More Dodge Less Ram
Comrade Brewing Company

This is their other most popular beer, along with Superpower. I think I like Superpower a bit more, but I get why people enjoy this one too. It's a clear IPA, coming in at 7.6% this time around, so it's a bit heavier than most, but you don't really notice it. The hop balance is good and it's not too dank or grassy or citrusy. These guys know IPAs and this one fits right in with the rest of their lineup.

 

this has twice won gabf gold, which is super impressive, and i think that knowledge had me set up to be totally floored by this, and while its delicious, i didnt find it quite as different or distinctive as i think i expected it to be, but that is in no way a critique, it just means it has to be close and that there is a lot of really good ipa out there in the world, a good thing of course. shiny honey colored, real clear, average height but lasting white head with some lace, good carbonation, looks light for its abv, well polished, and its certainly well refined. the nose is familiar right away, almost too much so for this to really stand out in terms of hop profile, its northwestern and unexotic, just insanely fresh and clean and without grain interference, really light in that regard. could be simcoe and mosaic or something of that nature, good alpha, bitter citrus, lightly catty and gassy in a good way, layers of pineapple and maybe sage or something herbal but not quite piney, a bit dank, nothing from the ferment at all. the flavor runs the same track, early start for the hops, nice oily linger, grapefruit and juniper and maybe a kiss of peach, decently high bitterness but its off dry overall so there is balance even though the grain doesnt flavor this much, really minimal there which keeps this clean and drinking way lighter than its listed abv generally allows for, this could be dangerous! id love to know what the hops are, again this seems samey but just better than what everyone else is doing with the same ingredients, a bit long on the palate which is cool, this moves slow but drinks fast if that makes sense, some sticky hop richness, springtime florals as it warms, tangerine, good weed. i see why this is well decorated, but i can also recall countless other beers that hit at this level and in this way, so its a little hard to appreciate why this has twice won gold while so many other good ones have not, like this isnt objectively better than what has become the standard among elite ipa makers, props for the recognition and for it being outstanding, but its not in a league of its own by any stretch...

 

West coast goodness in a glass. I enjoyed this on tap and from a crowler a few days later. Drink it fresh!

In the glass this pours a clear golden tan. Glowing, at the right angle and with the right light.

The aroma is a floral showcase of hoppy delights, with a balanced blend of guava, peach, and pineapple notes. On the sip I am getting more of the same, in that juicy but not overpowering way. Moderate bitterness on the end.

Crystal clear pale gold color, sticky white head, great retention and lacing.

Smells pungent; dank, earthy, cannabis; juicy sour grapefruit.

Grapefruit hits upfront, followed by pineapple and lemon. White crackery malt, almost no sweetness whatsoever. Slightly piney finish, with lingering grapefruit peel bitterness. Extremely crisp, clean, and dry. Leaves the palate almost immediately. As you continue to drink, just a slight citrus oily bitterness coats the palate.

Tasted way better on tap on site than it does from the crower, but this is a world class West Coast style Double IPA. Easily.

L: Pale gold
S: candied grapefruit, damp pine spruce
T: Concentrated sweet pine, candied grapefruit,
F: dry, sticky, bitter

Enjoyed a draft pint with lunch earlier today 6-12-20 for $7.75.

Beer was served golden with a nice white head that had some major hang time.

Nose was herbal and earthy, not bad.

Taste was a light but substantive pale malt base with a nice dose of herbal and earthy hops. Finished with a nice but fair bitterness; 7/10 on my scale.

Mouthfeel was crisp and clean, well done.

Overall not a super flavorful ipa but well executed for the fair bittering and crisp and clean finish.

Hop profile doesn't dazzle. Strawberry, floral flavour, fruit rind.

B- / WORTHY

 

 

Another beer consumed in Denver, early June 2019, this one at Comrade Brewing. Awesome backstory to the name of this beer, a Dodge Ram crashed into the brewery.

Anyways, this is an amped up version of Superpower. Has the usual proper appearance for a Comrade beer, golden, 1/2" white head, rockin' clarity. Aroma was the weak spot of the beer (relatively speaking compared to the other aspects that were all good), even though its triple dry hopped, Superpower IPA is a bittering hop kind of beer, so its not much surprise that even if you triple dry hop a beer with bittering hops, it isn't going to be pungent like some of the sexier proprietary aroma hops (Citra/Mosaic) they have banging around these days.

The taste still rocks a respectable C hop bitterness replete with grapefruit and pine sap. Speaking of Sap, its like a poor man's version of that beer (which is one of the greatest Chinook beers ever). Would bang again, check it out.

L - Clear as day, like all of Comrade's (single!) IPAs - this is NOT an imperial.
S - Dank, dusty, pine forests, with some light cat pee off to the side. Not in a bad way, in a good way.
T - Fantastic - a more floral, aromatic, and dry/crisp version of Superpower IPA basically...delicious. Think a Rocky Mountain Pliny (Elder) and you're there.
F - Great but not overbearing carbonation. Stays lively, good stuff here from the triple dry-hopping.
O - a fantastic beer. Didn't think they could improve on regular Superpower but they fucking did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the brewery. Looks pretty much the same as regular Superpower to me. Pungent aroma, extra hoppy. The flavor was good but damn was it bitter to me, almost too bitter and I love hops. Good beer but I prefer regular Superpower.