Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Bend, Oregon USA

Thick copper color, dense, frothy beige head. Nectar-like aroma. Very fruity with citrus. Woody flavor, that’s pale and dry with ripe fruit and honey or mineral. Nice cold tasting beer with a clean palate. Finish whisks away cleanly too.

This was an exceptionally good IPA. For a stronger IPA, it maintained its bitterness, and hoppy aroma, unlike many of the sweeter double IPA’s that are showing up these days. Bitter start with some mild sweetness to follow and strong pine aromas and flavors to finish

22 oz bottle via Hagen. Pours a semi hazy copper with a large beige head. Nose is malty with some herbal and pine hoppiness. Taste starts a little sweet then quickly turns to a pine/grapefruit explosion with a hint of apricot and berries, then back to grapefruit and ending with a nice lingering pine finish, that sticks to the tongue for a good minute or so before demanding another long sip. Mmm this is good stuff. Great stuff. Chilled for 30 minutes from cellar to freezer, so about 55f seems to be a very nice temp to bring out a lot of flavors. I THINK i am tasting some Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hop flavors here, but who knows it seems very complex. Body is medium, carbonation is perfect. Alc very well hidden, i would not guess it was almost 9% if i hadn’t read the label. World class stuff and an experiment that has passed muster!

Bottle courtesy of maniac via Chris Holder at the 8th Richmond Gathering. Hazy orange brown with an aroma of malt.Flavor was underwhelming hops.

Pours orangish color with off white head. Aromas of grapefruit hops and caramel malts. Grapefruit hop flavor balanced with sweet malts. Medium body with average carbonation and a syrupy mouthfeel.

Bomber at home aon June 17, 2009. Wow, how about that deep amber color? Excellent lacing, beautiful head. Floral hop aroma. Nose catches some fresh boiled barley. Smooth mouthfeel, slightly detectable alcohol. For 95 IBU, the hops are pretty easy. Nice blend. Enjoyable to drink. Impressive. Pretty sweet, reminds me of a Belgian for some reason. Has a hearty finish... a man’s beer, for sure. Although my wife would probably love this, too.

Bottle courtesy of maniac via Chris Holder at the 8th Richmond Gathering. Vibrant copper pour. Strong hops, spicy notes, pine and citrus in the aroma. Some caramel as well. Taste is spicy and citrusy hops, orange peel, pine, caramel, sweet malts, and hops resins. Bits of toffee also. Body is chewy and resinous. Strongly carbonated with a medium-full overall feel. Ends with more citrus notes, hop resins, pine, caramel, sweet malt and toffee. More spicy hop notes here too.

Batch 3. Pours clear amber with a medium head that breaks down slowly. Aroma is full, but not unique; Common grapefruit hops and floral notes. A little soy sauce too, actually. Alcohol took me a little off guard at first; Alcohol was more present in the flavor and finish than anticipated. The flavor is quite nice though, repeating the aromas of flora and big grapefruity hops, and now the caramel from the malts smoothens out the end. The booze mellows out after a few sips, but is still knocking on the door the whole time. Palate could’ve been a little more alive for my tastes; Was a little syrupy, truth be told. Overall, good to very good.