Papa Grande
Crystal Lake Brewing

Since I've been on a bit of an IPA kick recently, I saw this on the menu at a local restaurant that my wife and I were at with a couple of our friends, so I had to get it. It's hard to pass up a potentially very flavorful beer when I see a DIPA on the menu ;)

This beer pours a deep, dark amber hue that is clear with a white/taupe colored creamy head that dissipates slowly to a creamy layer that is retained. Carbonation is very low. 4.25/5 The aroma features a nice combination of pine and tropical notes. Some mango and papaya (Citra hops?) really shine through along with a moderately sweet malt that comes across as caramel and burnt sugar. The malt really helps cut the sharpness of the hops here. 4.25/5 The flavor profile is heavy on hops with a good dose of pine, tropical fruit, mango, and papaya. There is surprisingly very little pineapple to go with the mango and papaya. A bit of buttery caramel comes through as the beer warms. Bitterness is moderately heavy and lingers for quite a bit after swallowing. 4/5 This is a medium bodied DIPA that is light on carbonation and is moderately drying with moderate lingering dryness. However, it is also wetting and a bit creamy right up front before transitioning to this dryness. 4.25/5 This is probably one of the best DIPAs that I have had. It is very flavorful without being over the top bitter, and the sweetness cuts the bitterness just enough to really let the sweetness and hop flavors really meld nicely together. Complex, interesting, and well developed. Well done Crystal Lake. 4.25/5

 

From a growler, pours a clear copper color and a small eggshell colored head, nice lacing.
Citrus and pine aromas, a hint of malt.
Flavors match the aroma, boozy with bitter finish.
Nice body.

Tasted in a 12 oz snifter from draught at Firkin on January 3, 2017.