The folks at Ten Bends Beer have created a classic big New England Style Double IPA that is so hazy even sonar wouldn’t work through it. It poured a beautiful straw color with a lily white lacy head. The first whiff is all pineapple. More specifically, Dole, in the can, still in the juice. With a little white grape and hops. The first sip is actually more citrus, grapefruit and tangerine. I’m also getting lemongrass and apricot. And maybe fresh lychee. There is also a slight hint of grains too. There’s a lot going on here. There’s mostly grapefruit on the finish with a little raspberry and alcohol. This baby is 8.7% ABV so no surprise there. It’s an interesting juicy, journey of different tropical and citrus fruits with the sweet New Zealand hops.

The Sonic Pairing: The bright sweetness and murky haze reminded me of Talking Heads- “Speaking In Tongues” and it’s mix of African rhythms, Tropicalia and funk. Along the way there are little experimental accents of electronica and sparse percussion. Singer David Byrne can sound like an evangelical preacher with his soul on fire. Then with the next song a creepy voodoo shaman. Much like this double IPA, there’s a lot going on here. After a couple of these you’ll feel like you’re dancing through a “Swamp” through crowds of “Slippery People” until you find that sweet spot between “Making Flippy Floppy” and “Burning Down The House”.

All beers featured in the Pike Sonic Beer Blog can be found at Wachusett Wine And Spirits in West Boylston and Worcester.