Today, we’ll be looking at Revision Brewing’s highly sought after beer, Dr Lupulin! As a Triple India Pale Ale, this is a beer with massive flavors and a boldness that makes it impossible to resist!
It’s the winner of the 2019 Gold Medal in Triple IPAs from the US Open Beer Championship among other strong awards, and it has gained followers who claim it’s one of the best beers of its style available today. With so much praise, it’s about time we crack one open and find out if Dr. Lupulin lives up to the hype!
Rating Method
With IPAs being my favorite beer for over a decade, I’ve had everything from the best and highest rated to some of the worst imaginable.
Of course, we all have our own preferences when it comes to beer, with some liking maltier brews whereas I personally love the piney, bitter, and slightly dank variety. For this review, my personal preferences will come through at times, but my goal is to review the beer for what it is and what it wants to be.
This means that while I may personally prefer a more piney beer, I won’t deduct points for a beer not being piney. If it sets out to be tropical and dank, then I’ll review it based on those metrics. So despite any personal opinions, the star ratings will be based entirely on whether the beer achieves what it sets out to do, and how it compares to other beers in its class.
For this review, we’re pouring from a pint-sized can with a production date of 5/11/22 to ensure it’s fresh. It’s being served chilled and poured into a standard pint glass.
Now let’s get started!
What is Dr Lupulin 3x IPA?
Created by Revision Brewing, a brewery that opened back in 2017 in Sparks, NV, Dr Lupulin is a Triple India Pale Ale.
According to Revision’s website, Dr. Lupulin is “a high ABV brew that is easy drinking without excessive alcohol heat.” This is certainly a bold claim, and with an alcohol volume of a whopping 11.3%, you wouldn’t be crazy for not believing it! We’ll get into that in a moment though.
The flavor profile is described as “mango having a conversation with dank,” which is another interesting description since fruity flavors are often more diluted in favor of dank when it comes to super strong IPAs.
It also features an IBU of 133, which is fairly high but I’m all for it. With the International Bitterness Units, a score of 20 is average while 120 would be very noticeably bitter.
As a Triple IPA, Dr. Lupulin is a strong beer that demands attention. As we dive into the review, we’ll find out whether this attention is deserved, and whether this heavy brew has earned a spot in your fridge!
The Pour and Appearance of Dr Lupulin
Dr. Lupulin has a memorable design with a mad scientist holding hops as he creates a crazy new beer. I wonder if he’s a reference to Rick from the popular cartoon Rick and Morty? Along the can, you can find a Gold Medal Award along with a brief description of the drink, plus the production date on the bottom along with “Dr Lupulin’s Creation” right nearby.
When poured, you’ll notice that the head forms quickly and thickens up quite nicely. Against the transparent golden-straw color of the beer, the head has about two fingers of height before slowly diluting after about a minute. There’s also a nice, thick lacing that sticks to the glass after each sip.
The carbonation and fizz is very light, which is to be expected for a triple IPA.
The Initial Scent
The initial scent upon pouring is actually quite boozy and warm, with very little floral or tropical tones as expected. Surprisingly light on the dank as well. In a word: boozy.
However, heavier beers often become more complex as they open up over time, so let’s check back and see how it is mid glass.
The First Sip
Revision promised very little alcohol warmth despite being 11.3% alc, and while that’s true, there is a noticeable warmth. I will say that the company is correct in that there’s much less warmth than expected, but you shouldn’t buy this drink if you can’t handle a boozy warmth. It’s present, but not overwhelming or off-putting.
Best of all, there’s no burn. I’ve even had Double IPAs with a cheap-tasting alcohol burn, but there’s no burn at all here which shows it’s a well-produced and high-quality Triple IPA.
Flavor wise, I was surprised that it almost had a spicy and peppery taste at first. It reminded me of an Imperial Pumpkin Ale that I had several years back. I didn’t expect this, and I actually quite liked it, but that initial Pumpkin Ale flavor went away quickly to a more tropical taste as the beer quickly opened up.
First taste notes:
• Boozy
• Warm
• Slight spice
• Somewhat dank
First scent notes:
• Warm
• Boozy
• Faintly dank
Now let’s see how Revision Brewing Dr Lupulin fairs against time as it’s enjoyed throughout the hour!
Dr. Lupulin: Drink Slow
Within 15 minutes, the flavor profile opened up and expanded in a beautiful way. To my surprise, the warmth and boozy tones actually disappeared as the beer got less cold.
Usually, I find that IPAs get more boozy as the drink warms up, but Dr. Lupulin didn’t and it tasted much better throughout the evening. The warmth was replaced by a very floral and delicate dankness that I couldn’t believe was from a drink with an 11.3% alc content.
The tropical mango and pineapple flavors soon appeared as well, and they made the drink extra delicious without any excessive sweetness. Dr Lupulin 3x IPA rides a fine line between tropical fruity flavors and a more piney, dank IPA, but it’s never too sweet or too bitter to be off-putting.
While the beer is definitely dank, it’s not overly hoppy either. Even writing this, I’m still shocked that a Triple IPA is actually balanced, but this one is.
The beer seemed even more fruity at the 30 minute mark, although it was still very well-balanced. After 30 minutes, the beer didn’t change its profile in any noticeable way.
What this means: ideally, you should serve Revision’s Dr Lupulin chilled, but don’t start chugging it right away. Enjoy some of the boozy first sips, but really let it breathe and open up. Around the 10-15 minute mark is when the beer starts to present itself at its best. From there, you can enjoy it with its maximum flavor potential while it’s still at an enjoyable drinking temperature.
Dr. Lupulin shouldn’t be enjoyed warm, I’m not a monster and neither is this beer, but the flavors need time and air to expand, and once it hits that mark and the beer has gone from ice cold to slightly cold, it’s really a fantastic experience.
Pros of Dr Lupulin
• Great taste
• Good value for money
• Not too much alcohol warmth
• No alcohol burn
• Exciting and interesting flavor profile
• Opens up and improves as you drink it
Cons of Dr Lupulin
• Very little carbonation or fizz (although expected for the style)
• Tastes best after 15 minutes from pouring (making patience the ultimate virtue)
• Fairly strong boozy taste at first
• Can be difficult to find in some stores and areas
Key Features of Dr Lupulin
The main feature of Revision’s Dr Lupulin is that it’s a very strong ale without being dramatically warm. As mentioned, the warmth is definitely there, but it’s pleasant and not overpowering despite the drink’s high alc content.
Other features include its unique and interesting blend of bitter dankness and tropical fruitiness, and both of these styles mix together beautifully without stepping on each other’s toes. It’s rare to find such a strong beer with this balance, but Dr Lupulin found a way!
Dr Lupulin’s Price
The price of Dr. Lupulin 3x IPA is going to change whether you’re on the West Coast or not, and since Revision is a Nevada brewing company, you can expect the price to increase the further from NV you are. A beer like this can be difficult to find at times, but any store known for its craft selection should be able to get it on hand.
Compared to other craft beers, the price is reasonable and quite worth it if you like the style. The beer does what it promises, and it’s even better than I expected.
While I normally stick to classic IPAs, and only sometimes Doubles, Dr. Lupulin is the first Triple IPA that I’d gladly purchase again. In fact, I’m looking forward to it!
Dr Lupulin’s Ratings
Now, it’s time to officially rate Revision Brewings’ Dr. Lupulin 3x IPA!
Overall: 4.5/5
Simply put: Revision Dr Lupulin is one of the best beers of its style out there. It’s balanced, flavorful, and hits all the right notes. It delicately balances being a boozy and dank Triple IPA with its fruity and tropical aspirations, and it succeeds in never being too warm. The lack of any burn is also exceptional for a beer this strong.
Value for Money: 5/5
Dr. Lupulin is well in range of other beers in its class, and while it’s more expensive than your average Bud Light, so is nearly every other craft beer. For its price, you won’t regret trying it, and it won’t break the bank if you ever want to enjoy it again.
As a special occasion beer, where the beer itself is the special occasion, Dr. Lupulin is a great value!
Taste: 4.5/5
The taste is a unique blend of dank hop bitterness, floral and tropical notes like pineapple and mango, along with a smooth warmth that dissipates as the drink relaxes over time.
If that sounds delicious to you, then you’ll likely love the Dr Lupulin Triple IPA!
Strength: 5/5
Dr. Lupulin hits hard, and this may or may not be a positive depending on your interests. This beer definitely lets you know that it has a high alcohol content and isn’t afraid to show it.
This beer is ideal for late evenings and full stomachs. Day-drinkers beware: this beer is strong and demands your full attention, and it’ll likely get it!
Pairings and Recommendations
At 11.3% alc, Dr. Lupulin is practically a meal, and you’ll definitely get full from its heaviness and flavor profile. While strong beers like this often aren’t great dinner pairings, and are usually best enjoyed on their own, Dr. Lupulin can work well with some things.
Sharp and aged cheeses like cheddar and gouda may add a nice counterpoint to the beer’s unique dank-sweetness. Smoked salmon or lox, along with other salty snacks, are also a recommended combination.
Certain olives may also work, along with rye or sourdough crackers, but honestly, this beer is so powerful in its flavors that nothing is quite perfect to mix with it. My advice: have it a few hours after dinner so you’re still full, but not too full to enjoy this high-powered ale.
Verdict: Is Dr Lupulin Worth the Hype?
Overall, this is a 4.5-star beer and worthy of an A+ rating. It succeeds in what it sets out to do, and for fans of the style, you can’t go wrong with it!
It may be too strong and bold for newcomers to IPAs, but for anyone who loves Triple IPAs or simply wants something stronger than before, Dr Lupulin Revision is a premier example of the style.
Enjoy it on its own, and take the time to drink Dr Lupulin slowly for the best effect. Cheers!