Review: Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

Brewery:  Founders Brewing Company

Locale:  Grand Rapids, MI

Craft Circa:  1997

Style:  Triple IPA

ABV:  12%

IBUs: 112 – (say what?)

Notables:  Specialty brew available in July

Picture taken at the fine establishment of Fountainhead, northside of Chicago. 
Fine place.  B&B review to come soon.

Label:  Effective.  Makes me want to sit on a kneeler and confess my sins before consumption. 

Overall:   Just when you think you start to get a handle on the entire field of artisan beers, along comes Founders with their dry-hopped, ten hop varieties triple IPA.  The complexity of this beer is quite something, and it certainly packs a punch while you try to decipher the triple IPA code.  As we noted in one of our earlier reviews, the IBUs provide a measure of the bitterness of the beer.  Coming in at 112 IBUs, in order to balance out the flavor of the beer a higher quantity of malt is needed.  A malty backbone is an understatement; however, I believe the malts did not realize it was a marathon because it just could not keep up with the bitterness.  Solid effort though.

The color is crimson, with the looks of something bold and chalked full of flavor.  All these elements make for a wonderful glow.  It also has an intimidating factor knowing it’s a double IPA on steroids.  But overall, all the factors make for delightful anticipation before imbibing.  I remember sitting out with my wife, trying to get a decent picture of the beer for B&B intentions and settling with what was posted because I was too eager to try it. 

The brew is a heavy dose of Founders, and sits like a block of led.  It’s very dense for ale, but there are a couple faint aspects from say a Founders Centennial or even a Double Trouble IPA that creeps in here and there with a touch of their citrus and fruity remarks, but overall the brew is annihilated by the outbreak of hops that are relentless.  It’s an extreme beer, for hophead thrill seekers.  A hophead application should come with each bottle or 4 pack. 

Maybe it should also come with a waiver before you dance with this devil in the pale moon light.

Acquisition:  12 oz. bottle at a Gastropub - $9 (That’s about 12.5 cents per IBU)

~gY

Review: Founders All Day IPA

Brewery:  Founders Brewing Company

Locale:  Grand Rapids, MI

Craft Circa:  1997

Style:  American IPA; Session Ale

ABV:  4.7%

IBUs: 42

Notables:  2010 - GABF Silver Medal Winner

Label:  Slick.  Is that Chester "Chet" Ripley headed to a lake resort in Pechoggin, Wisconsin for the summer?

Overall:   I could drink a few of these... Nice low ABV change up for an IPA, however I feel it does sacrifice some of the flavor.  With that said, although it lacks the malt flavor boldness and true flavor of an American IPA, it works well, and is quite satisfactory for a Session IPA, and under the Session Ale restrictions.  According to Urban Dictionary, a Session Ale is described as: “a beer that is low in alcohol and has a balanced flavor of both hops and malt.  The purpose being so that it can be drunk over a long session of time without overwhelming the palate or getting the drinker too intoxicated.”  Never knew that.  Under those guidelines, the beer is quite abundant for following the rules.

It’s practically all grapefruit.  Nice citrus, but I feel that dissipates on the palate as you try and enjoy what it has to offer.  It’s nowhere near the Founders Centennial IPA, but it’s conquerable when no Centennial is in sight.  Stephen Stills (below) would proclaim:  “If you can’t be with the one you love, honey, love the one you’re with.”  All Day; give me the non session American IPA.  With the lower ABV, you may need a few more in you if you plan on dancing on the bar tops to Land of 1,000 Dances. 

Acquisition:  6 pack $10

~gY