So here's another great Deschutes, one that makes up for this year's Twilight. It's a dark IPA, called a "CDA" (Cascadian Dark Ale), and it's pretty magnificent, particularly for hop fans.
The name says it all, really. This is a dark and hoppy beer. Pour it, and it's easy to mistake it for a stout. It's dark as night and the thick head is tan, measuring in at just under two fingers.
A sniff reveals a very fresh and crisp smell of hops and citrus, flanked by a maltier note of chocolate. Taste it, and it's definitely hoppy, but with a lot more complexity than your standard IPA. The body is surprisingly full for something this refreshing, and the hints of chocolate nicely lingers with each sip in a perfect harmony with the hops. It's like they joined hands, singing "Give Peace a Chance".
Granted, this is not one for those who aren't into hops. If you do like it, you can't go wrong with Hop in the Dark. It's a complex yet refreshing ale, and a whole lot better summer ale than Twilight. Highly recommended.