Symphonic Chronic Double West Coast IPA
Deschutes Brewery

One of four in Deschutes IPA variety pack, of which two were realy not IPA's. This is a IPA. Pine and citrus for the boogar factory and the taste buddies.

Pours a clear medium honey golden with two fingers of white head. Check box #1 for "Looks like a West Coast IIPA should".

Nose of dank, sticky, piney, resinous goodness. Check box #2 for "Smells like a West Coast IIPA should".

Medium mouthfeel with appropriate carbonation. Check box #3 for "Feels like a West Coast IIPA should".

Palate begins with that Old School resinous piney hit that gives way only for a moment to some sweet malt character only to be pushed aside quickly by a dank coating bitterness that continues into the aftertaste. Check box #4 for "Tastes like a West Coast IIPA should".

Overall this beer is just Old School West Coast greatness. Everything about this beer screams 2005 West Coast IIPA and conjures the likes of Stone Ruination, Great Divide Hercules, and Avery Maharaja. Indeed, it is the stickiest of the ickiest. Only thing holding this beer back a little is that the nose wasn't stronger, i.e. I wasn't punched in the face when I opened the can.

 

Pours an ever so slightly chill-hazed gold with a thumb of rocky ivory colored head. Doesn't quite drop bright, great head retention & better lacing

S: Some citrus, a little pine, biscuitty malt notes, nose was a bit of a letdown, not chronic at all

T: A little pine, some caramel, some grapefruit & orange plus dryness up front. Orange, caramel, pine & dryness as this beer warms up, a bit of green melon too. Fishes a bit dry with some orange, pine, breadyness & caramel

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, nice balance

Good DIPA was hoping for better from these guys though, drinks very easy, purists may find it a bit sweet. I find it a decent counter balance. Dangerous drinkability

Appearance: Slightly hazy gold, big head.

Smell: Sugar, eventually some citrus aroma.

Taste: Sweet, then moderate citrus bitterness to offset. Slick feel. Finishes with mild to medium citrus bitterness.

Overall: A west coast DIPA that is quite sweet and not super bitter. More bitterness than the voodoo ranger force series, so that’s a plus but this seems to be going after that crowd.

Pours almost clear (only slightly cloudy) golden amber with a thick white head. Spotty lacing. Aroma is bold, citrus, melon, and pine. Flavor follows the nose, slightly sweet initially but quickly a dank hoppy bitterness takes over. Feel is medium bodied with ample carbonation. Overall, a nice beer. Edit: after a very short time beer becomes crystal clear (no cloudiness at all.)