Dream Crusher

Hop aromas reminiscent of tropical fruits, melon and floral qualities are present, but fairly understated for a Double IPA. Caramel malt and some sweetness also come through in the aroma of this beer, along with a touch of alcohol aroma. The color is pale copper with a slight haze, and the head was firm initially, settling down into a nice, tannish layer that persists. A fairly aggressive hop flavor jumps out straight away, which was unexpected given the subtle aroma of hops described above. The hops taste of tropical fruit and melon and balance nicely with an aggressive malt sweetness and a spiciness from alcohol, but the bitterness dimension seems lacking. There is no doubt that this is a big beer once you have tasted it, but the hops are mostly adding flavor and leaving more to be desired in terms of IBUs. The big character also carries through in the body that is medium, but seemingly more full from the residual malt sugars and overall sweetness of the beer. The carbonation balances the mouthfeel and lends additional complexity that helps break up what might otherwise be somewhat cloying. This is certainly a pleasant Double IPA, but it is somewhat uninspired with its limited complexity and dominance of hop flavor with relatively little bitterness to balance out the big malt presence.