Double Indian Pale Ales or DIPAs, have become a favourite among craft beer enthusiasts craving bold, intense flavours and a bigger punch than your traditional IPA. But what exactly makes a DIPA different, how are they brewed, and what unique takes have we crafted here at Full Circle Brewery? In this blog, we'll dive into the defining characteristics of DIPAs, unpack the brewing process, showcase DIPAs we've proudly made here at Full Circle.
Table of Content
What Exactly is a DIPA?
A DIPA is a style of beer that stands for Double Indian Pale Ale. A DIPA is characterised by a higher alcohol content, a stronger hop profile, and a fuller body than a standard IPA. The term "double" refers to the increased use of hops and malts, resulting in a bold, bitter taste, aromatic hop notes and a noticeable malty sweetness to balance the use of hops with the high alcohol content.
Ultimately, a DIPA is a bigger, bolder IPA suiting the taste of drinkers who love a strong, complex, hop lead beer.
What Is The Difference Between An IPA and a DIPA?
An IPA is generally...
- 5.5% – 7.5% ABV
- Hoppy, but balanced
- Light to moderate malt backbone
- Crisp, citrusy, piney, sometimes floral
- Medium body
- Noticeable, moderate to high bitterness
- More sessionable (easier to drink multiples)
A DIPA is generally....
- Typically 7.5% – 10%+ ABV
- Very hoppy, often intensely bitter/aromatic
- Stronger malt presence to balance alcohol/hops
- Bold, resinous, fruity, sometimes sweet
- Fuller and heavier body
- High to very high bitterness
- Heavier, often more of a sipping beer
Tasting Notes, Colour and Mouthfeel...
Tasting Notes
Hops are the main focus in a DIPA, giving it bold and layered flavors. You’ll often taste bright citrus like grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime, along with juicy tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, passionfruit, or guava.
Some DIPAs have a sharp pine or resinous note that adds a sticky, dank quality, while others show stone fruit flavors like peach or apricot. There can also be earthy, herbal, or grassy hints that add complexity.
The exact flavors depend on the hop varieties used, like Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, or Amarillo.
Colour
In terms of their colour, DIPA's are typically clear and bright, though some versions—especially New England-style DIPAs—can be hazy or cloudy.
The colour reflects the malt used, which gives the beer a richer hue than lighter lagers but lighter than darker ales.
Mouthfeel...
The mouthfeel of a DIPA is typically medium to full-bodied, giving it a richer and thicker texture than a regular IPA. It often feels smooth and slightly creamy, sometimes with a silky or resinous quality from the heavy hop oils. You’ll usually notice a warming sensation from the higher alcohol content, balanced by moderate carbonation that provides a pleasant fizz without being too sharp.
Production
To brew a DIPA, we start with a higher malt bill using pale malts and ale yeast. The grains are then taken to the mash tun and mashed at 65-68 degrees. it is then taken to the lauter tun to extract the wort that has been created.
This is then boiled for 60-90 minutes, adding hops at multiple stages, including late and whirlpool additions to achieve a balanced bitterness and aroma.
The wort is then cooled quickly and transferred onto the fermentation tanks for 1-2 weeks at controlled temperatures, then heavy dry hopped to give the aroma its final boost. It is then finally the DIPA is conditioned and carbonated.
DIPA's at Full Circle!
DIP CLUB - DIPA - 8.1%
The first release of our Full Circle Balance series was the Cold DIPA, brewed with a carefully selected blend of Cascade, CTZ, and Talus hops.
This combination created beautiful pithy flavours and aromas bursting with citrus notes, complemented by abundant floral character. To round out the profile, we added Luminosa hops, delivering a classic tropical punch that perfectly balanced the beer’s crisp and refreshing nature—just like taking a dip in the ocean.
Unfortunately, this brew is no longer available for purchase on our web shop, but it remains a standout example of our commitment to crafting balanced and flavourful beers.
Glamorous Old Carpet Factory - DIPA - 8.2%
Named after how our Packaging Manager described his visit to a certain brewery in Scotland, this 8.2% DIPA was brewed with a combo of Talus and Simcoe. They give this beer abundances of florality on the nose, followed by bags of passion fruit and peach on the palate. Thick bodied from the addition of jumbo rolled oats, this beer is finished off by a massive hit of grapefruit.
This beer is still live on our web shop, click the link below!
Dooper -DIPA - 8.2%
What would our birthday be without our annual brew of Dooper?
This is a beer that no longer requires an introduction, our supercharged version of our beloved Looper!
Every year on our birthday, we celebrate by releasing a fresh take on Dooper — whether it’s brewed with different hops, crafted in a new way, or adjusted in strength. Alongside its Christmas release, we also scatter a select number of ‘Golden Loopers’ into the wild. Think of these as golden tickets. If you find one, you’ll earn an exclusive invite to join us for a brew day. Keep your eyes peeled this year — you might just be one of the lucky winners!
- Check out this review of Looper from @allthebeerandnoidea!
Why Not Join Our Beer Club?
Discover new and exciting beer styles like DIPA’s with our monthly subscription beer club—carefully curated and delivered to your door.
Beer club is our monthly subscription box, where you can pick up the freshest Full Circle beers every month at a discounted rate.
There are three tiers to choose from when joining our beer club, Bronze, Silver or Gold. Typcially these boxes will break down as follows: Bronze - 6 cans, Silver - 8 cans or Gold.
The beers included will be about 90% FCBC beers (as expected), however there will be occasional guests appearences from some of our close friends in the industry!
Click the link to find out more about Full Circle Beer Club and how to sign up now!
