Founders Devil Dancer - Founders Brewing Company

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A-deep amber color with hints of red and a decent off-white head with a little lacing

S-malt, slight sweetness, pine, tropical fruit, hint of bitterness

T-heavy malt upfront, tropical fruit, slight caramel, pine and moderately bitter finish

F-medium to full body with light to moderate carbonation, smooth but pretty boozy

O-interesting sipper, but not something I would make great effort to seek out

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 19:06:25 | More by MDDMD

yankeepride

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a nice, ruddy, clear mix of brown, red, and caramel. The smell is very malty, and has a nose almost like a barleywine. It has a massive alcohol hit, and it's so smooth that it invites you to pound it, even though you know it's going to kick your ass. It says it's an IPA, but there's so much malt to get it to 12% that it totally dominates the hops. You don't get a bourbon -style alcohol burn, but it lets you know that it's a high ABV beer. It there going down, and if you swallow some air along with it, that alcohol gives a reminder on the way back up. This is not a summertime IPA (unless you plan on being unconscious as your summertime hobby). The depth of flavor allows it to pair with a lot of different foods.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 00:50:11 | More by yankeepride

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.59/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into a mug.

A - Amber color with a 1-finger beige head. Pretty good retention and lacing.

S - Hop aroma with grapefruit, and loads of Alcohol .

T - I get hops up front, some grapefruit other herbal notes and then some bitterness and plenty of alcohol at the finish.

M - Medium body with low carbonation, dry and bitter with again plenty of alcohol feel.

O - This isn’t a bad TIPA. I feel they don't hide the alcohol well at all. I would drink one and that's about it, move on to something else more drinkable.(but it is 12% so how many would I drink anyway?) Plus the fact its $20 for 4 pretty much seals the deal, I might not get this again. Might!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 21:21:20 | More by Damian74Shensky

themind

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I am a big Founders fan but I must say I feel this brew falls short. The flavors do not seem to mesh and seem a bit out of place. This beer is a bit boozy and could use some aging to calm it down. In the end I feel this is a sub-par brew that I have passed on since aquiring a few bottles.

Bottom Line: It's worth a try but at what expense?

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 13:09:32 | More by themind

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled June 18, 2012:

Into my chalice:

A: light copper red body yields a one finger white head that quickly fades leaving little lacing

S: malts up front combined with some caramel, hops provide a decent background

T: same as the smell with some lemon coming in

M: medium with a dry sticky finish and aftertaste, about a moderate amount of harshness, I'd say this is pretty drinkable, surprisingly enough because of the high ABV.

O: I like it, the alcohol is well hidden in the taste, smell and mouthfeel. I'd come back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 17:35:50 | More by kangarooAdam59

brewtus

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank on 11/21/12

A- pours a copper red, a quick fading head
S- smells a bit lie a scotch ale, dried dark fruit, caramel, I get some lemon
T- hits the tongue with bitter hops.starts malty and warm with dark fruit. I get a lot of citrus, mostly lemon, a little bit of peanut butter taste before finishing on a imperial hoppy finish
M- plenty thick. Nice smooth texture though
O- I liked this one, seems like it would age really well. I only bought one which was good for me, a great sipin brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:15:30 | More by brewtus

dbossman

Nebraska

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep orange--amber with a thin head; okay lacing for what it is

S: Boozy and hop forward--lots of citrus, grapefruit, etc. that play well off candi sugars and booze

T: this is a big beer but it isn't overly sweet and the citrus hops bring enough balance to the boozy, sweet malt undertones--actually pretty balanced for a 12% DIPA

F: Good body and quite sticky and oily

O: Such a big beer but surprisingly balanced and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:20:00 | More by dbossman

DovaliHops

California

3.53/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an orange-red amber color. Small off-white head. Scent is not what I was expecting...quite malty. Pineapple and citrus hops...nothing piney though. A bit off booze with sweet sugary aromas. Some bread-like aromas also. Taste is...wow...I'm very hesitant to call this a triple IPA. This taste very similar to Bigfoot with a bit more booze. This definitely tastes like a barleywine. Very malty with caramel and sweet brown sugar at first. Tingly, spicy booze and hoppiness. The booze can be a little overwhelming at times. Mouthfeel is full bodied and tingly. Drinkability is fair. Overall, this is not one of my favorite Founders beers. It is good in small doses, but this is not an IPA. Being from the west coast, I'm used to triple IPAs tasting like PtY, Drake's Black Label, Expo, etc. This one is much more malty and boozy. Good beer, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 07:58:00 | More by DovaliHops

JWU

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A- a cloudy copper orange with a very thin light tan head. Massive alcohol legs, and no lacing.

S- Pretty generic Impy IPA smell, Pineapple, grapefruit, and a little earthy pine on top of some sweet malts. Malt take on a very slight dark fruit character.

T- Delivers so much more than the aroma. A quick flash of the juicy, fruity sweetness is crushed by the bitterness of the hops. The juicy nature of this brew is massively impressive though. Pineapple, lemon, orange, peach, strawberry, and a hint of mango. The interplay of the sweetness and the massive bitterness continues long after the sip.

M- Excellent, syrup like mouthfeel, with ample carbonation to move the taste along.

O- What is lacks in looks and smell, is totally overridden by the taste. A massively complex brew that hopheads should seek out.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 01:27:07 | More by JWU

Dennoman

Belgium

3.65/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Second bottle from a Founders 4-pack I got earlier this year through a trade. 2012 bottling, so it was probably only two months old when I originally got it. I know it's December, but I felt like a big IPA for whatever reason.

A: Beautiful deep, dark orange. Small head that doesn't hold its own.

S: Nice pineapple and pine character, big maltiness is predominant. Some generic citrus hops and bubble gum. Fairly sweet.

T: Booze and sweetness hit the palate first, then followed by citrus and finally dry bitterness on the finish. Keeps pumping flavor into your mouth after swallowing, pretty amazing.

M: Fairly boozy, definitely not over-carbonated. In fact, it seems a little flatter than it should be for this kind of brew.

O: I haven't had many TIPA's, but this seems like a more than fair example of the style. Very boozy, sweet and almost spicy hot, but the hops do a good job of keeping things balanced. Real hopheads might want to steer clear of this, but if you don't mind some heavy malts and booze in your IPA's, this might just be a fridge staple!

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 19:58:59 | More by Dennoman

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.35/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pourded from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased in wakefield, rhode island. Bottled on 6/18/12.

A- Pours a hazy bright orange body with a small white head that exibits little lacing and retention.

S- Upfront I get a strong vanilla-malt aroma coupled with a resinous hoppy aroma. Slight alcohol in the background.

T- Starts off sweet and malty like a barley wine. Ends with a certain hoppy astringency that is somewhat harsh on the palette. You definitely get that nice hoppy bitterness typical of an imperial IPA, but at the same time the hops aren't really adding much flavor. Alcohol is definitley present, especially on the last couple sips.

M- Medium-low carbonation, medium high body.

I wasn't a big fan of this one. Founders is a brewery that usually impresses, but I feel like they missed the mark and overcomplicated this brew. The hops are all over the place. The huge malt character is just not pleasing. The drinkability of this beer is zero. Not to mention the $5+ pricetag for a 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:51:19 | More by gcamparone

sevenarts

New York

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep, rich amber in color. Slightly cloudy and opaque. Very small head that quickly fades away to almost nothing. Bits of lacing clinging to the glass.

S: Smells strong! Booze mingled with some big grapefruit and citrus hops, very juicy and aromatic. Some pine as well, and an underlying grassiness.

T/M: Just like with the smell, lots of pungent grapefruit and citrus hops. Bittersweet grapefruit hits with a puckering quality up front, followed by some more purely bitter flavors, and a lingering aftertaste of big pine bitterness. It's intense and over-the-top, exactly as you'd expect from a "triple IPA." Acerbic, harsh, at times even throat-ticklingly brutal.

O: This isn't exactly an everyday kind of pleasure, but for what it is, it's quite good, a real blast of extreme flavor. An intense, mouth-pummeling drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:53:30 | More by sevenarts

ommegangpbr

New York

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's hard not to start with saying that six bucks for twelve ounces is a touch steep, certainly for my budget. However! I've paid that much or more for lame beer at a bar.
I figure six bucks for the advancement of science is not a bad deal.
Onto what science produced! Devil Dancer straddles the current line of intense beer and extreme beer. Flavors are strong and deep and very nearly syrupy but just not syrupy. Dense and intense hop flavor. If someone poured me a sample of this my mind would probably leap to barleywine, but given some thought and reviewing experience, triple IPA is a solid standpoint. Carbonation and citrus characteristics keep me going back to my glass that's just almost too much to handle at a sitting.
This beer has some of the mojo that makes me think of pouring yourself a glass of good whiskey or cognac. You sit and get hit and have an encounter.
I suppose the name of Devil Dancer is not a lightly chosen name.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 09:09:28 | More by ommegangpbr

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Founders Devil Dancer

Appearance: Founders triple IPA (is this really a thing? Or is this simply a ludicrous IIPA/DIPA?) pours a deep, crystal clear orange with very little head. The carbonation is slow but steady off the bottom of the glass and significant alcohol legs crown the top of the almost-red liquid in lieu of head. It is strange for a beer of this type to not have very little in the way of head, but it is 12% (and this is not the freshest Devil Dancer). Still, it is a pretty beer that looks like it is going to be quite a bit maltier than expected by the name and IBU count.

Aroma: Fruity hops and sweet malts vie for precedence throughout the nose. This is another surprise given how bitter this beer is supposed to be. The fruit does predominate, however just barely, with strong, somewhat indiscernible notes (berries of some kind?). Alcohol is present in a minor capacity. There is also lots of citrus. Honestly, this beer smells quite a bit like a less aromatic Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, which would definitely be a good comparison if the beer were stronger smelling.

Taste: You would not know it by the smell and look, but this is a triple-A caliber beer. The taste snaps the drinker back to reality after what can only be referred to as the former two criteria lulling the palate into a false sense of security. This is massively complex with an initial juicy fruitiness not unlike biting into a piece of Bubblicious –berry gum. There are orange notes, peach notes, tangerine notes, strawberry notes (a first for this drinker), grapefruit notes, and just a hint of rindy bitterness. Then the malt hits and saves the tongue from total destruction while imparting a delectable, syrupy sweetness. Finally, the bitter aftertaste wipes out any semblance of taste and preps the mouth for the next massive drink.

Mouthfeel: Nearly as wonderful as the taste, the mouthfeel is humongous, thick, syrupy, sticky, and just what one would expect at 12% ABV and a “triple” IPA. This may be one of the only “sipper” IPAs out there (DFH’s 120 Min comes to mind as well). There is not a lot of carbonation, but what is there is adequate. The malts give a minor amount of creaminess, and the alcohol has a wonderful warmth to it. Lastly, the astringency is massive. This will destroy palates almost as much as Ruination and the aptly named Palate Wrecker, but it also begs for that next, juicy drink.

Overall: While I was initially skeptical of the beer based on the first two grading categories, the last two (the important two, as I like to call them) really made up for it. Hopheads will love this beer. It was easily worth the $3 for a single bottle that I paid, and I would even say that it beats out DFH’s 90 Minute for my favorite DIPA, though I will have to reevaluate that when I finally give that one its long-delayed review. Pick this up if you like hops, like a good melding of East Coast maltiness and West Coast palate destroying IPAs. 16/20

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 03:47:54 | More by THANAT0PSIS

porcelli426

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into tumbler

Appearance- A solid burnt orange, copper. Maybe a little bit of chill hazy. Decent one finger head

Smell-Strong citrus smell, you can really smell the sweetness on the back end

Taste – Very malty with citrus and sweetness. Not as heavy on the resin as I would have thought. Very bitter with some biscuit/bready from the grain.

Mouthfeel – Big mouthfeel. Really heavy with nice carbonation. Syrupy that really complements the bitterness.

Overall – A really good Triple IPA. It’s so easy to go overboard on the hops when it comes to double and triple IPAs, this is one beer that balances the strong flavors and subtle nuances in a great way. Would definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:01:49 | More by porcelli426

jmcrofts

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Picked this up in a 4-pack since I love Founders and IPA is my favorite style.

Appearance - Very attractive looking reddish-brown with a pretty good head. Looks delicious!

Smell - Very strong citrus with some sweetness and tanginess.

Taste - WOW this beer is strong! VERY hoppy, Citrusy and piney notes and just a huge punch in the face of bitterness. Some burning from the booze which is to expected. Tastes good overall but you really gotta take it slow.

Mouthfeel - Not so good, rather thick and syrupy and doesn't go down smooth at all. Reminds me of drinking neat whiskey.

Overall - Powerful IPA with some bold flavors and a somewhat unappealing mouthfeel. Hopheads like myself may enjoy it, but for the price you can do much better, especially with Founders.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 06:43:14 | More by jmcrofts

JRed

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Orange-brown in body with frothy milk head. Aroma of citrus, citrus rind, caramel, toffee, subtle hazelnut, some medicinal notes, booze. Tastes of deep citrus juice with sour rind, caramel, toffee, light hazelnut, grass, lemon zest, hop resin, and booze. Chewy medium bodied with medium carbonation. Slick on the palate. Big boozy, malty IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 01:59:10 | More by JRed

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled served in a weizen glass

A - Clear copper amber with a 2 finger off white clumpy head with good retention and excellent lacing.

S - piney resin, grassy, a bit of citrus, oak

T - follows the nose, moderate-high bitter for the style, nice caramel malt and a touch of sweet at the start, but a nice bold bitter finish and just a touch of oak, spice, not sure what precisely, and some booze.

M - Medium body, moderate-high carbonation. Chewy.

O - Very solid DIPA from founders, they never seem to disappoint. They call it a triple but the booze it not as overwhelming as some others beers in this style. Nice balance, nothing uber standout though.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 17:10:43 | More by williamjbauer

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Saw the reviews for this on here and found this available via the single bottle in Totowa, so I figured I'd give it a try. As good as this was, it's too strong and as others have alluded to on here, the alcohol is a bit overpowering. With that being said, this is a must for any hophead and to have had a beer with this many IBU's that went down so easily was an opportunity to be fully enjoyed, even if I'm nearly on my ass after one bottle.

Good pour to this with a copper hue, nice aroma, and a head that held its own before fading away. This reminded me big-time of the Troegs Nugget Nectar because of the overwhelming hop presence both in the smell and in the taste. Pine, resin, grapefruit, and some orange were all to be found here as well. A nice earthy aftertaste lingered here and this beer almost reminded me of a Sierra Nevada offering taken up another degree. The hops are not terribly strong, overpowering, or metallic like so many other beers that end up in this category.

That's not the case when it came to the alcohol here. this is strong and not afraid to admit it, and I could feel it after one of these. The crystalline malts balance this out nicely and for those willing to take the dance with the Devil, their efforts will be rewarded. It's not a West Coast "hop bomb" but it held its own and everything that shone through the alcohol worked together well. This just isn't head and shoulders above the other IPA's out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 06:29:17 | More by JerzDevl2000

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Jayhoop!

Appearance. Pours a lightly hazy orange-amber with a thin head.

Smell. Oranges with lots of zest, sweet caramel malts, some booze and sweet red grapefruit with just a little pine.

Taste. Big sweet caramel malts, some orange and grapefruit rinds and juice, some woody pine sap and sharp alcohol, but not as much as I would have thought for the abv.

Mouthfeel. Medium-full body with lower carbonation. Some booze warmth.

Overall. A big IPA for sure. Huge malt base provides ballance, but I prefer a little higher hop to malt ratio.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 01:55:45 | More by Rutager

tectactoe

Michigan

2.25/5  rDev -43%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a copper-orange color with a small head that leaves minimal lacing. The first whiff hits with a load of caramel toasted malts, a touch of vanilla, and an abundance of alcohol. A touch of fruity flavors are hinted at, but not very noticeable. The alcohol gets stronger and stronger as the beer gets warmer, until eventually it's almost the only thing you notice, along with the malts. For a "triple IPA", it's weird how much the malts and alcohol overpower the actual hop smell. Hops are present, but not at all in the foreground.

The taste... well, I don't understand how so many people have given this beer a good review. I guess that's just the difference in tastes. But this beer was bleh. Hoppy and bitter, with overpowering malts, and extremely annoying alcoholic properties. Way too boozy. And not boozy in a "oak barrel aged bourbon" kind of way - boozy in a "this is difficult to drink" kind of way. It's as if the alcohol is there unnecessarily. It's unwarranted, unwanted, and uncalled for in this amount. I feel like Founder's was strictly going for the novelty of 12% ABV without much regard to the actual taste, which is a shame because most of their brews are amazing. This beer left a sharp bite on the back of the throat and the booze only got stronger and more arrogant as time went on. Super thick and left the mouth feeling sticky and coated. Pungent, heavily alcoholic aftertaste.

Yuck. I was very disappointed with this. Founder's puts out amazing stuff, but this just missed the mark. Instead of an incredibly complex, hoppy brew, I was sucking on a hodge-podge of malts, unwanted bitterness, and overpowering alcohol burn. I'll definitely be passing this one up next time.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 02:47:46 | More by tectactoe

BeerNutz324

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ap- pours a copper/amber color with a thin white head that has ok retention.

Ar- the normal hoppy characteristics with a lot of booze and some biscuity malts.

T- not as floral as I thought it would be, seems the flavors are a bit muted, maybe from the booze-y undertones. has a good malt backbone for a TIPA. Nothing really stands out though I feel like the alcohol is hiding some of the fruity/floral characteristics I look for in a strong IPA.

M- sticky, and medium bodied. really warms the mouth on the hold. good carbonation for the style.

O- a good beer, but a strong beer too. This may be the limit for an IPA. Starting to lose some of the flavors a typical IPA should have in place of boozey flavor. Glad I tried it though!

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 02:09:25 | More by BeerNutz324

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When i poured this beer, it has a nice reddish copper color body with no head to it. The smell is bursting with hop bitterness and some citrus. The taste is like wow, nice and bitter up front from the hops and then a little malt on the back of the tongue. It even gets nicer as it sits and warms up. The mouthfeel is very nice, kinda heavy, its not a sipping beer but its not a chug it down either, its somewhere in between. It leaves a nice stickyness on the tongue also. Overall a really good DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 02:32:41 | More by chefhatt

MeowTom

4.28/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Clear Ruby amber with a nice lacy head.

S- Mild hoppy smell. Not what I was expecting for something that was dry hopped for so long. You name the hop characteristic and it's there though. Carmel notes in there too, probably from the crystal malt though and not hops.

T Smooth, bitter, and malty. Big bitter taste that fills the mouth with a wonderful hoppy flavor.

M- You need a fork and knife to eat this. Thick thick thick.

O- Man, what a wonderful triple APA. You can tell that a lot of work went into this and it was done very well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 01:12:35 | More by MeowTom

Beer_Runner

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottled on 05/25/12

A: Began the poured slowly but became much more aggressive in order to create a head. A light tan head formed and then lasted only a few moments. The brew is a copper color with a red hue. It is also semi-translucent and does not appear cloudy.

S: The aroma is sweet grapefruit, and just a touch of pine and earthiness comes through, too.
T: The taste is very floral with some earthiness and a solid bitterness that turns to pepperiness in character. There is also some sweet caramel malt that blends with the bitterness and provides just enough balance to keep the bitterness and pepperiness from going too far. And, although the alcohol is well hidden there is just a little alcohol heat that compliments and focuses the bitterness.

M: The body is fairly heavy and satisfying; and, there is very little carbonation, which fits this beer well.

O: This beer has a bold hops bitterness that makes it truly unique. The malt sweetness is an underlying flavor that provides more to the complexity than balance. It has a pleasant floral flavor along with the raw, unbridled peppery bitterness that is the focus of this beer. The bitterness is sure to please hopheads.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 20:40:33 | More by Beer_Runner