Founders Devil Dancer - Founders Brewing Company

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a medium sienna orange with a thin, creamy khaki colored head that lasted a few minutes before dissipating leaving a solid sticky ring lacing. Visible carbonation was medium and random but short lived after the initial pour.

S: The nose was sweet and tart tangerines, citrus and pine thought not as much as I expected per its labeled 112 ibus.

T: The flavor was malty with warm tangerines and alcohol. There is a good sense of bitterness with pine and grapefruit being the most notable along with a spicy alcohol nature. The malting is toasted while the finish finds a dry bitterness of grapefruit peels and malty residue smoothering and lacing the tongue with a dry flowery coating. Glimpses of sweet grains come through all but briefly near the finish while an alcohol twang of warm apple cider and watered down whiskey lingers for a brief while after the swallow providing a dry warming. While the bitterness was fairly good and strong it was certainly not dry hopped or at any near proportion as a moylans hopsickle. Im guessing the massive abv of 12% and the grain sweetness balances things out a bit. Overall a solidly good beer though a little limited complexity wise and somehow was expecting more from this especially considering the asking price of $8 a bottle.

M: light with a very slick texture. Absolutely no carbonation while a good flowery bitterness was left behind on the tongue.

D: Drinkability was fairly good considering its 12%abv which does come through but no more then a typical 8-9% beer. Very manageable with a moderately good enjoyablity factor. Worth a single purchase if you don't mind or can spare the added cost per bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 01:11:31 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Rich orange/red, definitely on the dark side, with a bit of haze. Tan/auburn head, quite dense until it settles into a fine lace. Good retention at this point with some lacing. Hops dominate the aroma, which doesn't surprise me at all. Mostly pine and resin with orange citrus in the background. Caramel malt provides a balance to all the hops and alcohol aromas. Thick and malty to start, bitterness creeps in and grows through the finish, becoming quite strong yet short of aggressive. Orange citrus flavour and intense caramel sweetness hits part way through and transitions into a bit of pine as well as alcohol taste and warmth. A bit vinous, mainly due to alcohol flavour. Strong pine resin lingers in the finish, and this is the only point where the hops in this beer become just a little bit harsh. It has a full body with plenty of residual sweetness, but the attenuation was sufficient to keep it from feeling sticky. Moderate to low carbonation that's well integrated as fine bubbles, and a viscous, creamy texture. This is definitely a sipping beer, but still easily drinkable for the amount of malt, hops, and alcohol present. It also seems to get better as it warms. Seems like more of a barleywine, but who cares about labels with an experiment like this. I'll be saving one of these to see how it ages.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2005 02:25:42 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

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

On draft at the blind Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium amber hue with a one finger off white frothy head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured an earthy caramel and a resinous hop sppice.

The taste consisted of a full on crystal malt, peppery and herbal hops, a resinous citrus and a light alcohol.

The mouthfeel was full for the style.

Overall, complex, sinister, abusive and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2010 15:10:24 | More by plaid75

HopHead84

California

2.3/5  rDev -41.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

7/23/2011

Bottle courtesy of OHLRangers, thanks! Poured into a Lost Abbey tulip.

A: Dark orange with good clarity and a thousand bubbles feeding a beige froth that eventually settles to a thin collar. No lacing.

S: Pronounced onion and caramel with sugary notes. Pine is light, and there's a bit of bread and booze.

T: The onion flavor is monolithic, and there seems to be oregano and garlic in there as well. The alcohol is intense and scorching. Malt is reminiscent of bread and caramel.

M: Upper medium body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is sticky and smooth.

Overall: This is not for me, though I appreciate the chance to try it. Far too harsh and far too much onion.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2011 07:27:31 | More by HopHead84

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Let me say this first: this may be the ugliest beer I've seen. It brings new definition to the word "murky". Having helped brew a double IPA loaded and dry hopped to the 'enth degree as well, I do know it will turn out nothing but murky. For this reason I cannot hold it against the beer - but hot damn, this looks like polluted swamp water!

A tarnished, almost radioactive looking orange colour. There was hardly any fizzle off prying the cap - to no surprise there is no head either. There is, however, plenty of little signs of carbonation in the form of bubbly trims and dotty lacing.

The smell is pure Founders - which is to say a hoppy aroma that I've come to recognize as being so distinct to the brewery. So hoppy, so alcohol filled, yet so smooth and seductive. Hop resin, so much hop resin. An explosion - like every character of every hop I've ever smelt. Fruity. Floral. Herbal. Piny. Spicy. Awesome.

And a quick word of advice. If you truly want to appreciate the beer in all its hoppy glory be sure to seek out a fresh bottle and regardless of the alcohol content do not, I repeat, do not let it age. You don't know Devil Dancer unless you've had it fresh. Really fresh.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly balanced with nearly as much malt as there is hops. Although equally sensed it is the hops that are tasted most. Grilled citrus and syrupy resins. There's nearly no alcohol present and this has an unexpectedly mellow persona. Nothing but toasty, caramel smothered malts, sticky resin and exotic fruits - every hop head's dream.

If the devil did brew a beer this is likely the kind of tantalizing, tempting tipple I bet he'd brew. Wheat Wine. Double IPA. Triple IPA - whatever it is it is something unique and something special. It is also a fantastic drinking beer, especially given its strength. I'm always down for a dance with the devil - it's ironically a rather heavenly experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2007 01:08:34 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice shade of copper with a thin head into my glass. A triple IPA? I still can't fathom it.

Grapefruit, mango, kiwi from the hops. Not much shows from the malt backbone.

Wow, grapefruit uppercut to the mouth followed by a palate-destroying bitterness. Holy shit. My taste buds are on life support over here.

Lingering pine tar and grapefruit. Wow. Just wow. Lots of warming sensations over here.

Triple hops brewed...done right!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 01:32:15 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a standard pint glass. The brew appears a hazed golden copper color with an off-white head that fades leaving spotty lace on the glass.

The smell is resinous with pine and big dank and herbal hop character. A solvent sting of alcohol makes itself known even while it is colder than ideal temperature. Lots of pulp and citrus zest with cheese emerge as the brew warms up.

The taste is herbal and resinous with a flavor of pine. It displays a long dank aftertaste and big solvent burn of alcohol. Some cheese and faint caramel sweetness is noted as the brew warms up but unfortunately as the brew warms up so does the intensity of the alcohol.

This is a medium to full bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. A bold sipper with some of the most intense dank aromatics but an overbearing solvent alcohol inclusion that isnt integrated that well which hinders its overall drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 11:43:15 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Fairly murky, copper-brown; Creamy, cream-coloured head, not much retention, but it leaves a little lace. There was a serious yeast cake stuck to the bottom of the bottle!

S: Very, VERY piney (American hops). There still seems to be some underlying caramel malt though.

T: Plenty of piney, resiny, American hop flavour. Despite the huge, HUGE hop flavour... the bitterness is fairly well balanced, allowing some caramel/toffee-like malt sweetness to come through. The alcohol is incredibly well hidden. This is smoother than a Bigfoot.

M: Thick, syrupy body. It would probably seem creamier if it wasn't for the prickly acidity. The carbonation is on the low side of moderate. This one's a mouthfull.

D: Very well balanced... drinkability is actually exceptional for its strength!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2006 22:43:27 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.6/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store Pub today. Pours amber with quite a nice head that sticks round. Big piney hop aroma with a whiff of citrus and caramel malt. Huge piney hop flavors with a touch of herbs and citrus. The hop flavor is bitter and bracing to start, bit 1/2 way through the glass a little bit of sweet malt creeps in and balances things. From a fresh keg like this, its a hop lovers dream. The 12% abv is nicely hidden behind the hops, and a big beer like this is usually either too sweet or too hot. Not at all the case here. Spicy and long in the mouth, this was delightful enough for me to have two.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2010 20:04:13 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into traditional pint glass.

Pours a small ½ finger of beige head that doesn't last very long. Fades to a ring around the outside of the class, leaving some splattered lace. Color is a clear copper bronze. I expected a little more head on this beer.

Aroma: A nice amount of earthy and floral hops. Grapefruit, pineapple, and citrus fresh fruits. Caramel. Bready malts. No sense of the 12% abv yet.

Taste: Very bready malts here. Caramel mixed with grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, and a mixture of other citrus fruits. The alcohol is a little more apparent here. I can taste way more hops here than I could smell in the aroma.

Mouthfeel: Bitter, very bitter. It is kind of weird to say this, but this beer brings some heat with it. Medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Ends with a super hoppy/citrus fruit flavored aftertaste. Surprisingly it is fairly clean.

Overall, for the abv being so high, this beast is pretty drinkable. My glass is going a lot faster than I anticipated it to and I am enjoying all the hops. I think this is my first triple IPA, and I must say it lives up to the title of triple.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 02:03:05 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Is it just me or does the number preceding "IPA" seem to be loosely following the number of blades on Gillette razors? I anxiously wait to find out if we will see a quadruple IPA before a 4-bladed razor. As for the beer, it is a simmering reddish orange color with a thin and compact light beige head. Very little lacing. The aroma is peppery, with hops, citrus and a baby’s breath of malt. Very rich-bodied. I like to drink even the hoppiest IPA normally but this is definitely a sipper. Citrusy hops and alcohol dominate but do not overpower. Surprising amount of sweet malt to balance, which lends to the Barley Wine characteristic this beer has. The finish is long and hot. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2005 20:19:46 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

Color is a rusted orange murk with a slim, fake orange-tan head of smooth foam. Brief lasting, glaring lace in thick, short strings stick across the glass.

Fat and juicy aroma with evident alcohol laced with a pinch of mint. Hops juices are there in full swing with dark citrusy piths, oils, and peels. Semi bittering on the nose too as a fairly large backing of caramel malt keeps a nice balance.

Taste mirrors the aroma well with a nice balancing act of dark citrusy oils and caramel malt. Very Barelywine-esk in character.
Finish is what brings this full circle. It takes a while to develope as its front and middle is moslty the malt base leveling the playing field for the team of hops to take their positions on the palate. Lots of piney bittering tones mesh with some dark citric hop oils. Big warmth at the end. Whoof da, wow does this stuff have some late kick too it. So watch out and hold on. Its a wonderful ride.

Feel is oily and rich with a medium body. Soothingly bold and smooth. Again, much like a Barleywine here. Nice hoppy finish and alcoholic stealth. Seems to have some areas missing for a beer this big, perhaps the complexity isn't up to par with some other 2IPA's but its stellar for any beer whatever you want to call it.

A fairly big taster and holds its own with most big West Coast goodies. Not a sessioning beer. A hoppy nectar sipper if anything.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2005 02:25:59 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz received as one of a few great extras from BS68280... Thanks Brannon.... It has been a long time since I've had one of these and I've never reviewed it.... Poured into my Delirium goblet.

1" sorta yellowish head.. descent lacing dies pretty quickly but the brew is a very pretty glowing hop hazed deep orange..

Nose is thick pithy grapefruit.. plenty of malts to balance, but the hops are really front and center.

Flavor is a bunch of sorta syrupy maltiness to balance the alpha assault that begins with every sip... hops are really fruity... more fruity than the little pine that is present.. the malt sweetness is a mildly complex mix of toast.. caramel and bread.. but both hops and malts are well represented.. in fact, I am a bit surprised at how balanced this brew is.. the mouthfeel is pretty thick and oily... the viscosity is sliced down a notch by a nice carbonation that helps me want another sip.

Drinkability walks a fine line with me... if it was more balanced toward either malts or hops, it would take a hit.. but as is.. this tastes pretty damn fresh and I am enjoying it alot more than I remember previous bottles.... Huge thanks Brannon... you are a seriously fantastic trader!!!

3.5/4/4.5/4.5/4

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 08:06:23 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

2.63/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Another junior high school chemistry experiment. It does have a lot of rich malt and plenty of sugar. Unidentifiable fruit going bad is next. Then the hops start in. Quite a bewildering smorgasbord of hop flavors but the bitterness prevents any real tasting. Very acidic. Aftertaste is like canned grapefruit juice left in the refrigerator. Woody, teeth-on-edge harshness. Orange amber color is fine.

I just don't see the point in this exercise. Seems like a waste of so many hops, but let's support our farmers.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 05:10:58 | More by mactrail

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from tap into an imperial pint. Pours red-orange with a minimal off-white head. Maintains excellent lacing throughout. The aroma was comprised of subtle malt and BIG hop notes. The flavor was of subtle malt with a MASSIVE hop bitterness/bite while not being overwhelming. It was heavy on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this on tap goes down MUCH smoother than out of the bottle (see my previous review). Everyone owes it to themselves to see what I mean by this. The appearance is very nice, the aroma is a bit lacking however, but it's a massive 'triple' IPA so of course the hops dominate. The big hop bitterness punishes your palate but still manages to go down smoothly oddly enough.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 14:51:33 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a translucent, somewhat hazy orange amber with a minimal head - which may be an artifact of the pour - and just a little lacing. Fruity aroma has undertone of malt and a hint of caramel. Flavor is fruity and citrusy with a malty tone and a caramel hint. Texture is fairly smooth and subtly fizzy.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2010 15:58:49 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle received as an extra from DLeep. Thanks man!

A: Crimson or deep orange with ruby highlights - it's quite a beautiful color. The beer is rather hazy, with a gargantuan head that absolutely coats the glass with a thick sheet of lacing.

S: Bold aroma, I should have wafted instead of burying my nose in the glass. Alcohol, pine, toasted malt, and hops comprise the basic scents.

T: The flavor is big and bold, similar in many regards to a hop forward American barleywine. This is certainly a different take on the IPA style, which I appreciate. However, I do prefer IPA and DIPA brews to be hop forward with minimal maltiness. That being said, I can't deny that Founders Devil Dancer tastes very good, which is not often the case when drinking a hearty DIPA with a prominent malt character. The feel is oily, piny, and sticky with a slight sweetness from the high alcohol content.

M: Thick and strong, with a long-lasting aftertaste and a warming alcohol sensation. The beer coats the palate with sticky pine residue. The finish is bitter and bold.

D: Definitely a sipper and not something of which I would drink more than one. A good beer to enjoy slowly on a cold day.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 03:23:54 | More by Huhzubendah

RoyalT

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – This one poured a thick, heavy orange with a brownish tint to the liquid and sported a big, super-puffy off-white head.

Smell – The deep, mature, sharp malts form a rich bouquet. The caramel especially is thick and heavy. The hops are extremely complex; I can’t begin to describe them all so won’t even try. The citrus is dominant and the pine is sharp but well-blended.

Taste – The malts here “sugar up” at the taste. They very sweet and offer a nice balance to the gigantic hop profile.

Mouthfeel – This medium to full-bodied “triple” IPA is very boozy. The bitterness is completely worked out of the mouthfeel.

Drinkability – This was a tasty treat that should never, ever, be bottled in bombers!

Comments – Thanks to the much-respected and highly-regarded BuckeyeNation for tossing this little hop bomb into my trading box. Good “triple IPAs” are hard to find, but this one certainly lived up to my expectations of this unofficial style.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2005 19:28:58 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

California

2.8/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance: Pours a rich amber-red color with a ton of hop haze; definitely not the palest India Pale Ale around. An inch of head forms from a gentle pour and then quickly recedes.

Smell: Huge pine and grapefruit with an equally large malt character to support the hops. Fruit punch and caramel come out as the beer warms. No noticeable alcohol.

Taste: Extremely bold, resiny and sweet; equally balanced between malts and hops. Mango and grapefruit, lemon rind and caramel. Incredibly intense, but fairly drinkable (albeit slowly). Alcohol is barely noticed between the massive hop bitterness and the malty sweetness. Resiny bitterness completely consumes the palate in the finish, relentlessly attacking the roof of the mouth.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, oily and thick, bordering on downright syrupy. Moderate carbonation keeps this one lively and somewhat drinkable.

A decent DIPA, but too heavy on the malt for my liking. Actually, just too heavy in general; this beer has no finesse.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 00:05:58 | More by largadeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured in snifter. A hazed orange in color, just a bit of lace on the glass.

Smells incredibly fruity and floral. Inviting to say the least. A whiff of alcohol as well.

Tastes of malt sweetness, lending tangy cherry/peach tones to the very mild (surprisingly) hop bite. The hops are citrusy and add a sharp zesty flavor to the brew. Piney and resinous at times, as it warms more of the sweet fruit tones pull through.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth going down, with a nice residual burn at the end due to the strength of this beer.

Very drinkable, and very tasty. A kickass beer overall and one was not really enough. Reccommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2009 15:01:39 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had a ruby color and a cloudy texture. There was a surprisingly thin, foamy head that dissipated quickly. Good lacing.

S: A big aroma of hops, citrus and pine.

T: As you would expect, lots of hops in this one, along with citrus, pine and a hint of malt. A big, bitter, complex flavor.

M: A big amount of carbonation and a slightly syrupy finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A drinkable beer, to be sure, but not something I would drink a lot of in one sitting. Still, another good beer from Founders.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2009 02:12:01 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish/copper color with an off white head. In the aroma, mellow pine like hops. In the taste, pine like hops and a quite balanced maltiness. A small bitterness, but mainly smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine hop in aftertaste. Hides the alcohol, mellow for how big it is, quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 16:41:11 | More by OWSLEY069

gford217

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of HopHobo poured into a tulip.

Pours dark clear copper with a very small beige head that dissipates quickly to a ring leaving bits of lacing. The aroma leans toward a barleywine with the heavy caramel malts and dark fruits. there are some citrus hops in the nose as well. In the taste, there is a more prevalent citrus hop kick up front before the malts and sweetness take over in the middle and leaves a sticky sweet finish with a hint of bitterness. The mouthfeel is sticky and medium bodied with little carbonation. This is a DIPA that borders on a barleywine with a slightly abrasive feel that keeps it from being great for me and holds down the drinkability a bit.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2008 02:31:27 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

One of my first ppurchases when I turned twenty one. I saved two bottles from that initial 4-pack. This is the first one aged for a little over one year.

Appearance- Very pretty, deep amber, copper hue. Makes me think of a sweet liqeur in appearance. This beer has some viscocity. Light head with no lacing and very sluggish bubbles, whenever you could see them. Still very pretty looking.

Smell- Still hoppy, but much more mellowed then when I first tried this hop monster fresh. The malts are allowed to mingle with the hops to give a better interplay between the two. Much more enticing.

Taste- Very smooth hops and much better interplay between some sweet bready mlats and more sugary citrus rinds. Some slight estery notes peaches and pomegranate danced here and there. I like the aged taste better than the fresh one.

Mouthfeel- Much smoother than a fresh bottle. The high IBUs made this a hard to swallow beer. I love IPAs. Even though the aged version is still a sipper, much easier to relax and feel. The fresh stuff sort of makes you jump. Both are good, but in there own way.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2007 02:23:45 | More by scruffwhor

jrallen34

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tulip at Local Option...Pours a light orange clear, nice lacing...The aroma is super strong and acidic, its a biting hops, almost so strong that it disappears after awhile, possibly from olfactory fatigue....The taste is very bitter from start to finish but once again its so strongly bitter it somehow is less biting than you would think it is. Pine resin hop bitter from start to finish.

I actually like this pretty, very strong, a hop head must, but for sure worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 21:21:53 | More by jrallen34