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Duopolis is billed as an "oat cream DDH IPA" which sounds like something hefty but it's only 4.7% ABV. It looks like a proper New England IPA, being a dense and opaque yellow, shading almost to green. The aroma is mild and mostly vegetal: a buzz of salad leaves with a splash of sweet dressing. The mouthfeel checks out, being properly smooth and custard-creamy. It is a little thin when compared against the 6%+ takes on the same style, though that does add to its drinkability: no extreme flavours or booze heat here.
The veg turns to fruit on tasting, becoming a smoothie of mango, kiwi and apple, but retaining a light peppery spice: fresh rocket and thoroughly matured kimchi. A vanilla sweetness lasts long into the finish. This is a bit of a Waldorf salad, but enjoyable nonetheless, the crazy twists restrained by that modest ABV.
Fans of The Modern IPA but looking for it in a mass-produced sessionable package obviously don't exist, but if they did they'd be all over this. Well done to BrewDog for carving out that niche.
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It's definitely toned-down. The texture is even a little thin, which shouldn't be happening. Tropical juicy stuff? No, not really. There's a hint of peach, some sweet red apple, and a mild lime bitterness. A certain savoury yeast-dreg is included too, but even this is low-impact. The alcohol in the first version seems to have really served a purpose and I completely understand why they brought it back because this is no substitute. Duopolis does a much better job of delivering the goods.
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