Lot No6 Double India Pale Ale - Evolution Craft Brewing Company

smakawhat

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into my Dogfish Head Ale glass.

A bit of a murky brown orange body, good amount of thin rising carbonation coming up. Head fluffs up with thick three finger retention, off white and very clumpy.

Nose on the pour strangely even hits with dank earth, then a huge biscuit aroma. Quick inspection brings chewy biscuit malt, and some flesh hop aromas. Good caramel sense of sweetness, a little bit of citrus warmth sense, but with not a definable sense. Almost has a great powdered toast sense, with a good hop presence, but interestingly malt forward.

Palate hits with an obvious hop bitterness. Good pine heat in the mid palate, finishing with a very lingering dry spice. Mid palate melds nicely with some good sweetness of the malts, but it's definitely hop dominant which the bouquet doesn't hint at. Slightly leafy and chewy, almost a minty aftertaste, with a mild subdued fruit sense (can't pinpoint a tropical or distinct citrus angle). Palate has just a touch of wet, but there's still plenty to carry all the flavors forward, and a litle bit of chalky character.

It's a very decent addition to the other double IPAs out there, but not something I would personally go crazy over. It will easily keep the hop heads satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:39:32 | More by smakawhat

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.61/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass. The notches on the side show January 2013. Unusual that this would be the bottling date, but it must be because this is the first bottling of this beer.

A - Pours a slightly cloudy, bright tangerine color. My normal paced pour yielded two fingers of dense head, reaching the rim of the glass and no further. After a few minutes the head dies to a single finger, where it stays for the duration. Magnificent lacing.

S - Wow! Huge ruby grapefruit bursts from the bottle, even before pouring. While sitting an armslength from the glass, I continue to catch whiffs of the juicy hop explosion. A floral boquet accompanied by soft caramel malts round out the aroma. I can't get over how fragrant this beer is. It smells amazing.

T - Big tropical fruits, mango, papaya and grapefruit hit the tongue first. Caramel, toffee malts follow with a nice delicate sweetness. Dank grapefruit on the back end, very mild bitterness. The finish is clean with more Fresca citrus linger.

M - Very nice medium-full body with great carbonation. Crisp finish and no alcohol. Scary drinkable. I should have gotten many more than two bottles (they didn't last long!).

O - I have not been blown away like this by a beer for a while. My expectations were not as through the roof as they had been for some of the popular DIPAs (Pliny, Heady, etc.) and that made this one that much more impressive. If you like grapefruit in your IPA, then this is a must try. One of the best smelling beers I have smelt; one of the finest IPAs I have tasted. Huge tropical and citrus flavors, despite relatively low bitterness. I can't express how happy I am that they now bottle this stuff. I was pleased with the draft version, but this is better. Get it, and get it fresh. So good.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 02:37:44 | More by NoLeafClover44

JDogg

Virginia

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Have enjoyed Evolution # 3 IPA from a bottle and was stoked to fill my growler from Whole Foods with the DIPA. Poured into curvy Duvel Tulip Glass. Beauty, eh?

A: Copper . Lacing is not clinging to the surface of the entire glass, but looks like some message left in intricate handwriting. Pretty cool.
S: Yep, grapefruit.
T: Complexity is there , just as I remember the Evolution #3 or maybe a DFH 60. But somehow this is as drinkable as a session beer, even with an elevated ABV.
O: overall quality far exceeds the sum of it's parts. Somehow Evolution has produced a top of class DIPA that remains subtle.

Serving type: growler

01-27-2013 03:36:51 | More by JDogg

pobrepaul

District of Columbia

4.68/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Had this beer a few time in at the beach and picked up a growler at the brewery. Personally, I think its one fo the best DIPA in the mid-atlantic if not the whole East Coast. Has some dank and floral flavors that are great, probably from the Citra hops. It only comes in draft so I always get it when I seee it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 22:11:02 | More by pobrepaul

jacewg

District of Columbia

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Now this is a beautiful looking beer. A gorgeous orange color with a big, residual fluffy head and huge lacing. Gorgeous.

Aroma: Really nice nose. Not a lot of complexity, but big citrusy notes. This reeks of a Citra dry hop. Substantial malt backbone

Taste: Definitely some malt sweetness, but balanced well with more huge bitter citrus/tropical type hop flavor. Finishes with a big fruity, bitter blast. Some Columbus like vegetal undertones. Damn tasty DIPA.

Mouthfeel: You know you're drinking a big beer. Not quite syrupy, but full bodied, even for a DIPA. Not sticky or cloying, but definitely on the thick side. Carbonation is appropriate for the style.

Overall: Evolution is killing it. One of the best breweries that flies a little under the radar. They make a very good regular IPA, a killer stout, and their Menagerie series/limited/barrel aged stuff is all very good.

Please make this beer more often.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 15:13:39 | More by jacewg

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Blue Dog

Evolution lot number six has a light bronze look with some polished gold around the edges. Looks a shade darker than most west coast IPA's. The cap is an off white color with retention and sticking to the glass. Smell is ripe with fresh grapefruit and small traces of pine. A malty backbone with faint caramel. The hops steal the show though. Taste is pretty exquisite for an East Coast DIPA. A balancing act between the hops and malt. Grapefruit and pine are the main flavors yet some other tropic pop up. Funny thing is, this reminds me of Bear Republics Racer X which uses an English malt strain, so maybe this does as well. I'll be looking for more of this.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 18:50:09 | More by onix1agr

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-good amber with a thin white head.

S-wow tropical grapefruit!! Amazing! Strong scent

T-comes in with a wonderful creamy taste of grains, fresh hops, and grapefruit. A good amount of bitterness too. The after-taste is matching and awesome. This great and sweet.

M-medium carbonation with a dry finish

O-This is actually an amazing ipa. I love any ipa that can get this much of a grapefruit flavor. I recommend this to anyone!

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 02:12:15 | More by AdamBear

sholland119

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at Alewife Baltimore, 3/3/12.

A_Pours a clear ruby amber with a frothy head and good lacing.

S-Lots of sweet caramel malt and juicy hops.

T-Sweet malt, juicy piney hops in a nice balance.

M-Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O-Very tasty, a nice brew.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 19:06:26 | More by sholland119

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured a clearish golden-amber color with a small white head that displayed moderate retention and lacing. Aroma is expectedly hop-driven, lots of citrus and pine, hints of tropical fruit. It's been a while since I've had a good, no-nonsense DIPA, and this one really reminded me how much I like the style. Lots of sticky hops in the taste, citrus zest and pith, pine resin, tropical fruit, with a solid caramel malt base, and grainy alcohol warmth. Medium body, crisp and dry, very well-done.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 13:58:09 | More by Rifugium

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a 10-oz. brandy snifter glass at the Pickled Pig Pub in Rehoboth, Del.

A: Poured a clean, clear and bright copper color with orange-amber hues beneath a creamy, two-finger head of white carbonation which stayed for most of the brew.

S: Rich, floral and fruity aroma with hints of lush citrus, grapefruit and coriander.

T: Sweet caramel malt flavor hits the palate first, with a smooth blend of specialty grains. The rich, fruity palate is quite nice, throwing spicy citrus and bitter rinds into the mix. A tropical blend of fruits ushers in the bitter, resinous and herbal, citrusy hop finish. The aftertaste is surprisingly clean with a satisfying, bitter bite.

M: Full-bodied DIPA, but pretty balanced and smooth throughout. A little hot and boozy, but not enough to disturb the palate.

O: A very nice DIPA from Evolution, I look forward to having this out of the bottle someday soon. The 9.3% ABV is sturdy and provides a strong malt backbone for the bitter, grapefruit and hoppy resins to go to work. I'd get it again for sure!

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2012 22:40:03 | More by Gambrinus1184

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

8oz snifter glass enjoyed in the middle of the Cantwell's Tavern EVO beer dinner on 2/27/12.

Quick review.

A: Pours a deeper orange amber color than #3. Two fingers of white head. Tight bubbles. Looks like a double.

S: Piney citrusy grapefruits hops. Sweet malts for sure.

T: Initial sip: assaulted by hops on the tip of the tongue. Then mid mouth is sweet malt to help balance but it's almost too much. I wish it was more hop bitterness. The malts are very bready and sweet sugar.

M: Medium leading to full.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2012 21:20:15 | More by inlimbo77

nimrod979

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw it on draft @ Bulls & Bears and decided to give it a shot. I like their Lot 3 IPA a good bit.
Poured a clear copper-ish color with a small off-white head. A little bit of a retention and some notable lacing going on here.
Has a citrusy tropical fruit hoppiness about its aroma. along with some malty sweetness.
Citrusy & herbal hops. A lot more piney resin flavor than the aroma gave off. Not overly bitter. Quite balanced by a huge malt backbone to stand up to the hops, I've noticed Evolution seems to overcompensate here. A little on the sweet side but that was expected.
Medium bodied with an oily, juicy mouthfeel. Perfect bitterness in the finish and the high alcohol is hidden well. Pretty nice DIPA and another decent brew from this newer local brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2012 00:39:35 | More by nimrod979

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Was at Max's in Baltimore and wanted a hop fix, this more than handled it. A super hoppy beer with tons of bitterness, alcohol is well hidden and there is a decent enough malt backbone to make the beer pretty smooth. Great mouthfeel and finish, an above average IPA and definitely one the upper tier ones I can I've tried.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 15:44:05 | More by marlinsfan4

larryi86

Delaware

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes on 1/4/12

A- Clear golden color with a nice white head.

S- Tropical hops, mango, citrus, hint of pine, nice malt backbone.

T- Follows the smell, juicy tropical hops, mango, grapefruit, piney/earthy finish, nice malt backbone.

M- Smooth, crisp, medium body.

O- Awesome beer, wish I could find it more often, ABV is well hidden, nice malts, great hops, like Lot #3 kicked up a notch.

Also had on cask, would give it 4s across the board, except for mouthfeel 4.5. It was hazy, much more malty, hops where they just faded a good bit, felt even smooth, great creaminess. Preferred on-tap vs. cask, would easily get either again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 02:18:55 | More by larryi86

thain709

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dry-hopped with Galaxy hops and served during Baltimore Beer Week.

A - Served with a golden honey body that had some haziness to it...the head was white and bubbly and stood about two fingers...it showed some retention and left decent lacing

S - Holy hops...the dry hopping added a fresh hop to the nose...it also imparted some bitterness along with a green leaf presence

T - The flavors are really well balanced...the nose suggested this would be bitter, but there is a huge caramel malt bill that mellows and balances things out...there is some nice citrus going on with strong pineapple with hints of orange and grapefruit...the green leaf flavor is also present throughout making the flavor fresh as well

M - Medium bodied...smooth with a lingering, yet balanced bite

O - I was excited to finally get to try this...Lot 3 was a very drinkable IPA and I was not let down by Lot 6...the Galaxy dry hopping was a very nice addition...I am impressed with Evolution's line up

Serving type: cask

10-28-2011 20:53:53 | More by thain709

CuriousMonk

Virginia

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

On tap at the Big Hunt DC. Pours dark orange, creamy white head. Juicy tropical fruit and florals warms to swirls of dry pine and sweet peachy caramel. Bright and fresh citric-spruce hop flavors are well rounded with a lightly toasted sweet malt backbone. Light to medium bodied, medium carbonation, bitter finish. Reminds me of several very good DIPAs out there!

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 19:52:57 | More by CuriousMonk

mdfb79

New York

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

From 10/18/11 notes. Had on tap at the Evolution event at FireWorks in Arlington, VA.

a - Pours a dark orange copper color with an inch of white head and low to moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, tropical fruits, grape fruit, and fruity malts. Lots of fresh hops and fruit, a very nice nose.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, grapefruit, pine hops, light tropical fruits, and fruity malts. A little bitterness but not a ton, and more grapefruit and pine than tropical fruits, unlike the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, with a little bit of bitterness.

o - Overall a nice DIPA. Nose was great and fruity, and the taste wasn't too bitter. Would certainly have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 17:07:25 | More by mdfb79

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Lot 6 has a hazy orange body with a beige head. Retention and lacing are both very good.

The aroma has tons of resin and pine with a hint of citrus. You can tell there is a lot of malt in there also, as the sweetness shows up in the aroma.

I was expecting this one to be a citrus bomb, but there isn't a ton of citrus in it at all. Lots of pine, a lot of resin, and a very leafy hop flavor. Just a hint of grapefruit is the only citrus flavors that the hops really impart. The malt base is mostly bready, with equal parts caramel and sweetness.

It has a full body that is just a hint oily.

I think this batch might be a little off compared to earlier ones based on what I've been told. I'll have to give this one another try. Either way, one thing it does very well is hide the alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2011 21:08:40 | More by Hojaminbag

mdaschaf

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap the Pickled Pig Pub for Delaware Beer Week.

A: Was served in a goblet. Lot 6 is golden yellow in color, with a very white one finger head. Nice retention and left some sticky lacing down the sides.

S: Lots of tropical fruits, some grapefruit, pineapple, and mango. There is a little bit of pine, and really not much malt in the aroma. Slight hints of alcohol.

T: Over the top hop flavors. More citrus, with mostly grapefruit and some pineapple as well as a very nice grassy flavor. The hops are quite sharp and impart a good amount of bitterness. It is cut slightly by some bready malt on the backend.

M: Medium to full bodied, with a little bit of a alcohol, but not detrimental to the beer at all. Very crisp.

O: One of my favorite Evolution beers, too bad it is only on tap as of now, hopefully they will bottle it at some point. Have also had it Randallized with mint and grapefruit juice which was a nice touch to this beer as well.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2011 23:34:12 | More by mdaschaf

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From growler to pint glass on 4/7/11
*From notes

It should be noted that the growler was filled but 45 minutes prior to opening.

Thanks goes out to Lee for the heads up on this one - cheers!

A: Dark amber, almost orange in appearance. Like polished mahogany. A careful pour yields a one finger, bubbly head and sticky lacing.

S: Immediate pine resin. I mean this thing is intense. I don't detect any alcohol, which is shocking for such a big beer. Fruity esters continue to waft in and around the nose, and juicy mango is prevalent as it warms.

T: This DIPA will put hair on your chest. It's massive, showcasing strong tree sap and a good dose of well integrated alcohol. It blends ever so gracefully with the heavy amount of malt, which provides a sturdy framework. The balancing act here is magnificent.

M: Crisp and rich. This has plenty of carbonation, but it is necessary to counterbalance the concentrated nature of this DIPA.

O: I loved it. Evolution's Lot #6 DIPA is one of the better East Coast DIPA's I've had. This is one of those brews you compare other beers to. Extremely well done and sinfully drinkable. Seeing it = buying it.

*Paired with Thai crispy duck roll and beef drunken noodles

Serving type: growler

04-08-2011 15:59:34 | More by Rhettroactive

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours an orange amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is all DIPA goodness, with considerable orange candy, citrus and a whiff of alcohol. This beer smells like a 9% abv. beer. The flavor proflie replicates the nose pretty closely, but is not overly sweet or boozy (something I appreciate). There is some sweet malt of course, but there's enough hoppy bitterness to counter that sweetness very nicely. This DIPA is quite well balanced, with everything nicely preportioned. There's a hint of alcohol on the finish, but it's no more than that, and so drinkability is ultimately pretty good. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, with a long, sweet and bitter finish. As noted above, drinkability is pretty good, though I can tell the alcohol is up there a bit. There is a bit of heat from the alcohol, but again, it's only a hint and ultimately this is a pretty drinkable DIPA.

Nice beer...

Edit from 1/12. Tried side by side with FW double jack.... um, well, maybe a few laps back, but we're getting there you all. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2011 20:48:03 | More by johnmichaelsen

tbrown4

Maryland

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

As stated in a previous review, we don't get enough love from Evolution Craft Brewing up here in Baltimore. Only the standard bottles and a few on tap can be found. Was very excited to see this one on tap at Max's Taphouse in Baltimore, MD. I've enjoyed the No.3 quite a bit.

Tap -> Pint glass

A - Clear dark straw, bubbly white head, steady carb, decent lacing

S - Resiny hops, mild sweet notes

T - Huge resiny and leafy hops up front. Grapefruit citrus flavors throughout. Mildy tart middle and a sweet and tart finish.

M - Medium to Medium-light bodied, no alcholol

O - Excellent representation of the style without feeling like a syrupy booze bomb. Easy to drink. I think this one would sneak up on you. I'd order this again without question.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 23:42:52 | More by tbrown4

jmfc8237

Delaware

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- caramel tint with orange flecks in the light. Low amount of head and a carb laced ring around the snifter where I got this one at Pickled Pig pub in Rohoboth.

S- bright floral notes with grapefruit and piney wood.

T- as per usual smell leads into taste with a sweet caramel big body forefront and earthy grapefruit hops ( hallertau?) massive hop aftertaste which I love balancing out the massive malt bill

M/D- lovely. Earthy hoppy and just what I want in a dipa. Enjoy this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 18:15:53 | More by jmfc8237

beerNdarts

Maryland

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

Served on tap at Max's Taphouse in Baltimore.

A- Light amber with a couple of fingers of sticky head.

S- Surprisingly fruity for an IPA, with hops at the end.

T- Again, I couldn't believe how fruity this tasted on the front... very good! Like an IPA, on the way down is the deliciously hoppy taste, which is magnified by the almost 10% ABV.

M- Medium, it's a double IPA after all.

D- Very good, but at 10% very dangerous. Prost!

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 00:04:05 | More by beerNdarts

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an organish copper color with a two finger head and great fingers of lacing all over the glass. A great looking beer. The aroma is of greatfruit hops with earthy hops presen also. The taste is a caramel malt backbone with grapfruit hops, earthy hops and citrus present. The mouthfeel is moderate carbonation. The drinkability is good with the alcohol well hidden and the beer being an easy drink. Overall its a solid beer but in a crowded dipa market it is close to the top but not top of class and needs to do more to distinquish itself.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2011 22:53:09 | More by goblue3509