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Dank Demon Imperial Dank IPA
Great Lakes Brewing Co.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,868 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,662 - Avg:
- 4 | pDev: 5.5%
- Reviews:
- 27
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 29, 2023
- Added:
- Nov 06, 2021
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good


Notes:
Leafy layers of heady hop aromas lurk in every wicked whiff of Dank Demon’s hauntingly full-bodied brew.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Radome from Florida
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz can bought in Ohio.
L - Copper colored beer that is just a tiny bit hazy. Off-white head piles high, and then persists in rocky-looking piles and thick lacing.
S - Strong hoppy aroma of pine and citrus. It smells inviting for the DIPA style, but it is not overly pungent, despite the Dank name.
T - Good flavors for a DIPA, with strong citrus and pine hops balanced well by sweet malt. The sweetness combines with the sharp, green flavors to yield a candy-like impression.
F - Thick body, with some silkiness and moderate carbonation. Super strong hops bitterness and moderate alcohol bite.
O - This is a good DIPA but I was hoping for more aromatics, given the name.
Jan 29, 2023L - Copper colored beer that is just a tiny bit hazy. Off-white head piles high, and then persists in rocky-looking piles and thick lacing.
S - Strong hoppy aroma of pine and citrus. It smells inviting for the DIPA style, but it is not overly pungent, despite the Dank name.
T - Good flavors for a DIPA, with strong citrus and pine hops balanced well by sweet malt. The sweetness combines with the sharp, green flavors to yield a candy-like impression.
F - Thick body, with some silkiness and moderate carbonation. Super strong hops bitterness and moderate alcohol bite.
O - This is a good DIPA but I was hoping for more aromatics, given the name.
Reviewed by burnstar from Pennsylvania
4.68/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a slightly cloudy amber with a big sudsy head. Smell is piney, herbal fresh hops. Nice hop bitterness up front and through to the finish. Very bitter in the finish. Resinous. Dank. Earthy. This is a hop profile I enjoy. Lots of malt backing this up. Full bodied. A little warming boozy spiciness? Excellent. Although again, this is one I'm inclined to like just on personal taste.
Jan 27, 2023Reviewed by Beers-es from Virginia
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap, pours a deep clear copper. The beer is well named. It's a dank and bitter old school IIPA. Makes a really nice change from the hazies now and again.
Jan 03, 2023Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
4.28/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had this from a can.
A: pours an amber body with a thick, light tan head with excellent retention and lacing.
S: sweet, citrus hop notes with some sweet alcohol and toffee notes.
T: sweet, dank hop taste with alcohol and sweet toffee notes. Some hints of vanilla.
M: full bodied and smooth.
O: solid feel and taste combo; excellent DIPA.
Nov 24, 2022A: pours an amber body with a thick, light tan head with excellent retention and lacing.
S: sweet, citrus hop notes with some sweet alcohol and toffee notes.
T: sweet, dank hop taste with alcohol and sweet toffee notes. Some hints of vanilla.
M: full bodied and smooth.
O: solid feel and taste combo; excellent DIPA.
Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was definitely piney and resinous in taste. This is actually one of the best IPA's this place makes I think honestly. I think ill look forward to this one each year.
Nov 13, 2022Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.75/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I got a 4pck of cans of this beer from a beer store in Mount Vernon, Illinois. It poured a clear amber with thin off white head that is leaving a nice lace. The scent had fresh pine hop notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with dank bitter pine resin presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.
Jun 23, 2022Rated by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina
4.34/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Phenomenal Imperial IPA! DD is a dank-hoppy-resinous, and pallette wrecking goodness!
Apr 24, 2022Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured out of a 16 oz. can into my tulip glass, this beer pours a medium copper color with a nice white head that's about 2/3 of an inch thick when first poured. Pretty good head retention. Head settles eventually to a thin to medium sized ring lining the inside of the glass along with a few spots of surface coating of foam dotting the beer's surface here and there. Pretty good lacing. Aromas of some bready malts and resinous, dank, piney and grapefruit citrus hops. Has a bready, biscuity malt taste upfront w/ some caramel sweetness that's followed by the aforementioned piney, resinous, and citrus hop flavors. While there is good balance here overall, the hop flavor certainly do tend to dominate the overall flavor profile a bit. Has a crisp, yet smooth and slightly creamy/frothy, medium to full bodied, fairly dry mouthfeel w/ moderate carbonation. Has a fairly dry aftertaste as well, and the flavors do coat and then linger inside my mouth after each sip. A good beer here.
Eric
Apr 23, 2022Eric
Rated by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
3.62/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bitter galore
Mar 21, 2022Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.9/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Single can from Party Town
Mar 10, 2022Reviewed by KomodoDragon from Virginia
4.07/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Golden ale white head with wonderful lacing
Robust earthy smells, pine, apple.
Toasted malt with a slight nutty flavor. Smooth feel. Maybe some apricot. Some apple peel tartness. Yep, dank. Crisp with a lingering bitter finish. Bold flavors, which don’t fully work well together, but makes this a sipping brew.
Different and in good enough ways to revisit.
Mar 05, 2022Robust earthy smells, pine, apple.
Toasted malt with a slight nutty flavor. Smooth feel. Maybe some apricot. Some apple peel tartness. Yep, dank. Crisp with a lingering bitter finish. Bold flavors, which don’t fully work well together, but makes this a sipping brew.
Different and in good enough ways to revisit.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 16 oz can into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Nearly clear golden caramel pour with big foamy white head. Great retention and lacing.
S: Dank citrus and pine on top of malts/grains.
T.F: Just like it smells. Semi-sweet... malts and biscuits. Lots of citrus mingled with pine and spice. A little earth... more rind and tea. Medium bodied... a little boozy. Moderate bitterness.
O: A solid DIPA with a touch of west coast thrown into the mix. Enjoyable and a little boozy. Dangerous brew.
Feb 02, 2022L: Nearly clear golden caramel pour with big foamy white head. Great retention and lacing.
S: Dank citrus and pine on top of malts/grains.
T.F: Just like it smells. Semi-sweet... malts and biscuits. Lots of citrus mingled with pine and spice. A little earth... more rind and tea. Medium bodied... a little boozy. Moderate bitterness.
O: A solid DIPA with a touch of west coast thrown into the mix. Enjoyable and a little boozy. Dangerous brew.
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio
3.97/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.97/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16oz can poured into a Duvel tulip glass. Date stamp on bottom of can: 30127BM 02/07/22.
Appearance: Mostly clear golden amber, with a massive off-white head with lots of persistent lacing. Great looking beer!
Smell: Leafy, pine, citrus, a little pungent.
Taste: Tastes a lot like it smells. Hoppy with lots of pine and resin, some citrus rind as well. Some underlying bready malt for balance, but the bitter pine hops at the start and finish dominate. A very bitter beer.
Mouthfeel: Good thickness, light carbonation, VERY sticky on the teeth with all the hop resin. A bit spicy on the tongue and palate over time.
Overall / Drinkability: Wow this one is a palate wrecker. One is enough per evening as the hops are almost overpowering. Needs a bit more malt for balance or just a bit less hops, but I suppose that's the point of this beer.
Jan 30, 2022Appearance: Mostly clear golden amber, with a massive off-white head with lots of persistent lacing. Great looking beer!
Smell: Leafy, pine, citrus, a little pungent.
Taste: Tastes a lot like it smells. Hoppy with lots of pine and resin, some citrus rind as well. Some underlying bready malt for balance, but the bitter pine hops at the start and finish dominate. A very bitter beer.
Mouthfeel: Good thickness, light carbonation, VERY sticky on the teeth with all the hop resin. A bit spicy on the tongue and palate over time.
Overall / Drinkability: Wow this one is a palate wrecker. One is enough per evening as the hops are almost overpowering. Needs a bit more malt for balance or just a bit less hops, but I suppose that's the point of this beer.
Rated by Pablo35 from Pennsylvania
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely as advertised: Dank and Dark imperial ipa. Tasting more bitter than its supposed 70 ibu.
Jan 26, 2022Reviewed by dsa7783 from New Jersey
3.67/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Four pack copped from ShopRite in Parsippany. Pours a golden, bright effervescent hue with moderate frothing. Ardent aroma replete with lacings of fresh pine and gooey hops.
Similar overall flavor profile. Not bad, but loses points for drinkability.
Jan 18, 2022Similar overall flavor profile. Not bad, but loses points for drinkability.
Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
4.15/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can
date stamped 02/01/22
L: caramel colored ale with a tall pillow of ivory head that holds excellent retention
S: citrus, pine, bready caramel malt
T: pungently bitter; pine resin, pithy grapefruit zest, herbal & earthy hops, bread crust, caramelized grain
F: full body, ample carbonation, bitter & dry finish with some residual caramely sweetness and pine lingering
O: very good DIPA with old school hop flavors
Jan 17, 2022date stamped 02/01/22
L: caramel colored ale with a tall pillow of ivory head that holds excellent retention
S: citrus, pine, bready caramel malt
T: pungently bitter; pine resin, pithy grapefruit zest, herbal & earthy hops, bread crust, caramelized grain
F: full body, ample carbonation, bitter & dry finish with some residual caramely sweetness and pine lingering
O: very good DIPA with old school hop flavors
Reviewed by izraelc from New York
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear amber. Big hop aroma. Heavy hop body. Bitter but not too bitter. Smooth malt finish. Well balanced. Exactly what you want in an imperial IPA.
Jan 14, 2022Reviewed by DavetotheB from Pennsylvania
4.23/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can dated (best by) 2/7/22 into a tulip.
Pours a slightly murky dark brownish orange with about four fingers of light tan head. Incredible retention and lacing.
Smell isn't very strong but getting some pine, resin, grass and earth.
Taste follows but much more powerful than the nose. Big bitter pine, resin and earth. Like sucking on a piece of fresh cut pine in a crawl space. Touch of sweetness (caramel?) on the back end of the sip
Strong bitter aftertaste. Sticky, full-bodied mouthfeel. Low carbonation. It's a slow sipper for sure.
Overall, fantastic. It's called dank for a reason and it's on-point.
Jan 11, 2022Pours a slightly murky dark brownish orange with about four fingers of light tan head. Incredible retention and lacing.
Smell isn't very strong but getting some pine, resin, grass and earth.
Taste follows but much more powerful than the nose. Big bitter pine, resin and earth. Like sucking on a piece of fresh cut pine in a crawl space. Touch of sweetness (caramel?) on the back end of the sip
Strong bitter aftertaste. Sticky, full-bodied mouthfeel. Low carbonation. It's a slow sipper for sure.
Overall, fantastic. It's called dank for a reason and it's on-point.
Reviewed by jvgoor3786 from Arkansas
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep amber color with a thick, tan head, long retention, and good lacing.
The smell is pine and a nice, strong citrus.
The taste is strong, dank, and piney. The finish is long and very bitter.
The mouthfeel is medium body, low/medium carbonation, and a bit oily.
Overall, it's just as advertised by the name. Enjoyable beer.
Jan 08, 2022The smell is pine and a nice, strong citrus.
The taste is strong, dank, and piney. The finish is long and very bitter.
The mouthfeel is medium body, low/medium carbonation, and a bit oily.
Overall, it's just as advertised by the name. Enjoyable beer.
Reviewed by cabotsasquatch from Pennsylvania
3.99/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Listen, if u are after a really dank beer then this is a good choice. I found it a little over powering. But to be fair, it it called dank demon so i guess i should have expected it. It is not a bad beer by any means. Two will provide a nice buzz quickly. Just be prepared for the dank.
Jan 06, 2022Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Best By Date: 02/07/22.
A - Clear dark medium copper color with dense white soapy lacing and light carbonation.
S - Light tangerine and citrus, slightly herbal, and barely oily.
T - Sweet malt base lays a foundation for for faded citrus / tropical fruit / tangerine and some herbal character. Ends with an agressive bitter punch that lingers on the palate. There's a slight bit of alcohol presence but it doesn't detract from the beer.
M - Big medium body to light heavy with a slippery, oily texture.
O - I wish breweries would use the "Canned/Bottled On" date instead of a "Best By" date and let me be the judge. That being said, not sure when this was canned with only one more month left on the "Best By" date. The biggest standout on this beer is the herbal and bitter character, otherwise, tastes pretty mundane with not much significant character.
Jan 04, 2022A - Clear dark medium copper color with dense white soapy lacing and light carbonation.
S - Light tangerine and citrus, slightly herbal, and barely oily.
T - Sweet malt base lays a foundation for for faded citrus / tropical fruit / tangerine and some herbal character. Ends with an agressive bitter punch that lingers on the palate. There's a slight bit of alcohol presence but it doesn't detract from the beer.
M - Big medium body to light heavy with a slippery, oily texture.
O - I wish breweries would use the "Canned/Bottled On" date instead of a "Best By" date and let me be the judge. That being said, not sure when this was canned with only one more month left on the "Best By" date. The biggest standout on this beer is the herbal and bitter character, otherwise, tastes pretty mundane with not much significant character.
Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Well it's pretty dank good balanced level of bitterness but to me I would rather have more fruit hops flavor balancing the ABV. Honestly if it wasn't for the rep of the brewery or the pretty sweet can art I wouldn't have even picked it up. Not bad though!
Jan 03, 2022Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
3.49/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.49/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Look: It pours amber with slight haze. The head is off white with excellent head retention.
Smell: It has up front aromas of citrus and pine. There is a dankness in close support with slight grass and grainy sweetness.
Taste: It has a sharp resinous flavor with dankness up front. There are some pine notes with very low grainy sweetness and very low citrus.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a resinous bitter finish with a touch of sweetness.
Overall, the dank and resinous qualities dominate the balance of the beer.
Jan 02, 2022Smell: It has up front aromas of citrus and pine. There is a dankness in close support with slight grass and grainy sweetness.
Taste: It has a sharp resinous flavor with dankness up front. There are some pine notes with very low grainy sweetness and very low citrus.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a resinous bitter finish with a touch of sweetness.
Overall, the dank and resinous qualities dominate the balance of the beer.
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
4.09/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
16oz can into a pint glass. Best by sometime in February 2022.
Somewhat hazy dark amber body with a splendid off white head which persists in some form throughout right down to the last drop. Speckled lacing.
Sweet and dank hoppy aroma.
On tasting, hits this palate very nicely. Solid sweet malt base, nice to find an ipa brewer that doesn't overlook that aspect. Good hoppy dank and piney bitterness. There is a dry spicy element as well. Nice.
Mouth closer to full, finish a sweet, dry bitter progression.
Overall, really enjoyed this one. Great Lakes is a solid brewer, rarely fails to deliver. The abv is quite well hidden, so drinker beware.
Dec 29, 2021Somewhat hazy dark amber body with a splendid off white head which persists in some form throughout right down to the last drop. Speckled lacing.
Sweet and dank hoppy aroma.
On tasting, hits this palate very nicely. Solid sweet malt base, nice to find an ipa brewer that doesn't overlook that aspect. Good hoppy dank and piney bitterness. There is a dry spicy element as well. Nice.
Mouth closer to full, finish a sweet, dry bitter progression.
Overall, really enjoyed this one. Great Lakes is a solid brewer, rarely fails to deliver. The abv is quite well hidden, so drinker beware.
Dank Demon Imperial Dank IPA from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
64 ratings
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