2014 Devil Dancer with no hop flavor!?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Stagga_Lee, Aug 22, 2014.

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  1. Stagga_Lee

    Stagga_Lee Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2014 Massachusetts

    First off, I want to express my love for Founders and this experience will not affect my future patronage of their fine wares. Two nights ago, I bought a 2014 DD 4 pack since I have not tasted it yet and just got paid. I tasted the 2013 and bought a 4 pk in 2012 so I was expecting a crazy, full-frontal hop assault. Other than a slight aromatic, piney presence in the aftertaste there was straight up zero hop bitterness! Has anyone else had this experience? Did it fall off really quickly, bad batch, or did it start out this way? Thanks for the feedback!
     
  2. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No, just had one a week ago. A loads of malt in that beer, but plenty of hops to BALANCE it. I like it with a little age on it, as it seems too boozey when young.
     
  3. RangnaR

    RangnaR Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2012 California

    You mention no hop flavor in the thread title but then mention no hop bitterness in your original post.. I would say those are not one and the same... As a matter of fact some of my favorite IPAs have plenty of hop flavor without much hop bitterness. Are you saying it has no hop flavor AND no hop bitterness or only one of the above?? Sorry, just asking for clarification..
     
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  4. Stagga_Lee

    Stagga_Lee Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2014 Massachusetts

    My bad, I should clarify....there was only a very vague hop flavor and only in the aftertaste, zero aroma upon initial inspection, and absolutely zero up-front bitterness.
     
  5. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Maybe just rude TLC prior to purchase? It happens...
     
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  6. StLeasy

    StLeasy Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2013 Illinois

    Are you sure you aren't tasting hops? :stuck_out_tongue: Mine don't have the upfront dankness they had the first few weeks, but that was a couple of months ago. I had one during the "WBAYDN #666" thread a few days ago.

    The main flavor was still citrusy, spicy hops; very acidic with all those alpha/bitterness acids at 12%. A little bit of malt, but nowhere near even the palest American barleywines I've had.
     
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  7. Stagga_Lee

    Stagga_Lee Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2014 Massachusetts

    I split two in nice glassware and two out of the bottle to see if that would make a difference, still undetectable! The malt had just fully taken over to the point that it almost tasted chocolatey....way off from my prior experiences with DD. I don't really want to drop $22 to $25 / 4 pk at another store to compare at this point, I would rather splurge on Dissenter while it's semi-fresh or just wait til Breakfast Stout arrives :sunglasses:
    Also, Backwoods Bastard in a few months and Dark Penance sounds amazing!
     
  8. StLeasy

    StLeasy Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2013 Illinois

    Dissenter is much more of a traditional IPA/IPL; Devil Dancer is very unique IMO/IME.

    And you're forgetting my favorite, 7 weeks or so from now :grinning: -

    [​IMG]

    Cheers
     
  9. Stagga_Lee

    Stagga_Lee Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2014 Massachusetts

    Somehow I've never seen the Harvest in stores, I'll have to look harder this year!
     
  10. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    The bottles with "zero" hop flavor were capped late, when everyones back were turned the hops snuck out. You gotta keep an eye on those hops, they are sneaky buggers.

    Seriously though, it is likely you and not the beer. I have had several Devil Dancer anywhere from fresh to years old, I have never had a bottle with "zero" hop flavor. With the amount of hops used in this beer it is simply not possible. This is a big beer, there is a lot of malt flavor and it may be rather sweet but i guarantee there is some hop flavor and bitterness there. This sounds like a textbook case of Lupulin Threshold Shift.
     
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  11. creepinjeeper

    creepinjeeper Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2012 Missouri

    Yes, I had a definite hop presence. It sort of reminded me of an American Barleywine; kind of like Bigfoot.
     
  12. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    The Devil Dancers I've tried have definite hop presence with both identifiable hop flavors and noticable hop bitterness. Given my experience with highly hopped, high ABV IPA, in about 9 months I'd expect the hop bitterness would be all gone but even then there would still be noticable hop flavors mixed in with the malt flavor.
     
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  13. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    I second this motion - but will add that it was extra sweet.
     
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  14. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well worth it. But was shut out last year myself....
     
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  15. hophead_87

    hophead_87 Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2014 Virginia

    I agree. Triple IPAs like this one get close to Barleywine area. I didn't get much hop flavor compared to the sweetness but still enjoyed the brew.
     
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  16. Bonis

    Bonis Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Ohio

    Time for a palate cleansing...
     
  17. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Problem with hoppy high ABV beers is that sometimes the alcohol overpowers the hops.
     
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  18. rocbrewcrew

    rocbrewcrew Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2013 New York

    I remember the first time I had it in 2011 it tasted like straight menthol. I have never been a fan.
     
  19. jageraholic

    jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm hoping they bring the ABV back down to 2012 levels. I thought last years was way too hot and overshadowed the great fresh hop flavors.
     
  20. aderousseau

    aderousseau Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2008 Arkansas
    Trader

    Drinks like a Barleywine...I agree.
     
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