Devil's Pool
Wissahickon Brewing Company

Hoppy, Strong, Piney
Tried from Draft at 2nd Street Brew House on 22 May 2026 at 18:10

 

Canned on: 10-10-24

A - Dark gold pour with nice clarity and light carbonation.

S - Light aroma with a nice balance between tropical fruit, citrus, and a light biscuity malt base.

T - Light biscuity caramel malt base with a balanced wave of spicy citrus, tropical fruit, and some herbal character over top with a balanced bitterness that lingers after the sip.

M - Big body with alot of light prickly carbonation and a dry finish on the back of the tongue (after starting wet).

O - This is a pretty impressive D-IPA from a brewery that's practically in my back yard.

 

We're talking World Beer Cup winner here. I never pay much attention to awards, so I did some research on WBC . My impression is that it promotes the craft industry as much as it evaluates beer. Nonetheless, the "Olympics of Beer Competition" is a big deal and Wissahickon should be proud of winning one in only its fifth year. But what is their next step as a family brewery ? Their story is otherwise typical of an urban brewpub.

Aside from the WBC award, Devil's Pool is a good recipe to be sure. It is their flagship. It does not seem like 98 IBU (particularly since my buds often freeze in the 50s.) Devil's Pool is clear, but more lace would indicate the bitter is not killing the yeast. Smells are wonderfully fruity. The bitter is unbalanced to me. Medium-mouthed.

I'm glad to try a brewer new to me. But no more of Devil's Pool for me.

16 oz can

Pours a clear medium golden color, thick white head. Good head retention. Hop aroma is strong, dank, and piney. Similar taste, on top of pale malt. Clean bitterness. Thin to medium bodied.

 

Well carbonated, there's more than sufficient stark white foam after a pour that emptied a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. Sharp piney hops hit the air at the first crack of the can. The brew looks innocuous, as it's lightly bright golden-amber and rather translucent, but the aroma tells a different story. It is sharply piney, but not to excess. Worries about its body because of the foam and near transparency prove to be unfounded. It's up to carrying the hops and moderate inclusion of alcohol in the taste. The body carries it all well, without becoming too sweet. The hops dominate from initial hit to aftertaste, but oddly, they don't dry out the finish much, making that aspect very pleasant. Overall, this could be placed in the West Coast category of an Imperial American IPA. Currently a small local brewery in Philadelphia, this is a delightful find.

From a 16oz can with no obvious canning date. Very West Coast style. Clear, golden color. Piney, resin-y flavors on the nose and palate.. Fairly bitter and heat from the high abv.

Love the name wanted to love the beer couldn’t quite get there. Taste is all over the map and kind of boozy. Wish I had more to say but really that is about all for this one