DIPA Is Fun
American Solera

It may have originated in Oklahoma, but the label says this particular brew was crafted in North Haven, Connecticut. It's not a major matter, as the description and ABV are the same. The pint can empties into the clear glass liter mug just like almost every other modern American IPA. There's way too much stark white foam on top. In this case, it recedes rather evenly, but still it leaves no appreciable glass lacing and there are irregular remnants. The color of the brew is dark apricot-amber and it's dull and opaque. The aroma is exactly what would be expected from a West Coast Double India Pale Ale, in short, it's plenty hoppy. It's a complex combination of pine, citrus and earthiness, but barley malt is obviously lacking. The taste is sharply hoppy, biting and almost spicy. Also, it's complex, with piney and resinous notes leaving for some sort of a dryly citrus-like finish. It's often remarkable what Simcoe hops can do. But the starch backbone is thin and only sweet. More barley malt in the wort here and this one could have been a contender. That might have helped knock down the astringent alcohol taste inclusion. Instead, we get a very nicely hopped brew that has such a poor delivery, the overall suffers greatly. Even the modestly stratified glass lacing can't salvage this one's lack of depth and body.

 

 

Canned 11/2021 (9 months ago)

Appearance: Pours a nearly completely hazy (20% clarity) medium, deep but bright orange color with a strong, lacy white head that lingers. (4.25)

Aroma: Moderate juicy aromas of orange, tangerine, with some sweet orange peel and pine underneath.

Flavor: Moderate flavors of orange, tangerine, with some faint pine notes before a asweet and resinous finish. Minimal bitterness. Finishes sweet.

Feel: Medium to heavier bodied. Moderate carbonation. Leans slightly sweet.

Compared to Ology Resolved Enigma 8/15/22: Pours a darker, hazier color, larger head. Milder aromas. More citrus and pine. Less sweet tangerine and peach.

Overall: For being nearly 9 months old, this one wasn't terrible. Pretty juicy for a WCIPA as well. Juicy and sweet tangerine with some orange peel and pine. The pine is mild though and sweeter rather than bitter. The flavors are there, just not quite the WCIPA I was expecting. Leans more juicy. (Rating: 4.12+ when fresh)

Pours an effervescent honey color with 3 fingers of pillowy eggshell colored head. Hazes up as the can empties, fantastic lacing & good head retention

S: Green melon, passion fruit

T: Follows the nose, cattyness, dryness, grapefruit up front. Cattyness, dryness, pine, & pomelo as this warms, plus nectarine & lime. Finishes fairly dry with pine, grapefruit & passion fruit

MF: Medium body, creamy carbonation, very good balance

Pretty darn dank, super drinkable. Some juicy aspects, but mostly hop brutality in a great way

Pours copper in color with little to no head, yet what is there leaves some lacing. Nose is like tangerines. Taste is piney and orange, great bitterness. Love it!

 

 

 

 

Hmmm. Interesting. I'll review on the next one...

Slightly hazy and stacked with white froth.

Light fruits and florals in the aroma.

More light fruits (peach, orange) and grassy with bright piney notes.

Dry and light to medium going down with a lingering fruit peel that sticks.

This old school hoppy goodness is definitely fun Nice to see AS can also hang w the classics.