Founders Double Trouble - Founders Brewing Company

craftfreak

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After a few glasses of Breakfast Stout I decided to switch it up to close out the night, so I poured a glass of Double Trouble... and at 9.4% abv it was perhaps a poor choice and certainly was my night cap. The name is spot on as I knew I was in trouble from the first sip. Unlike Hopslam or other Double IPA's that balance the large amount of hops with equal amounts of malt to add a touch of sweetness to cut the bitterness, Founders seems to have left that out with this one. It instantly drys the mouth with a bitter puckering that made me feel like I was in one of the old warhead sour gum commercials.

It smells fantastic! All those hops throwing the classic citrus with pineapple and grapefruit tones all followed up with an almost spruce tree like hint of pine. A golden murky yellow almost honey colored with a rich creamy head, it definitely looks the part.

The first thing you notice when it hits your tongue is unabashed hops. Bitter, citrus and pine, it tastes just as it smells with very little malt to balance the insane amount of hops in this beer. A hop heads dream! Medium bodied but still very substantial mouth feel that lingers nicely after each sip leaving your mouth dry and wanting more. With 86 IBUs it ranks right up that at one of the most bitter IPA's, not in the top 100 but it holds its own.

On Tap at Shark Club of Howell, MI

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2011 20:53:30 | More by craftfreak

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Capone's in Norristown, PA on 1/22/11, poured into tulip glass.

A: light, hazy, amber color with slim head that dispated quickly.

S: rich floral, citrus hop notes from the nose

T: sweet hop flavor with malt is there. compares to the Dogfish Head 90 min to me. very similar. Not as bitter as I thought for something with 86 IBUs

M: not as sticky, chewy as I initially thought it was going to be. Nice body.

D: Very tasty and drinkable, but the ABV at 9.4% would eventually get you.

Very happy with another Founders brew. Really like their products and recommend them highly!

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 02:20:22 | More by inlimbo77

Gfunk720

Connecticut

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Special thanks to Alex for helping me make this the first keg on tap at my place. Been drinking Hopslam for the last week straight, then came home to my Keg. Consumed from my SN XXX tulip.

A- A bright golden straw yellow color. Crisp and clear with a healthy soapy white head. The lacing is impressive.

S- Pungent and piney, with a slight malty sweetness. There is definitely a boozy scent that sneaks in as well.

T- It's really quite good, nice and piney fresh hops. A beautiful floral flavor then sets in and finishes with a little malty smoothness. The aftertaste is crisp and hoppy.

M- Like most things from Founder's, spot on.

D- I used to think of myself as someone that wasn't too into DIPAs. This beer, pliney, and Hopslam have really changed that for me.

I think the Hopslam bing this last week made me appriciate this beer even more this review. While it isn't as smooth or drinkable as Hopslam, the hoppiness is much more pronounced.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2011 02:44:16 | More by Gfunk720

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at kraftworks.

A- comes my way with a finger of bright white head that settles in a bit to leave a good amount of sticky suds on the glass and a solid ring. Clear golden yellow orange in color.

S- bright tropical and citrus fruits its like a fruits salad, very nice. Malts are light in the nose just bring a bit o honey and powdered sugar into the mix.

T- fruity and bitter hops up front with mangos and tangerines, a touch of grapefruit and grass close it out. Malts are sweet with honey, candy sugar and a bit of light caramel.

M- on the fuller side of medium, a bit sticky and chewy really but then the carb kicks in lightens things up some.

D- its a good dipa and a rather easy drinking one at that but its a bit heavier on the palate and the sweetness then I like.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2011 05:14:57 | More by oglmcdgl

Tifore

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Melt Bar & Grilled. Poured into a pint glass.

A - A gorgeous straw, golden color with a pretty good amount of haze to it. It has a nice white 1 finger head on it that leaves some moderate lacing on the glass. Nice and bubbly lacing. Looks reallly smooth in the glass, for some reason I just kept thinking that as I drank this.

S - Smell isn't the hop bomb that I was expecting from this DIPA. It still has a great amount of hop aroma, I was just expecting to get hit with a giant punch to the nose. I get grapefruit mainly with some pineapple and piney undertones. I also get a bit of malty tones in the nose as well which is nice.

T - Suprised here as well. Founders has been known to completely kick me in the face with the giant flavors, and as huge as the flavor of this beer is, its tremendously smooth. All the hoppy notes are present, grapefruit leading the way with the pine really sticking out as well. Its got a nice sweet finish to it as well from the malts I'm guessing and it doesn't finish that super bitter way either, its just outright, smoooth like michael jackson doing the thriller or something.

M - A very smooth beer. Moderate on the mouth, but not overwhelmingly heavy. Finishes somewhat dry, but I'm not complaining about that.

D - Very very drinkable beer. Its so smooth and the alcohol isn't coming through that much in the nose or taste that you could drink a few of these and that 9.4% would catch you way off guard. Think I may be grabbing a sixer of this on my next stop at Warehouse.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 15:29:46 | More by Tifore

TheSupremeAJ

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capone's in Norristown, PA.

A- Very nice golden bright yellow appearance. Kind of reminds me of pineapples. Thin white head with thorough lacing.

S- Very tropical fruity hop notes, however complex with pine and floral notes. Strong citrus front with noticeable malts.

T- Sweet and dry.. however malt is not quite as assertive as I prefer. Very enjoyable as a DIPA and true to the style.

M- Smooth, astrinent, not too bitter and nice carbonation. Very nice.

D- Very drinkable and not too heavy! Alcohol is warming however not restrictive. Enjoy!

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2011 03:08:56 | More by TheSupremeAJ

brendanbeer

New York

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a. nice yelow gold.

s. piny and citrus. the hops are strong and its appealing.

t. i cant help but compare to hopslam, just had recently, its ALMOST there, but not quite with the complexity. the pine and citrus and bitter-sweet is really nice. full and lovely.

m. carbonated, and strong.

d. pretty drinkable. id enjoy a few if i had the money. good work founders....

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2011 06:34:03 | More by brendanbeer

MichaelJSmith

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this draft beer at the Bridge in downtown STL.

Appearance: nice clean light color. Little head.

Smell: Sweet smell, some citrus

Taste: Sweet. Overall good taste very drinkable.

Mouthfeel: good

Drinkability: Good beer. Not my favorite type or style, it was quite good and would easily drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2011 21:36:58 | More by MichaelJSmith

mattgreger

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew pours a burnt, golden orange color. It had a nice thick head that faded pretty fast. There wasn't much lacing following the brew.

The aroma on this brew is strong. It it simple, but cleary Hops heavy. Its cleary citrus and pine hops, giving almost a floral like flavor.

The flavor on this brew is exactly what you expected on a DIPA. It's nice and bitter, with a nice hoppy aftertaste. As you drink the brew, you definitly get the flavors of citrus and pine. Its quite tasty.

This brew has a great mouthful. The bitterness, along with the carbonation give this brew has one heck of a sting. Its exactly what you expect from this style of brew.

This brew goes down very easly. Especially for such a high ABV. A true hop head would be able to session a few of these brews. However, with the high ABV and the huge bitterness of brew would make it hard for most people to have more then of these brews in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 04:32:33 | More by mattgreger

JLeege

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- On draft, into a 12 oz flute. Pours a clear golden yellow color with a creamy bone white 2 finger head. Good head retention and lacing left behind.

Smell- Hops dominate the aroma, Pine that is slightly resinous, and lots and lots of citrus fruits.

Taste- The citrus flavors hit you first, pineapple and grapefruit notes. Under that is some earthy resinous pine, with some floral notes as well. A light caramel like malt backbone as well. Hop forward, but the finish is lingering bitter fruit, not just a bitter dryness.

Moutfeel- Creamy, medium body and carbonation. A slight alcohol warming, but no fusel alcohol is noticed.

Overall- They don't call this Double Trouble for nothing, very drinkable for 9.4%.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 23:16:54 | More by JLeege

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a taster glass at the Haymarket Founders event.

Apperance: Double Trouble displays a slight yeast haziness with a golden color and a pillowy white head. Nice retention on the head, and sheets of lace down the glass.

Smell: Piney hop presence. Tangerine, grapefruit, and mango contribute to the hop aroma. Lightly floral as well.

Taste: A light malt presence to start. Clearly pale malt was used to accentuate the hoppiness. Then hops; spicy, resiny pine, bursts of citrus, and a twist of ganja. Bits of alcohol here and there.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and slightly grainy at the same time. Sticky on the lips. Full creamy carbonation and a fuller than medium body.

Drinkability: Part of this is just purely bitter, which is not really my style. I prefer more citrus and tropical fruit. This has a good hoppy emphasis though.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 18:52:38 | More by KickInTheChalice

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clean orange-ish/ yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, hops, mixture of grapefruity and pine hops. In the taste, sticky sweet grapefruity hops and a hint of alcohol. A small bite, but mainly smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry grapefruit hop aftertaste. Nice big hops, a bit sticky, but really nice, nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 20:05:54 | More by OWSLEY069

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pour is a nice hazy apricot-peach, nice head with little lacing. Quite cloudy.

Smell: Big wet hops, lots of grapefruit and tangerine and a touch of pineapple/papaya

Taste: I actually prefer this to HopSlam. Tons of big wet juicy hop flavors like grapefruit and tangerine. Nice faint sweetness to it as well. Never overtly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Full and sappy

Drinkability: This is good stuff. Alcohol is a bit high to make it regularly drinkable; although you would never guess that it is near 10%.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2010 15:38:10 | More by craytonic

StJamesGate

New York

3.88/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the East v West Coast IPA Challenge, Rattle N Hum, NYC.

Pours cloudy lemon with a patchy pure white head that leaves windows of lace. Deep boiled lemon candy nose. Lemon cake malts and long sour lemon hops. Tangy leave. Crisp, sticky but clean, lighter than expected, slight burn.

Reminds me of Hop Wallop in being a double that's paler, hotter and lighter than the single. A bit one note.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 22:22:52 | More by StJamesGate

smibroncos

New York

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A. Poured a clear copper with a nice one finger fluffy white head.Ample lacing clinging to the glass.

S. Grass, hops, citrus, floral.

T. Lots of hops but balanced. By a nice Carmel maltiness. Citrus, slightly sweet bitter finish.

M. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation

D. A superb brew. Another fine brew from founders.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2010 17:34:10 | More by smibroncos

ridglens

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had 3 of these out of a pint glass at TGI Fridays (really!)

A- just a little less than "clear", nice color, poured a finger and a half head that slowly reduced to a thin layer. nice, but nothing really special

S- Great hops, a citrus coming through. the pint glass (and the nearby food) didn't help, but this beer still smelled very tasty

T- Great taste, crisp hops but a really nice sweetness, too. definitely some citrus, but the sweet tasted a little like honey (again, food didn't help probably) but not overbearing of the bitter hops.

M - again, very solid but nothing really special. the carbonation from the tap really helped this one, making it smoother and feel pretty rich for what it was

D- Surprisingly easy, but at 9.4% i had to stop at 3 (even though they are on special for 2 bucks!) the hops could get harsh after a bit, but since i was eating as well it made it ok.

Not the best beer in the world, but definitely an entirely enjoyable experience. throw the taste in with a 2 dollar price tag and it was GREAT

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2010 19:53:49 | More by ridglens

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brilliant, bright amber/golden appearance, nearly orange, with a lovely, lace-leaving, long-lasting cap of snowy foam above.

Lime and orange peel aromatics, some lemon, pine, very fresh and lively. very vibrant, buzzing with hoppitude.

Taste: more of the same and then some. Simply delicious. Medium bodied, non-stop hop bitterness delivered on the palate, awash with citrus fruits, and pine needle. Brisk and bitter, zesty and refreshing, as well.

The high alcohol content is well hidden, doesn't reveal itself at all in the taste, until you get near the end. Then it quietly reveals itself, but never becomes a deterrent to drinking. For the first glass, at least.

One of the most balanced, elegant, and profoundly enjoyable Double IPAs I've ever had, and more proof of Founders' incredible winning streak.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2010 01:13:24 | More by feloniousmonk

bskrtz

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Served cold from tap to beer challice, at "Revolution Brewing Co" in Chicago

A) Appearance is slightly cloudy but light easily passes through, golden, 1 inch white head that lasts several minutes

S) Strong, robust, spicey, alcohol is abundant

T) Bam! Strong bitter hoppy smack. Pungent, Pinesol, sour, grassy. Strong sweet malt as well.

M) Long lasting, ample carbonation. Stays consistent through the pour.

D) One was plenty for me. I acknowledge this style -- Imperial IPA -- is really not my favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 02:23:15 | More by bskrtz

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tap.

Pours clear gold with a medium white head. So-so retention.

Smells citrusy and of floral hops. White range of fruity and floral aromas here, and very pronounced.

Tastes a bit citrusy and pretty hoppy, but not as bitter as the hoppiness suggests. Still bitter, just not super bitter. The floral notes come through.

Medium body, mild carbonation.

Pretty good. An IPA that makes itself interesting with some range beyond the basic hop taste. A bit strong to drink a lot of, but I'd probably have it again, and this coming from someone who tends to shy away from hoppy beers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2010 02:07:06 | More by Cylinsier

weatherdog

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Brixies in Brookfield Il, served in a 10oz. snifter

It poured a clear honey with a bright white head on top. There was medium lacing that stayed on the glass sides.

The aroma is unlike anything I've smelled before. I swear I could smell grapefruit coming from the faucet. I've had many a citrusy IPA's and have smelled grapefruit before but this was insane and twice as strong as any other I've ever smelled. Since I'm a sucker for citrusy IPA's this beer really got to me. I'm gonna guess this beer is dry-hopped with insane amounts of Amarillo.

The taste had a similar intensity of grapefruit hops with an addition of a firm intense bitterness. Malt is really nowhere to be seen. Like I previously said I love me a citrusy IPA the bitterness was too intense and lingered for too long for me to rate it higher.

The carbonation was pretty high and tingly. There was this weird mouthfeel thing about halfway through the taste. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it but the mouth suddenly becomes dry. I get a similar mouthfeel in beers that are Brett heavy or have a lot of smoked malt, neither which this beer has. My only guess as to what causes it would be hop resins but I'm not positive.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2010 19:20:02 | More by weatherdog

japcmiller

Florida

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I was at a great little pizza place in DC that had this beer on tap as their "seasonal beer", after sampling it, I ordered it. They served it in a fab (huge) red wine glass. The aroma was clean and grassy but not as grassy as the Plinys. The mouthfeel and taste was smooth and amazingly drinkable, counting that this beer is 9.5% and it drank like a 5% beer. We don't get a lot of Founders down in FL (well not any) so I was super excited to find this, and enjoyed it very much with my lunch. I have enjoyed almost every Founders beer that I have come across in my beer travels and I am going to be very sad that I am not going to be finding any Double Trouble in Florida.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2010 18:01:33 | More by japcmiller

mwagner1018

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Golden, copper, light cap, fine lacing, good overall look.

S- Slight warm ethyl, floral bitterness, pine, mild earthy note, slight caramel.

T- Warm alcohol, but not overpowering, butter cream, grassy bitterness to finish, grapefruit, light tangerine and orange zest.

M- Sharp, slight alcohol slickness, nice coating, medium/high texture.

D- Impressively drinkable for a 9.4% beer, although 1 is certainly enough to get my D.I.P.A fix. Really good quality beer, solid for the style, slightly warmer (alcohol warmth) than I like.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2010 05:31:57 | More by mwagner1018

kylehayworth

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This beer was a nice and vibrant golden hue, with minimal head.

S: Great smells of citrus hops.

T: Taste even better then it smells. It is very well balanced with the slight maltiness you get, helping to round out all the piney/citrus hops.

M/D: Well put together, good mouthfeel, dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2010 13:36:57 | More by kylehayworth

CampusCrew

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

appearance: nice lacing and golden amber color

smell: good whif of citrus and pine

taste: easy drinking ipa for strength. nice hop flavor of citrus and pine

mouthfeel: medum bodied

drinkability: very solid DIPA, highly recommend and would seek out again

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2010 01:43:08 | More by CampusCrew

metter98

New York

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured clear golden with little in the way of a head.
S: The smell consists of floral aromas of hops with some hints of citrus.
T: The taste is very hoppy but there's a good balance between the hops and malt. There's some bitterness in the finish.
M: It feels smooth and medium-bodied on the palate with some thickness and alcohol warming.
D: This is a good beer to sip; it's hoppy but also packs its punch by way of alcohol content.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2010 03:38:33 | More by metter98