Battle Royale – Feint the Cross

Looks one way. Hits another.

Feint the Cross is a Double IPA built around three American hops: Amarillo, Idaho 7 and Cascade. Amarillo brings the orange and grapefruit, Cascade throws in that classic citrus edge, while Idaho 7 pushes things deeper into tropical fruit, stone fruit and a little resinous character. Idaho 7 is especially known for pineapple when used late in the brew and dry hop.. which is exactly where we put it to work here.

And we didn’t exactly go easy on them.

Amarillo and Idaho 7 go in heavy during the whirlpool, followed by a 25 kg dry hop where Amarillo takes the lead. Underneath all that is a simple Pale Malt base with 9.5% malted oats, giving the beer enough body to carry the hops without turning it heavy. The recipe lands at an estimated 40.9 IBU.

Big citrus. Ripe tropical fruit. Pineapple and stone fruit. A little pine and resin underneath. Full enough to remind you this is a Double IPA, but with a clean bitterness that keeps the next sip coming.

You saw the first punch coming.

Wrong one.