According to Wikipedia, a Double IPA is: Double India Pale Ales (also abbreviated as Double IPAs or DIPAs) are a strong, hoppy style of beer associated with the U.S. West Coast. Also known as Imperial IPAs, perhaps in reference to the Russian Imperial Stout, a much stronger version of the English Stout, these beers are essentially India Pale Ales with higher amounts of malt and hops. Double IPAs typically have alcohol content above 7% by volume. IBUs are in the very high range (60+).
The name Double IPA itself is a misnomer. The name India Pale Ale (or IPA) refers to a beer that was created with higher amounts of alcohol and hops in order to survive the trip from England to India. So, therefore, a Double IPA would be a "more of more," so to speak. As such, there are some brewers that believe the name should be San Diego Pale Ale, since the style most likely started near San Diego, CA -specifically a Double IPA brewed in 1994 by Vinnie Cilurzo of the failed Blind Pig Brewing Company of Temecula, CA. Vinnie claims he "accidentally" created the style by adding 50% too much malt to his mash tun. He then "corrected" this mistake by adding 100% more hops. This metric (50% more malt, 100% more hops) is the basic guideline behind the style.
This beer pours a pale brown color, slightly cloudy and hazy, with very little carbonation, but sports a big frothy head. There is a strong hoppy smell- like a fresh field of something green in springtime, along with pine. It actually reminds me of the smell of a good quality brewery, or a brew it yourself beer place, such as Barleycorn's.
This beer is tasty but very hoppy. There is an almost overwhelming hoppy flavor, similar to a 120 Minute IPA. It is certainly not as strong as the 120 Minute, although very aromatic and very hoppy. Despite being so strong, this beer is quite tasty. This is another beer to easily get tipsy off of. You wouldn't realize its almost 10% alcohol. This beverage is smooth, tasty, and wonderfully aromatic, but is just a wee bit too strong for my tastes, despite my being a self proclaimed 'hophead'. The beer did seem to become less strong as I downed the contents of the 22 oz. bottle.
This beer advertises itself as a Double IPA, and according to the definition above, it certainly is one. I would simply call it a strong, very hoppy IPA. On the label the beer calls itself, "extreme... unusual... a real hop blast". I would certainly agree.
Interestingly enough, on this brewery's website they do not list this beer. According to the label, "...get it now, 'cause when it's gone, it's gone". Maybe it's only a limited release that they didn't bother listing on the site.
At 9.9% ABV, 100.1 IBU, and the fact that it is only sold in 22oz. bottles, this beer packs quite a punch, but a tasty punch. I certainly enjoyed this brew, but would not want to sit around drinking it for a while like a session brew.
Overall rating 3 out of 4 beer bottles.
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