Austin Street Instant Dipa

Austin Street Instant Dipa is an imperial IPA, the stronger, more hop-saturated end of the India pale ale family, and it is listed here as a Massachusetts beer from the United States. The name suggests a double IPA built for immediate drinking, so expect it to be at its best fresh. Hop aroma is the first thing to fade in this style, and a beer like this is usually worth buying with a date check in mind. Imperial IPAs of this kind typically pour golden to hazy orange and open with big hop aromatics: citrus peel, grapefruit, pineapple or stone fruit, with pine or resin underneath. The malt backbone is usually restrained and slightly sweet, there mainly to carry the hops and the higher alcohol. Bitterness in modern double IPAs tends to be present but rounded rather than harsh, and the finish is often dry enough to keep the weight from becoming syrupy. No ABV or IBU figure is supplied for this particular bottle or can, so check the label for the exact strength. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 6 to 9°C (43 to 48°F). Straight from a very cold fridge the hop aroma stays muted, and a few minutes on the counter lets the fruit come forward. A tulip, snifter or stemmed IPA glass is the best choice, since the narrowing top concentrates the aroma. A standard pint glass works if nothing else is on hand. The hop intensity and alcohol suit food with fat, spice or char. Fried chicken, carnitas tacos, cheeseburgers, Thai green curry and jerk dishes all stand up to it, and the bitterness cuts through richness well. Sharp cheddar or washed-rind cheeses are good matches too. Carrot cake or a lightly sweet citrus dessert can echo the fruit notes. Delicate fish and mild salads are easily overwhelmed by a beer in this style.