Three Harvest DIPA - Spring 2021 by Wild Leap Brew Co. was judged as a Double IPA (22A).

The aroma of this beer is clearly hops-dominated, but it doesn’t reset your olfactory sensors like some Double IPAs are capable of doing. In fact, the aromas are relatively straightforward: pronounced, but not intense. I mainly pick up on hops that are spicy, resinous, somewhat tropical and expressing a touch of an underripe fruit or green pepper or jalapeño-like aroma.

The head is white and immediately present on the pour, persisting very nicely as an even layer on the beer with some gathering at the edge of the glass. The color is golden with some haze. The flavor is mildly sweet with a strong, fruity hop character of mango with a mild minty/herbal quality towards the finish. The bitterness does not pounce on you as the malt sweetness either keeps it at bay, or the bitterness is not quite there to offset the residual sugars. In fact, the finish is a touch sweet and not as crisp as it should be for this style. The mouthfeel is medium-full with a smooth texture. The alcohol is well masked by the sweetness that lingers.

Overall, this is a Double IPA that would be improved with a fermentation that was more complete. As it stands, this is a very enjoyable beer with a strong hop character that just happens to land on the sweet side for a Double IPA. I definitely wouldn’t turn away seconds, and if you prefer a bit of malt domination in your Double IPAs, then you shouldn’t turn this one away either.