Caldera IPA - Caldera Brewing Company

Klym

California

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a 6 pack at my local grocery store. Poured into a stone nonic.

A very pretty and pretty tastey IPA. Comes through with some thick texture and dark fruit flavor initially and transforms into juicy hops finishing with a tad of extreme bitterness. A really well rounded, perfectly B+ IPA that is very cost effective if you're looking for something to knock a few back of and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 03:17:58 | More by Klym

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bright and Hazy unfiltered red-orange honey color with a light creamy off-white head.

Smell: Big amount of spicy floral aroma. Rose hip, lavender and citrus. Green grass, tomato and cucumber. Firm toasted biscuit malt base. Fresh baked bread and buttered croissant.

Taste: Natural garden grasses and flowers. Leaf. Pine. Very tasty with subtle bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied slighty chewy malts . Light with a bittersweet finish.

Overall: Very good unique IPA. I like the whole flower quality. A little on the high price end and not very available in my area. I'd love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 06:16:45 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

9InchNails

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Light amber color. Eggshell white head that pours ferociously but disapates quickly leaving foamy lacing. Not too many noticeable bubbles.

Big time grapefruit and piney hops hit the nose immediately, caramel and some yeasty characteristics.

The aroma matches the taste quite accurately. Sweet caramel with bready yeast mixes with piney and grapefruit hops. Slight metalic bitterness is noted as well but is quite tasty nonetheless.

Light body, light but noticeable carbonation. Very easy to drink although there is a lasting dry bitterness feeling but it leaves the mouth moist.

This is a pretty straight forward IPA with the bitter hops being the main focus but there is enough sweetness to smooth it out. This is definitely a worthy IPA to check out for Hopheads.

Serving type: can

10-05-2011 01:03:18 | More by 9InchNails

kingjames1

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice yellow-orange, with a thick white head. Looks delish. Maybe its my nose, but I don't detect too much - citrusy hops with a pine undergirding. But the taste is exceptional. Wonderfully bright hops and a satisfying malt backbone. But like most west coast ipas, this is not balanced...thankfully. A hops explosion of grapefruit, spice, and pine. Awesome. This is the best IPA i've had in a can...and one of the better ones around PERIOD. Check this one out.

Serving type: can

10-01-2011 01:15:17 | More by kingjames1

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A friend of mine brought this beer for me from a trip to Oregon.
It poured a hazy amber orange and produced a about one finger high, white bubbly head. It dissipates fast and leaves good lacing.
The smell is very intense flowery hops, with a nice combination of orange, peach and citrus.
The taste is just like the smell announced. Fruity citrus flavors up front, great hop character in the middle and a bittersweet finish, where some carefully measured orange balances a slight bitter end. Great beer and something I would love to try on tap.

Serving type: can

09-28-2011 02:53:24 | More by Hopfenpeter

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-09-23 in Lynchburg, VA

A - Almost clear, orange-amber with a 2-finger off-white head with big bubbles and moderate lacing.

S - Fairly strong aroma that can be smelled 18" away. Sweet malt, citrus and hop floral.

T - Much like the aroma. Sweet bread and fruit followed by a dash of orange flesh a touch of spice and finally orange rind bitterness doesn't dominate. A pleasant, well-balanced bitter-sweet taste although it doesn't blow my hair back.

M - Medium body and carbonation. A bit syrupy with some prickle

O - I enjoyed this brew. It has a lot of flavor for being 6.1% ABV.

Serving type: can

09-23-2011 21:29:12 | More by Tucquan

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tapped this open and a fruity piney smell, Cloudy golden orange color when poured in a pint glass. Nice foaming thick head. Big and hoppy, yet smooth as butter. Minimal hop after taste (I like this, so was a liittle disappointed with the lack there of there) However, a delicious beer. Would drink it anytime!! I bet on draft it is a delight!

Serving type: can

09-09-2011 00:39:36 | More by jtd1969

ReelBigwigFish

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass from can.

A: Slightly hazy burnt orange color with a frothy sticky off white head, very sticky lacing.

S: Big pine and grapefruit hop aroma with some sweet malts.

T: Lots of pine up front with a nice mixing of hops and malt in the middle, although staying strong on the hop side throughout. The finish is dry and bitter with a pronounced grapefruit flavor, as well as a some bell pepper.

M: Medium body, crisp medium-high carbonation, dry finish. This IPA has bite but is still very drinkable. Could be due to a slightly low ABV.

O: I thought this was a very very good IPA. Definitely my favorite in a can so far. Not a bad price either. I found this to be very similar to another IPA that costs at least $2 more for a six pack.

Serving type: can

09-08-2011 21:07:38 | More by ReelBigwigFish

peabody

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a little thin looking weak ice tea color with two fingers of slightly off-white suds and lots of lacing.
Smell is strong citrus and grapefruit rind. This is a great smelling beer.
Taste is piney and grapefruity with slight sugar.
Mouthfeel is very clean for such a big hop brew. Not sticky at all. Very quaffable.
Overall I would have to give this a 4 even though it's really in the 4.12 range.
Only reason not to give it a 4.5 is the cost of this stuff. 16 dollars in Ky.

Serving type: can

08-28-2011 07:48:33 | More by peabody

dcloeren

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had at the Flying Saucer in Nashville

Poured a crisp burnt orange with 2 fingers of bright white head. Slowly faded into a thin film but produced excellent lacing.

Big pine notes with some prominant mango notes. Solid caramel malt finish

Taste follows the nose. Great pine resin taste up front with some delicious mango backing it up

A little light in the body for my taste... Good amount of carbonation. Drying hoppy aftertaste. Produced a little bit of hop dragon breath.

Overall, a tasty and refreshing IPA. Great smell and taste but a little on the thin side for my taste. Would not turn another one down by any means. Definitely worth trying

Serving type: can

08-15-2011 22:45:04 | More by dcloeren

jeff1973

California

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the can into a Sam Adams "Perfect" pint glass. (I don't know why, but beer seems to taste better out of this glass vs a regular pint glass. Call me crazy)

A - Nice dark burnt orange color, off-white head, good lacing.

S - Pine, grapefruit, mango, nice!!!

T - Bitter and piney upfront, with a nice grapefuit and earthy end. Well balanced. Tasty.

M - Medium with medium amount of carbonation.

D - High. Very tasting and refreshing.

Not the hoppiest IPA out there, but well-balanced and tasty. Extremely easy to drink. Great beer. I am really starting to like these Caldera guys!

Serving type: can

08-13-2011 22:10:46 | More by jeff1973

BrewerB

California

3.73/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to a coworker for trading this bottle to me. She's a big IPA fan and this beer came well-recommended.

Slightly clear with a moderate haze, medium orange. Two-finger off-white collapsed thin but retaining well with lacing. Pervasive tropical fruity hops, mango and pineapple. Supporting toasted malt makes an appearance, too. Mild herbal notes in the background. Moderate level of toasted malts, herbal hops, medium level of bitterness. Fruity hops sneak in the back-end Medium, dry finish with a lingering hop bitterness. Medium-light bodied with a moderate/moderate-high level of carbonation.

Great hop nose and a well-formed flavor make this a good example of the IPA style. Could use more diversity in the flavor department.

Serving type: can

08-08-2011 04:56:10 | More by BrewerB

KMcG

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: the color is an amber hue. The head developed nicely to about a finger width thick and then subsided to a glaze of fine foam covering the top if the glass. The glass sides become coated in the fine lacey foam that seems to hug the glass. 

Smell: piney hops and citrus. The aroma is pleasantly hoppy and inviting. 

Taste: hoppy with a bitter flavor that is similar to a nice dark (I mean real dark) chocolate  the most obvious taste is grapefruit, but there is also bright, garden fresh green pepper hint. Marathon aftertaste!

Mouthfeel: medium body and carbonation. Hops and malt seem pretty well balanced with a slight advantage to the hops. 

Serving type: can

08-07-2011 21:32:48 | More by KMcG

unionturf

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This has recently hit the NC market...in reading reviews I' puzzled at the reviews. This is an AWESOME IPA...simply awesome.

Appearance is great, cloudy with a very decent 2" head. Smell is fresh hops and malt...more hops than malt.

Taste is mostly all grapefruit hops...I love it. Right next to G'Night (Gordon) as the best beer from a can...I gave my son a can and even his collage buddies who don't like IPA's said it was amazing.

The price point is a little high ($13 for a sixer) in NC but I love this brew.

Serving type: can

08-07-2011 04:51:50 | More by unionturf

LSUPT

California

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can with no freshness date. Poured to a Duvel tulip.
Hard pour yields 2 full inches of white head that hangs on for a while leaving very sparse lacing. Really nice medium amber color with a slight chill haze.

Smell is mostly malty with some tropical fruit and floral notes. I swear other cans from the 6-pack had a fuller nose though. Taste is really good similar to the nose with a nice pine finish, sticky and resiny with a full bitterness. Mouthfeel is perfect: medium carbonation and medium body.

Very enjoyable brew overall and extremely drinkable. I do feel there were inconsistencies between cans though, but I still very much enjoyed this one.

Serving type: can

08-05-2011 05:35:47 | More by LSUPT

sendsilk

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Can recieved in a recent trade as en extra.

A: Decent head, takes a minute or so to settle down. Very clear light orange colored beer. Some lacing.

S: Fruity scents with not too much hops present in the nose.

T: This beer just is not a solid example of the style. Really not much of a hop presence at all. With what I have heard about Caldera 'Old Growth' I was hoping this would be a pleasant surprise. I'd skip this one if I was looking for a solid IPA

M: Low to medium carbonation. Slightly oily mouthfeel.

O: Move along, nothing to see here.

Serving type: can

08-04-2011 14:16:58 | More by sendsilk

NStLincoln

Nebraska

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an orangy amber. White head.

Sweet Bread notes with ultra ripe fruit on the nose. Hops are restrained here.

Citrus with ripe tropical fruit. Pleasantly hopped and not overwhelming. Tasty with a long aftertaste.

A solid, drinkable ipa. Perfect for summer.

Serving type: can

08-03-2011 16:45:03 | More by NStLincoln

harrymel

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Can date:unk

A: Pours a copper ale with two fingers of peanut head which falls slowly to a thick quilt of the same. Cobweb lacing. Excellent clarity.

S: Mango and papayas with some citrus notes and some resinous notes as well. Malts are sweet and subdued.

T: Lightly bittered, oxidized malts. Some raisin notes and some nice citrus (grapefruit and orange) flavors. The malts are quite oxidized and that's just not cool. Not bad, but not great either.

M: Medium bodied with surprisingly low carb. Lightly slick finish.

O: About average. Good nose, but taste is nothing to call home about. Decent hit for a can.

Serving type: can

08-02-2011 15:07:21 | More by harrymel

Phelps

Arizona

3.4/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a small snifter.

Light sunset orange color with perfect clarity and a grayish-white head that deposits speckles of lace.

Honeyed biscuits and spicy hops in nose. Clean, understated and balanced.

Caldera’s website says this was brewed with Centennial, Simcoe and Amarillo -- which has me confused, because my taste buds are calling these hops earthy and spicy, with none of the usual snap of American-grown hops. Perhaps it’s the abundance of malt throwing things off — there’s a lot of toasty biscuits, bread and uncooked pale barley before the clean, dry finish.

The medium body exhibits a very light touch of carbonation and soft silky fizziness. Lightly bitter.

I found Caldera’s IPA very similar to their pale, with maybe a half step up in each category. While both beers are enjoyable enough, they lack the hoppy bite I crave in American-brewed versions of this style.

Serving type: can

07-25-2011 23:13:00 | More by Phelps

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. canned poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Dark gold to light amber body with a substantial white head. The foam sticks to the glass and the lacing is decent.

Smell - I get hops, some grapefruit and some pine. It's more of a biscuit malt aroma, though. Kinda smells like an ESB.

Taste - Hops at first, more pine in the flavor than in the smell. Malty behind it. Biscuit malts and a touch of caramel. Not sweet at all, but malty nonetheless. Tastes like an ESB, too.

Mouthfeel - Just a tad heavier than medium bodied. Feels heavier because of low carbonation. Has the feel of an ESB, too!

Overall - Not as hoppy as I would like from an IPA. Better than the other Caldera beer I've had, though. Not something I'd look for.

Serving type: can

07-23-2011 01:16:15 | More by Alieniloquium

HopDiggityDawg

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance - light amber color, just a little darker than I expected from the nose, big frothy head.
Smell - very nice hop, pine, some fruit
taste - nice hoppy grapefruite taste, dry finish
mouthfeel - very even, not too thin, not too chewy for a single ipa
overall - solid, I doubt I will pay $12.99 again for this brew and it probably factored into my rating

Serving type: can

07-03-2011 00:55:08 | More by HopDiggityDawg

CuttDeez

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into my snifter.

A - A clear golden orange, slightly burnt red color body with a medium frothy light white head.

S - Very nice and big citrus hop smell that is smooth and sweet. Very pleasant.

T & M & D - Great fruit sweetness up front that is refreshing and almost minty cool. Then some bigger malty sweetness on mid palate and the slight fruit acidity cleans the end and brings in some slight airy floral notes. The mouth is light and very drinkable, I go back to refreshing.

O - Awesome IPA and I love the can. They really pull of the style well. One of my favorites that I come back to often.

-Cheers

Serving type: can

06-28-2011 19:38:50 | More by CuttDeez

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Snagged a can of this after seeing that it's got such a positive amount of reviews. The beer poured out as a clear yellowish gold color, it has a pretty good looking soapy head on it. The lacing is a little sticky but not too much. The smell of the beer has a really nice malty and hoppy aroma. The hops smell bright and fruity. The taste of the beer was pretty good. The hops were definitely in there ready to hit ya in the mouth. The malt cleaned up the mess in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel was light and refreshing. Overall it was a pretty good IPA.

Serving type: can

06-28-2011 03:34:13 | More by Knapp85

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I purchased a six pack of this at Peabodys in Boone. I had not idea that the six pack was going to $12. Seems pricey to me, cans or bottles. Anyhoo. I cracked open the first one and was immediately greeted by a ton of fresh hop aroma in the face. Awesome! Piney and citrusy with some oiliness.

Pours from the can into a pint glass an amber color with a nice, one inch size and very foamy head with great retention and lacing.

Taste is pretty darn spot on. Slightly sweet up front with plenty of hop flavor and hop bitterness at the end. There seems to be a bit of alkalinity that adds some artificial and chalky bitterness that keep this one from being a classis. As it is, this is a real winner.

Some may disagree, but this is one hell of a "session" IPA. ABV is kept in check and this one goes down so smooth. Maybe it was worth the $12. Actually, I say it was.

Serving type: can

06-27-2011 20:33:39 | More by SaCkErZ9

Jenkster4

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was expecting it to be tasty, and tasty it was indeed. Nice golden orange appearance, hardly any head. ** Taste is above par for an American IPA, I could throw back many of these no problem.
This is a great little IPA, and will be coming back to it time and time again.

Serving type: can

06-27-2011 17:53:35 | More by Jenkster4