The Dankster Double IPA
Lead Dog Brewing

 

 

good to see a clear beer in this space, that fact alone makes this feel like a throwback, even though i wouldnt describe it as malty or overly bitter or big, nice to see. the beer isnt great though, just the second one i have had from these guys who are new on the scene here in boise. i like the brassy shine to this in the little snifter it was served to me in, big bubbled white head well over an inch high and lasting too, looks great, just lightly copper tinted but not heavy or dense. i was surprised that the aroma was so muted, like wheres it all at? some light metallic character, some generic malt richness, but the hops are oddly restrained here, some leafy greenness in a good way, a little bitter orange, but it seems minimal for a big ipa. the flavor follows, like, its hoppy from start to finish but not in a bursting bold way, it almost hits like an imperial pale to me, especially with the toasted and fuller grain complexion, light pine, more copper and metal, and bitterness late, but not all that much hop flavor. traces of melon rind, tangerine, and ditch weed if i am being kind, but i wanted a little more character to the hop profile here. the alcohol is also a little bit exposed, which is okay in this style but with the finishing sweetness the beer heavies up quick as soon as it warms up a few degrees. not a bad beer, like its technically fine, the ferment is actually super clean and i like the build, but the hop profile leaves something to be desired for me, and this didnt quite do what i wanted it to. still, glad to have these guys around now, looking forward to getting into more of their stuff...

 

 

Picked up a single from the Craft Beer Hop Stop cooler 11-7-20 for $2.99. Canned presumably in October; consumed 2-25-21.

Beer poured golden orange with a nice white head with the original pour.

Nose is citrus forward with herbal hops in the background.

Taste is old school WCIPA, large thicker malt base incorporates the grapefruit dominant hopping nicely. Finishes with a nice piney bitterness; 7/10 on my scale.

Mouthfeel is medium to large bodied and smooth.

Overall a nice beer at a nice price. Always enjoy those old school brews!

10/1/19 draft @ Yard House Las Vegas

 

 

 

 

First of all, put your dates on your cans, if you don't, sorry on you when you give me a not fresh beer and I review it.

Anyways, picked this up in Truckee, never seen it on shelves in Reno. Pours a darker yellow and gold, 1/4" white head. The aroma didn't really pop well for the hops. Disappointing given the style of beer, the artwork, the name etc. . . sure the commercial tug job says Mosaic/CTZ, even triple dry hopped. . . but alas, the nose does not support the assertion. Is it bc its old? I have no idea, they don't date their cans. Not my problem.

The body is relatively tame, you don't have a massive amount of bitterness despite CTZ being amply capable of doing so in the right proportion. Seems standard pale toasted malts, not getting much in the way of flaked oats, wheat or crystal malt (there might be some but not much if so). Carbonation seems fine. I guess Reno is all in on CTZ being a dank weed hop, but I dunno.

Pours a clear darker golden color with white head leaving significant lacing. Nose is mild hops and a touch of malt. Taste is on the weak side for the hop profiles. Doesn't seem quite right for what I was expecting. ABV is well hidden. Not bad but could have been great.

 

The beer pours out a crystal clear golden color, with 1 finger of white head----------------- the aromas are of sweet malt, fruity, peach syrup, pineapple, blueberry and pine--------------- the flavors are of berry, peach, pine, pineapple, dank weed and mango, the beer has a thin to medium mouthfeel with a bitter pine finish-------------------- overall this is a damn good west coast ipa, nice balance between dank and fruity flavors

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Beer Nerd 12-oz. tulip
From: Chad
Price: N/A
Purchased: N/A; Received Feb. 9, 2018
Consumed: Feb. 17, 2018
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Misc.: Canned on Jan. 17, 2018

Thanks, Chad!

Got this as part of a nice haul from Chad with Darin as the middleman. Would be third Lead Dog beer, having had their Anything Gose and Intergalactic NE DIPA. The can read, “We all know it’s important to eat your greens. Let’s take a dive into this sea of Mosaic and Columbus which lay the foundation and give way to a experience like none other. Triple dry-hopping leaves the nose begging for more of this beast while a moderate ABV lets you enjoy one after another.” You had me at Mosaic.

Poured a gold-to-light amber clear color with 2-to-3 fingers of white frothy head. Lots of slow moving bubbles creeping along the sides of the glass. Excellent layered lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled those Columbus and Mosaic hops right away. No mistaking either of them here. Also floral, raspberry, blackberry, rose blossom, floral, purple grape, licorice (?) and red apple. From the can added papaya and guava. Had me wanting to try it. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste wasn’t quite as good as the nose, but still solid. No mistaking the Columbus and Mosaic hops. Also rose petals, raspberry, blackberry, floral, purple grape, licorice still, papaya, bitter citrus peel, peppery spice, light resin and woody pine. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Floraly finish. (Feel - 4.25)

May have overrated this, but I really liked it. Excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.15 | 93 | A-

No canned date, but assumed fresh

Appearance - Pours crystal clear and purely golden in color with a white, near finger width head that displays sub-par retention before breaking down to a thin layer of suds covering the surface and thickening up around the edge of the glass. Fair lacing with chunks and small spotting found here and there around the glass.

Smell - Orange and tangerine are prominent, candied almost, with distant toasted malt character.

Taste - Follows the nose. Lots of sweet orange and tangerine juiciness upfront and throughout, while caramelized sugar comes through by mid-taste. A touch of toasted malt as it rounds into the finish. Aftertaste is mostly the aforementioned sweetness with a distant pith bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Near full-bodied with tingly carbonation. Smooth drinker with a mostly dry finish.

Overall - This is phenomenal in the first few of sips, but after half the glass the sweetness tends to get quite cloying. It's enjoyable but I don't think I could drink more than a pint, and even that gets to be a chore. It simply needs more balance.