Ding Points: 75.50

Pour: 70.00, Nose: 60.00, Palate: 80.00, Mouth: 80.00, Global: 80.00

Tasting Notes:

The 22 oz bottle is adorned with a bright orange label which seems appropriate for the contents. The beer reflects both the color on the label and the typical DIPA color which is pleasing on both fronts. Head is small and there is a disappointing lack of sticky lace. A thin film forms on the surface of the coppery colored brew. There is a noticeable amount of chill haze which although not the end of the world is not my favorite, visual feature.

Full Sail, Elevation

The nose is really quite weak – at least for the style, and definitely the weakest point in the beer. It doesn’t really give any significant hop blast although a touch of citrus can be detected.

Tastes are better. Some very clean citrus elements and a pleasing, lingering light bitterness. A reserved beer compared to many in the style, Elevation offers a little lighter than usual take on the style. The bitterness is fairly clean, does not induce palate ripping grapefruit but nevertheless still brings some pleasing edge and light citrus. Highly drinkable for a beer in the style, and frankly it’s one of the lightest’ DIPA’s I recall drinking in a very long time.

The beer is really light in the mouth – for me this is a good thing, but I expect that others will view this less favorably. There is a a highly drinkability that belies the style, and without that viscous, cloying sweetness that sometimes (in fact usually) comes with West Coast DIPA’s, the brew is a refreshing take on the style. Clean edges that DO deliver bitterness but at the same time keep things in check, at least within the confines of the style. I like it.

Other: 7.50%. Brewmaster Reserve 2011 Series, 80 IBU.