Delta Dugong
Rhinegeist Brewery

 

Best of both worlds or schizophrenic? Bridging the gap between the trendy New England styled IPA and the drier, more traditional West Coast IPA, the brewers at Rhinegeist are bringing the hop headed populous together with a beer that's two tastes in one.

Moderately hazy and cast with a rich golden hue, Delta Dugong builds a frothy eggshell cap ahead of a bold and citrusy potpourri laced with tropical fruit, pine and a host of muddled herbaceous grasses. Caramelized sweetness greets the tongue along with a pep of honey and the soft nuttiness of granola.

Its malt influence is interrupted by the truly seductive nature of hops as the ale washes the middle palate. Mango, papaya, apricot, peach and cantaloup dip into the tropical world with a melon-like juiciness. Seemingly honey dipped a hint of curacao liquor stems from a citrusy hop flavor before the beer trends bitter in the late palate with the moderate taste of pine resins, fresh grass clippings and a gin-like spice.

Medium bodied but lightened by the resinous drying of hops, a tightly bitter grip on the throat ushers in a great refreshing quality with a clean and crisp hop profile. More bitter dominant than is typical for hazy IPA, the beer's drier and more bitter West Coast profile lingers deeper into the sip with torn pine needles and macerated tropical fruit rind.