Rock Dodger
Confluence Brewing Company

 

 

 

a very good, and weirdly drinkable double ipa. it has a very clean malt base, and is real dry, none of the weight or grain sugar i am used to in the style, and its super well carbonated and more juicy than bitter on the hops, so it seems almost light, like a pale ale or something, no trace of the alcohol either. citrusy hops with a lot of orange and lemon to them, a nice complexion, summery over the nearly irrelevant pale malt base. pretty minimal on the body too for a double, not water because of the bubbles, but much lighter than most of these. fresh citrus in aroma and flavor, almost makes the mouth water, maybe some amarillo and citra, although its hard to guess here, seems like quite a few varietals at work in tandem. not very many double ipas with this level of drinkability, and i really like that aspect of this. keeping the bitterness to a moderate level was also smart on this front. i liked all the beers i had from confluence, they all had something just a little unique about them, and the quality was high across the board. this is one of the better midwestern strong ipas i have had.

 

 

 

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus hops, alcohol, sweet malt, and strong pine. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, caramel malt, sweet malt, pine, slight Belgian yeast, and a hint of earthy malt. Overall, good appearance, decent aroma, good body, and blend, but the body is not quite right.