Deschutes Inversion IPA

Deschutes Brewery
Bend, OR

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Nice brown with a hint of red—pretty. Thin head fades quickly but rings the glass and laces. Slight haze.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Grapefruit. Some pine, brown sugar and caramel. Syrupy-sweet—raisins, prunes.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Raisins, prunes, some woody pine. Lots of hop flavor. Big malt, toasted caramel. Sugary, woody aftertaste, some roast.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Hop bitter finish lingers, with raisin taste. Coats the tongue.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Tastes big, boozy, a bit chewy. Sinus-clearing. Bitterness at top of the mouth.

OVERALL: 2/3: Interesting, definitely hoppy. It's big, maybe too big? More like an imperial. Lots of raisin and prune. Do we love this? Undecided.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Beer meets Vicks Vap-O-Rub—this really clears the sinuses. Not your typical IPA, which I can appreciate. Like a hoppy strong ale, worth a try.
Ben: Big, hoppy, lots of citrus. A tad too bitter. Sugary, malty, chewy. Good, not great, but I think I like it.