16 oz can from Belgian-Style Ales online. Wanted to grab this before it goes away forever. Obviously this is not a NEIPA (or maybe it IS!), but it certainly looks (and drinks) a little like one. Bright orange body, with some chill-haze that gives a slight impression of haziness. Nice rocky head. The combination of hops (mosaic, citra, amarillo and simcoe) give a real juicy effect, and frankly not one that I care for much. It's very soft in the mouth, lacking bitterness (30 IBUs says the can)...
Notes on beers in the style
American IPA
Shoreline Brewery Sum Nug
I suppose that this is what the kids would, these days, call “a West Coast IPA”*. Of course, that’s UTTER bullshit, because what it really is is no more than just a simple, American IPA that isn’t a hazed New England mess of a juice. *East Coast doesn’t mean ‘hazy’, and West Coast doesn’t mean ‘not hazy’ - WTF is wrong with beer these days? Anyway, $5.99 from Service Liquors East, Warsaw, IN. A 22 oz bomber, an unusual sight these days amongst the cans. BTW, I (generally) hate cans too....
Jai Alai IPA – Papaya
750 mL bottle as part of a care package from Joey at the brewery. Many thanks. Nothing on the label to suggest that this beer has Jai Alai as the base, but reading the reviews it apparently does. The label is attractive and it suggests a fruity, rich experience is in store - that doesn't really happen for me. Pour is a VERY attractive deep copper color with a high, fluffy head. The color is very rich and reminds me of one of those high def photographs that has that orange hue. The beer looks...
Wipeout I.P.A.
Review #2600 on BA. On tap at Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, Atlanta, GA, USA. 16 oz pour. The beer comes as a hazed, mid-orange pour with the emphasis on the cloudy nature of the beer. Quite 'dense' looking which is OK for the nice, two-finger head that forms, but less appealing in the body of the beer. Typical, west coast, American IPA is the simple analysis here; large, piney, resinous grapefruit in the nose which intensifies on warming. More of the same in the tastes with perhaps...
Modus Hoperandi
12 oz can from the Beer Dispensary, Apex, NC, USA. I've had this beer a few times before, but this is the first review. There is absolutely no doubt that the nose that the beer generates is absolutely unique and extraordinary. A big, fat, green, fresh hop presence that lingers and is the highlight of the beer for me. The copper colored, clear body gives a tremendously impressive head and a lot of sticky lace. Good signs. Some metallic notes and plenty of bitterness that lingers and drives the...
Mugshot IPA
Wow, I really, really, really like this beer. Pour is a mid-orange/copper with nice clarity, a little chill haze and a head that although present, could be better - HOWEVER, I watched the barstaff at Taco Mac pour this, and know that they did not do a good job so I suspect I could get a better appearance than they managed. Nose and tastes are SUBTLE! Imagine that! Very light fruits with some subtle, sweeter fruits like peaches, but a healthy dose of sweetened grapefruit giving the true IPA...
Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA
12 oz single, Total Wine, Perimeter, Atlanta, GA, USA. Nice mid-copper pour with plenty of light carbonation and some decent, broken white, airy head. For an American IPA the nose is really quite malty. It reminds me a little of a Sam Oktoberfest. Quite a shock. Tastes are also strangely sweet and malt based with what comes across as a layering effect of bitterness from the hops. Middle, back end and finish combine to give quite a coinage metal effect and a short, sharp grapefruit ending. I...
Rumble IPA
12 oz single. Pour gives a copper colored clarity and a nice, full white head. Quite creamy looking. The appearance is without question the highlight here. Nose has a lot of soapy character and not much else. I like the soap note in the nose, but it does not really get carried forward into the tastes. The beer is quite bitter - with a metallic twang. I'm not sure that oaking an IPA is a wise move, and the combination seems to create a very, very bitter affair with all the bad aspects of...
IPA
12 oz single, taken from notes, many thanks to Kevin for the opportunity to try this one. There IS a freshness "strip" on the side of the label, but as is sometimes the case, the notches are missing - frustrating. A hazy orange pour, a sticky white head but a few yeast particles/floaties that I could do without. When the particles settle at the bottom of the glass we see some medium carbonation. The head is nicely retained and the stickiness is always a good sign for a beer like this. Nose has...
Red Racer IPA
Thanks go out to BA finewinemike for this beer as part of my Secret Santa package for 2010. A Canadian born IPA in can, quite the novelty! The pour produces a slightly hazed, orange body with lots of white head and some super, sticky lace - always a good sign. Nose and tastes deliver some very fresh, clean light grapefruit notes, but it's never really aggressive. Finish IS on the dry side of things, but again lacks the puckering aggression that can sometimes come with the style. Clean, lightly...
Jai Alai IPA
=== Original Review 11/10 === Drunk on numerous occasions on a recent trip to Jacksonville, FL, USA. This review is taken from one of the draft servings. High head sits a top the amber body and leaves some superb, sticky lace. The aroma and tastes match one another in as much as the beer gives a high fruit element amongst the hops. This is a fruity tasting IPA indeed, BUT it in no way skimps on the hop profile either. It's pretty unusual in the way in manages to combine the two elements that...
Jai Alai Cedar Aged IPA – Humidor Series
750 mL capped bottle from a recent Jacksonville visit. Bottle label has the large "H" on the front as per a (newer) design than in the BA db picture. Pour is a hazy, clouded light orange with a lovely, thick and creamy head. The creamy nature of the beer carries forward to the mouthfeel which is quite rich. This is one interesting beer with a LOT of white pepper and herbal notes. It's really quite medicinal amongst the strong hop base, and the beer comes together quite well. The light aniseed...
Estate Homegrown Wet Hop Ale
VERY robust bottle with annoying wax over the cap. Quite an effort to get into it. $9.99 for the bottle, NOT good value. Nice light amber pour with a smallish head but it does produce a little lace. Plenty of citrus, slightly onion-based aromas. Tastes are clean, obviously nicely hopped and straightforward but ultimately forgettable. Well balanced and refreshing, but in the end it's simply just another hop-forward Sierra Nevada beer and not much else. In that respect it seems a bit pointless...
Terrapin So Fresh & So Green Green
22 oz bottle. Gold foil on the neck as per other Terrapin offerings. Perfect golden clarity on the pour with some nice carbonation. Head and lace are a touch disappointing for me. Nose and tastes are typical for the style, at least until the back end and the finish. The finish adds some fusel alcohol to the mix that I don't care for and sits especially badly in the style. Plenty of organic hop notes with serious sinus clearing capabilities, but the finish on the beer is quite boozy and beyond...
Inukshuk IPA
16 oz pint at Taco Mac, East West Connector, Atlanta/Austell, GA, USA. Strange one this. The beer pours an unattractive, soup-like, nasty, brown, murky color like dirty water. A mediocre head and virtually no retention complete the ugliness of the delivery - really unattractive color, especially for something that calls itself an IPA. The funny thing is, that the beer tastes a LOT better than the appearance would suggest, BUT it is an incredibly fruity, sweet IPA and NOT one that shows any...
Spotless IPA (Brewmaster Reserve 2010)
22 oz bottle from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Always interested to try a new Full Sail brew because I think that they brew some really good quality, simple beers. The nose offers a bright citrus and a touch of alcohol. The pour is a very slightly hazed, pale orange with a frothy head with mid level density. Some lace. The tastes are very fruity upfront. Some nice, sweetish orange and other citrus notes at the front end which turn into more bitter citrus notes (grapefruit) on the back end with...
Route 113 India Pale Ale
12 oz can. Very interesting beer. The pour gives an amazingly dark, copper color with superb clarity. The copper color is pronounced and quite dark for the style. Nice head, decent lace, good looker. There is a real, significant bitterness in the nose and initial tastes, but these change to a quite obvious, herbal, earthy, light spiced hop note. It feels quite organic. The beer lacks any real dry character (that I was expecting), but still delivers a firm finish. Hints of grapefruit are also...
Nelson
22 oz bottle courtesy of BitterBill. Thanks Bill! Pour produces a beautiful color. A really rich orange and an excellent head with some sticky lace. Very nice to look at. The nose and the tastes are one and the same and exhibit and extraordinary deep, clean and sharp hop note. The hop is, without question, a unique one and the cleanliness of it is what stands out for me. Overall the beer does exhibit a large, West Coat hop feel, but at the same time it seems incredibly light. Plenty of sweet...
Halcyon
500 mL bottle, gold foil on the neck. Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. 2009 hop harvest, beer bottled in April 2010. OK, pretty interested to find my first Thornbridge beer in the US, There's been plenty of talk about this brewery and I'm keen to make up my own mind and to experience some of their beers for myself. Very unusual appearance. In a nutshell the beer resembles a Hefe in terms of the color. A hazy, orange, butterscotch affair with some fizzy carbonation. Head is small and not very well...
Rye 75
Big thanks go out to Kevin for the chance to try this BBC beer. Impressive, champagne style presentation with a THICK, gold foil on the neck of the capped, 750 mL behemoth! Pour gives a standard, mid brown IPA-like body but some excellent, thick, frothy head and lace that lingers. Solid looking. Nose gives a very distinct rye whiff right off the bat, and this builds even more with increasing temperature. The tastes do the same, with the spiced rye building over the course of the beer as the...
Hippie I.P.A.
Thanks go out to Seth for the chance to try this one. Poured from the 22 oz bomber the body is a lightly hazed, light copper color. The head is light and fluffy but impressive in terms of retention and lace. Bone white. If the truth be told this is a very simple beer, but well constructed and the kind of thing that could easily be overlooked. Careful attention will find an easy drinking, well built American IPA that should garner respect. Malty and bready nose and upfront tastes are followed...
Ranger
On tap Taco Mac, Douglasville, GA, USA. Pour is a very attractive golden hue with very good sticky lace. Appearance is the best part of the beer for me. Steady but mild bitterness with a clean edge that showcase the apparently pale malt base and the fresh hop feel. Aroma is clean. Well constructed for sure, but to be honest ultimately not a stand-out by any stretch. The bazillionth solid American IPA - yawn. Not sure how thi stuff will carve a niche for itself. Decent drinkability but not...
Founders Centennial IPA
12 oz stubbie in the usual Founders presentation. Founders came to Georgia this week and I've had plenty before, but I've never reviewed this. Seemed like a good idea to crack on with this beer this evening. Mid orange pour with a touch of cloudiness. Head is not huge, nor is the retention great but the lace is very good with a real sticky nature. Pretty green, grassy hop aroma is the simple nose. Not massive, but clear and clean in its presence and without pretense. It is what it is. The...
Terrapin Hopsecutioner
In the Terrapin mixed 12 pack, will be out in sixers shortly I understand. 12oz bottle. Pour gives a very nice, mid-golden body with good clarity. Head is white, well formed and provides some lace. Nose is that of a fresh, wet hopped beer which may be as much a function of its freshness as anything else. Tastes are very simple. Initially very clean and hoppy - good, but after that it gets pretty sweet and the hops build a little. In addition there is also a slight floral note and even a bit of...
Lucky U IPA
12 oz single from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Attractive orange color on the pour with an excellent head and some superb lace. Not perfect clarity, some chill haze. Retention is pretty good. Nose gives away a hoppy sweetness. The tastes are, in some ways, rather extraordinary. The beer is, to all intents and purposes, not much other than pure, sweetened grapefruit juice. The grapefruit taste is amazingly strong and singular in its...
Sierra Nevada Estate Brewers Harvest Ale
24 oz bottle from Total Wine, Perimeter, Atlanta, GA, USA. $9.99 for the privilege! Second time I've had this. Pour is a surprisingly red body with a nice high, white rocky head that produces some really nice lace in the glass. Apart from the fact that the body has a rather odd color for an IPA (which may bother some), it looks pretty good. Nose gives a pretty large dose of resinous, west coast hops with sinus clearing properties. The nose seems really "green" and fresh, like a wet-hopped...
Southwest V IPA
Simple and good quality example of the style. The most abiding memory of this beer was the lace. Very fine, but also sticky and very abundant. Light orange tones with a fruity nose that belies its American roots. Slightly reminded me of an English version with a light touch on the alcohol and the hops. A gentle and subtle beer that would have some serious potential for crossover. Good summer drinking and nice beer to introduce the beer ignorant to. Approachable.
Hi.P.A.
12 oz single. Pour is a very average looking, slightly hazed, dark orange with a fair degree of haze. The head is a decent froth with some density and a good spotty covering and collar. Produces some decent lace. Mild, simple hop profile in the nose which carries through to the taste. A malt profile that is quite large as well, which will probably upset some lovers of American IPA's. The balance is there, it's simple and it's, well...balanced! Imagine that! In that respect it is rather like...
Punk IPA
=== Updated review 06/10 === Batch 088, Best Before 27 (or 21)/04/11. 12 oz bottle shipped directly from Scotland by James. Many thanks. Much the same as below. Still very good clarity and a decent amount of fruit amongst the (relatively) highly hopped tastes (at least for an English IPA). The lace is better than I have seen in the past. Still drinks nicely, and although this is NOT my idea of a typical, English version of the style, I style think it's a decent beer. === Original review 09/09...
Snapperhead IPA
Well, well, well, what do we have here? DELIGHTED to see this make it to the GA market for a whole bunch of reasons. I got this single 12 oz can from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. OK, let me give the summary right off the top. This beer is a VERY atypical American IPA. If you are looking for a representative beer in that style/category you are going to be disappointed, I on the other hand, am absolutely DELIGHTED with this beer. Firstly it's great to have the added flexibility of craft beer in...
2009 Correction Ale
With a few exceptions you can pretty much rely on Lagunitas to put together a solid, good value beer and this is NOT one of those exceptions. 22 oz bomber all but a drop goes into the Youngs, imperial pint glass. Color is pretty striking and indeed, just plain pretty. A deep, golden orange with great clarity. Head is a touch disappointing though, as is the retention and lace. It gives the beer a bit of "thin" look. In relaity the mouthfeel is a notch below "good". Big C hops with a touch of...
Sierra Nevada IDEA
Had this on tap at Manuel's, Atlanta, GA, USA. 16 oz pour. A bit turbid in the glass, not an especially attractive beer. A bit of a strange brew to say the least. Not sure how I would categorize it but it seemed to me like a cross between a brown ale and an IPA. To me, that generally means "American Brown Ale" with some of the appearance of a brown, but a hoppier presence that would otherwise be expected in such a beer. There are some dark malts present up front, and given SN's liberal use of...
Halligan RyePA
22 oz bottle that came to me in a trade about two weeks before it arrived in GA - typical! Oh well, it saved me from buying it, which, as it turns out, was a pretty good thing! Pour gives a mid orange/amber body with an alarming number of air bubbles clinging to the inside of the glass. The bubbles clear to yield a white, smallish haed that leaves very little lace and fades to a thin layer on the surface of the beer. Color seems a bit light. Nose and tastes are mainly simple, pale malts and...
Scratch Beer 12 – 2008
Interesting since this beer ultimately drinks a little more like an English IPA than an American version. Nice lace form the 12 oz bottle into the 20 oz, Youngs (real) pint glass. Relatively light and subtle with good, orange color and mild alcohol. There are big floral notes in the nose and tastes for me that accentuate the light touch with the hops and meld weel with the malt backbone. Floral is the lingering memory of this beer. Ultimately this beer represents a simplier version of the...
Simcoe Single Hop IPA
11.2 oz bottle (that cunningly looks exactly like a 12 oz bottle) with 22/10/10 printed on the cap. Poured this one into the 22 oz Terrapin snifter. Large, two finger head that is retained OK and leaves some lace. Orange and significantly carbonated body with a lot of floaties. Light citrus note in the nose that is not really aggressive. In fact, quite sweet, tangerine like smells collect in the bowl of the glass. Pretty astringent hops in the taste and it finishes dry. There is not much to...
Union Jack India Pale Ale
This 12 oz bottle graces my table courtesy of Robert; many thanks! Pour is a slightly clouded, deep orange in typical American IPA style. Head is small and white but has some fine lace. Nose has the requisite soapy and citrus notes, but is is restrained. Tastes follow the nose pretty faithfully. Very light citrus and hops gently kiss the palate, but you know that they are much deeper and aggressive than they are prepared to give away at first. A bit like a dirty girl on a first date! To carry...
Rocky Mountain IPA
Taco Mac, East West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. Over $5.00 for the 16 oz pour. VERY strong, astringent hop aroma that was reminiscent of of much hoppier beer. Almost double IPA like. Standard, mid amber pour with a nice head and some decent lace. The beer drinks much milder than the aroma would have you think. Pretty well balanced for an American IPA and drinkable with a solid backbone. I must admit that although this is a solid beer, quite how it can hope to win a serious part of the...
Shiva IPA
Bomber from Riverside Beverage in Chattanooga, TN, USA. I *think* that this was $3.99 (maybe $4.99). Either way, pretty good value I'd say. Orange/amber pour in the Duvel tulip from the 22 oz bomber. Clarity is very obvious. The head is very small with a touch of lace. Spotty film forms on the surface and produces a small collar. Nose delivers a light, earthy hop note but not much else. There is a decent dose of diacetyl in the taste which is a little unfortunate. It doesn't spoil the beer...
Big Red IPA
Well, essentially pretty much what you would expect for a brewpub cranking out a standard, solid IPA. Nothing remotely spectacular, pretty much average all the way around. Rather than "red" I got a copper tone with a small head and disappointing lace (clean glasses?). Simple hop and malt balance which is its strong point. Mild citrus all the way around in terms of the nose and taste and not much else. A very simple effort which the best comment can be "at least they didn't screw it up".
Hopgasm
Clouded copper pour with plenty of haze and a nice, sticky head. Nose and tastes simply reflect the style very well. There are plenty of slightly resinous notes and a complimentary, slightly slick mouthfeel to go with it that is appropriate. Malts are in check, which again is appropriate but to me the combo seems somewhat tired. I'm not sure if the style is getting to my palate, but the beer gave me a bit of a yawn factor. Why not brew something DIFFERENT to make a mark? An entirely...
BarrelHouse Boss Cox Double Dark IPA
22 oz bomber. Not quite sure what a "Double Dark" IPA is, but there you go - more nonsense marketing guf. Pour is indeed very dark, even red for an IPA. Good clarity but it seems a touch over-carbonated leading to a little prickly nature in the body. Head is ivory and small, but there is a small amount of sticky lace that adheres to the glass. NOT typical of the style in my book. To me this drinks MUCH more like a red ale, with that distinct dry character and malt bitterness that one might...
Sculpin India Pale Ale
Thanks go out to Grant for a chance to try this one at The Brick Store, Decatur, GA, USA. Pale orange pour with good clarity and a small, soapy ill-formed head. Quite floral in the nose. Not nearly as big as I was expecting given the reputation of this beer. Well balanced - even quite sweet - there is just no way that I would describe this a a very hoppy beer at all. Floral, sweet notes continue through the beer until a bitter finish. Not what I was expecting at all. Well balanced, refreshing...
Full Sail IPA
12 oz single. Very standard but nevertheless attractive, American IPA pour. Mid-orange body with a touch of haze but eh body is pretty clear. Pitted, rocky head that is NOT huge but is well formed; sticky lace - nice looking "pint". Some soapy, IPA notes but ultimately this is quite sweet both in the nose and the taste. Mild tangerine and some simple, orange peel bitterness in the back end. Yep, a nice, simple, tasty brew with solid attributes and tasty (ALMOST) sessionability. Tidy.
HopArt IPA
Tried this several times last weekend including a half pint dispensed at the brewery by Jaime herself. Subsequently at Sesame (a GREAT little sandwich place around the corner) and a couple more times. High, off-white head with a sticky lace residue. Quite sweet upfront by this levels out to give a well balanced brew. To my palate this is very obviously dry-hopped. If it ISN'T then it sure as hell tastes like it. Hazed appearance. Mild soapy notes, some grapefruit and a refreshing grassy malt...
Corne Du Diable
12oz single from Green's, Buford, Atlanta, GA, USA. Lovely looking, chill hazed amber pour with a towering ivory, thick rocky head. Nice lace. Head retention is good. Nose is really that of the one that you usually associate with a bigger, west coast DIPA - all sugary, resinous notes. DEFINITELY an American IPA in terms of its bitterness. A real, peppery bite throughout the beer and not much subtlety about it. It's OK because it is balanced with some good caramel malts, but it still stings a...
Green Flash West Coast I.P.A.
12oz stubbie. $1.89 apparently. Quintessential West Coast IPA in terms of appearance, nose and taste - NEVER has a beer been more aptly named! Clouded orange body with a high rocky head with good retention and excellent lace. Quintessential (there simply isn't a better word to use) citrus hop nose and grapefruit resinous hop bite. Drinks smoothly and easily, but you have to be in the mood for west coast hops to enjoy this fully. If for any reason you are not a fan of the sub-style then I would...
Lagunitas IPA
Picture form 04/23. Original notes 11/14/08 12 oz single. I've been drinking this for a few years now, time for a review. Classic, light chill-hazed orange body with a small head but better lace than the head would suggest. Nose and tastes have that very distinctive Lagunitas hop sweetness that can be a little overwhelming. Very floral. Sweetness lingers and there is a bit of an odd floral note in there too. It's a very distinctive beer which requires a certain hankering for me before I reach...
Blind Pig IPA
Split this 500 mL bottle with brickstoredave on a quiet Wednesday afternoon. Pour is a light colored body with a soapy looking head and lace on top. It's pretty simple to summarize this beer. VERY hoppy, very dry and very American in terms of ita "American" IPA style. Not really my cup of tea. The hops in the taste and nose are fairly astringent, and although not huge, they give a certain one-dimensionality to the beer. It's just not subtle and at the same time lacks complexity. Frankly...
Dragonfly IPA
12 oz bottle from Bloomington, IN by way of Penney - many thanks. I'd never heard of Upland, but I am always keen to try a fresh, local product so this brew was a welcome gift. Slightly clouded, pale orange color with some nice carbonation. Head is small, but hangs around. Lace is not extensive but is recognizable. Clean fresh and grassy floral hops greet the nose and the tasebuds - decent stuff. Decent bitterness in the finish and the malts seem rather well balanced. Tasty offering and...
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)
To say that I have grown tired of SN may be an exaggeration, but I've been drinking less and less of their products recently. I've grown a touch wary of these somewhat bland and certainly unimaginative hop based pale ales that they turn out time and time again. There are about 9 or 10 beers that are close to identical - what's the point? This has been in ATL for a long time but I had no interest in a sixer for the reasons above, so I bought this one as a 12 oz bottle at Taco Mac in...
Brickyard IPA
Not sure if this one should be entered as a DIPA, but for now it's just a LARGE IPA! Josh says, "Light Copper in color, with a huge hop aroma followed by a strong hop bitterness. This one is for all you hop heads out there!" I would describe the color as much more yellow than copper. A real butterscotch hue in the glass, with almost a "cask like" head. For those of you unfamiliar, that means really just some soapy bubbles on top of the beer rather than a tightly formed, compact and dense...
Mojo IPA
12oz bottle as a single from Mac's Midtown as part of their $7.99 mixed sixer. A recent addition to the Atlanta market, but I have had a few Boulder beers before so I wasn't expecting any surprises; there were none. Golden pour with a light and fluffy head. Large bubbles form meaning the head is not a dense one. Light wispy lace is attractive. Looks really nice in 500mL Harpoon IPA glass. Bold hop nose lets you know immediately what you are dealing with - a SOLID American IPA. Slightly...
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
On-tap at The Brick Store, Atlanta, GA, USA. Whatever. What's the point in SN producing yet ANOTHER hoppy beer? I just don't get it. In the wake of so many others in their portfolio, this is just another average, hoppy brew. Golden yellow (macro like) pour with a semi-decent head. Hoppy aroma which is obviously translated into the taste. Overbearing hops - not in a very aggressive way, but just unbalanced and mediocre. Tired. Seems like a cross between the PA, The Harvest and the (HA, HA!)...
Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale
=== 2010 vintage 05/13/10 === Fresher hop taste and much "greener" than I remember in the past. The beer seems a little darker too, with a more bitter, metallic finish than I remember. Al in all the beer seems more aggressive and has a harder edge than in past years. Still in the 24 oz bottle, a slightly different label this year. Green's on Ponce. === 2009 vintage 05/12/09 === Much the same as last year (unsurprisingly) and HIGHLY predictable from SN - even perhaps a little boring! === 2008...
Bengali Tiger
13oz pour at Sunset Grill & Tap, Boston (Allston), MA, USA. Delighted to find a beer on cask. Orange-bronze, hazed pour with small amounts of carbonation, head and lace (obviously!) Subtle hop notes make up the nose and the taste. Nothing overpowering here, and this is a welcome change of pace from double-this and triple-that. Certainly some light floral notes, but I get some really strong English hop influence here. I have NO idea which hops are actually used in this beer, but it seems...
Mayflower IPA
Delighted to have the opportunity to quaff some of this at Sunset Grill & Tap, Boston (Allston), MA, USA. 13oz pour. Relatively new to the market, Matt has produced a very simple, subtle beer again. I don't know what his intention was, but essentially apart from the rather high ABV, he has produced an English version of the style rather than an American one. More subtlety than in your face - I love it! I WISH more brewers would do this. Mid-brown pour, not really especially attractive and...
Terrapin Hop Shortage Ale
My second 22 oz bottle of Terrapin's first special offering. Delighted to get this in the larger serving size. Excellent clarity on the pour reveals a super, light orange body with a nice light head, and some sticky lace. Looks clean and inviting. Big, citrus pine in the nose. No holds barred in the aroma, and it begins to make me wonder if this is going to be one of those hop bombs that rips the roof of your mouth off. Luckily it doesn't. The taste is much sweeter and less abrasive than the...
Big Sky IPA
12oz bottle as a single from BA russpowell in a recent trade. Thanks! 318 07 3 on the bottle neck. Run-of-the-mill American IPA with a hop base that is consistent with the style, slightly unbalanced and mildly puckering. Malt is there but battered by the hops. The head is small and poorly retained. Decent color, more on the brown side rather than the oft orange side of things. Nose is fairly aggressive with a citrus ine combo. At the end of the day an OK American IPA, but it's somewhat lost in...
Dundee India Pale Ale
Snagged in the bargain bucket at Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA as a 12oz single for $0.75. Can't go wrong. Light copper colored body with a fairly large, but not very dense, creamy head. Some lace. Small bubbles persistently rising from the bottom of the Sweetwater Pils glass. Surprisingly malty nose with a little hop presence. Balanced IPA initially, but really shows its American side in the finish and aftertaste. Smooth and tempered up front, but then quite a metallic, grassy...
Cottonwood Endo India Pale Ale
Purchased as a 12oz single from Total Wine on a recent visit to Charlotte, NC, USA. Darker pour than I was expecting for the style with a nice, creamy looking head and some minimal lace. Body is a little murky for my liking, lacking clarity. Mild carbonation. Soapy element to the nose. Mild caramel backbone with some grassy, organic like hops also detectable. A little bitterness in the finish, but not a great deal. Smooth in the mouth, possibly the best feature of this beer. Some lingering...
Wreck The Halls
Big thanks go out to russpowell for the chance to sample this one. 22 oz bomber, red label that is very different to the one in the picture in the BA db (perhaps it changes annually?). Pour is a dark, cloudy orange with a nice, noisy, creamy, dense head. Lace is apparent, but not to the extent that the head leads one to believe. Head fades quickly. Nice, mild orange peel nose with some mild sinus clearing hops. Medicinal like bitterness meets the tongue at first, and then slips into that...
Founders Harvest Ale
Pretty sure that this came from Vancer as part of CEO/Old Farts BIF. Thanks man! 12oz stubbie bottle in the typical Founder's style. Advertised as 7% on the label rather than the 6.1% in the BA db. Lots of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Pour is a cloudy, deep orange with a large, bubbly head. Lace in minimal but there is some there. Really grassy, organic nose (as expected from the wet hopping). Hop based brew which sort of belies the APA style, this is more like an English IPA to me....
Furious
Thanks go out to Mikegroove for this unexpected bonus in a recent package. 1 pint can. Slightly murky, darkish orange pour with a VERY impressive head and some of the best lace I have seen in ages - amazingly thick and sticky. Nice hoppy nose. The taste invokes some serious dry bitterness from the hops. The malts that are advertised on the can are frankly not particularly apparent. Lingering bitterness. Plenty of citrus pine, but it slightly lacks the fresh, edgy nature of some similar, west...
Jockamo IPA
12oz stubbie, $4.50, Taco Mac, East-West Connector, Austell, Atlanta, GA, USA. Mid-orange pour with a high, light (large bubbles) head. Some broken lace, and the head stays on as a film. Sinus clearing hop aroma that increases with temperature. Mouthfeel is a little thin, but it IS a clean beer. Quite refreshing if a little light. Dry hops apparent in the finish. Mild hop bitterness, but I am left wanting something else. Slightly lacking for me, but with a bit of tweaking I think I could get...
Hops Infusion
12oz bottle purchased in Greensboro, NC, USA as a single - Total Wine. Non-descript code toward the bottom of bottle 4123061070221. Poured in to the 16oz shaker pint. Aggressive pour leads to a nice half-inch head (pillow like) and some good, well defined lace. A light copper colored body with very slight haze. Some mild carbonation. Nose certainly does not reflect much hoppiness. Clean and simple, a nice IPA and a welcome change of pace from the massive hop profiles that STILL seem to be en...
IPA (India Pale Ale)
Part of a mixed 12 pack (along with the Porter, Raspberry Wheat and Phin & Matt's). 12oz bottle. Pretty much a perfect example of the style. Light orange, slightly hazed pour with a large, bone-white, billowing head. Lots of sticky lace - a classic and good sign in this style. Nice sweet and bitter combo on the tongue with the hops winning in the finish. Standard mouthfeel with a little prickly carbonation. A slight metallic nature too. Drinks more like a sessionable ABV than the 6.5%. Easy,...
Stateside IPA
16.9oz bottle, Green's, Buford, Atlanta, GA, USA. Overall, very, very tasty. Light orange pour, with (at first) what seems a high level of carbonation. After a few minutes of warming, this levels out to leave a very attractive sticky head and lace which is more reminiscent of a West Coast IPA. Mouthfeel is very, very light. Lots and lots of fruit in the initial tastes which eventually catches up to a hoppy finish, but nevertheless the large fruitiness is the key here. I like it a lot, but to...
India Pale Ale (IPA)
12oz single from Total Wine, Kennesaw, GA, USA. Pour is great looking with a 1/2 inch dense white head, lovely light orange color, well carbonated and a nice amount of sticky lace. Promises much. Sweet malts are the initial tastes. These fade to give the hop burst. Fresh and sharp, with a lingering bitter aftertaste that smacks of a little aspirin. I wouldn't call it unbalanced, but I would prefer the malts to linger alongside the persistent bitterness. The finish is a little out of kilter....
Bison Organic IPA
12oz single. Total Wine, Kennesaw, GA, USA. Pale orange, unfiltered pour with a serious lack of head, lace or retention. Disappointing look. Flat looking. Nose has some hops but gives a little bown sugar too. The taste is overwhelmingly sweet (even for my taste) and its way out of style in that respect. Body lacks life. Dead looking brew. Reminiscent of iced tea. First and last bottle of this one.
Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale
This USED to be listed as a different beer each year in the BA db but in Oct '09 he versions were merged along with one another. === 2009 (13th) === 24 oz bottle, the usual presentation. What's this? A SN hop based beer in the classic APA/American IPA style - I've NEVER seen one of those before, WHAT a huge departure for SN!! ;-) Anyway, here we go. As usual a great looking copper clarity in the body and some decent head, retention and some sticky...
ACME California IPA
Listed on the bottle as 6.5%. Yellowy/Orange pour that is very cloudy. Looks like a good West Country Scrumpy! Tall, white head that looks pillow like from above, but on the side it appears to made up of much bigger diameter bubbles. Falls away quickly with not much lace to speak of. Carbonation seems a little high. Aroma is very muted, not much to speak of at all. Tastes are hop-based, but overall rather sweet. Hop presence but lacks bitterness. Very mild grapefruit in the finish, but again...
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)
On draught at the Brick Store, Decatur, GA, USA. Nice beer, but for me this is a VERY bog-standard IPA. Nothing much to report here. Decent copper color, nice clarity and a decent head. Not bad retention. Looks good. Some simple west coast pine notes, but not especially pronounced. Drinks easily and tastily, a bit like a poor mans Celebration. OK beer, but seeing as it is a "special" release I thought it was a bit weak. If yu're expecting something special look elsewhere, this is just another,...
Racer 5 India Pale Ale
22 oz bomber, thanks to Solomon420 for the trade. I've been wanting to get my hands on this for a long time for two reasons; firstly because Bear Republic has built a wonderful reputation with me, and secondly because I have continued to hear great things about this particular brew. It was worth the wait and BR and this beer did not let me down. Popping the cap causes an instant strong hop aroma to waft across the kitchen. The pour is a cloudy, tan/orange combo with a good initial head and...
AleSmith IPA
Additional notes (03/25/23) (Pictured) Now in cans (UGH), but very similar sixteen years later from the original notes. In fact, almost identical, which is such a great compliment to Alesmith and the beer. The only thing that upsets me is the (contemporary) misuse of the term , "West Coast IPA". It's so interesting to me that I used it in the original review, all that time ago, in the correct manner. Original notes (07/01/07) 22oz bomber courtesy of Damian (BA Solomon420). Thank-you. Pour...
IPA
Had my first pint of this on my latest visit to Hilton Head in June of 2007. An IPA is apparently a new venture for the new owners of the brewpub (as of December 15th 2006). This poured close to black, and at least very, very dark brown! Alarming at the best of times, but on the same visit ALL five beers that they were offering were VERY, VERY dark. Not a problem for the Scottish/Wee Heavy or the Porter, but the Wheat, the IPA and the Summer Blonde(!) were at best odd looking, and at worst...
Odell IPA
Thanks go out to ArrogantB for the trade (thrown in as a bonus on a recent package). 12 oz single bottle. Bucking elephant on the label! Raised, dot matrix 062807 on the label. Quite a pale orange color with a little haziness. Nice creamy and frothy head that subsides to give a creamy finish on the surface. Very good, layered lacing. Pretty much your standard American version of the original English IPA style. Pronounced aromatic hop aroma and a fairly bitter, grapefruit based finish. Dryish...
Harpoon IPA
Another one of those beers that I've had plenty of times but have never got around to reviewing. This one was bought at the Mellow Mushroom, Hilton Head Island, SC, USA. Pour is a decent mid-orange with a pleasing amount of lace and head. Nice looking. Plenty of citrus (lemon) flavors upfront with eveything wrapped in a dry, mild biting hop bitterness. Pretty one-dimensional in my opinion with a lack of malt presence strikingly evident. Like others have said, a soapy taste present, reminiscent...
Twain’s Leaping Frog IPA
Turbid appearance, a very murky brown with moderate lace and head. Served as a 12 oz glass. On draft with ony one other offering at the time (the Stout). Mild acidity with some bitterness, but hops mainly on the back end and in the finish. Run of the mill nose and flavors. Not especially interesting in any respect, but perfectly drinkable and a decent offering. Nice with my Greek Salad.
Professor Gesser’s Mind Numbing Ale
Thanks to BEERchitect for the opportunity to try this one. 750 mL bottle with gold foil capped neck. Very big and bold pour with stacks and stacks of large head and plenty of wonderful lacing. Clouded orange body. Aroma is that of robust citrus hops and some significant sweetness. Good solid hop bitterness with some serious resinous grapefruit tastes. The malt backbone is significant and manages to hold the whole thing together. This is MUCH bigger than your average IPA and is getting into...
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
2006 release. On tap at Taco Mac, East-West Connector, Austell, GA, USA. $4.25 or $4.75 a pint. Great color with crystal clear copper notes and a lot more carbonated than I remember in the past. Lots of rising bubbles. Smallish head and not much lace. As usual very clean grapefruit notes are all over the place and not much else. I don't mind Celebration, but I simply do not find it to be a very complex beer. It's really just a hop concoction without much character to me.
Thunderhead IPA
$1.20 bought as a single from one of the Liquor Barn locations on my recent trip to Lexington. Dark orange pour, slightly cloudy, small head and a little bit of sticky lacing. Mild citrus hops in the nose. Mild grapefruit with a sugary, malt backbone that pulls it all into balance. I like this beer mainly becasue it is typically "American IPA", but it seems to have a West Coast feel that IS in balance. Unusual for some West Coast over hopped IPA's. I suppose that in that respect this will...
60 Minute IPA
I've had 60 minute on tap before, but this was my first venture with the bottle - thanks to Silentsabre (and his mom!) for the opportunity. The first feature is the glaring clear golden yellow pour - pretty much as you would expect any old macro lager to look like. Head is small and gone quickly, and there isn't much lacing to speak of. Frankly this looks mighty average. The taste of course is quite a different matter. Subtle simplicity sum this up. Hops and malt in near perfect balance...
Freak Out Ale
Lagunitas arrived in GA for the first time this week, and although I've had a few of their offerings before, I was happy to snag this new one at Green's, Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA, USA for $2.99 for the 22oz bomber. Homage being paid to Frank Zappa & The Mothers. Poured into a pint glass. Very, very light orange pour. Smallish head with a little lacing. Nose has a little hop character but not much. Taste is an interesting combination of grapefruit hops and some sweetness in the middle. The...
Sweetwater IPA
Living in Atlanta it's sometimes easy to forget what a nice beer this is, especially when fresh and on tap. I had one of these at Mellow Mushroom in Douglasville, GA, USA for $3.50 for 16 oz. Color is more orange than one would necessarily expect and the aroma releases the hops. Initial tastes are hop based with a mild sugared grapefruit metallic twang. It finishes way sweeter than the initial palate would suggest, but it makes this a really quaffable brew. Served way too cold, but after 20...
House Brand IPA
Pours light orange/copper with a surprising amount of alcohol in the nose. Upfront tastes are dry hops immediately and then some softer malts later. Finishes with some sweet sherry alcohol notes. Some excellent lacing makes this very attractive. I was surprised at the alcohol taste of this beer - it was quite noticeable considering both the ABV and the style. A simple IPA in the English, rather than the American style. Nice, drinkable and I enjoyed it.
Sea Hag IPA
Additional notes 11/08/07 *** Thanks to Brewfan for another chance to taste this. This time the the beer lacks the clarity that I reported before, but this time the head and lace are (apparently) better. Good balance and a certain herbal quality remains. Original Review 07/23/06 *** 12oz can, thanks to BA sulldaddy for the excellent trade. Poured into the Atlanta Brewing Red Brick Ale pint glass. Head is initially good but fades fast to nothing. A small ring of lace remains on the surface of...
Bitter Woman India Pale Ale
Thanks go out to flyingbison. More of a golden pour than an orange one, this beer gives a small, light and frothy head rather than one with any density. Some nice lacing. Definitely a West Coast feel about this very bitter IPA. It's in the American IPA tradition, with very strong accents on the metallic, grapefruit bitterness which is quite dry. Not a great deal of balance here which is fine as long as you are in the mood for a back of the tongue, bitter experience. This is not overly bitter...
Hop Rod Rye
March 08 === Another 22oz bomber. Thanks to Rustydiamond for the third chance to try this wonderful brew. Can't believe this is in SC but not in GA. Head and lace are still thick and superb and with the rich, rust colored body this looks fantastic. I still feel this would be better thought of as an American Strong rather than an IPA, either way its RICH, BOLD and has a depth of character that is July 06 & July 07 === 22oz bomber, thanks to flyingbison for the trade. Subsequently from...
Two Hearted Ale
Firstly, thanks to BA flyingbison for the trade - great transaction. Lots of hype about this beer so I have been keen to try it for some time. 12 oz bottle with the # 7398 printed on the rear label. Chill-haze effect on the peach colored pour with a nice fluffy head. Unfortunately the head is lost quickly and the lacing is almost non-existent - a shame and I'm slightly disappointed for such a great *tasting* beer. Aroma is very good with a sweet, and more importantly a balanced hop profile...
Charley Town IPA
Very mild American IPA by many standards. Hop profile is fairly simple and muted, and does not assert itself. Aroma follows the same pattern too. Good mid-brown color but rather lifeless in the glass. Very little head or any kind of retention, but to be honest it was not poured with much care. Decent, if somewhat simple ale. Acceptable but not much more.
East Bay IPA
Quite surprised by the large hop aroma that jumps out of the bottle at me. Nice looking mid-orange body with a small head but it leaves some pretty decent lacing. As it sits the aroma rather oddly fades a little. Nice clarity in the body and some very mild but persistent carbonation in the form of small bubbles rising gently. Taste is very hoppy, but it is dry and bitter. Taste lacks balance, but to be honest this is much more typical of the aggressive American IPA's. Long and lingering...
Highland Kashmir IPA
Attractive colored label on the 12oz bottle. Very, very light golden color with some lager-like, high carbonation with fine lines of bubbles rising to add to the head. This is pretty persistent. The head is large and fluffy but not dense, and has a medium retention. A little (but not much) sticky lacing left behind. Aroma is a subdued, malt & hop balance, not much else there. Mild hop grapefruit bitterness with a soapy like taste. Lingering bitterness in the finish. Smooth with some malt...
5 Day IPA
Updated Review - Dec 2007 === Thanks go out to Vancer. STILL working my way through his delivery from the Old Farts/CEO BIF. New label on the bottle compared to the BA db picture. Much the same as my original review except the fact i did not find this quite as drinkable. Original Review - May 2006 === Firstly thanks go out to Travis (BA BigLove) for the bottle with no label. Classic, hazed orange IPA body with a spectacular head and some very nice lacing. Appearance smacks of quality. Plenty...
Masala Mama India Pale Ale
Thanks go out to feloniousmonk for the 64 oz growler. Mid-orange pour with an attractive head that fades a little but with better than average lacing. Initial tastes are very fruity - peachy, bubble gum, light floral notes, but this gives way to a quick double take. This first blow is a massive hop follow-up - well, fair enough I was expecting that, but then we get the finish and the aftertaste. It's all aspirin and it takes control of almost everything else. The aftertste lingers a long time...
ApriHop
Simple pour, great clarity with a pale amber/orange color. Small, bone-white head with a tiny bit of lacing. Sweet, ester based aroma with fruit in there, but not distinguishable as anything specific. Metallic bitterness and a sharp finish - all a bit odd. Comes together in a sort of spiced hoppiness. Warming on the way down. A tiny bit of apricot in the aftertsate, but very little. I don't think I'd want to drink more than one of these at a sitting, it's a little off the beaten path. Worth a...
Titan IPA
I like this beer chiefly because it represents the American style of IPA's so very well. Really quite striking clarity, and a seriously light copper color. Big frothy head soon pulls back to give tons of lacing and a creamy surface. There is a hop nose that sits between citrus and pine. This is quickly followed by an amazing marriage of hops, sweetness and metallic twang in the taste. It has a huge bitter character without really being bitter (if that makes any sense). I guess what we are...
Winter Brew 2005
Bottled 11/17/05. Pours a deep, dark orange with good clarity but a nice head and some very nice lacing. Dry hop nose with citrus undertones. This is a hoppy beer, but there is a real malt presence that helps balance that out. Despite that, it is still pretty bitter, with a long dry finish and a sharp grapefruit edge in the aftertaste. Round and soft in the mouth which belies the final bite! Definitely has the American edge to the style, with a West Coast hop feel for me. A little sharp to...
IPA
The beer I drank was "The Loop" IPA which I am going to assume is the same as the one listed here. They advertise this a cask conditioned(?) it comes with a great looking cloudy appearance and a strong, sharp, single hop aroma. A nice looking beer certainly. Tastes are sharp grapefruit with a short drying finish. Solid American version of the IPA. Easy drinker and satisfying, I was quite impressed.
Warrior IPA
Very clear, orange body with some significant streams of carbonation coming from the bottom of the glass. Large, fluffy and rocky head with some layered and sticky lacing. Good looker without a doubt. Nose is VERY strong with huge hops of the pine and citrus variety. This made me wary of the taste, but with the large hops that DO come in the flavor, there is some malt balance. Finish is dry, even puckering a times, and every gulp comes with a fairly serious hop assault on the nose. My guess is...
Smuttynose IPA “Finest Kind”
Light colored with an orange base, pretty clear with an excellent head and some lovely, layered lacing. Very fresh hops, green and young on the nose and on the palate. This drinks very citrusy, with a serious grapefruit taste. It is really quite bitter with a dry, puckering finish. Fairly clean and refreshing, but the acute bitterness could get rather grating after a while I feel. The bitterness makes this very "non-sessionable".
Southampton IPA
Decent example of the style, but considering both the ability of Southampton to produce some great beers, and the fact that the American version of the IPA usually goes the extra mile, this was a little disappointing. Perhaps that is unfair, but when a brewery sets such high standards, then subsequently middle-of-the-road, OK beers, will tend to disappoint. 22oz bomber. Orange body and plenty of chill haze with some, but no a great deal of head. The head does leave much better than average...
Heavy Seas – Loose Cannon (Hop3 Ale)
Very, very clear pour with some very good, persistent fine bubble lines rising from the bottom of the glass to create a small head and some nice lacing. Strong and heavy hop aromas obviously dominate. Taste is really fruity hops, with a serious grapefruit citrus bitterness and quite dry. Drinks well below the ABV, but at the same time is very satisfying in the alcohol department. Very tasty overall with the unusual combination of heavy hop bitterness but excellent fruitiness. As such, this is...
Brutal Bitter Ale
Pretty much as I expected. A decent beer but hopped a little out of the style. To be fair I did not think this was as over-hopped as many other Rogue offerings, indeed it was more balanced than many of their products, but this is NOT an ESB. Attractive pour with a light copper color and a nice head with some lacing. Taste is typically Rogue. Lots of hops upfront and all the way through to the finish. Grapefruit is dominant with metallic twang in the finish. Obviously this lacks the subtle...
Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale
Very nice, I enjoyed this on tap at Taco Mac in Marietta, GA. Initially I was not expecting much from this as I am generally not a huge fan of SN products. Don't get me wrong I like them, but not to the extent that many other BA's seem to enjoy them. However I was delighted at what I found. Great, clear, copper colored pour with a decent head and some lacing and retention. Good crisp clear hoppy aroma, but the initial mouthfuls are sweet malts. Then the hops kick in in a clean and sharp way...
Bridgeport IPA
I like the bottle - slightly different shape and nice, raised lettering with a neck label. Pale golden pour, with some chill haze, nice head and a better than average collection of lacing. Definite and pronounced grapefruit sharpness and bitter start, but it is very short. Finish is non-descript. Mouthfeel is average. Light citrus in the nose. A little metallic tang in the aftertaste. An American IPA that doesn't quite do it for me. A little ordinary - not bad, just ordinary.
Offshore IPA
Very good. Absolutely solid version of the style, keeping well within the remit and knowing its limits perfectly. The most refreshing change is the fact that this beer really is an authentic American IPA, that is simply being an IPA. It is saying something that having picked up, double this and double that and Imperial the other, that one can enjoy a simple IPA that tastes like, well a simple IPA! Excellent color, classic orange, with a lovely looking head and some first class lacing. Simple...
Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA
Good, reddish/amber body and a very attractive head and lacing. Nice looking beer. Good clean hops in the nose. The taste is disappointing - incredibly bitter with a lack of layers or complexity. There is very little discerning character, and a lack of malt, sweetness or smoothness. It's bitter all the way without a break. The bitterness is not citrus based either, but much more harsh. As in warms there is a little more malt character, but it fails to quell the immensely bitter profile....
Snake Dog IPA
Nice looking pour, with a good head and some nice lacing. Golden orange color, but really one of the lighter colored American IPA's that I have seen. Very light and easy drinking hop bitterness in the taste and the aroma. Not at all heavy, which is both a good and bad thing. It makes the beer very drinkable, but it lacks the hop punch of a typical American micro IPA. For that reason, added to the Flying Dog artwork, availability, price and marketing, you have a great crossover beer. For the...
Piglet Purgatory
Thanks to mentor for this sample of the beer as let unreleased on to the general public. Lovely light copper colored body with a very firm looking, dense white head with some very nice lacing. Pleasant, mildly metallic hops in the nose. Lots of really quite bitter, citrus grapefruit notes in the taste, against the back drop of a thinner than usual mouthfeel for an American IPA. If I had to characterize it, I would say that this beer has the feel of an English IPA, but with the over-hopped...
HopDevil Ale
Typical of a good quality American hop heavy IPA. Excellent clarity in the appearance, looks really good, with a dark orange amber tinge, nice head and a little lacing. Nose is typical with citrus grapefruit notes. Taste is dry hops, but they don't overtake the beer. A good malt backbone backs up the hops, and although I wouldn't really describe the beer as balanced, the hops are well supported to make it a nice combination. Mouthfeel has the twang that you would expect. Drinkability is high...
Butte Creek Organic India Pale Ale
Very nice. Pale orange pour, some reserved head, and a little lacing. Very easy drinking with a pronounced sweet and mild taste that is followed in the rear by a strong, bitter hop finish. The finish was really quite surprisingly sharp and very nicely bitter. Mouthfeel and drinkability are solid, with some smooth creamy texture and a drink that leaves you craving at least one more. Some earthy qualities, a good, solid American version of an IPA - obviously less subtle than the original, but...
Stone IPA (India Pale Ale)
In many ways this is my favorite Stone beer. It may not score as highly as say, IRS, Ruination or either of the Bastards, but the whole point is that this a simple, everyday beer that doesn't need any kind of huge hop presence or massive alcohol content to stand on its own and say, "I'm a great example of simple, excellent brewing". Classic orange marmalade and hazy pour, with lovely light head and some sticky lacing. Aroma and initial tastes are obviously West Coast hops, but they are loose...
New Holland Mad Hatter India Pale Ale
Big, big, bitter hops up front and continuing all the way through with this beer. Light orange color with a lingering hop nose and taste. Good lacing but not much residual head. This is really a bitter hop based IPA with little or no balance from malt. This takes it out of my comfort range for IPA's and certainly makes it typically American in the style where the tendancy continues to be away from malt balance, toward the more extreme end of the hop/IPA scale. This is certainly not the worst...
Heavy Handed IPA
Huge rocky head that was slightly annoying as I tried to pour the beer, but did look great. Sweet hop aroma, defintely on the oily, grassy, organic side of things. Light, but extremely distinct. Sweetened grapefruit taste, although not as heavily sweet as a Stoudt's DIPA for example, but still very enjoyable. Smooth, sweet finish with a nice hop kick in the end. Very nice example of how a heavily hopped beer can be kept drinkable with some balance.
Saranac India Pale Ale
Here's my best guess. If this beer was around 15, 10 or even 5 years ago (I don't know if it was), it would have enjoyed a much higher profile and status than it now does. It's a very servicible IPA as it stands in 2005, but it's really lost in what seems to be the ever increasing micro American IPA market. What might have been cutting edge in the past seems mundane now. Decent orange based pour with some definite hop aromas coming through strong. This initial promise is soon tempered by a...
60 Minute IPA
A super smooth, and much more enjoyable experience than I was expecting. Not being a hophead, I was not expecting to enjoy this a great deal, but I was pleasantly suprised. Excellent, typically hoppy, pale orange color, with some nice (but not extensive) lacing. A lot of sweetness in the aroma. Some lovely, light citrus hops, a refreshing bite, but comes with extra smooth drinkability. I enjoyed the simplicity of this beer. It was certainly hop based, but it managed to balance out the brew...
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
2010 Vintage. As usual, large grapefruit notes and not a great deal else. 2006 Vintage. Only paid $6.99 this year at Green's. Still grapefruit and soap based, and although I have grown to enjoy this more each year, it still strikes me as a beer that is out of balance. 2004 Vintage. $8.99 Six Pack, Arbor Beverage Depot, Douglasville, GA, USA. Well, you BA's certainly got me worked up for this one. I was anticipating something extraordinary and ended up being disappointed. Another SN brew, that...
White Hawk Original IPA
$5.79 Six Pack, Greens Beverage, Ponce de Leon, Atlanta, GA, USA. Subsequently 12 oz single from Mac's downtown, Atlanta, GA, USA. Light colored IPA with a nice looking, frothy head and some lacing. As expected for the IPA style, the citric hops are up front in both the aroma and the taste, and there is a surprisingly clean bitterness to this beer. Smooth and decent size mouthfeel add to the authenticity of the brew - it tastes and feels like REAL beer! The 7.00% ABV gives it a little kick...
Breakdown IPA
Very hoppy notes in the aroma and in the taste upfront, with a serious citrus backbone too. A very cloudy appearance (like iced-tea) with very little head, but some good looking spotty lacing as you go down the glass. The ending to this beer really is very bitter and I feel a little unbalanced. I don't mind the hops, but the bitterness is really quite sharp and tangy - and not in a pleasant way. Pretty characterful beer and one that I would choose above any macro almost any day, but not too...
Long Hammer IPA
Very strange beer. IPA?? Appearance is 100% North American macro. Golden yellow color, typical no head (but some decent lacing) with absolutely no aroma. I quite literally could not smell a thing! This maybe due to the Arctic temperature it was served at, but I'll never know. The beer was absolutely tasteless - UNTIL then ending. A very hoppy, bitter and especially dry finish and aftertaste. Before that - nothing! No taste, no smell. Weird!
Lionheart Pale Ale
A pale golden appearance with a scant head. Everytime I drink this beer I find it to be consistent and refreshing. To me, it's definitely a seasonal drink, in as much as I tend to enjoy it on warmer days and less so when it's cooler. Definite mild hoppiness, and discrete malts make this a beer that isn't huge on flavor but still manages to carry off an enjoyable experience. Don't get too caught up in the IPA/Pale Ale thing, because if you are expecting the large hoppiness of an American IPA...
Sweetwater IPA
$7.19, Publix Supermarket, Villa Rica, GA, USA. Took me a long time to get around to reviewing this. I've been treating this as a good staple to pick up around Atlanta for some time. Pours a slightly hazy, orange color with a frothy head. The aroma is one of the few that I feel I can really easily recognize - it's peaches! The hops here are not as pronounced as the style usually demands, but in my book that's a good thing. For others that will be a negative mark. For me, much more well...