Double IPA'S

The Difference between Double IPA's 

Double IPA's

This post is to show the difference between double IPA'S how different they can be. So I  have 7 different beers and I hope to drink all of them, yeah that's not going to happen but I will give it my best shot. I'm sure eagle eyed viewer's will notice that there is some Cloudwater DIPA all but one has been tried before. In fact three are new beers. 

But firstly what makes a double a double?

IPA vs. Double IPA

The Double IPA generally uses more hops (though not literally "double"), lengthier brewing processes (e.g. Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA, which is boiled for longer than its 60 Minute variant), sometimes secondary fermentation, etc. It has higher alcohol content, IPAs stopping around 7.5% ABV, while Double IPAs can soar to above 10%.

To me this mean lots more hops and a higher alcohol level. I believe the craze has come from America and beer fans have kept asking for more and more hops. This still doesn't help me understand what a double IPA is, It was not long ago that I had a Triple IPA from Stone Brewery and that was 10.8% abv (click here for the review). The above quote says double IPA's can soar to 10% abv. So I guess the question is are they a way in which brewer's using marketing to sell more beer and at a high cost? What I do know is that they are generally very hoppy and usually strong. Some people will say that they are sweet I don't pick up on any of that normally, probably I have a sweet tooth. 

First Beer

Birrificio Del Ducato
Machete 7.6%

So my first beer that's a Double IPA. This is a lovely IPA. It's very Hoppy. It has a flavour that I can not put my finger on. The only thing I would say is that it comes across as dry. This beer is not one I would be having again. This beer is also cloudy do like that though.

Second beer

Renaissance
M.P.A 8.5%
Imperial India Pale Ale 

This is from new Zealand its called Marlborough Pale ale. This beer is to showcase New Zealand Hops. Its so different to the last one. This beer is very strong tasting and I think it's overpowering the hops. New Zealand hops are very different to american hops like Chinook, Citra. Nelson Sauvin is very much like a white wine flavour. In fact it's name comes from Sauvignon Blanc grapes it tend to give a sort of Gooseberry flavour. 

Third Beer

Cloudwater brewery
DIPA V8

This is the latest version of Cloudwater's DIPA range. This version was released for the manchester beer festival. It pours an orangey hazy and has little head to the beer. It uses Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Simcoe & Chinook hops as with the last one which also had Nelson Sauvin hops it does sort overpower the other flavours. This to me is not as good as the last version, however every version I have had has been totally different.