What do you look for in a Double IPA?

I appreciate the dry, no-bitter finish in some of my IPA's (i.e. Duet).

 

My money's worth.

 

Balance.

 

I don't need big abv but a double should be at least 7.6%. Gotta be big hop presence with the malt to back it up. What I hate in any IPA is dark malt. Dark golden or copper color is fine but none of that brown crap.

 

good mix of malts and hops but mostly a hop bomb with tropical fruit sweetness like orange or pineapple.

 

For me I prefer something with great aroma...if you're going to double the hops I better smell it. That being said we don't need double the alcohol or hop additions to necessarily make it super hoppy. A smart brewer knows just dumping hops doesn't always yield the best result.

 

To me a DIPA needs to have a firm malt backbone--not syrupy or overly sweet, but something to balance out the hop attack.

 

For it to taste more like that Imperial Stout I wish I would have ordered instead...

 

I like a well made DIPA some Obvious examples : HT, Abrasive, Hop Ju Ju, Bodhi, Dinner. IMO these are the best of the best, and quite different in profiles. Not sure I could pick out a favorite for sure I seem to change my mind a bit, but fresh Abrasive is really hard to beat.

 

Well balanced alcohol with just a hint of malty sweetness up front with a "single IPA" finish with abundant tropical/citrus throughout.

I generally don't see some of my favorite IPAs as all-evening beers, but my favorite DIPAs are a different story (in terms of flavor and bitterness as of course the ABV limits the amount in an evening on its own).

 

Give me citrus, balance, and just a bit of syrupy sweetness in that order.

 

I know you were not looking for a beer by name but this one hits on everything im looking for in a great DIPA. Spectaular...

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/73/90156/

 

I like a DIPA well balanced while pushing the envelope. Just enough malt to carry all the hoppy bitterness and tropical flavors. A really good DIPA should let you know from aroma to aftertaste that you are dealing with a massive hop bomb. Sweet DIPAs? Id rather go for a Triple IPA like Founders Devil Dancer.

 

if you get a chance check out Freen FLash Green Bullet, it is a Triple IPA

 

I am heavily into the nose on imperial anythings but as for IIPA's I always seem to want more of a resin, pine content if I'm drinking a fruity, floral. and vice versa. especially when i try a new one. basically i base the flavor after the name and label before trying the beer (which never works) but i can't help it!

 

Just had one of those bad boys yesterday and man is that a jam packed beer.

 

Hmm. I like plenty of malt with a strong hop "balance". I don't want an unbalanced tongue splitter nor a malty, boozy slightly hopped 10%er. I think SixPoints HiRes, NG Scream and DHF 90 minute are my prototypical great IIPA's. There are lots of good ones of course, but I like these a lot.

 

dankness and dryness

 

Dryness. Hops.