Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Bend, Oregon USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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UPDATED: JUN 20, 2010 Sampled February 2010
As I pour this a vibrant hop note reminiscent of orange flavored creamsicles and ripe lychee is noticeable. A vigorous pour into my New Belgium Globe glass produces a fat-three-finger thick, pale-tan tinged, off-white colored head. The beer is a copper hue that is nicely red stained, when held up to the light the beer shows a fairly clear, rich amber hue. As the head slowly recedes is shows how dense it is, and it leaves ample lacing stuck to the sides of my glass. Huge hop fruit character produces freshly cut tangerine notes, essential grapefruit skin oil, ripe lychee, loud kumquat and bergamot. There is a touch of pine, and a slight herbal note (especially towards the end of a long draught of the nose), but this nose is all about fruit right now. The malt plays a very subdued role in the nose, so faint I might even be imagining it, but there does seem to be a touch of caramelized grain and a sort of creamed honey note that mixes with the hops.

Lightly sweet, but seems more so because of the fruity hop focus. The body has a creaminess that is induced by the touch of malt, but more so it seems by the ample hops used. The finish has an herbal, lightly astringent, slightly green, biting bitterness that lingers on the palate along with a soft lingering memory of the huge hop flavors. Lychee, super ripe tangelo, kumquat peel, a really big orange-cream popsicle flavor. The over-the-top hop fruit character is just held in check by the bitterness and some light herbal pine flavors (which are just a touch more noticeable than in the aroma). Speaking of subtle, the malt here plays an important supporting role and is barely noticeable, but does provide a soft cracker / biscuit note just barely in the finish. This is extremely quaffable, even though it does have that creaminess to it, and just about perfect for a IPA, much less the Double IPA that this is.

This is most definitely a deliciously fresh IPA. I could easily do with a case of these in my fridge, as usual with this style of beer though, don’t hold on to this for long though as it is going to rapidly go down hill. Awesomely hopy with ample fruit character and with a soft enough malt profile to support, but not intrude on the hop focus that defines this beer. Novel not really, surprising not so much, but it is damn tasty; five years ago this would have garnered high 4’s from me, don’t let the low score make you think I didn’t thoroughly enjoy this beer though.
Earlier Rating: 6/15/2008 Total Score: 3.5
A reasonable pour produces a three-finger thick, tan colored head that just rises above the rim of my 25cl tulip glass. Lots of lace is produced by the sticky, hop laden head. The beer is a clear, deep amber color, but shows a brilliantly clear, deeply red tinged, copper color when held up to the light. The aroma is of course quite hoppy, though I wouldn’t characterize it as being aggressively so for a Double IPA. Sweet, fruity citrus notes of lychee, apricot, candied grapefruit zest, tangelo and mandarin orange are the most noticeable note, but there is a greener hop note of light herbal notes that are just barely noticed under the surface. Biscuit like grain notes and a touch of toasty malt round out the finish, though this again plays a secondary role to the more fruity hop notes.

Soft feeling and almost creamy feeling up front, but a prickly carbonation quickly provides some texture and bite that evens this out. The beer is fairly bitter, but it takes a few sips before the effect gets magnified throughout the entire flavor profile; originally it was most noticed as a biting, lingering note in the finish. Very hoppy, yet somehow I feel like it is restrained; the fruity hop notes are most noticed, but a substantial herbal hop character plays a much bigger role than it did in the aroma. Flavors of lychee, mandarin orange and tangelo are coupled with a sharply herbal note reminiscent of a mix of hemp oil, menthol and perhaps something a touch harder like chive (this last is very light though). The finish gets a bit astringent with the mix of herbal hop character, hop bitterness and lightly perceptible, hot alcohol.

I like the body on this beer, it is not so heavy as many examples that seem confusingly like a hoppy Barley Wine, instead it just about has that drinkable character that something with IPA in the name needs. It does have a medium heft to it that is lightly viscous, and certainly palate coating; this quality serves to temper the hop character and accentuate the fruit focused notes. Speaking of the body, this is the spot where the malt character is most noticed; an accentuating sweetness that is not distinctly malt flavored helps to accentuate the hop character. There is perhaps a touch of a caramel edge to this beer, but the bitterness and alcohol heat keep this from developing any toasty malt character in the finish.

This is a pretty good Double IPA. It can get a little hot in the finish from the alcohol, especially as it warms up, but it does have a nice mix of hop notes that ultimately are what this style of beer is about. This is not the most scathingly hoppy example of this style and does actually achieve some balance despite the malt character really note playing an overtly noticeable role in the flavor.

Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Bay Drugs Pharmacy, Imperial Beach CA

A wonderful hoppy aroma, it poured like it was gonna be a medium bodied brew but did not smell that way. The ppearance is a nice pale amber color, almost orange witha slight haze and a little bit of head. The flavor was indeed hoppy with a touch of sweet maltiness. The maltiness is almost overpowering, a bit too strong and it is a bit stuck on my tounge. Bit heavy bodied and sweet for an ipa but overall not a bad ipa. Worth a buy for sure.

I like this one even more than the lighter version. A fantastic fruity smell, nice orange color. This is a top notch beer. Quite hoppy but tons of fruitiness as well. Just a tad sweet at time, but mostly excellent.

Pours a rich orange copper color with a two finger white head... Bright hop aromas of grass, citrus and grapefruit with a hint of mellow mint. On the palate this thing explodes with refreshing hop goodness. Great flavors of citrus peel, pine, and a touch of minty sage that balances out the sweet caramel malts that round out the belly of this wonderful beer. Nice bitterness comes though in the lingering finish and I keep wanting more and more... YUM !

Hazy orange body, large white head, streaky lacing. Aroma is full of grapefruit, tropical fruits, light pine and various floral notes. Similar flavor with a bit more floral hops than in the nose to complement the grapefruit and fruity hops. Medium to full bodied. A bit oily on the tongue. Moderate bitterness. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Bomber from Let’s Pour. Pours a deep slightly hazy orange with a finger of off-white head that sticks around. Lacing coats the glass wonderfully. Grapefruit and floral aromas dominate the nose. A big malty body offsets the hops, slightly too sweet for my preference but still a great DIPA.

Bottle. Poured a deep burnt orange. Nose is grapefruity hops. So much going on with this beer. Big grapefruit notes and even a hint of pineapple up front. Super malty, it’s not just a hopped up mess, it’s got so much malt that even my hop hating wife couldn’t pass up another sip. Finish is fruity and sweet with light bitterness . Wow

Big hop aroma with floral, pine, and fruit in there. Pours a very nice copper with a big off white head and good retention and lacing. Flavor is balanced towards malt and is one of best IIPAs I’ve had. Botterness is there and has a dry finish with a very nice sweet malty character. Vey nice beer. Great mouthfeel with no astringency and a medium to full body.

Pours golden an awesome metallic gold into pint. Smells of hops, citrus, edible flowers, grapefruit meat and wheaten bread. Tastes of potassium hydroxide, subtropical citrus, moss, wet grass, and booze. Nice.

Bottle: Poured a copper orange with a thin off white head. Aroma is nice hoppy blend with grape fruit and floral. Taste is bitter hops with floral hints and malt balance. But the hops lives long into the finish!

Bottle. Pours gold amber with a light head that dissipates quickly with minimal lacing. Strong hops aroma with citrus and pine/resin notes prominent. Some caramel malt backing. Flavor is hops from start to finish, with an extremely bitter finish. Citrus and resin notes dominate the weak backing of malt. This is a little over the top for my personal taste.