Samuel Adams Rebel Raw

A pleasant, hop-heavy aroma emerges from the glass with bright tones of honeydew melon and cantaloupe. Although the aroma lacks hop complexity, it does a great job of whetting the appetite with a decidedly fresh hop oil-laden aroma. There is an underlying presence of sweet bready malt that does a good job of getting out of the way of the hop barrage. The beer also does a great job of creating anticipation with its hazy, burnished gold appearance and creamy, tightly packed, off-white head that persists exceptionally well. The bitterness is intense but is hidden behind layers of pine, stone fruit, melon, and a light soapiness from the hops. The alcohol comes across a bit boozy and detracts from the overall experience. The finish is dry, which helps drinkability, but the intense bitterness and high alcohol hold it back. Overall, this is an intense Double IPA that will appeal to those in need of a lupulin overload.