Beer of the Week: Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA

By Stephen Magee:
If you take the trip across Michigan on I-96 heading west you will end up in Grand Rapids Michigan. The home of President Ford, the Fish Ladder, and Founders Brewery. Since 1997 this brewer has been making some excellent beer. This week we tasted the “Devil Dancer” the most complex beer they brew. Available quarterly and aged for at least one year in the cellar. At 13% ABV and 112 IBU’s this is a beer not for the faint of heart. When you pour a glass you will notice the thick cloudy red color and smell the hops. A beer to be savored in a bell shaped glass. Founders’ uses 10 different varieties of hops and the dry hops for 26 days (dry hop is a post brewing hop addition (after the wort has been cooled) cold hopping or raw hopping). When you raise this beverage to your lips you will taste complex hops and a very smooth finish, but still detect a bite of hop ester. This brew is rich in texture and has a huge malty taste. If you enjoy a good IPA try this one on for size and let me know what you think. Try some of the other founders’ brews, you will enjoy the beer and the time spent acquiring the drink. I found them to be the best brewer at the Michigan Beer festival 2006. A four pack of “Devil Dancer will run $11 to $13.