Deschutes Hop Henge Imperial IPA

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

Medium-sized, frothy white head, very good retention, spectacular lacing. Notes of resiny and floral hops bring in the aroma. The hop profile seems wet-hopped, and is so exquisitely fresh! Toasted grains are very earthy and fresh. Scents of fresh flowers, tea leaves, caramel, sweetened grapefruit, mandarin orange, mango, pine needles, the list expands with every whiff. Wonderful, soft and very engaging nose. The flavor is soft but bold. Light to moderate bitterness from the hops is quickly extinguished by floral tones and medium sweetness from malts. Acidity is tame but generous enough to dice right back through the sweetness and keep the flavor on a somewhat even keel. I just can’t get over how fresh it tastes. Additions of tangerine, melon and chamomile make the scene. the finish is soft, lightly bitter, mildly toasty, with mellow caramel and floral hops lingering, with a bit of citric acid. the mouthfeel is well carbonated, medium in body, very likeable. A fine beer, so refreshing and so utterly fresh tasting. this was a nice change of pace from the typical palate-crushing, intensely bitter double IPA’s that seem the standard on the west coast.

Hmmm, had high hopes for this one. Sadly, I’m disappointed. Wonder what others are seeing that I don’t. Flavor is off. I know this is an IIPA but the hops are way to harsh on the palate and really take over the flavor too. Needs a bit more balance and a smoother finish. Glad I have one more bottle to retaste though.

pours a nice copper brown - slight aroma of citrus and floral hops - excellent caramelish malt flavor balances well with the almost over the top hops and the high alcohol warming. A most excellent beer for the style. Does a good job of not becoming an over-the-top cliche (as are many overhopped american beers).

Bottle thanks to bmartin08 poured a hazed amber/orange color with a nice off white head. The aroma was musty hops, heavy caramel and alcohol. Flavor was heavy caramel followed by hop bitterness and a sweet hoppy finish. Overall an ok double IPA with some BW character.

Bottle: Pours a nice copper color with a white head. Aroma, floral and citrus hops, with some pale malts in the background. Flavor, some spicy citrusy hops, caramel and pale malts balance it. Good bitterness.

Cloudy amber color with a nice size off-white head. Aroma is big with floral, earthy, piney hops. Taste has some light malt sweetness mixed in with a monster fresh-hop taste of earthy-floral hops. Nice DIPA for when you’re in the mood for a mega-hop blast, but not one of the greats.

Bottle. Pours a deeper amber with a nice head on top. Nose is very citric and piney. Flavor was a whole lot of bittering. I thought this was pretty unbalanced and was wondering where the counterpart malts were. This was selected #5 of 6 in our IIPA tasting. Thanks to ogglethorp for the bottle.

Pours a copper color with an off white head. Aroma is of caramel and grassy, citrus hops. Flavor is malty, caramel with a grassy bitter finish