Name: Deferred Stimulus
Brewer: Cerebral Brewing (United States)
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.4%
Review Year: 2021
Deferred Stimulus is a hazy Double IPA by Cerebral Brewing from Denver, Colorado. This beer features Galaxy and Cashmere hops.
Cerebral Brewing Company was founded by Sean Buchan, Chris Washenberger, and Dan McGuire in 2015. Sean started by home brewing in his kitchen. With a few awards to his name, he eventually made the leap from hobbyist homebrewer to a professional, setting aside his career as a physical therapist. Buchan created ripples early in the scene with hazy IPAs; this was at a time when only a handful of brewers were making this style in Colorado. His flagship hazy IPA, Rare Trait, still remains a popular brew to this day.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Double IPA (22A) in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Slightly hazy straw; foamy white head. Prominent cantaloupe and floral on the nose; supported by orange pith and some dankness. The body is a notch above medium, while carbonation felt moderate. The initial flavor impression mirrored the aroma: floral, orange citrus and pith, as well as the familiar cantaloupe. Clean malt character. Bitterness is perceived as moderate: resiny and grassy. Some umami character was also noted. Low sweetness/ dry finish, but with light hop burn and lingering citrus-floral impressions. No alcohol notes.
THE VERDICT
Deferred Stimulus showcased a harmonious blend of cantaloupe and floral characteristics with supporting citrus and umami. Despite its haziness, this Double IPA finished dry and not sweet– a trait associated with the classic Double IPAs. Malt character was very clean and, ultimately, allowed the hops to shine. The light hop burn could be lessened, but overall, it’s an excellent brew.
Recommended Reading
- The best Colorado beers and breweries in 2020 and what to watch in 2021 (Colorado Sun, 2020)
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