Never Better DIPA by Coronado Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a Double IPA (Category 22A) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Never Better DIPA presents a prominent fresh bowl of tropical fruit with mango and pineapple that is offset by a touch of resin. A hint of grainy malt fights through the hops as the beer warms, along with a light spicy alcohol. There is a light candy sugar-like impression of sweetness in the aroma as the beer continues to open up. The overall hop aroma is fresh and bright. The flavor features a moderately high and prominent tropical fruit hop flavor with background grapefruit rind and resin. The hop flavor is not quite as fresh and bright as the aroma but still very pleasant. Light spicy alcohol and medium-high hop bitterness emerges in the middle and lingers into a medium-dry finish, maintaining a smooth character throughout. Light grainy malt develops late to help balance out the big hop character.
All too often the Double IPA crosses the line between pleasant and harsh, but this beer showcases the overall hop character without going over-the-top. If you like to grimace when drinking an DIPA, this may not be the beer for you, but if you are looking for a well-brewed beer that hits on all cylinders then seek this one out.