Lupulin River from Knee Deep Brewing is being evaluated as a Double IPA (Category 22A) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
This Double IPA pours a medium-gold color and is very clear with a rocky white head that is quite persistent.
Lupulin River smacks you upside the head with a big tropical fruit hop aroma with a focus on fresh pineapple and light, ripe mango with a hint of fresh cantaloupe. A light spicy alcohol note and a hint of bready malt emerge as the hops settle down. The hop character shifts slightly in the flavor, offering a light pine and resin flavor to complement mixed tropical fruit. An assertive hop bitterness emerges mid-palate and lingers into the medium-dry finish. As with the aroma, the light spicy alcohol and bready malt make an appearance late to add balance to the hops. The alcohol is smooth, and the overall hop character is fresh and bright making this a very quaffable Double IPA.
This is an extremely well brewed, and big, American-style Double IPA with the expected hop punch in the face. If you’re a hop head this is the beer for you… and if you’re not a hop head, you just might become one after enjoying a can of this world-class brew.