Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA
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Tasting Notes
Hop Rising leads with a pronounced aroma of citrus peel, pine resin, and a hint of tropical fruit — typical of a well-hopped American Double IPA. The flavor follows with a substantial bitter bite balanced by a firm malt backbone that keeps it from tipping into harsh territory. The body is medium-full, with enough sweetness to justify the hop load without becoming cloying. The finish is long and resinous, with bitterness that lingers well past the swallow.
About the Brewery
Squatters is a Salt Lake City, Utah brewery and brewpub that has been part of the Utah craft beer scene since 1989, making it one of the older craft operations in the state. They're known for navigating Utah's historically restrictive alcohol laws while still producing a range of styles that punch at competitive craft levels. Their lineup spans approachable lagers and ales alongside bigger, hop-forward offerings like this one.
Food Pairings
The assertive bitterness and resinous hop character here work well against rich, fatty foods — a thick burger with sharp cheddar lets the hops cut through the fat cleanly. Spicy dishes like Thai curry or Szechuan stir-fry find a reasonable counterpart in the malt sweetness, which softens the heat without smothering it. Strong washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio hold their own against the beer's intensity, while a slow-smoked brisket benefits from the way the resinous finish scrubs the palate between bites.
Style Guide
American Double IPA, sometimes called Imperial IPA, is essentially a bigger, more aggressive version of the standard American IPA — more hops, more malt, and more alcohol, typically running between 7.5% and 10% ABV. The style emerged from American craft breweries in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with Russian River's Pliny the Elder often cited as a benchmark. Unlike West Coast IPAs, which prioritize dry bitterness, Double IPAs carry enough residual malt body to support the amplified hop load, though the defining characteristic remains intense hop aroma and bitterness rather than sweetness.