2020 was a helluva year. From the very beginning of January through to the last weeks of December, 2020 provided us with crazy stories for 52 straight weeks. Luckily, we had plenty of time at home to sample six packs of new beer. To close out 2020, we give a nod to the double dry-hopped R.I.P. 2020 IPA from the team at TUPPS Brewery.
Who is TUPPS Brewery?
After years of homebrewing, TUPPS Brewery was founded by Keith Lewis & Tupper Patnode in 2015. They quickly began making a name for themselves by taking home beer awards in North Texas in their first year.
Since then, the folks at TUPPS have been pumping out a wide range of exciting beers. Best known for beers like their hazy Juice Pack pale ale or the Full Grown imperial stouts, TUPPS is also producing some great double dry-hopped IPAs as well as a new line of hard seltzers named Blur.
Where is TUPPS Brewery?
TUPPS Brewery currently has a massive industrial taproom in McKinney, TX. The taproom is an expansive space that often features live music performances. With dozens of wooden picnic tables lined throughout the building, TUPPS has the feel of a modern industrial beer hall.
For those who have never visited the Dallas-Ft Worth area, McKinney is north of Dallas and a bit out of the way. Expect at least a 30-minute drive from either DFW International Airport or DAL Love Field (even longer if you are coming from Fort Worth).
What’s so special about TUPPS Brewery’s R.I.P. 2020 DDH IPA?
TUPPS decided to say goodbye to 2020 with a bang by packing this IPA full of a dozen different hops varieties. Remember when you used to mix every flavor at the soda fountain and still ended up with a tasty drink? That’s exactly what this double dry-hopped IPA is! The can label lists the following types of hops:
- Citra hops: 8%
- Galaxy hops: 12%
- Nelson hops: 7%
- Ella hops: 8%
- Vic Secret hops: 8%
- El Dorado hops: 9%
- Azacca hops: 8%
- Citra Cryo hops: 9%
- Mosaic Cryo hops: 9%
- Sabro hops: 11%
- Idaho 7 hops: 7%
Speaking of the can, this has to be one of the most fun can designs of the year. 2020’s most memorable images, from TP rolls to murder hornets, are plastered all around the label. When it comes to Instagram-worthy beer cans, it doesn’t get much better than this.
How does TUPPS Brewery’s R.I.P. 2020 DDH IPA taste?
This IPA pours a hazy golden color that is very opaque.
The aroma is tropical with a fairly complex nose. I guess this is to be expected when you mix so many kinds of hops; it is hard to pinpoint any single note.
With a medium body and light carbonation, this double dry-hopped IPA is a surprisingly smooth drinker.
TUPPS did not overload this Frankenstein of a beer to be overly dank, but the hoppy flavors are absolutely present. “Juicy” is a word I would use to describe this beer, and the smoothness continues to surprise as you keep sipping. I also get hints of grapefruit & orange on the tongue, though not enough to label this IPA as tart.
The R.I.P. 2020 DDH IPA may have just been a result of having tons of different leftover hops, but it’s a damn fine beer and absolutely worth a try.
Final Thoughts on TUPPS’ R.I.P. 2020 DDH IPA
TUPPS prepared a fun & smooth DDH IPA to close out the year. This is just one of the dozens of DDH IPAs that TUPPS has created; the more of their beers you try, the better. TUPPS’ R.I.P. 2020 DDH IPA is just another in a long line of great double dry-hopped ales to come out of this McKinney brewery.
2020 was a miserable year, but thankfully we had good beer to help us get through it. Breweries across the country suffered hefty setbacks and had to adapt to an ever-changing environment. If you have the means, supporting your local breweries is as important as ever to keep your community’s beer scene alive. What was your favorite beer of 2020? Let us know on Instagram by tagging us in a pic!
