Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

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

Aroma is lovely yet quite strong. Malty sweet , alcohol but nice, Hops aren’t as defined as I’d expect, but not surprising considering 13%. Finishes nicely w/ hops though for a long time.

Hops with a good malt background in the aroma. It had a disappointing head with a dark burgundy. Those hops are really, really strong in the flavor though. They however lend a wonderfully thick, creamy smoothness in the palate however. There’s so much hops here that it’s almost too much. It’s quite good still though.

Dark copper to amber in color the beer poured a 1/4" head that dissipated leaving some nice lacing. The nose was even dry. A hop-lovers dream this was filled with citric hops (mainly grapefruit). In the mouth the beer is filled with, surprise, lots of hops. The high alcohol leads to a palate with good weight and presence in the palate. The midpalate must have some balancing malt as it does not come off overly dry or bitter and even shows a bit of sweetness. The lingering finish does have a nice bitter dryness though it is balanced. Overall, this is a freak of a beer that i can see some will lover and others hate.

Bottle from Crown #15 in Fishers, IN. Pours a hazy dark copper with a creamy, beige head that quickly diminishes to a thin ring of bubbles clinging to the edge of the glass. Despite wearing the "triple IPA" moniker, this both looks and smells more like a barley wine than an IPA or IIPA. Big and malty, the nose is of sweet malt with notes of dark fruit, brown sugar and light alcohol. The hops come in at the end, but behind the huge, malty front, it’s difficult to pick out any distinct hop notes beyond citrus. Medium-bodied and oily, transitioning into a softly grainy, bitter and "warm" finish. The claim of 200+ IBUs was surprising, after taking in the super-malty aroma, but after having a few sips, I’m a believer. The flavor is much like a barley wine, with a big, sweet, malty front and notes of dark fruit, but that front is followed by a hit of alcohol warmth and the distinctive tongue squeeze of huge piny, citric and resinous hop bitterness. While I prefer my IIPAs and barley wines to demonstrate a bit more subtlety, this is a damn fine beer. I have to believe that this one would cellar quite well. I wish that I had bought more than the one to test my theory.

Bottle courtesy of pantanap (secret santa). Pours a slightly thick red-orange color with no head. Big time hops in front of a sweet malt aroma. Taste is what you would expect...an overload of piney hops and syrupy sweet malts. Drinks very much like a barleywine...with not much carbonation. Very approachable and not as much heat like you would think. Love it. Thanks a ton Santa!

Pours a reddish orange color that is clearish in appearance. Thin off-white/brownish head. That fades completely. Smells sweet but with a huge spicy alcohol backbone. Tons of hops in this baby. Sweet and fruity up front but with a lot of hop and alcohol bitterness on the finish. Pretty thin and smooth for a 13% brew, good carbonation, but whew... alcohol! Good brew but at 13% it’s alcohol-ful.

Pours a deep (Ron) burgundy with very little head and lacing. Smells of dark dried fruit, fig, plum and piney hops. Tastes very similar to the smells. The strong elements remind me of a barleywine. Sweet and hoppy. Though this is a thick beer the extreme ABV is not as noticeable as you would think. Drinkability is good considering. Overall worth trying.

This offering from Founders,the first one I have tried from them,poured a reddish amber color with a small head.Aromas of powerful malt,hops,caramel.Flavor was actually sweet and malty,with lots of caramel,pine and hops.Reminded me a bit of Dogfish Head 90 min.