Duggan's #9 IPA
Cool Beer Brewing Co.

Duggan's #9 IPADuggan's #9 IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Cool Beer Brewing Co.
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 15.21%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
60
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 30, 2019
Added:
May 22, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  9
Now produced here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/38011/
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of SSS
Reviewed by SSS from Canada (QC)

2.27/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
A-Medium brown with an off-white head and a good level of lacing
S-Malt forward and no real hops to speak of
M-Medium to high carbonation with a mouth feel that seems a bit watery
T-All malt and no hops, notes of Caramel and bread and roasted toffee
O-This is not an IPA but more of a brown ale with malt forward character and no real hop profile to speak of. Disappointing to call it an IPA
Mar 30, 2019
Photo of Jesterr44
Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)

2.65/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Duggan's IPA 9. So I was browsing the Ontario craft beer at a local lcbo with good selection. I'd never seen this before and thought - 9 IPAs, they should know what they're doing at that point ... Collective Arts nailed it by #5. Anyway... thank Me I only bought 1. This pours a dark amber/brown looking like a brown ale of the bat. Then, there is no trace in the aroma of hops. Slight smell of sweet funky malt but that's it. Taste is equally disappointing. Blandish malt with only the faintest hint of any fruit from the hops, and it that a hint of black licorice? - this tastes like an English Ale. Mouthfeel is not all that smooth or full, and despite not being overly carbonated, each sip ends with the light crispness from carbonation I'd expect from a lager, then a tacky leafy feeling on the tongue.
Oct 06, 2018
Photo of Easton70
Reviewed by Easton70 from Canada (ON)

2.6/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Firstly, this doesn't appear to be "retired" because I just bought a can in the local Metro in Ottawa. I've tasted this in an evening when I tried an Apricot wheat ale and British-tasting IPA. So, this dark, strong ale tastes like a strong British IPA and is a little disapointing. It's a bit flat...and I don't mean in terms of mouthfeel. I mean it's ordinary. It didn't make me feel like I wanted to have another. It's fine, but ordinary. However, if you're at a party where it's this or Bud, then this wins hands down....but that's not a great achievement.
Sep 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.15 by LanceH from Canada (ON)

Sep 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by Jotora from Canada (ON)

Jun 07, 2017
Photo of johanschmidt
Reviewed by johanschmidt from Canada (ON)

2.26/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
The summary section says this isn't produced any more, but I bought it today and have seen in consistently in the LCBO (and it seems to be restocked often) so I think it is still produced.

Anyways, the colour is a deep red, somewhat atypical of an IPA, carbonation seems pretty low. The smell is primarily wheat, though there are definitely some hops.

When it comes to taste, I'm not a fan. It's bitter, but without the characteristic bitterness of hops. I don't taste anything besides that bitterness and wheat, and honestly it seems pretty one dimensional. I'm a fan of both IPAs and non-hoppy beers of all types, but this doesn't really taste good in any category. Maybe for some people this would be good, but to me it just seemed boring.
Sep 13, 2016
 
Rated: 2.58 by WeissBoy from Canada (ON)

May 23, 2016
Photo of mark_mla
Rated by mark_mla from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice offering. Only had on tap at the Sip Club, numerous times...
Feb 01, 2016
 
Rated: 2.75 by barflybastard from Pennsylvania

Nov 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.05 by dfuls from Canada (ON)

May 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by atsir

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by JahTurbo from Canada (ON)

Feb 21, 2015
Photo of ChrisCage
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

2.71/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3
A- Pours a hazed bronze color with some noticeable carbonation bubbles rising in many fine looking columns. The head is decent.....it is off white and a marshmallow like texture, although it becomes thin after a short time. The lacing is weak, leaving behind a patchy, watery film. Nothing special but nothing offensive to look at overall.

S- For an IPA, this smells weak. It actually leans more to the sweeter, maltier side of things that reminds me more of what an EPA would smell like. There's yeasty/biscuit like aroma that is pleasant to my nose as well. Hop aroma profile is mild at best....not what I expected overall.

T- Hmmm....this is a very bland tasting IPA! This really has no qualities of the style flavor wise in my opinion. Very malt forward and while there is a slightly lingering bitter hop finish, it's not even close to making me pucker. There are some citrus and/or piney flavor happening but it is more like the essence of rather than bold, forward taste.

M/O- I will say that this is incredibly smooth and velvety on the palate...it's quite nice in that regard! It's medium bodied with tap like carbonation, and I really like that aspect too....it's like I'm at the pub consistency wise. This is actually a highly drinkable beer that I think would appeal to the masses, as it's quite mild in all the main categories, plus the alcohol is hidden very well. I don't think that it's a great example of the style but I don't hate it either.....may give this a chance sometime in the future if given the opportunity to buy it but most likely will pass....unless it's on tap at a random pub!
Jan 23, 2015
 
Rated: 2.74 by lgmol from Canada (NS)

Dec 23, 2014
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

3.67/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
473 mL can picked up at the LCBO; no packaging information. For one of the first big IPAs to be released in this province, I'm shocked at how long it took me to find a sample of this. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a deep, clear copper-amber colour, topped with roughly two fingers' worth of resilient, creamy off-white froth. Retention is quite good; it takes over five minutes to wilt down into a more manageable half-cm cap, with gobs of lacing left clinging to the glass. This is a nice-looking beer, but the aroma is decidedly average - caramel malt sweetness is quite prominent, with additional notes of earthy pine sap and candied citrus. Appropriate for the style, I suppose.

Duggan's #9 has been on the market for years now - it is a product of an earlier time, and the malt-forwardness of this IPA really accentuates that fact. The malt backbone is dominated by caramel and biscuity sweetness, with a slight pineapple vibe coming through mid-sip. The hops surge forth toward the tail end, providing hints of pine sap and orange citrus. An earthy, leafy bitterness concludes the profile; combined with the sturdy malt bill, it leaves a bittersweet aftertaste behind on the palate. Medium-bodied, with restrained carbonation levels that provide this brew with a rather smooth, silky sort of feel in the mouth. Easy to knock back for the abv, but not something I'd want to stick with all night.

Final Grade: 3.67, a B grade. Duggan's #9 IPA is not a particularly interesting example of this style, but it's definitely a serviceable one. This stuff was probably a godsend back in 2010, back before most OCBs had ever bothered to brew an American-style hopped ale - but it just doesn't quite cut the mustard these days. Ontario's brewing scene has moved past this beer, but #9 would still make a good introduction to the style for anyone curious - the hops are strong but not overpowering, and the overall flavour profile is very approachable. English IPA fans would also likely appreciate this one. Give it a shot, but don't expect a home run.
Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.8 by jaxray8 from Ohio

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.68 by mjacquard from Canada (ON)

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.78 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Oct 21, 2014
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

3.39/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
473 ml can served cold into a Keith's pint glass. Purchased from LCBO for $2.75 CDN.

Appearance - dark amber color, with brown hues. Topped by close to a finger of off white head. Quite clear and few visible bubbles. Poor head retention.

Smell - some light citrus smell, pineapple namely but dominated by the malty aroma. Caramel and butterscotch show up large here.

Taste - a bit fruity like overripe pineapple and mango. Blended in with sweet caramel malts.mild bitterness throughout. Reminds me of railway city's dead elephant.

Mouthfeel - smooth, full bodied yet the taste is a bit thin. Moderate carbonation.

Overall - not a bad IPA, but in my mid one of the weaker ones in Ontario. For those liking a bigger malt bill and overripe fruit flavor, this is definitely one for you.
Oct 17, 2014
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +12.7%
Purchased at the LCBO as a single. Served at 4deg C in a draught glass

A- 4.25- Opens well and pours small head that is gone in no time. Nice dark amber. Nice!

S- 4.0- Tons of malt. Goodly amount of hops but the malt overpowers. Caramel as typical

T- 3.75- Lack of substantial dry hopping here. The malt clearly shines though. APA all the way

M- 3.75- Rather good but a touch heavy for the flavor.

O- 4.05- Pretty good beer. Enjoyable as a starter for one before moving on to something else.

Food Pairing

This nice little APA went well with........ Dynamite Sushi Roll

Enjoy!
Oct 12, 2014
Duggan's #9 IPA from Cool Beer Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 60 ratings