DSSOLVR “Evil Appetite”

Style: DIPA
ABV: 8.2%

Nick’s Take

DSSOLVR is one of the best breweries in Asheville, in my opinion, and they have a tendency to release some great hop-centric brews. Joe and I made a beer run recently while in Rocky Mount, including a stop at Goat Island Bottle Shop. They had some cans of “Evil Appetite,” which is a collab beer between DSSOLVR and Heist Brewing. I cracked open a can one night while listening to some classical music (to contrast the evil imparted by this DIPA). “Evil Appetite” pours a cloudy, opaque orange color, like a pulpy orange juice. A white bubbly head forms but dissipates to a small ring around the edges. The glass stayed clean of any lace or residue from the foam throughout the tasting.

This DIPA is a hop bomb on the nose. There was a complexity due to the variety of hops used – juicy, dank and piney. It was very aromatic and I was glad that I used my IPA glass to conduct the tasting, so I could help concentrate all the volatile fragrances. The juicy/fruity aromas imparted notes of melon, pineapple, and maybe some guava and stone fruit. I searched for any malt character, and though I didn’t get a potent smell, the malt was light and slightly sweet, which helped balance out the dank hop aromas. Finally, just a bit of alcohol sweetness on the backend. After all, this was over 8% ABV.

This DIPA (also brewed with oat) produced a medium-bodied mouthfeel, with consistent, light carbonation throughout. When I would swallow, I found a noticeable sharpness to it (like spice, burning in the back of throat). Nelson hops were used in this brew, and can put off a peppery element. It wasn’t a drying beer, but rather I noted a slightly sticky feeling that was washed with each new drink, and then settled in again. That contributed to the flavors developing and lingering, which I’ll talk about next.

Not surprisingly, this was a hop-forward beer. I’d be shocked and frankly very impressed if DSSOLVR managed to brew a malty/yeasty DIPA. Juicy, floral hops came to the forefront of each sip, and then a resinous/dank finish. I was getting those melon, pineapple, and guava notes on my taste buds, and the sweetness was a welcome contrast to the dank and bitter characteristics. Again, the malt was not easily detected for my palate, due to the power of the hops. The oats might just be imparting a less brash flavor in comparison to the hops (double dry hopped, with several hop varieties: citra, citra cryo, nelson, and vic secret).

As good as it smells and tastes, the sharp, bitter aspect and 8.2% ABV (booziness) don’t leave this as a particularly crushable beer. It calls for you to sit down and sip it slowly, enjoying the fragrance and flavor in each drink (which I certainly did). Additionally, pairing with food would require a dish with strong flavors to compete with this pungent and strong-flavored DIPA. Still, it’s very enjoyable and complex for hop fans, to see the way these different hop varieties interact and impart aromas and flavors on the beer.

Joe’s Take

This week we’ve got “Evil Appetite,” a double IPA from one of my favorite breweries in Asheville, DSSOLVR. Though relatively new, this brewery piqued my interest with its can art, creativity, and most importantly, awesome beer. “Evil Appetite” is actually a collaboration between DSSOLVR and Heist Brewery and features can art with a wicked looking beast eating something along the lines of spaghetti and eyeballs. The eye catching can certainly fits the name of the brew. 

The double dry hopped DIPA poured a hazy pale orange color and bore a strong resemblance to orange juice. There was a fluffy white head at first that quickly died down to a thin ring of foam around the edge of the glass. The appearance exuded juicy IPA but didn’t look particularly evil.

Aroma was dank and juicy, with notes of melon, stone fruit, and tropical citrus fruits. There was a mild malt sweetness backing up the hop aroma. Overall, the aroma was sweet, juicy, fruity and would easily be classified as one hoppy boi. The inviting hop aromas made this wickedly labeled brew exceptionally approachable.

With the description of the beer on the can stating “double dry hopped oat double IPA” I was expecting a smooth brew as well as a tongue twister (say that one 5 times fast). My expectations were well placed as this beer was velvety smooth. The luscious mouthfeel was briefly pushed away by some sharp pangs of carbonation that slowly dissipated over a few seconds. What was left was a smooth medium-bodied beverage that exited the mouth without imparting an overly drying sensation.

The flavor of “Evil Appetite” fulfilled my voracious desire for hops but was decently balanced by a solid malt backing. The beer definitely leaned heavy toward hop flavors and featured notes of sweet melon, stone fruit, and a good dose of tropical citrus. The malt character was definitely an undertone in the brew but gave a slightly bread like character underneath the hops. This helped balance things out a bit and kept my palate from becoming overwhelmed by our green little friends.

The mouthfeel of the brew made the beer easy to sip but the intense hop aroma and full flavor of the beer would satiate the most evil of appetites after one pint. The intensity of the beer would easily overpower others that followed so I would be sure to keep that in mind when cracking open a can. However, this doesn’t mean I would shy away. DSSOLVR brings the hops and I’ll bring the appetite.