Brief history: Imperial, or Double IPAs (DIPA), have a history that is a bit hard to pin down, though many attribute the DIPA creation to Russian River owner Vinnie Cilurzo. He was head brewer of Blind Pig Brewing in the mid ‘90s and started the style with his aggressively hopped IPAs, which he has continued making at Russian River. The style has continued to grow in popularity, with IPAs and their variants being the most popular craft beer style available today. Cilurzo himself has carved out quite the niche for the style he created with his highly desired Pliny the Elder.
Standard characteristics: The DIPA style is very hop-forward and is a style that many breweries use to showcase new hop varieties or experiment with a wide combination of hops. Though they are very strongly hopped, they should still have a clean and dry finish. Drinkability is very important to the style, so DIPAs should not be heavy sipping beers, but instead be a pint that can be enjoyed without a lingering sweetness or heaviness on the palate.
Nose: The aroma is dominated by hops, which can lead to a wide spectrum of detectable aromas; citrus fruit variations are almost always present. A background grain or grassy note from the malt is detectable along with a wide gambit of hop aroma ranging from pine to fruits to cat pee (yes, cat pee). In higher ABV styles, an alcohol heat can be picked up in the nose. Typical ABV for this style ranges from 7.5 to 10.0 percent.
Body: The body for DIPAs can range from light to medium-full depending on the malt bill for the beer. Carbonation is typically fairly high for the style, which can combine for the overall dry impression the beer leaves on the palate. The overall impression should be a smooth, highly drinkable beer.
Taste: Hops again dominate and create for a strong, varying, and complex flavor profile. High to absurdly high hop bittering occurs, but malt backbone should support the high hopping to create balance. Malt flavors will also be present, and some beers have a more malt-forward approach than others when it comes to the balance of the beer. DIPAs should be balanced and not have a harsh bitterness. IBUs for this style can reach 100-plus, although many dispute whether the human taste buds have the ability to perceive such high bitterness.
Food pairing: This aggressively hopped style lends itself to spicier and heftier pairings. Spicy Mexican, Thai, and Indian food all make for complimentary pairings. The DIPA style is also great to pair with pizza and burgers and can handle a huge amount of toppings. Though you can try pairing DIPAs with many fish dishes, avoiding salmon would be best, as it tends to create a semi-metallic taste on the palate.
Recommendations: DIPAs can be tough for some unacquainted with the bitterness of IPAs, so tread lightly if you are new to the style. This is also a style that has a lot of hype around it, with many breweries creating highly sought-after versions that are limited in availability (Pliny the Elder and Heady Topper). However, here are some recommended DIPA’s that are fairly easy to get in our market and are fantastic examples of the style: Racer X by Bear Republic; The Truth by Flying Dog; Double Jack by Firestone Walker; Double Wide IPA by Boulevard Brewing; Tricerahops by Ninkas; Rampant by New Belgium Brewing; Big A IPA by Smuttynose; and Heelch O’Hops by Anderson Valley.
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