Avery Brewing Co. Raja Double IPA American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV (US$3.78 at Specs Main Branch, 355 ml, bottle date 27-Oct-2015, reviewed 30-Jan-2016)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with a fat finger of rocky ivory head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, citrus, bready malt, pine, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter finish. (4/5)
I wasn’t all that thrilled at first. The malt, for example, initially seemed a little more forward than I prefer, causing me to think this was another one of those malty DIPAs that, while not actually a sink pour, make me have mild regret. That definitely changes, and while it never gets “crisp”, it certainly develops and expands as it warms. I’m not quite sure if there really is a lemon note, of whether the appearance just makes me think that, but there’s a nice blend of tropical fruit and citrus leading the way for the somewhat bready malt, rounded out by a slightly earthy pine note. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
