Blue Frog The Big DIPA

Brewed by Blue Frog Grog and Grill
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Fairfield, California USA

Confused by the poor ratings. Did we just get a good bottle? Perhaps people are rating this against other Imperial IPAs and not on its own merit. Sure, it’s not as ridiculously hoppy as some of the other Imperial IPAs, but it is a well-balanced and delightful beer with a great color, head and mouthfeel. Hops are restrained, but still significant. We visited the restaurant and weren’t super impressed, but this beer is outstanding if you don’t try to compare it with others that take the style to extremes. Bought at Blue Frog Grog and Grill in December, 2008.

Golden dark color with no head. Very nice citrus, sweet caramel and pear aroma. Not your typical IPA aroma. Flavor is not hoppy at all which is weird because its considered a double IPA. This was more malty than hoppy with a buttery biscuit and yeastie taste. This definitely is mis-catagorized.

Caged and corked, this poured with a big ol’ head of foam, that after a brief flurry of activity, slowly but surely filed into nothingness. The beer itself is metallic orange. I’d call the aroma acidic, but hard to draw. This drinks with an assertive hoppiness, earthy and yeasty, and a bit of a citric bite. The foundation is solid enough to keep it all afloat, but maybe not as rigid as some would like. Respectable. (#3389, 4/8/2008)

Draft at The Bistros DIPA Fest; Nose of floral hops mixed with sweetness and caramel; amber with a tiny tan head; flavor is hop bitterness, mixed with caramel and some light dark fruit notes. Pretty good and well balanced.

22AUG08. 750ml bottle, caged and corked. Deep golden amber, white creamy head. At first pour, the aroma was vinous and a bit corky. I thought the bottle was bad. After letting it sit for a white to air out, it later smelled like a nicely hopped beer. Other aromas include resin, citrus, lots of chocolate, lots of tree fruit (like plums). Strong hop flavor. Nice bitterness. Lingering hop flavor on the palate. Big ABV. Tastes stronger than the 8% ABV listed. Some caramel malts in there as well. Mostly hop bitterness flavors. Lupulin Luciousness! Happy 32nd unclemattie.

750 ml bottle from Bev4less. Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a big sudsy white head. The aroma is moderately strong and reveals peaches, some citrus, dust and biscuit. The flavor has biter hops in the forefront, with pine, caramel and citrus rounding out the sides. The mouthfeel is full and malty. The finish is long with lingering caramel. Overall: I thought this was a pretty decent IPA. Way under-rated.

Thanks MikeTD. Hazy orange pour with white head that fades. Aroma is citrus but subdued. Citrus, grapefruit, lots of toffee in the background, with biscuits and a touch of chocolate. Big leafy and definitely dry-hopped taste like the hops were really fresh. Good beer.

Bottle. Rich amber beer with an off-white head. Lighter grapfruit aroma. Caramel/grapefruit flavor with some pine backing. Good hop flavor and bitterness. LIngering hops. Nice and very drinkable, but not a great DIPA.