Double Fist - Revolution Brewing Company - Brewpub

weonfire

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Enjoyed this on tap at Revolution Brewery in Chicago, IL in a 5oz sample glass.

A - Golden, light patchy lacing

S - mellow citrus, carmel, lemon, hint of grapefruit

T - Hoppy citrus and carmel. 7/10 bitterness. get a bit of the booze on the finish.

M - Thick but not frothy, med/full body

O - Descent. Loads of hops and dry citrus. Wish is was a bit sweeter, the booze hidden a bit more and more frothy. love the hops tho.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2013 01:20:30 | More by weonfire

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.14/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The beer style captivates me, the artwork on the label has me sold, but the name Double Fist...c'mon. Okay I'm over it let's talk about the beer, excellent DIPA that's not dumb and boozy. That makes me happy, it looks delicious, deep amber ruby highlighted body with a light off white cream colored head, thick bubbled at first starts streaming fine effervescence. Dip the nares into your chalice, we have pine citrus and floral players from the hop industry dig further and I get pure hop bliss it's that combination of different hops that just serenade the senses and have converted most of us to a conglomerate of beer nuts who call ourselves hopheads. The revolution or change that this beer influences is backing the hops with minimal sweetness finishes almost bone dry with ample hop bitterness and flavor without tripping into barleywine territory. The nose let's you know that there's candy coated hops interwoven throughout this beer, but that first mouth puckering bitterness balanced by subtle sweet caramelized sugars, tropical fruits, citrus, and earthy pine has me begging for another sip. Flavor doesn't let me down in fact for some odd reason it's the mouthfeel the slick oily hops I come to know and love a bit resinous with lingering waves of bitter citrus peel, you might as well brush with a combination of hop pellets and soda water. Okay not that bad but it's one dimension of a really nice beer that could have gone better, carbonation satisfies not overdone just right for this papa bear, however it's the slick oily resinous mouthfeel that clings to your teeth and doesn't let go...oh wait that's what hopheads really enjoy. Okay overall a great DIPA that's not in the ridiculous 10 to 12 percent zone keeps it real and hoppy with an 8% abv, that is just about approachable if not mouth watering for a hophead like myself.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 18:37:22 | More by WVbeergeek

Durtdiggler

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Powered from bomber bottle into snifter glass. Bottle dated 2/21/13. Pours copper/amber and leaves a resinous lacing around glass. Head is 1 finger white, creamy settles quickly. Beer is very clear.

Aroma has lots of nice pine and orange rind swept over with some bready sweet notes.

Taste starts off awesome. Has nice kick of bitterness pine that lasts with a finish of caramel, toffee and a bit too sweet of finish with the malts. Can do with a bit less of caramel malt in the beer but has great combo of pines, malmamade, mango, orange rind.

Mouthfeel is medium. Very easy drinking like a regular IPA.

A great showing. Hop character is outstanding that can be felt throughout the taste. Could be better if the hops were highlighted a bit more with less special malts. More muted for the style, could be an ipa.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 00:17:17 | More by Durtdiggler

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Distorting the notions of what is both Pale Ale and Imperial IPA, Revolution grows a Frankenstein-type ale that retains the even-keel balance of American Pale Ale but elevates the proportions of taste and strength to near imperial greatness.

Double Fist pours with a deep amber, approaching chestnut and mahogany hues. It's beautiful coloration is cast through a mostly clear elixir, albeing the slight gaze of cloudiness persists. Solid white in its foam stance, the beer's froth is steady, creamy, and shows good longevity. Intermittent lacing is yet another testament to well made ale.

The beer's aroma is that of standard pale ale- caramel scented malts and citrusy Pacific Northwest hops remain even, not allowing one set of aromas to pull ahead of the other; but the overall intensity is greater than is expected, suggesting that higher rates of both are employed. A tinge of alcohol lurks on while fruit stresses of tropical varieties pull from the sweetness.

Medium caramel sweetness saturates the taste buds early- giving a light cashew nuttiness, estery character of apple, apricot, and mango. But the middle palate draws upon hop flavors of grapefruit and orange peels, light pine, and an overall taste of gently muddled grass. As the beer turns to finish, it recedes in its sweetness and favors a hop-balance that develops deep resinous bitterness to close.

Medium-full in balance, the mouth registers IPA, but the lingering malt weight and residual sweetness hangs onto the palate to prevent premature dryness, crispness, or heat. But alas, the hop dryness wins out as the gripping bitterness outlasts the sweetness in its extended aftertaste.

It's interesting to see how Imperial IPAs begin to resemble the balance of standard American Pale Ale in most versions, where the IPA is stuck in the middle and become the most hop balanced and driest of the three. Revolutions off-centric thinking about elevated Pale Ale kinda flirts with the lines that separate these styles. But shouldn't a beer called "Double Fist" have more than one fist on the label?

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 16:19:14 | More by BEERchitect

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter.
8% ABV, Dec05.12

A - Caramel-hued golden amber in color, Double Fist pours quietly, generating very little head despite how increasingly taller I poured. A hearty swirl roused up some tan foam which sank to a thin skim while leaving some wispy lace on the glass.

S - A spicy prick of pine needle and toasted pine cone emerge from behind the modest tropical fruit notes of passion fruit and mango; decidedly hoppy but not quite the monster one might expect from a double IPA...then again, this a double "pale ale" (wouldn't that be an IPA?). The malt backbone is complimentary, adding toffee and caramel notes around the toasted bread sweetness for a round, approachable hoppy beer.

T - Hops continue to shine forwards despite the well-balanced malt backbone. It's reminiscent of a "stronger" IPA though, again, a little less than one might expect from a "double IPA". Mango and passion fruit press beyond the earthy pine notes and are supported nicely by toasted wheat bread, caramel, and toffee undertones.

M - A smooth entry leads the way into a robust and round - though not quite full - body that finishes with a moderately bitter kick, putting a wonderful kibosh on Double Fist.

O - Many brewers I meet seem to have a problem with the designation "Black IPA" as the "P" stands for "pale". I find myself in the same predicament with "Double Pale Ale". Isn't that essentially an IPA, not a double IPA? Nit-picking aside, if one imagines this beer as a "double pale ale" and not double IPA, it's quality is immediately increased. Double Fist doesn't quite fit the mold of a double IPA but it's not bad either. Thinking of a pale ale and doubling it, however absurd that would become, makes this beer make sense. The hoppiness is there, the malt backbone is there, Double Fist is a great beer; brewed very well, showcasing hops with an underlying maltiness for a balanced and moderately bitter brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:04:33 | More by BeerFMAndy

ZDub

Illinois

3.99/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A gentle pour into a tulip snifter leads to a thick 1 inch light wheat-colored head. This one has a very appealing deep amber color which I like quite a bit. The aroma was good, not great. Mostly pine and grass notes, not overpowering like some IIPA's. this beer has creamy-medium mouthfeel with just the right amount of piney hops, I didn't detect much citrus if any at all. The bottle says 8% ABV, but the alcohol didn't come through one bit, instead it was masked nicely by soft Carmel malt notes. Overall I felt this beer was very well balanced, smooth, drinkable, and quite solid. I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 01:17:57 | More by ZDub

csparace

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - poured into matilda glasses with a one finger head that dissipated quickly. crazy carbonation. golden rosin color.

S - orange with hints of caramel and pine. slightly bready.

T - definitely on the smooth side of things. pretty bitter on the aftertaste which sticks around. roasty feeling. not as in the face hoppy as expected. more malty bitter than hoppy.

M - lips have the sticky touch. slight alcohol bite.

O - nicely balanced. smooth. medium body. great carbonation and refreshing. little heavy for after the lawn beer.

Bottled on 3.5.2013. Four days old.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:15:49 | More by csparace

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to djcorrao for the bottle.

Appearance: Small creamy white collar on a light copper/burnt orange. Slight chill haze. Minor carbonation.

Smell: Orange marmalade. Vague peppery spice coupled with a mellow tropical aroma. Some pithy bitterness. Oily pine. Sweet caramel malts. Bready, slightly toasted. Some pale malt sweetness. Hints of mint and alcohol.

Taste: Slightly sweet, roasted, caramelized malts. A nice toasted edge. Hops push a big floral component with a solid herbal spiciness. Some grapefruit rind and oily pine needle. Orange marmalade and flaky biscuit. Some mint. Alcohol on the back with some aspirin like bitterness. Pale breadiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate carbonation. Slightly dry, but clean overall.

Overall: Throw up your Double fist if you're feeling it when I drop this.

A nice imperial pale ale. Hopped in a slightly unique way that works well with the lighter malt body.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 00:50:50 | More by Goblinmunkey7

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Somewhat syrupy, copper color. Light tan, one finger head and some residual foamage. Pretty
good bubbling.

Orange marmalade on a toasty biscuit. Just a little abv%. heat in the aroma.

Sweet and bitter orangey peel front and finish plays well with the toasted caramel malt flavors. Caramelized bread crust citric, orange peel flavors balance each other out very well. Bitter yet toasty and sweet.

Palate is resiny and warm on the finish. All in all a great sipping IPA from Chi-town.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:36:54 | More by scruffwhor

MCain04

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Growler fill at the Brewpub. For $26/fill, this better be damn good. Poured into Vault Brewing 16 oz snifter.

Appearance: Deep amber and clear. 2 fingers off-white head with good retention and lacing. Good-lookin' brew

Smell: Floral, grassy hops, with some grapefruit and citrus notes. Slight bit of malt and honey on the nose. Not overwhelming aromatic but it's nice.

Taste: Modest amount of hops in the taste, but a lot of bittering hops that stick on the palate for a while after the swallow. Not very bready or malty.

Feel: Quite smooth throughout, exceptionally dry on the finish.

Overall: This is a solid beer that I could enjoy several times in a sitting. However, there are better offerings out there for the double pale ale style (see Half Acre's Double Daisy Cutter) and at the ridiculous price of $26/growler (and $9/22 oz bottle), I likely won't be coming back to it often.

Serving type: growler

02-03-2013 01:11:23 | More by MCain04

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.74/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

22 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a slightly hazy copper color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both good. The brew smells like pine and citrusy (grapefruit, tropical fruit) hops, and some caramel malt. Taste is just like the aroma, it's full of pine/citrusy hops and caramel malt. There's also a nice lingering piney bitter hop finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and sticky with good carbonation. I think this is a good overall brew. $8.99 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:23:53 | More by bluejacket74

WillCarrera

Illinois

3.89/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, bottled on December 5, 2012, poured into a nonic pint glass.

A- Pours a clear dark amber / copper color, produces a finger of head that recedes to a wisp, leaves nice lacing.

S- Some bitter, fruity hops, lots of grapefruit and orange, behind it is a big caramel aroma.

T- Some pine and some fruit (mango, orange rind and grapefruit), has a pretty big caramel sweetness that takes over until close to the finish, when some piney bitterness becomes more noticeable.

M- Medium-bodied, low carbonation with a smooth, slightly chewy feel.

O- A solid beer, highly drinkable and with invisible booze for 8.30%, worth a shot, but IMO it could do with a bit less sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 05:49:23 | More by WillCarrera

macrosmatic

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a bomber I picked up at the Root Cellar in Cincinnati into a Russian River pint glass.

A: Pours a clear, deep copper, with a nice 1 1/2 finger white head, and medium visible carbonation.

S: A deep layered hoppiness hits you - primarily I get citrus and pine - under a bready malt with just a bit of sweetness.

T: Grapefruit hops, pine bitterness, and sweet malt with just a touch of caramel that's not offensive. Citrus rind bitterness in the hang.

M: Thick, sticky resin-y mouthfeel, only a bit of alcohol presence, and good carbonation sensation.

O: Not bad at all! Glad I picked this one up, although I don't know that I'd seek another one out. Solid, but not among the best in class.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 04:15:31 | More by macrosmatic

rundocrun

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Unfortunately, this is a relatively old bottle (bottle date 3/5/12), so I'm guessing the hops have subsided a bit. Therefore I am being a bit more lenient on the aroma/taste portions.

A - Body is caramel colored. 1 finger of off-white head. Decent retention. Tons of lacing.

S - Lots of sweet tropical fruit up front. Undertones of pine trees and sweet orange peel. I also detect just the slightest hint of bubblegum.

T - Rich and caramely up front. Very decadent opening to a DIPA. As I mentioned, the hops are bound to have faded a bit, but nonetheless I still get a hefty dose of mango, bitter grapefruit and lemongrass in the middle all the way through to the finish. Good amount of bitterness, but I could almost stand for more. This beer is smooth and balanced all around, no rough edges.

M - Medium body. Good carbonation that doesn't get in the way of the hops. Finish is a bit sticky, but overall quite dry and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 04:16:12 | More by rundocrun

hosehead83

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from "bomber" bottle into a standard pint glass.
Amber-gold in color, with a moderate-to-short head of off-white foam
Aroma-Juicy, citrus hops
Taste-Toasted malt, white grapefruit, plenty of hop flavor and bitterness throughout.
All in all, a nice offering. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 15:49:58 | More by hosehead83

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured out as a nice looking orange yellow color with a decent looking head on top. The retention thins out and leaves a light lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer has a nice hoppy aroma with some sweet malts in there as well. The taste of the beer gives off a subtle citrusy orange flavor with some sweetness blending in there from the malts. The mouthfeel is lighter, very drinkable and refreshing too. Overall I thought this was a really nice beer. I would enjoy having this one again someday.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 15:14:38 | More by Knapp85

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber/caramel hue with a very thin off-white head.

Aroma: Sweet hops and caramel malt.

Taste: Moderate hop bitterness with a piney/citrusy hop flavor. Good malt bill on this one that creates a decent balance to combat the bitterness. Slightly dry finish. Actually a decently juicy IPA. Don't taste any of the 8% ABV.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and actually thinner than I expected for a double. Above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: A pretty good Imperial IPA. Delivers a smooth flavor and nice drinking experience. Would I drink it again? Yeah, sure.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 00:36:34 | More by JamesMN

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer #4 in my great Illinois Brew Hunt.

Very strong resin tones on the nose and the flavor profile. Hearty hop character is pushing through a fairly earthy/hoppy thing. I like this one. The citric hop bombs are nice, but the earthy-esqe ones are nice too. I can dig it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 21:01:30 | More by RblWthACoz

dirtylou

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on-tap @ Revolution over lunch

from notes

appearance: served in an unbranded tulip, bright straw-orange body, nice fluffy white cap with a sticky lace

smell: nice citrus zest, tropical fruit, a touch of spice, sweet

taste: this was really good - fresh and flavorful, citrus zest, grapefruit, blood orange, sweet sugars, light pine needle, mango, a light alcohol warming. The best beer I had @ revolution on this day

mouthfeel: relatively light with low bitterness but a nice zesty hop profile

overall: solid stuff

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 04:39:05 | More by dirtylou

sleuthdog

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into tulip

Appearance: Double Fist is a copper-orange color with a very slight haze. It is actually quite clear and almost "shiny" in the glass. The head was about a finger size of an off white color that dissipated quickly. Lacing is evident and sticky in appearance.

Smell: Pine and citrus both jump out. I get grapefruit, tangerine, mango and pineapple. There is grass and also some bready malts to round it out.

Taste: not so much if the citrus on the palate as in the nose. More of the grassy and pine hop bitterness especially at the back end in the form of a puckering bitterness. Up front is a very slight sweet at first but then the beer opens up to its true nature. It's mid palate that the resinous hops kick in and follow through to the swallow. It actually sticks around well after the swallow as well. I'm also getting a spice note here that may be from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: A pretty big bitter feel on this one that is somewhat balanced by the initial hint of sweetness. Good amount of carbonation and a medium mouthfeel with a sticky character as well.

Overall: This being my first offering from Revolution I was impressed. I very nice easy drinking DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 00:45:44 | More by sleuthdog

ChiPool

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber purchased, consumed, & reviewed on 9/25/12. Poured into Duvel tulip.

Listed as a "double pale ale", this piqued my curiousity. Pours a nice medium amber color: generous amount of pillowy white head. On the nose: a bit of booze, and a bit of a yeast-like smell, and a touch of earthy hops. The taste leads with carmel malts, and finishes with a bit of lingering bitterness on the back of the palate.

I can see that DF is not DIPA: it lacks a true hop punch at any particular point. It is pleasant & smooth: only booziness is detected on the nose. Glad that I gave it a go, and would like to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 01:09:56 | More by ChiPool

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe. No freshness date marked on the bottle. Thank you Wes.

A: Golden-orange in color with great clarity. Two inch white head settles after a short time, but a thin slip of head always remains. Spidery lacing sticks to the glass.

S: An explosion of citrus fruits on the nose. Lots of tangerine and clementine. Wet leaves, cannabis. Melon and grapefruit rind. Smells like citra. Slight pepper and tropical esters. Malt backbone is toasty, bready, and a touch crusty. Slight caramel as well.

T: Tangerine and clementine on the forefront. Grapefruit rind, pine resin, and toasted hemp seeds. A second wave of tropical fruit hits the palate with passion fruit, kiwi, and honeydew melon. Slightly peppery alcohol. Tea leaves and a hint of tobacco. Firm malt backbone tastes of sweet bread, caramel, and toffee. Malt base is sweeter than the nose suggested. Finishes with bread crust, lingering citrus notes, and hop oils.

M: Firm and thick in body. Velvety smooth and almost chewy. Moderate carbonation pricks at the tongue with a very mild seltzery effect. Light warmth on the swallow from the alcohol.

O: One of the few 'double pale ales' that I've had that actually tastes like a big American pale rather than an IPA/DIPA. The firm, well-textured malt backbone and a distinctly focused and aggressive hop profile set it apart. I guess one could make the argument that it's an 'East Coast' style DIPA. Let's not split hairs. Regardless of what you call it, it's a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 22:00:43 | More by ryan1788a5

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a shaker pint glass at Haymarket.

My little pre-wedding excursion continues with a stop in at Haymarket, presaging the future a bit with a Revolution brew to start things off. It pours a clear copper topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit zest, orange rind, pine sap, and a swath of sweet caramel in the background. The taste brings in more of the same, though with more pine and a touch of rubber, bringing things down a step or so. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda thick feel. Overall, a pretty solid "double pale ale", though certain aspects of the flavor detract ever-so-slightly.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2012 03:25:08 | More by TMoney2591

vic21234

Illinois

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

22oz bomber poured into a snifter. No date listed on the bottle, but should be fairly new.

A- Pours a cloudy orange/ amber with a small amount of off-white head that quickly fades. Sticky lacing along the sides of the glass.

S- Lots of citrus in this one; aromas of grapefruit and mango. Otherwise a sort of sweet maltiness is noted as well.

T- Unlike the smell, I get some piney resin in the overall hop bitterness in the taste. Nice maltiness is still there also. No citrus to really speak of in the taste.

M- Lighter side of medium-bodied, nice carbonation, good bitterness.

A nice DIPA from Chicago. Recently started seeing bottles of this at my local shop. A good one to give a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 00:20:15 | More by vic21234

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz, no date
Tired Hands

A: Pours a fairly clear amber orange color. No head at all, just a ring of bright white around edges. Not a lot of lacing, if any.

S: Still smells nice and hoppy. Lots of pink grapefruit on this one. Big bitter citrus hints. Minimal maltiness.

T: This might be a little past it's prime but still tasty. Nice hop bitterness up front. More pine than fruit at this point. The malt kicks in more that I assumed in the mid mouth. Dry finish.

M: Medium bodied. Some chew.

O: B

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 18:53:09 | More by inlimbo77