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Dreamstate Double IPA | Kettlehead Brewing Company | Tilton, New Hampshire

From Kettlehead Brewing Company in Tilton, New Hampshire—a brewery committed to "an endless pursuit" of building better beer—comes Dreamstate, their flagship Double IPA that has earned a devoted following throughout New England and beyond. Operating out of a minimalist industrial space with locations in Tilton, Franklin, and Nashua, Kettlehead has built its reputation on crafting top-tier New England-style IPAs alongside a diverse range of styles from Berliner Weisse to Russian Imperial Stouts.

Dreamstate represents everything Kettlehead does best: bold hop character, meticulous balance, and an intensely flavorful drinking experience that manages to be both powerful and smooth. This is a beer that lives up to its name—transporting you to a hazy, hop-saturated state of bliss with every sip.

Beer Profile:

At 8-8.4% ABV (depending on batch), Dreamstate is an Imperial/Double New England-style Hazy IPA that's absolutely dripping with Mosaic and Rakau hops—a combination that delivers serious tropical resin saturation. The beer pours a murky, hazy yellow-gold to burnt yellow with 3 fingers of creamy, fizzy off-white head that slowly settles to a cap, leaving decent lacing down the glass.

The nose is intensely tropical and incredibly inviting. Mosaic hops shine through with their signature blueberry character—perhaps the most blueberry-forward expression of Mosaic you'll encounter—mingling with bright aromas of tangerine, mango, pineapple juice, orange, grapefruit, and ripe stone fruit. Earthy herbal hops, a touch of dank weed, and sweet crackery malt round out the complex bouquet, with subtle notes of resin and pine lurking beneath the fruit-forward aromatics.

On the palate, Dreamstate delivers tropical resin in waves. The taste opens with sweet, ripe grapefruit and orange juice, followed by layers of pineapple, mango, guava, honeydew melon, blueberry, and overripe cantaloupe. There's a substantial crackery, bready malt backbone that provides structure without weighing things down, along with grassy, earthy hops that add complexity. The finish brings orange zest, subtle resin, light pine notes, and a touch of caramel sweetness, all balanced by firm but not aggressive bitterness. Some batches feature a creamy citrus quality with floral-type sweetness becoming noticeable around the edges.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with smooth, gentle carbonation that keeps this 8%+ beer incredibly drinkable. It's juicy, slightly slippery, and rich without being heavy—the hallmark of a well-crafted Double IPA. Despite the higher ABV, there's no alcohol bite; it goes down very smooth, making it dangerously easy to enjoy.

Overall: Dreamstate is a very solid, well-balanced, and harmonized New England DIPA. Hoppy and sweet with serious tropical character, this is a beer that exemplifies the style while maintaining excellent drinkability. The combination of fruit and funk, resin and juice, makes for an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable hop experience.

Format: (4) 16oz cans | 8-8.4% ABV