Ballast Point Dorado Double IPA

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Diego, California USA

Bottle. 22oz. It pours a hazy golden-orange body topped by a small off-white to beige head. Nice lacings. The aroma has a lovely citrusy and resiny domination, but in the back there’s enough malty sweetness to prevent it from going out of balance. Beef-stock, some notes of caramel and some grapefruit and orange-peel blend in. The flavor has a sugary, malty and beef-stock like background, with delicious hoppy flavors up front. Resin, grape-fruit, some orange-peel, green pinecones and a mighty good dash of bitterness. Full-bodied, maybe a bit sweet mouthfeel with pleasant carbonation. A touch of warmth too. Everlasting finish which is sure on the hoppy side. Fine bitterness and a malty sweetness. Even though it’s hoppy as hell, has a high ABV, and a quite big sweetness, it’s dangerously drinkable. A true masterpiece. (090215)

Grapefruit, orange and toast in the nose. Medium to full body, light amber. Flavor similar, really balanced yet hop forward. Medium, lightly bitter finish.

On tap at Bistro DIPA Fest. This golden ale poured with a fluffy off-white head and a pine aroma. There is a fruity caramel malt flavor that is slightly too thin to balance with the extensive hopping. However, it’s stlll a pretty good brew.

A- Pours a clear orange hue, head is huge, thick, and creamy bubbles that are mostly sustaining, big thick lacing on the glass S- Nose is mostly pine resin and grapefruit, nothing too sweet here, backbone of caramel malts, some floral and pepper tones T- Taste is dominated by a well-balanced mix of pine-forward hops and thick chewy caramel malts, touch of biscuit flavor, some grass and spice mixed in, finishes bitter and biting M- Mediium-bodied, thick and chewy texture that layers the palate, mild carbonation D- I’ve found this much better than the first time around, hence the re-review, the alcohol is well-masked at around 10% and this is one easy drinking DIPA with a very desirable mouthfeel/texture

Orangish to amber in color with a nice head. Aromas are extremely hoppy and that extends into the taste but the hops are refreshing and nice.

In short: Solid juicy caramelized maltiness, tasty hops (strong pine-cone juice). Clearly one of the top class American IIPA.
How: Bottle 22oz. Received in a trade, forget the sender, sorry. Consumed fresh soon after receiving it. HUGE thanks to the unnamed sender for this kick-ass brew.
The look: Cloudy dark-orange body topped by a medium white head
In long: Rumour as it that there is a beer with a strong nose of orange, pine-tree cone juice and an inexplicably pleasant horse blanket. An ancient story talks about an ultra nice full body with a doughy juicy mouthfeel. This mythical liquid is supposed to have a strong juicy caramel malt backbone. This elusive elixir is said to provide the drinker with a strong pine-cone juice with notes of resin, citrus fruits, tree bark, pineapples and with very little alcohol presence. And so goes the legend of the Dorado. It is said that those who find the Dorado will with be rewarded with a precious liquid.

Pours a hazy golden color some particulates, good head retention some spot lacing. Nose is of pungent delicious grapefruit, caramel, fruits, and citrus. Initial taste is real spicy, caramel, and sugar sweetness. Mid palate to finish is hoppy and well balanced with the caramel sweetness. Palate duration is excellent the spice dances beautifully with grapefruit lingering. Body is light to medium, slight oily but absolutely fantastic.

Bottle: In between a few lambics I went back to a Californian IPA, this one is powerful even a bit too much. Extreme brew.