Bier Wulf is Double Mountain Brewery’s early spring seasonal ale, an interpretation of a Bavarian IPA, a generally agreed-upon subset of the IPA style brewed with German malts and hops. I like to think of it also as, how an American IPA might evolve among German brewers bringing lager sensibilities to the table.

Here’s a bit more about the beer directly from the brewery:

Bier Wulf is a testament to the Bavarian IPA style- but with a twist. It unifies the earthy tones of German hops with the vibrant citrus notes of American counterparts. The German malts provide a complementary foundation, allowing the hops to take center stage. While the use of Hygge yeast lends a clean ferment with light fruit esters, resulting in a dry finish and a pleasantly bready mouthfeel.

Drawing inspiration from Bavarian brewing traditions, Bier Wulf features a carefully curated blend of malts, including Gambrinous Pils, Weyerman Vienna, Weyerman Carafoam, and Weyerman Acidulated. Complemented by a selection of hops such as Cascade, Citra, Manderina Bavaria, and Arianna, Bier Wulf offers an taste of exploration, with notes of ripe citrus, grapefruit pith, and spicy evergreen howling across the palate.

The brewery sent me a bottle of the seasonal release to review. It’s relatively sessionable (for an IPA) with 5.8% ABV and 37 IBUs.

Appearance: Pale golden color, bright, with good clarity. Ample off-white head.

Smell: Fruity aroma with notes of melon, which peach, and… cilantro? Citrusy-dank, hints of line, catty character of tomato or pepper plant. Earthy-herbal.

Taste: Bright and lively on the tongue, with citrus zest, herbal splash of green juice, and an earthy bitterness that’s got garden vibes. Savory yet a bit fruity, with a touch of mintiness, and an easy, soft malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, well attenuated for a dry finish with a nice bitterness that lingers.

Overall: Tasty and moreish, possibly helped by the lower alcohol, and I can see the German brewing sensibility here.