Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

I’m actually rating this from memory from a few months ago (and it was the last of a long night of tasting), but it was a memorable beer. Thick, sweet, spicy, hoppy... but not overpoweringly hoppy. Candied pineapple was a dominant taste for me. Dangerously drinkable for a 12% beer. RE-RATE: Fresh bottle from Sam’s. Pours deep clear reddish amber with one-finger light yellow head that turns into foamy bubbles. This was an early rate for me, and I thought I might kick it down a few notches from my earlier rating. Not so much, really. This is such a unique beer to me... seems to transcend the DIPA thing into new territory (perhaps, hence the "triple IPA" label). The sweet malts are not overpowering (a la Dogfish Head); instead, they nicely balance the bitter hops. Taste still reminds me of candied pineapple and bitter hops in a good way. What a great beer.

2-3-08 bottle shared at tasting (1 year aged)
Dark brown caramel colored with short beige head. Sweet caramel hoppy nose that is almost similar to Strawberry Twislers (as someone pointed out). Sweet honey alcohol flavor. I get malt, caramel and honey in the flavor. Palte is pretty good too - not too watery or thin. Overall, not horrible.

1 year Aged bottle shared by gueuzelover
Dark caramel to maroon color. Very light beige head. Smell is mellow, malty and creamy with perhaps a bit of vanilla. Taste is dark and malty, but hopped only to balance, I found after the year of age took its toll. Somewhat well hidden alcohol for 13% and drank more like a barley wine than an extremely overhopped beer. Lingering dull earthy hop flavor and some alcohol in the background. I thougt this was ok, but not fantastic.

02.04.08. 2007 Bottle. Nose is muddled hops, but not in a bad way, with some sweetness. Amber-brown color. Flavor is relatively balanced for such a big beer, hops providing more bitterness than aroma or flavor. Really need to sample this fresh to give an accurate rating, but this was really tasty. 8/3/7/3/17 09.26.09. Fresh Bottle Re-rate. Aroma is sticky caramel, orange peel, hop resin, pine, and cherries. Heavenly. Bright opaque orange-amber with a thin white head. Big flavor. Opens sweet with a nice hoppy middle, just enough bitterness to cut the sweetness without becoming harsh. Finishes with a slightly different sweetness, more fruit-centered (especially cherry), and a lingering bitterness which still never becomes harsh. This is an immensely well-brewed beer, beautifully balanced with a wide range of complementary flavors. Creamy yet slightly astringent mouthfeel adds to the depth. Not a tinge of alcohol presence. Seriously top-notch. 9/3/9/4/18

Aroma: Strawberry liquorish and strong grain alcohol. Appearance:Dark amber, cloudy, bubbly head. Flavor: Strong hop flavor fallowed by straight alcohol, with a nice smoke finish. Palate is a little rough and not very well balanced.

Bouteille 12oz, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur ambrée-rouge et claire. Nez de houblon résineux, moyennement floral et citrique (pamplemousse) avec des notes herbeuses, malté de caramel sucré aux notes rôties, moyennement fruité (léger d’agrumes, d’abricots et de raisins), léger d’alcool et de buiscuits ainsi que de faibles notes boisées. Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture résineuse,, moyennement sirupeuse et légèrement huileuse. Assez amer de houblon résineux, citrique (pamplemousse asséchant), moyennement floral et aux petites notes terreuses (présent durant toute la gorgée) accompagné d’un goût fruité (agrumes, raisins, léger d’abricots) accompagné d’un léger goût boisé (fût de chêne) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût de malt du genre caramel sucré aux notes rôties avec un léger goût de biscuits ainsi que des notes de sucre brun (traces de toffee), parallèlement à un moyen goût d’alcool assez réchauffant jusqu’en finale, où l’on retrouve un regain d’amertume de houblon plus herbeux et asséchant (faibles notes de poivre). Arrière-goût long et sec, assez amer de houblon résineux, citrique, moyennement herbeux et aux petites notes florales et terreuses, moyen d’alcool et légèrement fruité (zest d’agrumes, notes de moût de raisins).

Dark clear orangey-red with no head. Strong citrus hops aroma with hints of berries and raisins. Flavor is sweet and sharp, of hops, malt, and fruit. Nice bite of bitterness. Very tasty.

Thanks to Adrian for a bottle of this! I have been looking forward to trying this strange brew. I am ready for the adventure - here it goes! A weird drawing on the label - a flower in front of an angelic dancing girl? Dark amber coloring with a strong smell of sharp hops and alcohol. Not much head. The flavor is intense - sweet malt and alcohol to start, then the hops kick in for full IPA flavor. The finish is pleasantly hoppy. This beer is aromatic and stealthily powerful - impressive and off the main road. Anyone with a taste for hops and alcohol should give it a try. A few of these and you will be dancing with the devil.