Dream Crusher DIPA - Deep Ellum Brewing Review
Beers change with the seasons, and we’ve been waiting for the right season to try Deep Ellum’s Dream Crusher Double IPA. For us, the best time for Double IPAs is when the temperature and leaves start to drop. The perfect season for strong flavors in strong beers.
And this is a strong beer.
At 8.5% ABV and 100+ IBU, Dream Crusher is ‘not for the faint of hops,’ as says the rim of the can. And we reply, ‘it’s fall, so bring it on.’ Dream Crusher is one of Deep Ellum’s year round beers and it is brewed with the lively, lovely, and iconic Mosaic hops and Texas-grown rye. With little more to say, and the taste buds looking for something bitter and heavy, let’s get after it.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Pours deep golden, hazy, and is topped with a persistent and thick cream-colored head.
On the Nose--Floral, sweet, and fruity. Strong and tangy with those definite Mosaic notes of passionfruit and berry. The aroma is surprisingly complex for the use of one hop, but its complexity makes it all the more tantalizing. Let’s drink!
On the Palate--The first touch on the tongue is a strong floral that transitions into a surprisingly calming berry flavor. Citrus joins the party in the form of bitter lime zest at the finish, which is not very dry, but decently smooth for such a high ABV beer. The zesty bitterness lingers through the finish but not oppressively. The high alcohol is noticeable, but Dream Crusher offers a full mouthfeel with a lot of strong malt to keep it smooth even with a nice bite on the tongue. Mosaic is a great hop to use for really punchy and bitter IPAs that require a wide spectrum of flavor and aroma to maintain palatability, and this is unapologetically a Mosaic beer.
Suggested Pairings: With an Imperial/Double IPA always search for strong flavors in salty treats, beef, or vegetables, or get adventurous and try it with some of your favorite desserts, especially something spiced like a carrot cake or our spent grain pumpkin cookies.
Final Thoughts:
I’ll admit, I was slightly worried about this beer being too much, especially when aggressively hopping such a powerful hop as Mosaic which can lend some diesel-y flavors if overdone. And the fact that Dream Crusher is over 100 IBU made me even more concerned. But all that worrying was put aside after the first timid sip. Mosaic offers a lot of complexity, especially when distributed evenly across the process from boil to dry hopping. Dream Crusher has great balance from fruity aroma to citrus, resin, and floral flavor. One of my favorite aspects of Mosaic hops is the berry aroma and flavor. It always tastes a bit like blueberry to me, but if I can’t taste that in a Mosaic beer I know the brewer has overdone it a bit. Thankfully, that berry flavor is present in Dream Crusher, and it adds great complement to the aggressive citrus and floral flavors.
Overall, Dream Crusher is a great Double IPA, especially if you want something with classic aroma, flavor, and oomph! Deep Ellum out of Dallas, Texas, offers some great year-round beers and exclusive beers in their taproom. Check them out if you haven’t, and if you’re really brave, grab a Dream Crusher, but remember: It’s not for the faint of hops.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew