Knee Deep Simtra Triple IPA
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Tasting Notes
Simtra leads with an assertive wave of tropical fruit — mango, tangerine, and pine resin — backed by a dank, catty hop character that signals serious dry-hop weight. The malt base is substantial enough to keep it from falling apart, with a bready sweetness that tempers the bitterness without turning cloying. Body is full and almost oily on the palate, which is typical of the style at this gravity. The finish is long and resinous, with lingering bitterness that builds over successive sips — the 11.25% ABV is unusually well-hidden but makes itself known over time.
About the Brewery
Knee Deep Brewing is based in Auburn, California, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and has built a strong regional reputation almost entirely on the back of its hop-forward lineup. The brewery has been producing high-gravity IPAs since the early 2010s and is particularly well regarded among West Coast hop heads for its consistent execution of resinous, dank double and triple IPAs. Simtra is their flagship statement piece and has earned a devoted following on beer-rating platforms.
Food Pairings
The beer's resinous bitterness and tropical fruit character make it a natural match for spicy Thai curry, where the malt sweetness softens heat while the hops mirror the dish's aromatics. A thick cheeseburger with sharp cheddar works well because the fat cuts the bitterness and gives the malt backbone something to lean on. Strong washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio hold their own against the beer's intensity without being overwhelmed. Dark chocolate with high cacao content pairs cleanly because its bitterness echoes the hop profile rather than fighting it.
Style Guide
Triple IPA is an informal extension of the Double IPA category, pushing hop load and alcohol well beyond what most breweries attempt — typically landing between 10% and 12% ABV with IBU counts that can exceed 100. The style emerged from American craft brewing's ongoing push to maximize hop expression, essentially asking how much dry-hop character can be packed into a beer before the malt structure collapses. What distinguishes it from a Double IPA is degree rather than kind: more hops, more malt to balance them, and a fuller, almost syrupy body that results from the higher original gravity.