Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA - Dark Horse Brewing Company

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

tap

Pours a deep amber red, yellowish film for a head.

Smells of piney citrus hops and caramel malts.

Flavor is of caramel rich malts, sweet apple, honey, and piney hops.

Medium body with a stinging carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

A really good strong brew, tasty with excellent malt-hop balance. Definitely worth trying and one of the better imperial IPAs I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 15:06:12 | More by Cylinsier

tewaris

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

10 oz pour at Stub's

Peachy and very hazy. Smells muddled and borderline yucky from "too many things going on" and none of them nice. Taste is better... lot of sweet malt balanced by bitterness but this is kinda neither here, nor there: too sweet for a DIPA and not nearly as complex as a barleywine. Mouthfeel is fine but there's an alcohol burn to this... having had much better DIPAs and beers in general, this is very pedestrian to me.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 05:04:47 | More by tewaris

dar482

New York

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

The color is a orange and ruby red.

The aroma is big citrus, pine, sweet peach, and grapefruit.

The taste has the same characteristics. It's lovely and hoppy with Simcoe and juicy grapefruit, not the bitter sour peel. The mouthfeel is huge malt. It's really maltiness really makes this so round. It doesn't taste of the ABV at all. It's crazy that this has such a high ABV and it doesn't taste of it. Writing this now, I'm still shocked as I've never had an Double IPA with that ABV and it didn't taste of such at all.

A well crafted beer. The hoppiness is surely there and the malt is prominent and wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 06:43:53 | More by dar482

Docrock

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on-tap at Dark Horse Brewery, thanks to my new friend Kevin from Detroit for buying a round :)

A - A deep orange color with a fine white head that settled to a thin ring. Solid patchy lacing.

S - Beautiful nose, orange, lemon, slight pine, crisp and clean.

T - Taste is similar tp the nose, candied orange flavor, smooth and boozy with a touch of pine towards the end.

M - Rich and dangerously smooth, no sense of the high abv ( 13% ). This one coul dbe dangerous. extremely drinkable.

O -Really nice DIPA, really well balanced, deserves to be mentioned along with some other top DIPA's like Dreadnaught, Pliny, Hopslam, etc. Can't believe this is the first time I have tried this. Really good on tap, picked up some bottles at the General Store, we'll see how that compares with on-tap at the Brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 03:56:13 | More by Docrock

CHickman

New York

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Tap & Barrel in Smithtown, NY: pours cloudy amber orange color with a 1 finger creamy white head that faded slowly and left very good spotty lacing.

Smells of orange peel, citrus hops, floral hops, tangerine, herbs, sweet malt, caramel, grains and light booze; sweet citrus notes dominate the nose and hides the ABV well while still keeping a fruity citrus nose overall.

Tastes of orange peel, citrus hops, lemon, mango, brown sugar, floral hops, tangerine, herbs, sweet malt, caramel, roasted grains, wheat and light booze; the sweet citrus notes and caramel get balance from the grains and mask the alcohol very well, making this surprisingly easy to drink. There is some mild heat, which is to be expected at this ABV, but it was more like strong hops that harsh alcohol heat.

Mouthfeel is very creamy and smooth, with very mild carbonation, a medium to heavy chewy body and a bitter finish that's got some grainy sweetness and trails off only slightly boozy.

A very impressive trick to cover up the high ABV and make this so drinkable, locking in good balance and complexities while remaining true to the style and finishing bitter. An very good beer overall and an above average DIPA. Seems like a hoppy Barleywine, but either way it was very tasty and one I’d seek out again. Extra credit for being easy to put down with knockout level ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 20:55:25 | More by CHickman

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried at the Local Taphouse in Sydney as part of their Dark Horse AleStars evening, along with a few other of their beers. This was my pick of the evening, however.

Pours a deep, crusty, clouded orange colour, with a fine white persistent head that eventually settles down to a thin ring. Has some very solid lace that forms in patches. Looks pretty good.

The nose is just gorgeous. Big, crisp, sharp orange brightness with a backing of sweet sherbet. Even a touch of fragrant rose, along with floral gin botanicals. It's that clean sweetness mingled with the sharp citric tang: candied peel, fresh lemonade. It's just gorgeous, and so, so pleasant. Love it.

Taste is similar: candied orange flavours, smooth sweetness that melds seamlessly with the sharpness. Spicy characters come forward towards the back, along with a bit of booze, but never enough to damage the smooth, pleasant finish. A touch of pine comes through to remind you it's a big IPA even still, but it's clean, bright and leafy—again reminding us of the fresh fragrance. By the end, the booze and citric melds into a warming character of kumquat liqueur.

Feel is chewy and rich, but clear and pleasant.

Wow. This is really good. For a beer that's over 13%ABV this is stupidly drinkable. This is a really, really good BIG IPA—I'm not sure I've had such a balanced and pleasant IPA this big. It's ridiculous, it shouldn't be possible. And yet here we are.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 03:56:59 | More by lacqueredmouse

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed Double Crooked Tree on tap at the VIP room at Darkhorse on 8/11/2012. I literally got the bottom of the keg, but enjoyed it.

Poured a copper color into the tester glass, the sample gave a generous white head. The head was probably due to being the bottom of the keg. When the head faded, the malty aroma was apparent. The initial taste was a sweet malty flavor coupled with a muted level of citrus. Caramel, graham cracker, and orange notes all made appearances. The earthy grapefruit hops make a bigger impression in the aftertaste. Even as the thick mouthfeel allows the aftertaste to linger, citrus warms the back of the throat making the drinker salivate for more.

This not necessarily a balanced DIPA, but it is certainly enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 00:41:09 | More by JohnnyHopps

mltobin

Connecticut

3.3/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap at Capone`s in PA. It has an appearance of amber with a couple fingres of white head. The aroma has caramel, citrus and sugar. Taste is a bit over the top imo, too sweet, a good dose of hops. Mouthfeel is full, a rather bitter finish. A pretty good DIPA, but I found it to be one that pushed the envelope too far, where the taste and overall quality of it became comprised. Still good, but I don`t feel it is anything more than that.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 02:50:53 | More by mltobin

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On-tap at Meadhall in Cambridge in a 14oz. glass

A- Hazy golden copper with about a finger of creamy white head that left layered lacing along the sides of the glass. About average carbonation. Not nearly as hazy as the regular Crooked tree from the bottle, nor does it have the sediment that the bottle had.

S- Sweet piney hops, a little bit of citrus, some grapefruit, and other fruits. Sweet but not the sweetest DIPA I've smelt.

T- Sweet hops, plenty of them. A little bit of a citrus grapefruit flavor mixed with other citrus fruits. Again on the sweet side for a DIPA, but not the sweetest that I've had.

M- A little bit heavier then your average DIPA, well- balanced and goes down smooth. ABV is extremely well hidden at 13.6%.

O- This was a very good Imperial IPA, however it definitely wasn't my favorite (that award goes to Heady Topper). The beer had a nicely balanced citrus hops taste that suprisingly hid the abv quite well. At the most I would have guessed this beer had an abv of 9-10%. Compared to Crooked Tree this beer was a little bit less bitter and was sweeter, hoppier, and had more flavor. This beer was definitely worth tasting (beaware it will have a suprisingly strong kick to it), however I'm not sure if I'd spend the money to try it again considering the price ($20 for a 4-pack at local liquor store, $12 for a 14oz at the bar).

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2012 04:20:43 | More by jaasen64

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler, the beer is a hazy, bright, orange-copper color with a thin, dense, beige head of densely packed small bubbles. Aromas leap off the beer, with rich malt and citrus sweetness leading the way, balanced with a subtle bitter and green hops presence. Smells delicious. Flavors are rich and surprisingly malty, with a biscuity backbone and some rich caramel sweet character projecting on the palate. The hops make themselves known on the back end of the palate, with a dark, resiny, cedar character that carries a strong bitterness with it all over the tongue. There is a great, sparse lacing left along the glass as you go. Extremely well balanced beer. The aftertaste is effervescent (if you can believe it) with floral and citrus hops character, as well as a rich caramel profile. Smooth, clean finish to a very complex, tasty brew. Bravo!

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 17:15:37 | More by GarthDanielson

B33R501

Pennsylvania

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

wow. pretty orange beer, big hop aromas of mango, pineapple, and orange. followed by a huge hoppy blast of mango, pineapple, orange and grapefruit. lots of caramel malt, sweet, thick and a little syrupy but not cloying at all, with a very nice bitterness throughout, dry finish.

great beer, very drinkable considering the abv. cant wait to open my 32oz growler saturday, last nites 10oz tulip was more than enough (along with 2 slam dunkels) for a weeknite.

outstanding. will have to try the crooked tree for comparison.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 18:50:22 | More by B33R501

russwbeck

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy yellow pour that hints towards orange with about a finger of white head that doesn't boast of much retention. What is left laces beautifully 4

The aroma is sinfully fruity, just an explosion of papaya and mango. Not all that bitter. 4.5

This IPA is all fruit; mango and other tropical fruits and hints of
booze. Other residual flavors that normally come from eating
fresh fruit are also noted. The booze is the only thing reminding me that this is beer, otherwise it's just fruity heaven. 4.5

The mouthfeel is light and carbonated very well. The sweetness makes it absurdly drinkable and the ABV is hardly noted. Which I had no idea was so high until typing up this review from notes. 5

At $3 for 6 oz at Capone's in PA I could have drank this all night. One of the most delicious IPAs I've ever had. Find this, drink this, enjoy this. 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 01:13:06 | More by russwbeck

wedge

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

@ BrewMasters

Hazy orange body with a slim, sticky white head that leaves ample, stringy rings of lace on the glass. Deep, smooth hoppy aroma...juicy citrus, fair amount of malt sweetness, light caramel, pear, dry fruit, some peppery alcohol. Sweet, hoppy, fruity, spicy citrus flavor. Some booze. Dry, better-than-medium, creamy body and bitter. Sort of veering into barleywine territory here. Solid overall, but nothing outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 22:21:19 | More by wedge

BeRanger

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Draught at Darkhorse - 10oz pour into a snifter.

A - Poured a hazy orange with about a half finger of white head. Good amount of lacing throughout.

S - Citrus and tropical fruits up front, a little bit of hop and alcohol small with some maltiness. Not as pronounced as some other top notch DIPAs.

T - Citrus and tropical fruits come through with a hop / malt backbone. It finished very smooth without a bite or coming off too hot even with the extremely high ABV.

M - Medium body, good carbonation. Very well balanced.

O - It was certainly a great DIPA. I suppose I'm still a little jaded with the fresh Hopslam readily available. I'll be looking for this in stores when it hits this month, another good product from Darkhorse.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2012 00:59:53 | More by BeRanger

paxtonthegreat

Michigan

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Now this is what I call an IPA! This beer is crooked tree with double the grains and hops, unlike most breweries who make a completely different recipe for their DIPA, dark horse believes in theirs enough that they just double everything but water for their double. It's a sweet grapefruit explosion beer with slight floral notes and no astringent bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2011 18:21:45 | More by paxtonthegreat

lurpy1

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass at Dusty's Tap Room in Okemos. Displays a murky, swirly orangish-amber. The smell is hops, pineapple, malt, in that order.

A big mouthful of hops to be sure. The taste has a more pronounced pine-i-ness than does the aroma, also some tropical fruit, not so much malt.

Thick in consistency, more so than I'd expect for a DIPA.

Very good beer. Last DH beer I had didn't work for me, glad that seemed to be a one-off.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 16:37:47 | More by lurpy1

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy orange-ish to amber color with a small white head. In the aroma, boozy citrus hops. In the taste, dry boozy citrus hops, almost just like the aroma. A smooth and medium to bigger bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry alcohol and hop in the aftertaste. A sipper, big hops and somewhat boozy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2011 15:45:50 | More by OWSLEY069

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Serving type: 9 oz served in a sniffer

This does NOT taste like a 13.5 ABV. They should call this shit "Dangerous.". Wow. The look, the scent, the mouth feel, the finish... This is where it's at. Getting a sixer in the bottle shop on the way out. This could bury you. It'd be like getting served a milkshake and finding out it was 80 proof. I'm lousy at reviews, but if you were sitting next to me right mow, I'd buy you a pint.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2011 17:01:34 | More by Retail1LO

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draft last night at Capone's. Served in a 9 oz snifter...

A - Presented a murky, cloudy, muddy, gold color. A nice eggshell white head was present about 1 finger thick. Nice retention and it left some nice soapy lacing.

S - Lots of pine, resinous hops here. Some nice citrus hop undertones, but to me, the pine notes take the stage. Slight buttery scent to it as well.

T - Loads of piney hops up front followed by some citrus flavors (grapefruit, orange). There is a malt backbone to it, but there is an orange juice like quality to this one. Pretty sweet tastes.

M - Medium bodied beer that borders on being heavy bodied. Moderate carbonation makes for a slightly prickly mouthfeel.

O - I enjoyed this one, although it fell shorter of other DIPA's I have had. Alcohol was a bit big on this one which made it a one and done for me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2011 14:51:53 | More by KAP1356

EricCioe

Montana

4.22/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pints & Quarts, Muskegon MI, 16 June 2011.

This pours orange-amber with a one finger eggshell head that sticks around for some time leaving spotty lace. On the nose, once it warmed up anyway, there are muted notes of pine resin soaked in caramel. I was surprised at how subdued the aroma was. In the mouth the caramel is the central ingredient, with copious quantities of pine resin really bombarding the tongue. The finish is long with pine but also a warming alcohol sensation, though this never gets boozey in the mouth. It's present, but as a supporting cast member.

Overall, this was a fine beer that I was glad to have the opportunity to try. Hard to think that something like this and Pliny are both under the same style umbrella, but it just goes to show how much variation there can be within one style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 05:10:49 | More by EricCioe

zrab11

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- The color is a nice redish maple brown color with a nice 2 finger off white head. Some lacing

S-Had a nice citrus nose with some sweetness and pine notes as well.

T-Nice hoppy flavor up front followed by some sweet citrus and carmel flavors. Ends with some nice malty hoppiness

M-Medium bodied wth nice carbonation

D-OVerall this DIPA was Great. Nice and creamy and had great flavor and balance of hops and sweetness. I love DIPAs an i will def. get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2011 17:51:12 | More by zrab11

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This pours out as a deep copper color, kind of hazy with a very small head with some scattered lacing on the glass. The smell has a ton of pine with some citrus in there. The taste is wicked hoppy with some floral notes in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel tingles the sides of the tongue. Which makes this brew very intriguing. I really enjoy this brew a lot. It really is a great Double IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2011 22:28:45 | More by Knapp85

b3shine

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft to tulip. Looks good; a darker double, reflective of the regular Crooked Tree. Bouquet is okay; far and away it's weakest attribute. Tastes great. Deep and hoppy, much like the regular, but kicked up and clearly a double. Mouthfeel is good, but it's definitely a sipping beer. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2011 19:16:48 | More by b3shine

Kelly88

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Fries Cafe. Served in a regular pint glass.

A- burnt orange body with goldenrod outer highlights. Head starts out as a sad excuse for an IPA and settles into randomized skim on top of the beer. Contradictory to the head there is decent lacing on my glass after each sip.

S- a bouquet of flowers laced with werthers candies dipped in tequila. Sounds like a good time to me. Have to work some to get these phenols.

T- first thing I notice is sweet orange juice/apple cider mamossa. Alcohol is very noticeable. The hops are overpowered by the heavy alcohol. The initial tastes of warm apple cider are real Nice but are raped by alcohol.

M- a very nice mouthfeel for such a huge beer. Medium feel with tight carbonation. Impressive since this beer is 12%, these beers could wind up a syrupy mess but they have achieved a great feel for a double IPA.

Overall a very average double IPA. I like hops and intense flavors But not intense alcohol. I'm Sure if They dumbed down the ingredient bill a bit That this would be delectable, but alcohol is too much. If this was a barleywine I would say age it but Its not.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 21:48:43 | More by Kelly88

jale

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the brewery.

A: Pours a cloudy amber with two fingers of white head.

S: Big grapefruit and sweet malt aroma.

T: Sweet malt upfront followed by juicy grapefruit. This very sweet but I like it. alcohol is well hidden.

M: Thick body and a tad cloying. Good carbonation.

O: This goes down to easy for the high alcohol. Should be a sipper, but hard not to slam this down.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 14:12:46 | More by jale