Denogginizer Double IPA
Drake's Brewing Co.

This is one of those beers I sometimes see popping up on WBAYDN? threads and have always been at least a bit curious about (Parish's Ghost in the Machine is another one that comes to mind, for the record). I had no idea Drake's was going to be expanding into MA, so seeing this on the shelf at my local liquor store was pretty cool. I picked up a four pack without hesitation and took my spoils home.

Cracking open the can (which is dated 5/18/21, by the way) and pouring the beer into a glass, I am met with a medium-amber beer building up with a huge, frothy head of bone-white foam that quickly settles to a half-finger of chunky suds that leaves behind a decent trail of tiered lace in its wake. It's a little hazy, to the extent that I can't see directly through it, but I can see my finger through the other side of the glass, so it's not opaque either. Well, whaddya know... it looks like a nice WC IPA! Not really surprising at all, but I do appreciate beers like this even in the current beer market. Gives me a similar vibe to 3 Floyds Alpha King in terms of pour, which is a good thing. I must say, however, before we continue... I am disappointed by the relative oldness of these cans. I also really dislike 6-pack boxes that don't have the date of the product inside the box stamped anywhere on the outside because I have no clue how fresh the contents are until it's too late. Still, this is almost 10%, so I'm holding out hope that being two months old will not do much to it.

Upfront wallop of intense, sticky pine resin and loads of sugared grapefruit backed up by some grassiness and herbal undertones in the nose. Happy to say that I think this might actually still be pretty good after eight (plus) weeks in the can, which I guess isn't really that weird when you consider it's probably intended to be rather shelf-stable. Orange peel and some light mango come out as it warms a bit, and overall I'm pretty happy with the smell of this one.

Pretty hefty bitterness following a quick flash of sweet malt in the mid-palate. Solid feel with a bit of mouth-coating graininess and a big punch of hops in the finish, bringing out prominent pomelo/grapefruit elements with a lingering pine resin quality. I like that this actually seems to drink a little below its weight, as it leans a bit crisper than I expected. There is definitely still a slight syrupiness but it's not enough to affect how Denogginizer drinks. I actually kind of like the bend towards a sweeter/fuller mouthfeel in the initial section of each sip, because the contrast with the dryness in the finish is satisfying and approachable for such a large IPA. Good stuff. Don't regret getting a sixer. I think it struggles a little to stand out, but it's not a bad fridge-staple big IPA. Just wish it were a bit fresher, but it is what it is.

 

 

Drank out of a pint glass.
Basically clear orange color with a full frothy head.
Smells of sweet malt.
Nice smooth full mouth feel.
Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness.

I don't know if there was something wrong with this can. It was in date and nothing seemed off. It looked the part smelled the part, felt the part, but when I tasted it, it fell flat. It was soapy the bitterness was just bad and it tasted dirty. Maybe the yeast was infected or something but it didn't taste right.

 

 

 

 

Pours a semi clear amber with thick head.

Smell is fruity and intense. Notes of pine, grapefruit, peach and caramel.

Taste is intense, fruity and fiery. Notes of pine, grapefruit, orange, citrus peel, caramel and peach. Powerful bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium sot full, chewy and well carbonated.

Overall, an intense DIPA/TIPA that manages to be quite balanced.

 

 

 

 

Pushing ten percent in alcohol and built in the West Coast style, Drake's Brewing isn't pulling any punches in their Imperial IPA. Brace yourself!

Pale amber and reasonably hazy, the foggy honey-like Denogginizer strikes the nose with bold citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit, floral aromas and a bold peppery spice as its foamy head beings to build. Sweet in its early impressions, the malt influence applies a coat of honey, caramel and toasted nuttiness to seem like granola.

As its flavors flood the middle palate, the hops blast the palate with a classic and resinous taste of grapefruit and orange while secondary flavors of pineapple, apricot and dragonfruit as the strong esters and fruity hops intertwine on the tastebuds. As the stubborn malts start to dissolve, the hop bitterness grows into a peppery, spicy and resinous taste of pine sap, citrus peels and gin-like botanicals as the session starts to wain.

Full bodied and drying to a malty-dry status, the decidedly bitter beer seems even more so because of the spicy alcohols that keep those gin-like impression flowing through a long and bitter aftertaste. It's a good beer, just nothing to lose your head over.

Deep copper in color. Thick off white head. Very good lacing. Nose is piney and slightly citrus with a sweet caramel hint. Taste was slightly caramel and pine. Good bitterness, not as much as I prefer though.

 

 

Pour is a very amber color with the two finger foam head that isn't very retentive.

All I can really smell is a sweet (malty?) Aroma that I cannot identify.
Taste is of hops and a light hint of apple. Finishes with mild bitterness and leaves minimal lacing.

Denogginizer
By Drakes $14.99 sixer at San Francisco Target (bottled 04/19/22) poured into a juice glass at the hotel

A-A careful pour results in a 1-1/2 finger frothy off-white head atop a slightly hazed golden-orange body with loads of carbonation. Awesome fluffy rings are left behind as the head holds near a full finger throughout.

S-Big and hoppy, though lots of malt backbone too. Grapefruit and sweet dough. Leafy, leathery, some herbal and medicinal notes.

T- As the aroma suggests. Big grapefruit hops. Sweet, doughy and husky malts. Also leafy tobacco. Kind of biting at points, both boozy and hoppy.

M- Medium full body. Bone dry. Hoppy bite. Hints of booze warmth.

O- A big drinking double ipa. Bold and complex. Edges toward harsh at points.

9.75 abv 91 ibu

4.5 4 3.75 4 3.75