Hoptimistic IPA - Charleville Vineyard Microbrewery

estlinska

Arkansas

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at the Flying Saucer on 3/26 into a snifter. Pours a pale golden color with a soft copper hue. It's topped with 2cm of off-white head, bubbly with very small lacing on the glass. It smells of light, frisky citrus notes with a fair amount of effervescence. Very subdued aromas overall despite the carbonation. The taste is pretty sweet with heavy malt and very heavy bitterness overall that lasts throughout the drinking. There is a good amount of floral and earthy taste overall with pretty decent balance overall. However, the mouthfeel is slightly watery overall and could use some work. Overall, this is a fairly solid IPA overall; a good representative IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 20:59:46 | More by estlinska

bnes09

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Orangish brown with yeast flakes and somewhat hazy. Descent head on the pour and nearly coates the glass with lacing.

Smell of pine sol with a floral hop character.

Solid malt flavor suggesting rye bread. Spicy hops reminiscent of pine and grapefruit. Descent balance.

Medium bodied. Snappy carbonation. Dry feel with a yeasty texture.

Pretty good IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2012 03:55:55 | More by bnes09

paxchristi

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been very shocked to see not only the very split reviews, but that some of the reviews are exceedingly low. I got this beer on-tap at International Tap House in Saint Louis, MO in the Soulard district. They are frequent Charleville supporters, and iTap doesn't buy shit or anything remotely sub-par or average (although sometimes a bit faddish). In fact, they are probably the best tap house in Saint Louis (that isn't a brewpub) and have shown that their taste in purchasing beer is exemplary. Not only that, but I am quite frankly getting a bit put off by the West coast elitism on IPAs. I love west coast IPAs as they have set the bar high.However, Hoptimistic is not a copycat of that particular style. Its trying to be a Missouri take on it.

Appearance: Copper/orange hue. Incredible looking head- 2-3 inches of head, in fact. The head is ivory colored and it contrasts the bodyof the beer quite well for a very appetizing looking brew.

Smell: Hops and citrus take the front-- very floral middle. Smells lovely and very appetizing.

Taste: Very much like its smell. There is a lingering medium malt that I think brings it some more balance, although I can see where some have said that it is out of balance. I think it does nicely if you are a hop-head.

Overall: Nicely done. It does not stand out above the rest of the great IPAs, but its definitely in the same league. Its a competitor, and it deserves to have some more respect, I think, than what it has been getting. ALE MUCHO HOPPO is a much preferred IPA, IMO, but this is a solid effort. I think Charleville might be working on consistency more than anything. The reviews are so scattered that I can't help but think that. Then again, I have been known to be a bit of a homer, so take that into consideration. If you want to try for yourself, beer mail me-- its all over Saint Louis.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 16:29:40 | More by paxchristi

iadler

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Hazy orange with a fluffy two finger head which leaves thick lacing.

S- Grapefruit, orange peel, bready malt, pine, grass and floral notes. Pretty faint smell with nothing sticking out too much.

T- Some citrus hops with grapefruit and orange notes as well pineapple upfront followed by sweet caramel malt.

M- Medium carbonation and body. Crisp mouthfeel and finishes slightly dry. High drinkability.

O- Tasted more like an APA to me, but was still a nice session beer. I had a few pint glasses of this at a friends house who got a keg for the holiday weekend.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 23:47:43 | More by iadler

Goliath

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange with a thin yellowed head.

Aroma is nice. Citrus and pine basically.

The taste is ok. Citrus and pine again, a little soapy too. Has a familiar taste that I only find in beers from the Midwest. I've never been able to figure out what that is though.

Mouthfeel is pushing full bodied and moderate carbonation is present.

Drinkability is moderate. Flavor is ok and nothing stands out about the beer. I could take it or leave it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 22:11:13 | More by Goliath

OzarkElmo

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap in tasting room at winery/brewery. Deep orange color with small off-white head, mostly diminishing. Aroma of citrus, malt, pine, and a spice. Medium body with nice crisp finish. Lacing throughout. Above average offering and I would purchase again. The establishment is in a beautiful setting of rolling hills tucked 1.5 miles or so off state road. I recommend this place over Crown Valley anyday - Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2009 02:22:58 | More by OzarkElmo

beerphilosopher

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled this one on tap at the Charleville Vineyard recently and brought a bomber home as well. This review is based on notes from the draught version. Pours an ever so slightly cloudy golden yellow, which is just a little darker in color than I expected for the style - American IPA, I presume. The collar of stark white foam is thick and rocky and persists well. The nose is candy sweet up front with a myriad of floral hops arising from the glass. The owner tells me this beer is brewed with a blend of eight hop varieties! Impressive. Despite the predominant hop nose, this beer manages a good balance and is not the "puree of hop" experience you get with stronger, hoppier beers. The palate is unexpected, but in a pleasant way. Going in, I anticipated something much hoppier than I got. This beer is very balanced for an IPA and because of this fact, it has a very approachable palate. Fresh hop character abounds - more floral and fruity than herbal - lending a very clean, fresh character to the beer. A slightly sweet malt background provides a very good counter balance to the hop bitterness. I'm left with the impression of a smooth, finely balanced IPA with very well defined boundaries. This beer is not trying to be more than it can, or should, be. The finish is smooth and soft, despite the ample carbonation. A lingering floral hop presence follows this beer and reminds you that you've just tasted a finely crafted American IPA. I'm anxious to open the bomber I brought home and compare my sampling experience. From the draught version, I can honestly say I was very impressed and will drink this beer again ... often. Hopefully Charleville will expand their retail footprint into my neck of the woods in the near future, but it won't kill me to drive the hour it takes to get to the Vineyard either. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is one of the better American IPAs I've sampled in some time. Who'd a thunk it ... from a vineyard! These guys are starting their own hop farm (in Missouri!) too. I'm anxious to see how this experiment turns out. I'm also anxious to what beers it turns out! Way to go, Charleville.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2008 15:28:58 | More by beerphilosopher

sbrazell

Missouri

4.45/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at the Stable in St. Louis and really liked it, but I could have sworn it was just a pale ale because it wasn't very hoppy at all. Some buddies and I took a trip down to Ste. Genevieve to the winery/brewery to test it out at the source and it was even better (and hoppier). Unfortunately, they were out of clean pint glasses, so we were drinking out of plastic, but it wasn't a huge deal. We also bought a couple of bombers to take home and it was hoppy bottled as well. Maybe the Stable got a weird keg or something. Highly recommend this and all of their other beers.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2008 21:20:17 | More by sbrazell

Vancer

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pleasantly surprised with this tasty little brew from the Ste. Genevieve crew - on tap at the Stable in STL.

Poured a hazy amber, good ivory head and left nice lacing. Funky cheesy hop aroma though, but the quaff was different and nice - a tasty juicy fruit with orange and citrus. A real summer session beer.

A bit thin in the body for an IPA, but overall a solid brew which comes at a good price for a bomber. Put one up, Randall's in STL carries this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2008 14:48:49 | More by Vancer

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle served in a shaker glass. Pours a cloudy copper/orange color with a thin, bubbly off-white head. Aroma is caramel, toasty, nutty, orange, and other citrus. Flavor is caramel, orange rind, citrus and floral hops. Mouthfeel is medium, not too bitter and a dry finish. Good beer, nice balance, easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 03:46:49 | More by mtstatebeer

tronester

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dirty orangeish/brown, with a thin off-white head. Lots of big yeast particles hanging out. That was with a carefull pour, I left about an ounce left in the bottle which was pure yeast. Aromas of light citrus. Taste begins with a bright lemony flavor, followed by some apricot. The finish is a bit grassy, and piney. Mouthfeel is pretty good. Overall a pretty good IPA, though the turbidity of it detracts from the flavor a bit. Curious to know what yeast strain they are using that doesn't drop bright. At least the beer isnt filtered though!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:21:53 | More by tronester

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass...

A: pours "new penny" color, hazy, with a big head sits like pie cream. crazy retention that pops 1 big bubble at a time until it has a rocky retention. also leaves big globs of lacing.

S: lemon, orange peel, and pineapple upside down cake, with a slight cedar aroma.

T: spicy, orange, grapefruit peel, and pine sap, with a sugary, mandarin-orange cake sweetness. has a bittersweet finish that doensn't linger around too long.

M: medium body with a nice fizzy carbonation, and a slick and dry finish.

Overall, Wow! What a treat! Definitely worth your time and money. I would love to have a 12 pack of this. This would be an ideal beer for tailgates, campfires, and cookouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 01:55:43 | More by OlRasputin989

vfgccp

New York

3.18/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A – Opaque, dull orange-hued brown. Almost a muted tangerine. Off-white head settles into a dusting with ok lace.

S – Herbal pine, straw, and orange. Fairly well integrated. More malt as it warms.

T – Dry, prickly bitterness of pine and cedar. A brief fruity and malty center transitions into a strong, bitter, woody finish. Slight sour note throughout.

M – Medium body. Lingering, bitter acidic finish.

O – An ok IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 18:15:42 | More by vfgccp

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours out a hazed, orange-gold body in color and topped with a thin, sporadic, white head.

Smell: Citrusy hops hinting at Valencia oranges and zesty grapefruit atop a scent of pale malted barley.

Taste: Pale malts casually flushed with simple syrup and hinting some simple bready accents. Citrusy hops provide tastes of lemon, orange peel, and even a small dash of grapefruit juice. Moderate bitterness. The beer leaks a little alcohol warmth into the drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: It's a decent IPA; not bad, and you could do far worse.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 14:24:32 | More by ChainGangGuy

GossageBrewery

Missouri

4/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this American IPA from a 22 oz brown bottle. Poured into a pint glass. It poured a cloudy orangish color. It produced an ultra thick and heavy white head. Head retention was excellent. Very nice sticky lacing left behind on the glass. Aroma was full of citrus and pine. The ale was medium in body, smooth and refreshing. The taste is bitter, citrus and full of malt. Bitterness lasts from the start all the way to the finish. This AIPA is hopped nicely, not to aggressive. Very good IPA, my first beer that I have sampled from Charleville, impressed. A road trip might be in order.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 19:38:22 | More by GossageBrewery

mcallister

Ohio

2.7/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Amber colored with a fluffy overly volcanic yellow tinted head of half an inch. Good retention.

Resiny, herbal hops at first into some apricot, peach, and nectarine aromas. Candied peach actually, sweet toffee malts with a light biscuity quality.

Sweet malts throughout slightly cloying. Hops are there but don't balance the malt. Same as nose would suggest. Herbal, apricot, peach, biscuit, cereal, toffee, and not much else. A bit syrupy in the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 19:53:23 | More by mcallister

maximum12

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to keir for this extra from a recent trade from a beer brewed by the same brewery. Always good to have a new place on the radar. 22 oz. bomber split into two pint glasses to break up a six day beerless streak due to interment in deep wilderness. Yeeeehaa!

On pour the beer is yellow streaked with a generous does of amber. Tropical fruits are the surprise visitor to the nose, buoyed by only faint notes of flowers & soap. Rather like an Irish Spring commercial writ large.

Hoptimistic IPA has a large soapy profile that must be the yield of a specific hop, but I'm not sure which. The soap bubbles are dominant but not unpleasant, backed up by malts, non-specific & faint fruitiness, drifting gradually into a little kick of bitterness in the finish. Smooth, silky, this beer's strength is its drinkability. Without a kick in the taste category, but mild & easy enough to like, this one goes down like peanut butter M&Ms.

Decent enough IPA, but lacking distinction in any piece of its game. Nonetheless, I'll certainl enjoy the rest of my glass for the remainder of its short lifespan.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 01:48:28 | More by maximum12

TheSarge

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Figured I'd follow up a Witbier with this, after cooling down from the late spring's heat...

Has a mildly hazy copper colored body, and a two finger thick off white head after a vigorous pour into a half liter dimple glass.

Not much in the way of aroma. Just a subtle hint of pine.

Taste is a cross form a grapefruit with it's sharpness cut off from a sweet overripe orange. After a little while a hint of spruce comes through.

Lightly carbonated and very oily round out the feel. There is enough carbonation to cleanse the palate of my pizza though.

Overall a different take at the IPA style, with the minimal amount of carbonation, excess yeast, and oily presence. Not something I'd recommend to a friend though.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 00:10:27 | More by TheSarge

emerge077

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Saturated dark orange, slightly hazy and glowing in the light. Slim layer of white foam that sticks around, remaining as a wisp of broken skim on the surface.

Mellow aromas of tea, citrus rind, and toasted biscuits.

Grassy and citrusy flavors, somewhat soft in feel and easy going. Malt presence matches the hop content, lending toasty biscuit flavors and minor caramel sweetness also. Sort of a low key IPA. Figuring this is fresh as it just arrived in the state (central IL). It's decent, but there's not much to distinguish it from other IPAs on the market.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 20:49:21 | More by emerge077

biggred1

Indiana

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Transluscent, strawberry apricot color with a creamy sand colored head that leaves scraps of lace on the glass. Mild passion fruit, strawberry and caramel in the aroma. Fruit juicy hop flavor with mild bitterness and sweet caramel maltiness. Thin bodied and mildly carbonated. A mediocre example of the style but not terrible by any means.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 22:39:03 | More by biggred1

FanofHefe

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into a Duvel tulip. No dating on the bottle or label but recommended by my local bottle shop guy as a new arrival so I expect it to be fresh.

Hazy, light orange/dark yellow body. One finger white head that dissipates quickly and leaves only a little lacing.

The aroma is somewhat faint, but has definite hop notes including sweet citrus, tangerine, and some sweet malt in the background.

The flavor is a touch better. The hop flavors tend toward the sweeter citrus and some light mango and peach in for kicks. The caramel malt is sweet and balances the hops fairly well.

Light to medium mouthfeel with just a hint of bitter astringency in the finish. No real notice of the alcohol. Overall, a really decent IPA that is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 20:42:11 | More by FanofHefe

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

1.55/5  rDev -57.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Generous 22 oz. extra courtesy of birchstick. Thank you! Split with Daune during an impromptu IPA/Double IPA tasting.

Orange yellow pour with a thin consistent coverage and minimal spotting.

Smells like home brew gone wrong, as I know all too well. Rubber stopper, cider, and yeast. Really unappealing, unfortunately. Not sure if this is an off bottle or a brewery that is small enough or beginner enough to have these types of issues.

Tastes slightly sour and grassy with a finishing bouquet of bung stopper rubberblastastic. There must be an infection here. The flavors are way off.

Dog bollocks

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 02:52:58 | More by BarrytheBear

gford217

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber from birchstick.

Pours a clear golden yellow with an enormous fluffy white head that recedes in clumps leaving sticky lacing all over.

Aroma is pretty tame with only some faint earthy hops and hints of citrus but not much. The malts are lightly sweet in the nose but the aroma is not all that big.

Taste is markedly better than the aroma for me with a more pronounced citrus hop presence up front though there are the same grassy undertones as well. There is a healthy caramel malt backbone and a bitter finish that shows more alcohol than it should.

The mouthfeel is highly carbonated and has a mineral character to it that detracts a bit from things.

The nose didn't start things off well for me but the taste largely redeemed the beer for me and I'd still consider this one a decent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 02:28:10 | More by gford217

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a bottle in Springdale, AR. This my first sample from this brewery...

Pours an effervescent amber with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Average lacing & head retention

S: Lemons & grassy notes, plus a bit of caramel, all fairly muted

T: Grassy & herbal hops up front, some mineral notes as well, just a touch of breadyness & whisper of butterscotch. Earthy hop bitterness dominates as this warms, along with some grainy bread notes, flinty dryness & a touch of pine & grapefruit as well. Finishes with herbal hops, a touch of honey & apricot, plus dryness & woody hops showing up at the end

MF: Medium bodied, firm carbonation. Body thins out a bit as this warms, pretty good balance

Drinks alright, not a great IPA, but wouldn't turn one down if offered one...

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 06:32:55 | More by russpowell

titosupertramp

Tennessee

3.33/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to beerindex for the opportunity to try this.

A: Nice dark orange/light amber. Finger of white, soapy head..big bubbles. Good lacing.

S: Not too impressed with the smell..pretty underwhelming. Picking out lemon zest and biscuit like malts. It could be me, but there's almost a skunky quality to the smell.

T: Wow. I'm a little surprised that the taste is this good after the disappointing smell. Lemon, floral, biscuity malts. Not very terribly bitter...more tart than anything. Not bad.

M: A little on the thin side..decent carbonation. Not as dry as most IPAs.

D: Fairly easy to drink. Not much else to say.

Not a bad beer, but not one that I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 02:18:33 | More by titosupertramp