Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Marshall, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

A very vigorous pour is only able to produce a two-finger thick, tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. It is fairly large bubbled, but doesn’t melt instantly. The beer is an unnatural, completely clear, deep cherry red color that shows a rich, cranberry stained amber color when held up to the light. The aroma smells of sticky, candied hops and hot alcohol; candied orange zest, ruby-red grapefruit, lychee, concentrated tangelo and candied pine tips are accentuated by a thick, caramelized malt note. The finish has strong notes of pine sap and hemp oil to it. Somehow this smells very clean, almost lacking in complexity some how; there is a fair amount of malt noticeable in the nose, but it seems stripped of its character.

Quite sweet tasting, but it is not as sweet tasting as I was expecting this 13% beast to be. It is still fairly viscous and chewy, but it almost comes close to being like a good double IPA. Hop flavors dominate of course with concentrated citrus / fruit notes up front (lychee, bergamot oil, tangelo and apricot), but substantial herbal notes of pine and especially earthy hemp in the middle and finish. Alcohol provides some substantial warming notes to the finish that actually lingers on in the throat for quite some time after each sip. This is bitter, but not nearly as much as one might thing, the hop character really focuses more on the hop flavor notes than the bitter notes. The malt flavors play a removed, secondary role here (as they should), but do contribute ample caramelized malt sugar notes that help support the hop character. A touch of toasty, biscuit-like malt can also be found floating through the flavor profile.

Not bad, but not all that great either. This was certainly worth a try, but it really is too strong in alcohol, for me, to be an IPA. I do like that it is not overly heavy though, but it is still not something I want to drink more than a few ounces of. Still this is not bad in small doses.

Bottle. Butterscotch malt and citrus peel aroma. Hazy orange-brown color with moderate head. Very sweet caramel malt and moderately bitter orange peel/quinine hops. Near cloying sweetness that the hops can’t overcome.

I need to get more of this. Smooth and hoppy, a bit sweet with a hint of floralness. Very full bodied. Some pine and earthy qualities, a bit of citrus zest.

Bottle to oversized snifter. Looks good (for a DIPA of it’s magnitude). Very deep with nice lacing. Smells awesome; hoppy and boozy at the same time! Tastes damn good; nice balance for such a beast. Mouthfeel is good too. This is the best DIPA in Michigan, bar none!

Pours from bottle into a pint glass. Pours a dark orange color with a small head. Deep with really good aromas of orange peels, florals, pears, apricots and some hops. Full bodied with good depth and a smooth feel and good flavors of orange peels, pears, apricots and some hops. I only had two bottles of this and I wish I had saved one for some age. I’ll be sure to do that next year and see how it develops.

this is a hoppy barley wine maybe, but not an ipa. aroma is thick with caramel and malt and some sappy hop syrup. flavor is on the sweet side but balanced with hop bitterness and strong alcohol. sweet/bitter finish like hops dipped in caramel.

Dark cloudy brown. Tastes huge. Way too big but I guess they called it a double. Not balanced since that would require drinkability. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Hold onto your hat when you take your first sip of this, slams you with flavor, hops and alcohol. This beer has some interesting berry notes you don’t normally find in an IPA but holds the same hoppy, piney traditional characteristics. Still seeing how this ABV will affect me, should be a good night.

Picked up 4 pack Broad Ripple, IN. They weren't kidding about this one extreme initial blast. Not as hoppy as expected hints of alcoholic taste show through. Strong aroma almost stings. Worth it if you can snag a bottle but wouldn't go back to it. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

(12oz bottle from Rayl101!). Very excited to try this! Pours a slightly hazy copper color with an eggshell head that finally settles into a ring around the glass. Aroma has lots of resin and pine along with some caramel, bready notes and some light citrus. There is also a bit of spice going on. Taste is very sweet and although this beer has a massive IBU number, it really feels quite balanced. Full bodied and a dry, spicy finish. There is a sharp, but subtle bitterness if that is possible. Its quite enjoyable.

On tap at shakesperes pub. Served in a goblet. Medium brown pour with almost no head. Good hoppy aroma. Medium body mouth feel with a taste that’s all hops, more bitter than floral or citrus. Dry hoppy finish with sour notes.