Dream Wave Fluctuation
Equilibrium Brewery

Dream Wave FluctuationDream Wave Fluctuation
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From:
Equilibrium Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
Hazy Imperial IPA
Ranked #328
ABV:
8.1%
Score:
96
Ranked #1,311
Avg:
4.35 | pDev: 8.28%
Ratings:
88 | reviews: 18
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 12, 2025
Added:
Jun 27, 2018
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  4
Collaboration with Other Half Brewing Co.

Think of a galaxy forward Fluctuation plus Other Half's Dream treatment. A fluctuation from beta brain waves to alpha and theta waves shifts your consciousness from alertness, cognition, and concentration to a dream state of relaxation, visualization, creativity, intuition, and vivid visual imagery. Sam from Other Half came up to brew with us and we discussed potential synergies between our two heavily hopped styles. We ended up taking EQs fluctuation grain bill and adding oats and (for the first time in EQ commercial application) lactose in-line with Other Half’s Dream treatment. This beer was followed by an aggressive dry hop of Galaxy and Citra.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.75 by Egerton from Virgin Islands (British)

Oct 12, 2025
Photo of mwilbur
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from pint can into imperial pint glass.
A: Pours extremely thick and hazy pineapple yellow hue with generous 2+ white thick foamy head with excellent retention. Head lasts forever and leaves behind some nice lacing. Amazing appearance!
S: Pineapple, mango cream, orange, soft sweet grapefruit, and a hint of earthy funk.
T: Follows aroma fairly closely with pineapple and mango cream hitting first followed by soft orange and sweet grapefruit and then just a dash of mildly bitter pine resin toward the end.
M: Medium body. Thick, soft, creamy and juicy feel. Tropical fruit sweetness with a touch of mildly bitter hops. Lingers nicely on the palate.
D: An excellent example of style. Love the mix of hops, hop expression, and the softening characteristics of the oats and lactose. Nice summer evening sipper.
Sep 14, 2025
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This has to take a ratings hit for looks. The attempt to empty the entire contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug fell way short because of the excessive foam produced. Let that sink in, there was so much ugly nearly stark white foam, the contents of a sixteen ounce can couldn't fit inside a vessel about thirty-two ounces in capacity. Fairly, this is at room temperature, the proper temperature for an ale. What's beneath the foam isn't very pretty, neither. It's dull and murky, light sandy-amber/dirty blond in color. The foam, of course, recedes unevenly and unattractively, leaving erratic lacing inside the glass. It's aroma is mostly starchy bland, although some sharp hops do cut through. It tastes better than it looks, how could it not? The hops actually cut through the starch with a nice citrus/pine bite that's sharp and clean. The backbone falls a little short of complimenting the hops, providing only a little more than some superficial sweetness. But it carries the ABV nicely and as a backhanded compliment, worse was expected. The mouthfeel is adequate, but nothing more than reasonable at delivering an unbalanced and potent brew. So, it tastes much better than it looks, a low bar, but it delivers a good dose of alcohol that's rather easy to put down.
Sep 13, 2025
 
Rated: 4.55 by MJSFS from Florida

Sep 07, 2025
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Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cloudy goldenstraw with a two finger head; excellent retention with squiggles of lacing

Smell: Floral with tropical papaya, pineapple and coconut tones

Taste: Delicate floral and tropical flavors of papaya and pineapple forward; just a hint of sugary coconut, in the middle; low bitterness and a rather sweet finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and somewhat creamy with moderate carbonation

Overall: A nice NE IPA but it could use more bitterness to balance out the sweeter elements
Sep 05, 2025
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Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked up a single can at Cedarville Wine and Spirits in Plymouth, Massachusetts for about four dollars. My seventh brew from these guys. No canned on date that I can decipher. Didn't love it. Date your beer. Will not buy their product again until they do.
Aug 17, 2025
 
Rated: 4.7 by Mortarforker from Texas

Aug 05, 2025
 
Rated: 4.27 by BAsbill from California

Aug 02, 2025
 
Rated: 4.25 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Jul 20, 2025
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Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Very hoppy! Light body, coconut, citrus aroma. Grapefruit taste. Excellent DIPA , but too retro-hoppy for me. I prefer Finback’s latest beers- Grain Finished smoother MF less hoppy.
Jul 16, 2025
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

4.27/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dream Wave Fluctuation

Equilibrium Brewery

IPA - Imperial / Double

Super light, hay, and wheat malt style appearance. Creamy toppings and the proper smooth feel to boot. Light tropical, white grape, and earthy hop notes slide all around. A seriously easy drinking, yet wicked complex version of the Hazy 2x NE
Jul 04, 2025
 
Rated: 4.25 by AD17 from New Jersey

Jun 26, 2025
 
Rated: 4.28 by dbrauneis from North Carolina

Sep 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.19 by Bwag from New York

Aug 15, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Aug 14, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Aug 13, 2024
 
Rated: 3.96 by MJ64 from Mississippi

Aug 09, 2024
 
Rated: 4.43 by BKotch from Texas

Aug 08, 2024
Photo of q33jeff
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
**
08/04/24

can to snifter.

LOOK: bright gold color with a medium hazy body, medium pillowy white head with very good retention and some legs.

AROMA: clean citrus, but would like a little more strength, but it smells appealing. Could be the cold I recently got over affecting my sniffer,

TASTE: citrus and peach, grass, earthy finish.

FEEL: feels like an OH beer. smooth pillowy mouthfeel with a piece of the lasting creamy head in each sip that adds to the lightness.

Nice collaboration, though not otherworldly. I recognize familiar elements from each brewer.

**
Aug 04, 2024
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
If you're going to collaborate with another brewer, Other Half is an excellent choice. This beer has that OH look, light yellow (thank you, oats) super hazy brew with a pure white pillowy head. The nose is grapefruit, citrus rind and bread. Mouthfeel is silky with substance. Flavors follow the nose with a range of citrus and a surprisingly strong malt backbone for a DIPA. Fruit and biscuit is the takeaway. Delicious beer. These two should get together more often.
Jul 28, 2024