Hop Diggity by Mother Earth Brew Co. is a double IPA and thus falls into BJCP category 22A. This beer pours a yellow color that is approaching golden. Impeccable clarity for an IPA (I can see my fingerprints on the other side of the glass), with a fluffy off-white head that fades to a low ring, but clings to the glass. The aroma is very hop-forward and evolving. At first pour it was largely dank, piney resin and grapefruit rind, but once it settled it changed to sweet citrus with notes of pineapple, mango, tangerine as well as a bit of a ripe berry note that seems to keep alternating back and forth each time you reach for the glass. Behind the hops there is some notes of honey and light caramel sweetness and a little bit of boozy alcohol. The flavor is also packed with hops with a medium-high bitterness that lingers and is accentuated in the dry finish by the piney, pithy, resinous hops. In between it is balanced by more citrus (mostly orange with some mango and grapefruit) and light honey graham cracker-like malt character.

I quite enjoyed this one. It was a nice break from the barrage of NEIPAs that have flooded the market (never thought I’d complain about that). This beer proves that it’s still possible to pack in the hops and retain clarity. I had been craving a throwback towards the old resiny West Coast-style IPA and this nailed that, while also bringing in some newer juicy elements as well. Could use a touch more fruity hops as the dank/bitterness builds more and does eventually overwhelm it, but it still remains enjoyable.