Funky Buddha Brewery Hop Stimulator American Double / Imperial IPA at 9.5% ABV | 75 IBU (US$3.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, bottle date 22-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 22-May-2017)
Appearance: hazy medium amber with two fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, caramel, citrus, tropical fruit, floral. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, sweetish lingering and building bitter warming finish. (4/5)
Well, I have to say, I was skeptical: when you do multiple A/IPAs that are 7% ABV and 80 IBU, that doesn’t seem to leave a lot of room at the top: “Really,” one wonders, “how much bigger can their DIPA be?” And the funny thing is, the IBU rating for this is actually lower than the past two of their A/IPAs I tried, so, ummm…? Well, be that as it may, this feels bigger. Perhaps due to the higher ABV, or maybe just due to the hop selection, the hop presence here is emphatic right at decapping, and doesn’t let up. Big caramel hops try to challenge the hop dominance, but fail, albeit providing the right amount of support. The ABV is also fairly emphatic, coming through as a slickness in the body, a warming in the finish, and a tendency for the room to get a little fuzzy around the edges. Good stuff. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
