these blend into is comprised of hot graphite, harsh grain alcohol burn, syrupy pear and peach juiciness, biscuity pale malt toast, raw caramel grain, buttered white bread, burnt plastics, crispy apple skin shavings, grapefruit and tangerine flesh and peel, subtle honey sugariness, rotten vanilla bean, old coffee filters, dew kissed morning moss, tin and titanium, under ripe honeydew melon, wet salted seaweed, and soaked wool. For the first half of your glass the bitterness from the beginning sips follows you to hell and back, like a shadow, lingering behind you. The more the beer warms the more this fades. The body is decidedly full, and the carbonation is actually rather mild. Each sip gives nice slurp and smack, with more oily froth and creaminess, making it have to lap up and cling to the lip. The mouth is left puckered, bittered, and coated with a grating astringency, where you could almost feel a sandy chalkiness sitting beneath it. The abv is appropriate, and the beer sips away like a champion.
Overall, what an incredible specimen. There is so, so much complexity swirling around in our glasses right now. From that explosive, variable, and domineering aroma, to one of the more surprisingly bitter-tipped IPAs, this one has something for everyone to enjoy. The most memorable thing about it is the palate shock. The first sip will all but send you into spasms if you’re not bracing yourself. We weren’t bracing ourselves!! It just comes as such a stark difference from the aroma, which is more warming and homey in its prowess. This lingers, and lingers, and lingers, making even sips of water in between make you pucker as it chips at the residual flavors around the mouth. This longevity helps make the beer something special. As outsiders to the region from which this hails, it likely won’t be soon before we get to dip our noses into the next batch of Project Dank, but it will certainly not soon be forgotten.
★ 3,301 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
We split a bomber into our Founders snifters. It shows the color of old peach flesh, and puts off a soapy one and a half finger tall head of white, slightly toasted looking bubbles. This is beautifully reproducible with a flick of the wrist. This retains very well, leaving dusted plateaus of lacing across our glasses in a jutting, stepwise fashion. Haze is dense, but no sediment is found. Carbonation appears to be lightly medium. The aroma includes incredibly present hoppiness, offering up notes of heavy, syrupy nectars, dripping pines, light citrics, and massively perfumed florals. This bountiful blend plays against a backdrop of sticky butterscotch caramels, pale and caramel grain sweatiness, coffee cake crumbles, apple cider sugars, latex plastics, dripping wet peachy and pineapple fruit juiciness, dank scotch-style (but not mossy or peaty) booziness, raw white rice, candy corn cloy, cork and balsa wood, white pepper, crayon waxiness, and fresh olive oil stickiness. With warmth comes a juniper fruitiness, and an enhanced piney hoppiness. Wow, what a supremely bitter beer!! West-coast (land-locked?!) through and through. The hops come first, exploding with the highest citrics and soaps around, before melding into the background, where they loosen up and become dank, earthy, and crystalline. The body that these blend into is comprised of hot graphite, harsh grain alcohol burn, syrupy pear and peach juiciness, biscuity pale malt toast, raw caramel grain, buttered white bread, burnt plastics, crispy apple skin shavings, grapefruit and tangerine flesh and peel, subtle honey sugariness, rotten vanilla bean, old coffee filters, dew kissed morning moss, tin and titanium, under ripe honeydew melon, wet salted seaweed, and soaked wool. For the first half of your glass the bitterness from the beginning sips follows you to hell and back, like a shadow, lingering behind you. The more the beer warms the more this fades. The body is decidedly full, and the carbonation is actually rather mild. Each sip gives nice slurp and smack, with more oily froth and creaminess, making it have to lap up and cling to the lip. The mouth is left puckered, bittered, and coated with a grating astringency, where you could almost feel a sandy chalkiness sitting beneath it. The abv is appropriate, and the beer sips away like a champion.
Overall, what an incredible specimen. There is so, so much complexity swirling around in our glasses right now. From that explosive, variable, and domineering aroma, to one of the more surprisingly bitter-tipped IPAs, this one has something for everyone to enjoy. The most memorable thing about it is the palate shock. The first sip will all but send you into spasms if you’re not bracing yourself. We weren’t bracing ourselves!! It just comes as such a stark difference from the aroma, which is more warming and homey in its prowess. This lingers, and lingers, and lingers, making even sips of water in between make you pucker as it chips at the residual flavors around the mouth. This longevity helps make the beer something special. As outsiders to the region from which this hails, it likely won’t be soon before we get to dip our noses into the next batch of Project Dank, but it will certainly not soon be forgotten.
★ 3,301 characters
4.32/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Attractive clear amber with an ample foam that lasts and lasts. Sudsy mouthfeel. Very malty and full bodied. It's more in the style of a double IPA, fairly sweet, but not much alcohol taste. Big aroma of apricot and honeysuckle with a cedar note.
I don't think this is what I associate with "dank" but it's so much better than so many IPAs. Instead of that weedy, leaf mold, herbal tea, and resiny gunk, this is just clean fruity hops. Plus, this is so modestly bitter the aromatics come through clear and last longer. I be more inclined to believe this had the NZ or Aus hops with all the mango and peach taste, and the lower acidity.
Endlessly flavorful and totally drinkable. A big IPA without the attitude. Who would have thought one of the best IPAs I"ve had this year is from New Mexico? From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Sprout's Market in Santa Fe.
★ 859 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Attractive clear amber with an ample foam that lasts and lasts. Sudsy mouthfeel. Very malty and full bodied. It's more in the style of a double IPA, fairly sweet, but not much alcohol taste. Big aroma of apricot and honeysuckle with a cedar note.
I don't think this is what I associate with "dank" but it's so much better than so many IPAs. Instead of that weedy, leaf mold, herbal tea, and resiny gunk, this is just clean fruity hops. Plus, this is so modestly bitter the aromatics come through clear and last longer. I be more inclined to believe this had the NZ or Aus hops with all the mango and peach taste, and the lower acidity.
Endlessly flavorful and totally drinkable. A big IPA without the attitude. Who would have thought one of the best IPAs I"ve had this year is from New Mexico? From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Sprout's Market in Santa Fe.
★ 859 characters
4.81/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Sampled at GABF 2015
A: Brilliant yellow with write head that dissipates quickly.
S: I think this is the best smelling IPA I've ever tried, this is what IPA should smell like. Lots of citrus, and tropical fruit
T: Lightly sweet but dries out. Grapefruit, and pine
M: Great mouthfeel very Sticky brew.
O: La Cumbre is awesome.
★ 332 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Sampled at GABF 2015
A: Brilliant yellow with write head that dissipates quickly.
S: I think this is the best smelling IPA I've ever tried, this is what IPA should smell like. Lots of citrus, and tropical fruit
T: Lightly sweet but dries out. Grapefruit, and pine
M: Great mouthfeel very Sticky brew.
O: La Cumbre is awesome.
★ 332 characters
Project Dank from La Cumbre Brewing Co.
4.41
out of 5
based on 777 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A - nice orange amber clear beer with an off white head that leaves okay lacing
S - definition of dank. Garlic, onion, ganja, hop resin, little pine, little grapefruit
T - same deal, dank and basically only that-Garlic, onion, ganja, hop resin, little pine, little grapefruit.
M - light medium mouthfeel, alcohol covered, aftertaste is leftover dank hops, hop resin, garlic, onion
O - it's exactly what it says it is. That said, I do wish there was some overly ripe fruit or tropical notes balancing out the dank. That's okay though, it's supposed to be dank and it is.
★ 570 characters