Illumination Double IPA - Central Waters Brewing Company

UMNbeerhunter

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Darkness Tulip on 5/9/11.

Pours a deep hazy golden yellow with a huge frothy white head that takes a bit to dissipate leaving some very pretty lacing all over the glass. The color is a little off but the head and lacing is beautiful.

Smells of citrus and pine as well as a nice sweet malt backbone that sneaks into your nose in the end. Malts are a carmel sweetness. Nice smell but I would have like a little more sweetness in the malt character to balance out the pine and citrus but it does smell very nice.

Taste is much like the smell with lots of pine and citrus hops. The sweet malt character is more apparent in the taste especially as the brew warms. Booze is almost non existent in the taste with just the slightest alcohol burn at the end of the swallow.

Mouthfeel is light in weight with a nice pine resin that sits on your lips and the roof of your mouth. Has the slightest bite on the front of the tongue at first but fades quickly, bitterness is well done.

Overall I am really impressed with this beer. I wasn't really expecting much but I was blown away. Its not very complex and I would have liked to see just a bit more sweetness in this to balance the huge hop notes and the high ABV gives it a hit as well though you can't even taste it. Great job CW.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 01:28:04 | More by UMNbeerhunter

Skunkyluvmuffin

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-24-2013 18:46:49 | More by Skunkyluvmuffin

chugalug06

Colorado

3.79/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Fluffy white/yellow foamyness sit on top of iced tea looking brew. Moderate lacing.

Mango and pineapple dominate. Lots of sugary malt.

Hot, heavy, sugary, buttery, missing over amounts of bitterness, sweetness is nearly overpowering, lots of apple, orange, and bread. Wet and enjoyable. Carbonation is Medium and sits well.

Recommended for a try, couldn't use as go to DIPA. Good brew, solid, but not amazing or anything to "hunt".

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 02:23:55 | More by chugalug06

Hermthegerm

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-24-2013 01:23:33 | More by Hermthegerm

inspektor

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-23-2013 18:11:47 | More by inspektor

Hopmarc

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-21-2013 17:11:00 | More by Hopmarc

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-21-2013 13:26:34 | More by mendvicdog

duceswild

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-21-2013 04:55:31 | More by duceswild

barrelofbastard

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-18-2013 20:19:35 | More by barrelofbastard

BRLockwood

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-18-2013 20:12:34 | More by BRLockwood

Roger85

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-18-2013 02:22:53 | More by Roger85

josephwa

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-15-2013 04:46:16 | More by josephwa

smitty5245

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-15-2013 03:54:01 | More by smitty5245

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

3.54/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

50th review! Thanks, to Shagens for the extra!

A - Straw colored and slightly hazy. Small big bubble head

S - Gummy sort of mint. Sweet. Big "mixed fruit" sort of notes. Hay-ish. Hop oil

T - Viscous sort of sweetness. Notes of chartreuse, orange, tequila, vanilla. A good amount going on, but it is subdued.

M - Good body, not too heavy. Alcohol is totally in check for 9%.

Overall, pretty good. Well crafted, but in the ever growing world of DIPA's it is not that memorable

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 07:27:26 | More by hopoilcrazy

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-11-2013 20:54:35 | More by buzzy

tclang

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +22.2%

05-11-2013 14:31:41 | More by tclang

anticipation23

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-10-2013 23:09:50 | More by anticipation23

ajzy

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +22.2%

05-10-2013 11:30:59 | More by ajzy

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-08-2013 00:09:09 | More by cadaugherty

Number3red

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-06-2013 01:11:05 | More by Number3red

koes0024

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-05-2013 01:38:24 | More by koes0024

joeseppy

Illinois

3.29/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Beautiful cascading copper rush pour effect with a generous one inch fluffy white head.

Aroma a bit of a letdown--not much for me except muted tropical fruit.

Taste is very one dimensional. All bitter white grapefruit with mediocre malt filling. Nothing even remotely sweet for balance.

Medium body and decent carbonation. Bitterness lingers.

Taste and smell are everything and this is average at best. This should not be touted in 4 pks almost as if its an exclusive find. Store I purchased this from has always been fair in pricing, but this comes in @ $11/4PK...overpriced IMO. I could only drink one and then move on. I will not purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 12:47:14 | More by joeseppy

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-03-2013 23:11:00 | More by Casey3236

shagens

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-01-2013 22:01:42 | More by shagens

eschmitt777

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-01-2013 01:47:34 | More by eschmitt777