Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

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

Bottle.

I confess that I’m not usually looking for a 13% IIPA, but cracking this one open tonight I was really quite pleased. Rich amber pour, not much head of course, big caramel and oxidizing-hops aroma, the latter not so far gone as to be unpleasant. More barleywine-like than IIPA. The flavor is similar, but even better. Massive rich caramels are set off beautifully by the huge doses of hops that this one brings to my glass; sweetness slightly winning out over the hops. Very smooth, considering, very drinkable. Obviously big enough to make its ABV known, but not boozy or particularly hot, especially considering the ABV.

Nice beer. Wouldn’t a be regular sipper for me even if I could get it locally, but for the style (which I do really like) it’s quite nice.

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!

There’s no doubt this is a big-beer IPA just by the aroma. Hops — citrus, pine and floral — dominate the nose, though malt is detectable and the aroma is somewhat reminiscent of barley wine. Not suprisingly, the flavor is also dominated by hops — both citrus and floral. but again, the malt backbone is quite noticable — raisins, caramel, spice. Still, this is one bitter, hoppy IPA from beginning to end and long afterwards. Medium to heavy body, somewhat syrupy and cloying. The alcohol makes itself known in the flavor and though it didn’t get in the way, it didn’t help. I think this beer tries to have too many big things going on all at once and never quite gets it all balanced.

12 oz bottle from the shelves of Wilmer Liquors (New Lenox, IL). Pours a dark reddish copper, good haze, small offwhite head that laces pretty well for it’s small size. Aromas are heavy caramel malts and grapefruity citrus hops. Some florals, toffee and light toast come into play, fairly sweet with a good bitterness, but sweetness that matches pretty strongly as well. Initial is thick, a heavier body supports strong grapefruit and piney resin bitterness, well hopped with a strong caramel and toffee body underneath as well. A fairly potent alcohol feel, the beer coats the palate and leaves good bitterness and malty sweetness clinging to the mouth and aftertaste. Some florals, a bit of cereal further into the body, the bitterness grows and it is indeed strong, but the strength of the malt lends itself to a Barley Wine possibly. A good beer, just a bit too "strong" and thus, a well craft beer but not a beer I’d necessarily love again and again. Cheers.

Dark and cloudy amber with small head. Very sweet and sugary malt aroma with sharp C hop aroma. Holy hop momma....the bitterness hits you immediately.Sharp c hop taste is definitely over the top, but enjoyable it that’s your thing(yeah, it’s mine too). Lots of citrus, but the caramel is never too far behind. Not sure you could balance a beer with this many hops much better.

(Bottle) Pours an amber color with a white head. Aroma of citrus. Taste is primarily of grapefruit, with light pine and some sweet malts as well. Sticky mouthfeel. Reminded me almost like fermented pineapple juice. Yes it’s hoppy, but I wouldn’t consider it any more hoppy compared to other popular DIPA’s (even at 200 IBU). Having said that, it’s a good beer... but not as good as I expected.

This is a fantastic beer. I wouldn’t classify it as an IIPA though--it definitely tastes like a barleywine. It has the huge hops presence, but the massive amount of sweet caramel malt is what really sticks with you when you drink this beer. Pours a very dark brown with hues of red. Aroma of brown sugar and hops. Flavors are brown sugar, caramel malt, citrus hops. Great full mouthfeel. You have no idea that this is 13%, that is for sure. Another great beer from Founders.

pours copper, thin tan head, bubbles around the rim. aroma of creamy caramel, some cirtrus, and a hint of sweet tea. the flavor is smooth, smooth caramel, hint of hops with a slightly bitter touch. a full-bodied brew. then it hits you: gee-whiz-bang! hoppy bitter finish that sticks around...then slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am! you get a huge alcoholic warming. "whoa!! how’d this go down so easy?" i thought to myself (which is my favorite way of thinking. see what i mean about the alcohol?). it’s 22.50 on easter sunday and i’m wondering if there is any place open where i can get more. definitely a new favorite. makes me want to start smoking cigars again.

thanks to <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=1 rayboy01 for this sample