Frank the Dank is Karl Strauss leaning all the way into the name. This is a West Coast double IPA built around dank, resinous hops, and at 8.5% it does not hide its intentions. The question is whether it stands out in a San Diego scene that invented this style.

The basics

• Brewery: Karl Strauss Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)
• Style: Double IPA
• ABV: 8.5%
• IBU: 80

What to expect

Frank the Dank pours a clear golden-amber with a persistent white head. The hop character is classic West Coast dank: pine resin and orange zest up front, backed by a layer of tropical fruit that keeps it from being one-dimensional. The malt stays out of the way, and the beer finishes crisp and dry, so the bitterness carries through cleanly without sweetness weighing it down.

This is not a juice bomb, and it does not try to be. It is resinous pine and citrus pith with a snappy finish, which is exactly what the name promises. At 8.5% the alcohol is well hidden for the style, though it drinks like a beer with real heft behind it.

Our rating

6.75/10

Rated by Alex (7, 6.5) and Nick (7, 6.5). Both Alex and Nick tasted it twice and landed in nearly identical territory each time, which tells you this beer is consistent if nothing else. The 6.75 average says it delivers exactly what it promises: a proper dank double IPA that neither of them found a reason to complain about or a reason to get excited about. In a city full of great double IPAs, good is not always enough.