On Tap: Cobra Brewing Company’s Dawn Of The Dank.

Cobra Brewing Company’s Dawn Of The Dank Is A Double IPA With A High ABV That Doesn’t Really Deliver On The Promised Dankness.

Welcome to On Tap! Each week in this recurring feature, we’ll take an in-depth look at one of the many beers now available in the suddenly crowded North Texas brew scene. The goal here is to look at these area beers without our local goggles on and to wonder aloud, “Is this beer good or do I just like it because it’s local?” Should be a fun experiment, no? Cheers to that!

This week, we sipped on Cobra Brewing Company’s Dawn of the Dank.

Fast Facts on Cobra Brewing Company Dawn of the Dank.

Style: Double IPA.
ABV: 11.7 percent.
International Bitterness Units (IBUs): 90.
Color: Pale orange.
Availability: Cans and draft.

Overview.
There are a few breweries that have long had a holding pattern on the outskirts of both my radar screen as well as my availability. So I’m happy to see that I can pick up Dawn of the Dank at my local retailer. Cobra, for the most part, isn’t a brewery that I see a lot inside Dallas proper. Granted, I do see a Cobra beer on tap from time to time, but it’s akin to a unicorn spotting. Maybe it’ll turn that around. Dunno. But what I do know is that I have a Cobra beer in front of me now, it’s a massively-hopped IPA and it’s interesting.

Background on Double IPA.
For a primer on the Double IPA style, check out our reviews on Backcountry Brewing’s Double IPA or Lakewood Brewing’s Troll Toll. Double IPAs crank up the sugar – and thus alcohol — using large grain bills and booze-tolerant, clean-fermenting ale yeasts. Clarity can range from clear to hazy without going out of style. Hops should be of New World and American origin, showcasing floral, citrus, tropical fruit, melon, or berry notes. To crank up the hop character, most Double IPAs are dry hopped. ABV range is typically from 7.5 to 10 percent, and a smooth (but not harsh) alcohol note is appropriate.

Appearance.
Dawn of the Dank pours a gold-orange color in to the glass. What I think is going to be a clear beer quickly goes to the hazy end of the spectrum. And that’s normal for the style, so it’s not a deal-breaker. A moderate amount of foam clings to the edges of my glass and a thin layer remains.

Aroma.
I get a sharp, pithy orange peel and orange juice aroma from the start. After that, there’s a subtle sweet smell that helps provide some balance for the imminent hop bomb that’s about to explode. There’s also a mild catty thing going on here; it’s interesting and smells inviting. But I can’t quite put my nose on it. Maybe this is a good point to stop and share what I see on Cobra’s site. Cobra states that this beer is made using 13 hop additions, with 9 hop varietals. So, yeah, there’s a lot of unpack here. Either one hop dominates the aroma or the hops in play are all leaning toward the fruity side of the sensory wheel. Maybe, I think, that’s the point of using all these hops.

Flavor.
I keep looking for dank flavor in this beer. But I just get a wallop of fruit peel and an aftertaste of more bitter peel and melon. In my mind, I’m trying to fit this beer in to the same dank rubric as Cedar Creek’s Dankosaurus, a beer that I feel needs the term dank in its name. So, what makes a beer a dank beer? For me, it’s an herbaceous aroma and flavor that makes me feel like I’m at a dispensary in Denver. While Dawn of the Dank does have a lot going on here, I don’t quite get that stoner flavor that I was hoping for. Other noticeable flavor highlights for me are the intensely bitter aftertaste and a continued-but-mellowing citrus flavor as the beer warms. I also sense a tingling on my lips from the onslaught of hop bitterness that made me belt out a couple sneezes brought on by this beer. Impressive!

Mouthfeel.
For a helmet beer clocking in at a massive 11.7 percent ABV, Dawn of the Dank finishes bright and dry with little sugar left. This is kinda neat, except that the bitterness seems to dominate the palate and dry my mouth out a bit. I wish the gravity was a couple points higher on the final gravity – this might mask some of that bitter aftertaste and help round out the mouthfeel. Carbonation remains high even as the beer warms.

Overall Impression.
I think this beer is fine. It fits in to the “Hey, check this out” novel sort of beer that I might crack open when friends are over and split it 6 ways. And it’s interesting. However, it’s just, well, a lot. At the risk of sounding like a total pussy, I’m maybe half-way through a can of this beer and I don’t think I’m going to stick around to finish it. I like an occasional higher-ABV beer, but I prefer to move more in to imperial stouts or barleywines for that. And while that’s more commentary on this style as a whole, it also applies to Dawn of the Dank. This beer is just huge, and I feel like it’s overkill. I’m left wondering if Cobra actually breaks even on this beer with the investment that goes into all the flavor, high ABV and expensive hop bill.

The package design on this beer is cool, and I was hoping that Cobra would keep this theme going with its next release. But I’m scratching my head wondering what the overall story or theme of the brewery is, or if there is one to begin with. I tried to read more about the brewery on its website, but I don’t see a whole lot on the brand’s story. And not to keep piling on, but if Cobra makes a more serious move on aligning on a brand story, it should consider hiring a copywriter.

Score. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give Cobra Brewing Company a 6.

Previous On Tap Reviews:
• Revolver’s Sangre y Miel: 10.
• Peticolas’ Royal Scandal: 10.
• Community’s Mosaic IPA: 10.
• Peticolas’ Velvet Hammer: 10.
• Collective Brewing Project’s Boysenbarrel: 10.
• Community’s Barrel-Aged Legion: 10.
• Community’s Legion: 10.
• Martin House River Horse: 9.75.
• BrainDead’s Fill in the Blancs: 9.5.
• Oak Highlands’ Freaky Deaky: 9.5.
• Deep Ellum’s Barrel Aged Four Swords: 9.5.
• Lakewood’s Saint Dymphna: 9.5.
• Peticolas’ Lost Epic: 9.5.
• Community’s Ascension Porter: 9.5.
• Lakewood’s Temptress: 9.5.
• Lakewood’s Goatman: 9.5.
• Community’s Public Ale: 9.5.
• Peticolas’ Thrilla in Brazilla: 9.5.
• Collective Brewing Project’s SMaSHY: 9.2
• On Rotation’s Lingonberry Sahti: 9.25.
• On Rotation’s Jalapeno Saison: 9.
• Woodcreek’s Bourbon Barrel Bock: 9.
• Lakewood’s Wild Manimal: 9.
• Revolver’s Blood & Honey: 9.
• Martin House’s Imperial Texan: 9.
• Community’s Trinity Tripel: 9.
• Peticolas’ Irish Goodbye: 9.
• Four Corners’ Block Party Porter: 9.
• Bankhead Brewing Co.’s Giggle Water: 9.
• Cedar Creek’s Belgian Dubbel: 9.
• Cedar Creek’s Poblano Paradise: 8.75.
• Small Brewpub’s Black Pepper Pils: 8.5.
• Peticolas’ Ghost Of Alfred Brown: 8.5.
• Deep Ellum’s Easy Peasy IPA: 8.5.
• Deep Ellum’s Oak Cliff Coffee Ale: 8.5.
• Lakewood’s Rock Ryder: 8.5.
• Rahr’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer: 8.5.
• Lakewood’s Raspberry Temptress: 8.5.
• Peticolas’ Prime Minister: 8.25.
• Lakewood’s Peach Artsy Tarsty: 8.25.
• Lakewood Brewing Grand Allowance: 8.
• HopFusion Ale Works’ Hairpin: 8
• Armadillo Ale Works’ Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale: 8.
• Community’s Texas Helles: 8.
• On Rotation’s Moar Blackberry: 8.
• Lakewood’s Thread Spinner: 8.
• Bishop Cider Co.’s Sour Cherry: 8.
• Texas Ale Project 50 Ft. Jackrabbit: 8.
• Pegasus City Brewing’ Nine Volt: 8.
• Texas Ale Project’s Payne Pils: 8.
• Noble Rey’s Bridesmaid’s Tears: 8.
• Collective Brewing’s Urban Funk House: 8.
• Pegasus City Brewery’s Cannoneer: 8.
• Lakewood’s On Call: 8.
• Oak Highlands’ Golden Mustache: 8.
• 903 Brewers’ Crackin’ Up: 8.
• Deep Ellum’s Play Date: 8.
• Rahr & Sons Brewing Company’s 11th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout: 8.
• Bitter Sisters’ Belgian Tripel: 8.
• Noble Rey’s SteamPunk: 8.
• 903 Brewers’ Citra On Top: 8.
• Bitter Sisters’ Hissy Fit: 8.
• BrainDead’s Gritz: 8.
• Community’s Barrel-Aged Inspiration : 8.
• Cedar Creek’s Fisticuffs: 8.
• Lakewood’s Punkel: 8.
• Four Corners’ El Chingon IPA: 8.
• Martin House’s Day Break: 8.
• Deep Ellum’s GOURDzilla: 8.
• Peticolas’ The Duke (Aged 12 Months): 8.
• Deep Ellum’s Pale Ale: 8.
• Revolver’s Bock: 8.
• 903 Brewers’ Sasquatch: 8.
• Peticolas’ Wintervention: 8.
• Armadillo Ale Works’ Brunch Money: 8.
• Martin House’s Salsa Verde: 8.
• Cedar Creek’s Spinning Mule Robust Porter: 8.
• Lakewood’s Holiday Bonus: 8.
• Lakewood’s Hop Trapp: 8.
• Four Corners Brewing Company Homie Brew: 7.75.
• Cedar Creek’s Grapefruit Haze: 7.75.
• Martin House Brewing’s Big Hoppa: 7.75.
• TUPPS Full Grown Man: 7.75.
• 3 Nations American Wit: 7.75.
• Armadillo Ale Works’ Dapper Apple: 7.75.
• Chimera Dirty Dog: 7.5.
• Legal Draft’s Accused Amber Lager: 7.5.
• Grapevine’s Reserve Tart Cherry Berliner Weisse: 7.5.
• Martin House’s Stars Above: 7.5.
• Grapevine’s Prickly Pear Wheat Ale: 7.5.
• Texas Ale Project’s Good To Go: 7.5.
• Bitter Sisters’ Knock Out: 7.5.
• Four Corners’ Notorious O.A.T.: 7.5.
• Noble Rey Golden Rey With Raspberries and Ginger: 7.5.
• On Rotation Saved By The Belma: 7.5.
• True Vine’s Unicorn’s Revenge: 7.5.
• Deep Ellum’s Hop Seeker: 7.5.
• Four Corners’ El Super Bee: 7.5.
• Lakewood’s Hopochondria: 7.5.
• Three Nations GPA: 7.5.
• Martin House’s Rubberneck Red: 7.5.
• Lakewood’s Antigoon’s Revenge: 7.5.
• Community’s Texas Pils: 7.5.
• Lakewood’s Zomer Pils: 7.5.
• Cedar Creek’s Dankosaurus: 7.5.
• Cedar Creek Brewery Clover Kicker: 7.25.
• Noble Rey Sex In A Canoe: 7.25.
• Oak Highlands Brewery’s Oktoberfest.: 7.25.
• Deep Ellum Rye Pils: 7.
• 3 Nations Mango SMASH IPA: 7.
• Legal Draft Chief Justice Stout: 7.
• Manhattan Project’s Plutonium-239: 7.
• Backcountry’s Texas IPA: 7.
• Backcountry’s Double IPA: 7.
• Wild Acre Brewing Company’s Billy Jenkins: 7.
• Rahr’s Visionary: 7.
• Shannon Brewing’s Irish Cream Ale: 7.
• Oak Highlands’ Guava Good: 7.
• TUPPS Brewery’ Northbound 75: 7.
• Rahr & Sons’ Iron Joe: 7.
• BrainDead’s I Like Harvey IPA: 7.
• Martin House’s Turtle Power: 7.
• Collective’s Petite Golden Sour: 7.
• Shannon’s Chocolate Stout: 7.
• BrainDead’s Red Ale: 7.
• Community’s Razzy Raspberry Witbier: 7.
• Martin House’s Gateway Blonde Ale: 7.
• Bearded Eel’s Purple Unicorn: 7.
• Noble Rey’s Off The Leash: 7.
• Shannon Brewing Company’s Irish Red: 7.
• Texas Ale Project’s Somethin’ Shady: 7.
• Deep Ellum IPA: 7.
• Cedar Creek’s The Lawn Ranger: 7.
• Martin House Brewing Company’s Cellarman’s Reserve IPA (Amarillo).: 7.
• Lakewood’s Till & Toil: 7.
• 903 Brewers’ The Chosen One: 7.
• 903 Brewers’ Sugar On Top: 7.
• Martin House’s Gateway XPA: 7.
• Armadillo Ale Work’s Quakertown Stout: 7.
• Revolver’s High Brass: 7.
• Community’s Pale Ale: 7.
• Oak Highlands’ Chump Change: 7.
• Martin House’s River House: 7.
• Grapevine Craft Brewery’s Sir William’s Brown Ale: 7.
• Community’s Funnel Cake Ale: 7.
• Audacity’s Boss Raptor IPA: 7.
• Community Brewing Company’s Silly Gose: 6.75
• Martin House’s Queen of the Mist (Prickly Pear): 6.75.
• Three Nations Texas Xmas Hazelnut Ale: 6.5.
• Martin House’s The Juice: 6.5.
• Collective Brewing Project’s Mom Azacca: 6.5.
• Four Corners’ La Lechuza: 6.5.
• Revolver’s Ironhead IPA: 6.5.
• 903 Brewers’ Trot Line: 6.5.
• Four Corners’ Celebración: 6.5.
• Peticolas’ Operation Collaboration: 6.5.
• Grapevine Craft Brewery’s Nightwatch: 6.5.
• Peticolas’ The Duke: 6.5.
• Deep Ellum’s Double Brown Stout : 6.5.
• Cedar Creek’s Maui Wowie: 6.25.
• On Rotation’s Mexican Barleywine: 6.25.
• Wild Acre’s Tarantula Hawk: 6.
• Martin House’s Kafkaesque: 6.
• TUPPS’ Cotton Mill Gold: 6.
• Rabbit Hole’s Tweedleyum: 6.
• Rabbit Hole’s Off With Your Red: 6.
• Cedar Creek’s Elliott’s Phoned Home Pale Ale: 6
• Grapevine Craft Brewery’s Lakefire: 6
• Armadillo Ale Works’ WunderMelon: 6
• Cobra Brewing Company’s Dawn of the Dank: 6
• Deep Ellum Pale Ale: 6
• Lakewood’s Troll Toll: 5.5.
• Martin House’s Hell Below: 5.5.
• Lakewood’s La Dame Du Lac: 5.5.
• Woodcreek’s Lakeside Cerveza: 5.
• Martin House Cuvee Pumpkin Latte: 5.
• Intrinsic’s Crunktoberfest: 5.
• Martin House’s Mind On My Money: 5.
• 903 Brewers’ The Land Of Milk And Honey: 5.
• Deep Ellum’s Numb Comfort: 5.
• TUPPS’ Day Off: 4.75.
• Four Bullets’ Black Jack Brown: 4.5.
• Audacity’s Checkered Past: 4.
• Four Corners Heart O’ Texas: 4.
• Audacity’s Sunset Boulevard: 4.
• Shannon Brewing Company’s IPA: 4.
• Grapevine’s Monarch: 4.
• Good Neighbor Brews Slim Sweetness: 3.
• Twin Peaks’ Dirty Blonde: 3.
• Franconia Wheat: 3.
• 903 Brewers’ Mythical Creatures: 2.5.
• Miller Lite: 1.