Big DIPAs that hide the booze

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Orca, Jun 13, 2013.

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  1. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm finding that, especially with DIPAs, I prefer a very clean profile with enough malt to hold things together but most of the focus on the hops. I find the strong taste/aroma of alcohol that accompanies a lot of these bigger beers distracting. But few beers manage to pull off this balancing act, which I imagine is a big part of the challenge for brewers. Pliny the Younger isn't my favorite DIPA by a long shot, but one thing it does better than many others is hide its 10% ABV well.

    So I ask you fellow BAs: what other big DIPAs have you had that mask the booze well? Cheers!
     
    #1 Orca, Jun 13, 2013
  2. bifrost17

    bifrost17 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Washington

    I'm sure you know this, but I think Hop Venom hides its ABV very well, same with Notorious.
     
    #2 bifrost17, Jun 13, 2013
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  3. YamBag

    YamBag Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2007 Pennsylvania

    Victory libery bell ringer
     
    #3 YamBag, Jun 13, 2013
  4. kylelenk

    kylelenk Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2012 Michigan

    Hopslam, Huma Lupa, 120 Minute.

    I tend to think those high gravity IPAs (I know some aren't DIPA by definition) that have a heavy, viscous base hide the booze burn quite well.
     
    #4 kylelenk, Jun 13, 2013
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  5. adamgnoth

    adamgnoth Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2012 Colorado

    Anyone try New Glarus IIPA and get a little disapointed with the flavor profile? The smell is so juicy and citrusy and then you take a sip and it's medicinal and super boozy. I don't think it's a bad beer and it's strong as hell at 9.5%, but the stark difference between the smell and flavor really threw me for a loop and I'm not sure I liked being in that loop.
     
    #5 adamgnoth, Jun 13, 2013
  6. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Haven't had Notorious yet, but thanks to you I was able to try Nefarious (10%) and don't recall tasting any booze.
     
    #6 Orca, Jun 13, 2013
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  7. BuckeyeOne

    BuckeyeOne Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2008 Washington

    Agree on Hop Venom, disagree on Notorious.
     
    #7 BuckeyeOne, Jun 13, 2013
  8. adamgnoth

    adamgnoth Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2012 Colorado

    All of the Ninja variants by Pipeworks do not show their high ABV in my opinion.
     
    #8 adamgnoth, Jun 13, 2013
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  9. bifrost17

    bifrost17 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Washington

    Did you get a chance to try Nefarious?
     
    #9 bifrost17, Jun 13, 2013
  10. BuckeyeOne

    BuckeyeOne Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2008 Washington

    I didn't. My wife and I are on a 30-day diet which does not allow alcohol and I missed the kegs of Nefarious that were floating around. :slight_frown:
     
    #10 BuckeyeOne, Jun 13, 2013
  11. BuckeyeOne

    BuckeyeOne Initiate (0) Mar 9, 2008 Washington

    How do you define 'big DIPA' for the purposes of your question? Over 10%?
     
    #11 BuckeyeOne, Jun 13, 2013
  12. cmmcdonn

    cmmcdonn Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2009 Virginia

    I hardly see it anymore since moving from PA, but I found Fegley's Hop'solutely was dangerously drinkable at 11.5%
     
    #12 cmmcdonn, Jun 13, 2013
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  13. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    From memory:
    HF Ephraim
    Knee Deep Simtra
    So. Tier Unearthly
     
    #13 otispdriftwood, Jun 13, 2013
  14. sarcastro

    sarcastro Savant (1,133) Sep 20, 2006 Michigan

    I found that this years hopslam hid the alcohol very well.
     
    #14 sarcastro, Jun 13, 2013
  15. gillagorilla

    gillagorilla Pooh-Bah (2,691) Feb 27, 2013 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah


    120 that is either super fresh on tap or super aged.
     
    #15 gillagorilla, Jun 13, 2013
  16. Nectar

    Nectar Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 New Jersey

    double crooked tree was not boozy to me, as big as it was.

    some say it is boozy, but I. didn't get that at all whether cold nor after it warmed up a bit.
     
    #16 Nectar, Jun 13, 2013
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  17. emilyLOVESlime

    emilyLOVESlime Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2009 California

    Hopslam for me. I got drunkkkkkk off that one.
     
    #17 emilyLOVESlime, Jun 13, 2013
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  18. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, roughly that. But you can taste a lot more booze in some 8% beers than in a few 11% beers. I'm less interested in what the ABV is ("bang for buck" as some call it) than in getting the most flavor possible, other than that of alcohol. Just looking for suggestions I might not have tried.
     
    #18 Orca, Jun 13, 2013
  19. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    DFH 90 minutes is 9% and doesn't taste too boozy at all imo
     
    #19 KS1297, Jun 13, 2013
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  20. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    All of PW's iipas do a great job balancing out the booze and it seems like the are all 9% or higher
     
    #20 spicoli00, Jun 13, 2013
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