DDH Axis IPA
Real Ale Brewing Company

a special edition of the original from what i understand, done with some unique hops, which apparently rotate at least a little bit, i found a few different versions of this online, my can says azacca and sultana hops. the beer itself before the hops is a little bit of a curiosity to me, its golden and clear and bright, high headed, pretty in the glass, but smells and tastes immediately a little phenolic to me, estery like a belgian blonde or something, really not what i expected from the base and not what i recall from the original either. green pear, white paper, faint cardamom, green grape, taffy, its appealing but also out of place, slightly medicinal too, but compatible with the hops, even though i miss the bitterness i think i remember in the original. the hops are cool, sultana is unfamiliar to me, but seems to have rindy melon and lime leaf characteristics, as well as some spruce or juniper. azacca has never been a favorite of mine, but its contribution to this is nice. i wish the ferment was cleaner, and maybe this got warm in transit to texas from idaho and warped a bit, but this is approaching belgian ipa if i am generous, and approaching sloppy if im not, just seems fermented too warm. fortunately, the beer remains light for its strength, not too much body here, and the hops are fresh and distinctive in this. i would love to try this closer to the source, and to get my lips on some of the other hop combinations they put in it. anyone else have this peculiar phenol experience? it cant be intentional i dont think. still, enjoyable as something different from the masses.

 

BB 3.24.20 -- canned 11.24.19? Serious floaties. Good aroma, better flavor -- fruity, wirh good hoppiness to balance the malt. Hops aren't particularly distinctive, though. Mouthfeel common to DDH beers. Worthy.

 

 

 

 

 

16oz can with a best by date of 5- -19 (opened on 2-9-19).
1" white, dense, rocky head with very good staying power. Hazy, orange-gold IPA. Sheets/rings of lacing cling to the glass.
Nose full of ripe fruit, some pineapple, apricot and some muted pine are most noticeable at first whiff. Oranges, orange blossoms and bitter grapefruit rind become evident later.
Ripe fruit, mostly tropical and pine, a creamy malt base is apparent that didn't make it thru over all the hops in the nose.
Medium body, medium carbonation. Lengthy bitter hoppy finish.
It's good, at $15 for a 4pk of 16's I would prefer it to be great not good.

 

Clear orange/gold pour with a foamy white head. Really nice citrus and pine aroma. Taste is bold and bitter with a strong citrus and pine flavor initially that follows the nose. Also can taste some earth and and hint of grapefruit rind.

Poured from can into tulip, good 2 finger cream colored head, good retention and lacing. Medium golden in the glass, slightly opaque. Smells of pineapple, pine sap, slight citrus notes peeking thru. Taste is sweet malt, ripe pineapple and resinous pine on the front, there is some orange that comes thru in the middle with a slight earthy dankness. Finish is dry, with a slight residual aftertaste that quickly fades. Mild bitter finish that fades fast. Very good drinking beer.

16oz can poured into a goblet. Pours with a small amount of white head which does not last too long on top of the beer. Pours a reddish orange color. Scent is heavy of malt with a small amount of tropical fruit in the back. Taste is heavy of toasted malt with a slight amount of bitterness in the end. Smooth to me for dominant malt taste. Thanks for adding this as an extra @Tuck_leepulin

 

Would I buy this again? Possibly, but it would definitely depend on what my other options are.

4 pack cans dated 007 consumed on 01/18/19, 11 days old.

Clear yellow with nice lacing. Expected a hazier version because of the DDH.

Nose is more fragrant than the original, I like that.

Taste is almost identical to the regular Axis, which I love, but I expected more from the DDH version.

Overall not worth the extra money, and I prefer a six pack of 12oz vs a four pack of 16oz. I’ll stick with the regular Axis IPA when I find it fresh due to the price difference, format, and lack of difffence between the two.