17thfloor (1402), Chicago, Illinois, USA May 9, 2008 Updated: Jul 6, 2009[rated 5.9.08 13% bottle] Pours dark reddish caramel color with little to no head. Extremely rich malty aroma, honey, with a lots of great fresh hops also. First taste is of rich barley, alcohol and very bitter hops. Develops into some waxy, honey, pine and grapefruit. Pretty darn sweet, slightly burnt caramel malts. This is a ridiculous beer... and I can’t believe they were able to (relatively) balance the hops / alcohol with the malt, that is quite a feat. I can only imagine what this tasted like 2 months ago =p. Palate is smooth with low carbonation, glassy. They are right... it is dangerously drinkable... so good thing its only in a 12ozer. 9.4.9.4.18
[rerate fresh 2009 12% bottle 7.5.09] Pours a slightly hazed but clear dark reddish brown with a nice thick off-white medium froth on top. So glad they made this again and I get to try it fresh. What an aroma, super strong spicy hops with what seems to be the addition of some grapey hops that Founders has been using so often lately, very very uniquely Founders. First taste is very salty pine with fruity esters, creamy banana, maybe some diacytel, some of the grapeiness which wasn’t there before, the banana-cream pie thing is quite off-putting, perhaps still a touch young, the alcohol is certainly there but only a touch out of balance, super bitter but not extraordinarily so considering its compliment parts (okay...my tongue has actually gone numb... just didn’t notice until later). Full creamy mouthful, smooth salty caramel, not sticky at all though, softer carbonation, super oily. This beer at no point lets you forget the magnitude of what you are drinking. As it is now, I prefer the last rendition and with a little more age on it. Still crazy good, now bring on the bourbon barrel aged devil dancer!!!
9.4.8.4.17 ajm (902), Los Angeles, California, USA May 6, 2008 It’s a monster alright. And requires a true IPA fan to consume it properly. I am not that guy. But I am equipped to appreciate it, cleaning product though it resembles. psycho11 (22), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA May 5, 2008 Bitter, Bitter, Bitter. Dark red in color with no head and a little lace. From beginning to end you can taste the hops with a push of alcohol toward the end. Smells very flowery and feels full in the mouth. Not something to drink every day, but one to share with friends who like extra hoppy IPA’s. IlanMan (816), Appleton, Wisconsin, USA May 4, 2008 Pour was ruby with a heavy hop aroma. The flavor was amazingly balanced. Would not have guessed it to be 13% alcohol or to have as much hops used to make it as it did. Very malty and very complex hop character. Dry finish. Very complex. Would buy again. Rciesla (3500), Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA May 2, 2008 Draft. Over poweringly hoppy, a true palate destroyer that barely hides the alcohol. Little head, and over powering. I remember enjoying this more out of a bottle. CaptBier (301), Birmingham, Alabama, USA May 1, 2008 Guest Tap at DLD08. Dark red in color with very little head. Good malt aroma with sweet hops by the bunches. The taste is very nice, like a nice sweet hop to the tongue. Surprisingly easy to drink. I wish I could have this daily in a bottle. SuzyGreenberg (1318), Seattle, Washington, USA Apr 29, 2008 12 oz. bottle - pours dark orange with slight haze and white, foamy head; aromas are very sweet and a mix of hops and sugary malts; almost barley wine-ish in aromas and texture; very strong and syrupy; slight bitterness, but overall fruity and almost like juice; bitter finish and overall very drinkable for 13% redlight (1445), Winter Park, Florida, USA Apr 26, 2008 thanks to fantomas for this one. Big malty nose, with hints of sweet pine with caramel and molasses. Pours cloudy amber with no head. Big malt flavor, caramel with molasses, with traces of pine and a slight bitterness. Maybe the bottle has some age on it, maybe its the 13% but its not very hoppy for a triple ipa? It is balanced i guess for the 200+ ibu’s.
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