Caldera IPA - Caldera Brewing Company

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a copperish orange color with good carbonation and a nice white head

S: Caramel, bread, pine and light booze

T: Taste follows nose pretty well. Balanced, with a good caramel and breadiness, floral and pine notes

M: Nice lingering bitterness and sweet, sticky feel

D: Good

Serving type: growler

09-11-2010 20:39:24 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice creamy one-finger plus off-white head, lots of nice small islands and sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, big hop note, citrus/pines, and caramel. The taste is very nice, malty, hoppy, with some nice citrus/pine tones, with some caramel thrown in. Medium body. Very drinkable, this is a very solid IPA (in a can too), definitely recommended.

Serving type: can

05-10-2008 23:19:43 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Another great lookin IPA in a can, becoming a new trend I guess. Got this one thanks to my first trade with womencantsail.

A: The pour into my oversized snifter rises a fluffy head of over 1 finger. It's a semi clear slightly darker amber reddish almost flourescent color.

N: Lots of fresh hops. Loaded with pine and citrus, just as a west coast IPA should be. Little bit of chewy and earthy hops, and hints of musty fresh wet hops and hop oils. A very light sweet malt aroma dusts it as well.

T: A big bitter bite. Lots of earthy musty spicy hops with some hop oil and fresh wet hop flavors. Some pine and grapefruit, a little more citrus, and chewy hops. Pretty bitter, or more than I expected. A slight sweet malt touch just for a little roundedness.

M: Some spicy hops and some oils, a good body and good carbonation.

F: The bitterness builds a little on the finish, and just ramps up to a nice peak and lingers there for a bit. The musty fresh wet hop flavors, pale hops, and earthy hop flavors seem to linger for a while, with a touch of pine. A little orange peel bitterness hits as well. A nice IPA, some good hop flavors, but a little too musty and bitter, orange peel bitterness.

Serving type: can

03-08-2010 00:21:12 | More by jlindros

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to hopdog for this...
Appears a hazy, light orange with a small white head that fades into a mild collar and film. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is nice of citrusy hops, along with some notes of pine sap and herbs.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with caramel and citrus notes battling it out with a mild spiciness going on in the flavor.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, yeasty, sweet up front, and bitter on the end.

Serving type: can

09-14-2007 15:35:59 | More by weeare138

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear caramel amber with a couple fingers of poofy off-white head. A thin and foamy layer of retention flares up very nicely, leaving a big creamy cascade of sticky lacing behind. The aroma is rich with a ton of tropical fruit character, along with floral notes, spice, and some bread.

The taste is a moderatley bitter and spicy hop profile that is well balanced by citrus and toasted bready malts. I'm not getting a lot of sweetness out of the backbone but it's enough to even things out. Finishes with a dry lingering combo of bitterness and spice. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with an extremely mellow and creamy feel. Very easy feeling overall.

I've been wanting to try some of Caldera's offerings and this didn't disappoint. Nicely balanced IPA flavors with a big drinkibility and I love the fact that this is in cans. Nice!

Serving type: can

02-10-2009 17:41:25 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

From notes:

Pours a dark golden copper/amber color with dark ruby red edges hen held to a light source and a massive frothy three finger off-white head. Excellent retention, only slowly fading into a thick lasting cap that leaves sporadic chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Sweet citrus hop aroma with hints of pineapple, range peel, mango along with subtle earthy pine, subtle light fruit and alcohol.

On the lighter end of medium bodied with a nice balance of sweet citrus, earthy hops and malt backbone. Not overly bitter with hints of grapefruit and pineapple as well as some pine needle and biscuit/graham cracker malt. Slightly dry finish. Decent but nothing out of the ordinary.

Serving type: can

01-06-2011 09:25:07 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Can. Great for shooting empty bottles in the desert. Orange color. Yummy dry hop aroma, fruity too.

Good taste, not tongue numbing hops or bitterness, just the right amount for an active outdoor lifestyle for this ipa. Right amount of sweetness. Not heavy on the palate at all. Good summer ipa. Nothing outlandish mouthfeel wise. $10 a 6 was difficult at first, but seems to be a decent price after all.

Serving type: can

07-12-2010 22:35:27 | More by Beerandraiderfan

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.68/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12Oz can purchased from 'Beers of Europe' here in the UK. Poured the beer into a 'Hoegaarden' Grand Cru glass.

looked good, huge cream coloured head sat on top of a dull, hazy, dark amber/orange body. The head produced some heavy lacing and tried to stay throughout the tasting.

The nose was of yeasts and hops along with some grain type esters.

The hops from the aroma take over the taste completely, a real bitterness hits the mouth and throat. Why do they (or is it you?) have to over hop everything in the US when they brew an IPA? There really is no need to do so. It isn't as bad (hop wise) as some I've reviewed, but still too hoppy for my tender tastebuds.

It is true to the American IPA style and I think one of the better examples I've had (I am not a huge fan of the style though).

Serving type: can

07-09-2010 14:02:58 | More by BlackHaddock

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

First had: Philly Beer Scene Tasting panel with Matt Falco at Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, PA

I was privileged enough to be on the tasting panel for PBS Magazine, along with Bill Covaleski of Victory and Greg Ramirez of Exton Beverage. This was one of 21 beers we sampled during the session.

Clear orange-copper pour with a thin layer of bubbles for a head. Aroma of citrus and leafy hops, light pale malts. Taste reflects the nose: solid malt base, leafy hops, light and tea-like; pretty basic, but not as flavorful as I like my AIPAs. Advertised as being "brewed with plenty of body." Well, something must've happened between then and now, because the body on this was very light, kind of watery in the mouthfeel. Crisp and fairly refreshing, but lacking in most vital areas that make for a good beer.

Serving type: can

05-26-2012 03:28:25 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

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

Can from Brickskeller in Washington DC.

Pours a clear copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of large citrus and leafy hop aromas with light amounts of pale and caramel malts.

Tastes similar to how it smells. A combination of pale and caramel malt flavors up front are soon overtaken by bright citrus hop and earthy leafy hop flavors. Near the end of the sip the malt flavors take over and have a grainy quality before giving way to a solidly bitter and crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It has a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished the can quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall I'd been looking forward to trying this IPA for a while and it didn't disappoint. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: can

10-13-2009 04:02:52 | More by glid02

DoubleJ

California

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My thirst is getting to me, so why not an IPA to quench it? On to the beer:

It's all good in looks; dense head, iron orange color in my glass, good retention. The nose is the expected NW IPA dose of lychee, grapefruit, and pine sap. As suggested the nose, this IPA goes towards the "dirty hop" side. Big smack of grapefruit, pine, lingering hop bitterness on the palate, and a hint of orange. The aftertaste of sap lingers softly. The beer has a smooth body with carbonation that doesn't seem like it's there. In all respects, a respectable IPA.

Serving type: can

09-25-2010 06:08:38 | More by DoubleJ

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

CAN you dig how phenomenal the CANQuest has become? I am trading and/or getting CANs from everywhere! I CAN hardly believe it myself.

Whoops! I already drank one of my three this morning before even writing anything down. My notes for Ashland Amber included commentary on the CAN itself, including verbiage and mention of CAN-conditioning. This, however, was a visually appealing CAN with vibrant color reproduction and a green pop-tab. My buds at that stoner joint, Roots (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10996/?view=beerfly), would fully dig this CAN. Hey, before anybody gets their panties in a bunch, a) I kid and b) I CAN pass a urinalysis standing on my head. I dig beer, you dig? Plus, that place has a really smoky vibe and I am sure that they would not be particularly offended. Onward.

Both times, my pour has begun with a finger of ecru head which has simply sat down, leaving sticky Belgian lacing in its wake. The nose is forest hops - pine, green, earthy, sticky, massive. Sweet hops the hope of my life - once again, that damned howling monkey shut up and climbed off of my back for the moment. I am on the waiting list for hops rehab but it's a long list and I may not last that long. Thank Bob for hops!

It now becomes a simple matter of drawing some of this delectable beverage into a syringe through a needle and jamming said needle into one of the few remaining viable veins. No heating necessary. Cold fusion is more satisfactory, anyway. Once I untie my rubber hose, the euphoric quality begins to set in. I am one with the Beeriverse. My existance is justified. I'm not just a simple Hophead. I am a HopJunkie and an unapologetic one, at that. My licking the lacing out of the glass is starting to draw stares from the nieghbors. So what?!? The heck with them! This is my scene, man, and don't mess with me while I'm digging it. Find your own scene and report back.

Man, how do I convey veinfeel over mouthfeel? It was righteous! Full, sticky, veinous (not vinous), right on, baby! Finish was hoppy, sticky, yummy, the EMTs are trying to restart my heart, man. Zounds!

Where am I? Was this a review? Wow, man. What a groovy trip. Did you dig the scene too, or was it just me? I gotta get in the shower, man. I'll try anything once.

Serving type: can

11-22-2009 16:18:36 | More by woodychandler

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this very nice IPA on-tap at Brewer's Haven in Boise, Idaho after I had completed a little beer shopping. Poured amber with a nice head and great lacing. Smells very fruity with candied orange peel and grapefruit pith. The taste is very full, with bitter hops, breadiness. Sharp pine and earth in the hop profile. A little chewy in the mouth, but ovarall this is dry, bitter, and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 20:20:35 | More by Georgiabeer

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.6/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz can picked up today at the COOP... poured into my Delirium goblet... nice eggshell white head atop a crystal clear lite amber brew.. good lacing..

Nose is pretty fresh smelling CCC hops... pale malts and a very minor caramel is way in the background.

Flavor has a fair amount of toasty malts with it.. the hops are mainly in the front with bittering and more in then in the back close toward the finish with some pithy citrus skin... mid-palate is more about the malts.. toasty with minor some lesser caramel.. mouthfeel is a tad heavier than expected.. sorta full with a good carbonation that still leans toward the creamy side of things.

A good IPA that I think is very drinkable, but seems to not find a real identity in the traditional American IPA style.. don't get me wrong, this is a pretty nice beer.. but the maltiness seems a tad high and maybe too pronounced with toastiness and caramel.

3.5/3.5/3.5/3.5/4

Serving type: can

11-26-2009 07:18:02 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Attractive coppery amber in the tall snifter. Nice scent of flowery, aromatic hops. Usual cap of foam and decent carbonation in the mouth. Nose of pine and a touch of caramel.

Big hops with lots of resiny and pine flavors. Fairly bitter, but not as excessive as lots of IPAs. Relatively drinkable. Some warm malt along with the earth flavors. Not as dank as some current hoppy beers. Slightly sharp, but has a mellow approach. Light bodied.

12 oz can from Olive Tree Market in Ocean Beach.

Serving type: can

04-08-2012 05:06:07 | More by mactrail

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from can into a Delerium Tremens tulip. Pours a hazy red-orange with a one finger off-white head that slowly subsides to minimal. Maintains decent lacing throughout. The aroma was comprised of malt, hops, and pine. The flavor was of malt and a load of hops. It was medium on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a very nice IPA from a can no-less. Definitely worth seeking out if you are an IPA fan as it is quite drinkable and enjoyable. I will be having another in the near future.

Serving type: can

07-01-2010 20:42:44 | More by thagr81us

ccrida

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. can poured into a nonic, the Caldera's IPA is a clear bronze with a moderate sized white head that quickly fades to a thick skim, leaving scattered lace. Like their Pale Ale I just reviewed, this is the first time I've ever not had this beer in a can, but I'm not nearly as impressed. Served at fridge temp.

Smell is pure, resiny cannabis - ah, Oregon! To be more specific, it's more of the cat piss style, which you probably won't care for unless you have the mental association. I was just working on my goggle tan at Mt. Ashland this past Wednesday, and by the number of heads goofing off with me on a work day, it's obvious this town operates on a slightly slower speed. With a smell like this, I think Caldera's trying to remind us there's always time to chill...

Taste is pungent, resiny hops, firm malt backbone with a big bitter finish. The slightest touch of sweet caramel malt loses the battle to the big buds, which pack enough lupin to knock out Bobby Brown on a 3 day coke binge.

Mouthfeel is creamy but dry and crisp, with a heavier body.

Drinkability is average. I like a lot more hop flavor then bitterness, and this IPA is pretty much the opposite, and a bit thick for my taste as well. I'll still give it bonus points for the can, not to mention that dank aroma that I never noticed from the can.

Serving type: can

04-05-2008 06:49:06 | More by ccrida

RoyalT

Ohio

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

Appearance - This is a shiny bronze in color with a modest head that showed good retention and left some nice lattice work on the inside of my glass.

Smell - The hops are deep, rich, and complex here and quickly surpass the good malty base of this ale. There's a beautiful orange citrus here that isn't too sweet but more like the aroma of a fine orange liqueur. The stiff pine gives a contrasting compliment to the citrus and a bit of lemongrass to complete the puzzle.

Taste - The big malt base, almost like a DIPA, comes on much stronger at the taste and is amazingly able to hold its own against these huge, complex hops. The pine from the nose steps back a bit on the tongue but otherwise this ale tastes like it smells.

Mouthfeel - This is a solid medium-bodied with some large bitterness that is tempered by the light toffee sweetness of the malts. The carbonation is rightly light and overall this IPA has a terrific mouthfeel.

Drinkability - This is a big, complex IPA that seems like a double until you notice that the ABV is just slightly over 6%.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2009 01:58:16 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

California

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

Appearance: Orange-amber with a slight haze to it. The eggshell colored head retains remarkably well, leaving a ton of sticky lace behind.

Smell: Floral with a bit of resiny pine and grapefruit. Great hop aroma with no noticeable malt presence.

Taste & mouthfeel: Malty but very dry. Floral and resiny hop flavors follow, leading way to a bitter finish with a hint of grapefruit. The medium-light body and restrained ABV make this one seriously drinkable IPA.

Serving type: can

07-30-2008 00:58:35 | More by largadeer

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a can to a pint glass. Had an orangey color and a cloudy texture. There was a half inch of foamy, long-lasting head and very good lacing.

S: A nice aroma of citrus, hops, and a slight maltiness.

T: Tasted of hops, pine, citrus, and some caramel malt. A very Western-type flavor for an IPA.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a dry, crisp finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A very drinkable beer that helps to dispell the myth that only bad beers come in cans.

Serving type: can

04-17-2010 13:07:18 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clean orange-ish to copper color with a light tan head. In the aroma, faint pine like hops. In the taste, mellow pine hops and a nice malt balance. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry to clean hop aftertaste. More a pale than IPA, but decent nonetheless.

Serving type: can

11-19-2010 17:00:23 | More by OWSLEY069

gford217

Georgia

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

12oz can courtesy of Reino poured into a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear golden amber with a small creamy white head that dissipates slowly to a sizable ring and leaves sporadic lacing.

The aroma is well balanced with the citrus showing out up front with some grapefruit, orange peel and some grassy hops. There is a also a fairly big caramel sweetness balancing it out.

The taste has the same citrus hops up front with grapefruit in the forefront, but it seems to be a bit earthier than the aroma suggests with a sturdy malt backbone that gives way to a finishing bitterness from the hops.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly prickly with strong carbonation.

This is a very drinkable IPA and one of the better beers in a can I've had in a while. Very tasty.

Serving type: can

01-11-2009 22:44:15 | More by gford217

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this at Arena's Cafe in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Poured from the chilled can into a pint glass.

A - A medium copper-like peach tea shade w/ a proud 3 fingers of cream, rocky headed w/ very fine bead and good lacing.

S - A crisp, tropical hop odor w/ a pine and pineapple(orange according to octopus87)aroma w/ hints of light apricot and grapefruit in the nose w/ mild pepper.

M - A crisp, juicy and mild sweet feel w/ a moderate carbonation level. Medium bitterness and slight spiciness w/ a resinous accent and residual bitterness in the finish

T - The taste is smooth w/ a spiced hop flavor that is fruity w/ hints of pineapple, mango and orange zest. There is a malt backbone that anchors the flavor w/ mild grain and sweetness in the taste. There are flavors that remind of peach w/ a slight spicy pepper mellow flavor. The beer creates nice hop burps as I near the end of the glass which can only mean I was refreshed by the taste.

D - I found this to be a very drinkable ale, a fine IPA w/ out any 'hop assault', but hoppy enough to satisfy your average hop fan. Still bitter flavored and refreshing -an almost "must try" IMO.

Serving type: can

09-17-2009 18:56:41 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

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

12oz single, shipped by blackistopheles

served appropriately with dinner

appearance: cool can. poured into an imperial pint glass, light copper-amber body with a foamy beige cap and pretty strong lacing. somewhat cloudy

smell: light citrus, floral hops, grapefruit and light pine

taste: pretty good canned IPA that i would definitely purchase if it were available (good canned beers are quite valuable for the baseball and football seasons). this one is a modest but very pleasant ipa - quiet floral, fading hops, grapefruit, tea, caramel malt base

mouthfeel: light bitterness, medium body, no alcohol to be found

drinkability: good

Serving type: can

04-27-2009 01:09:20 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong hops and slight earthy malt. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with a high carbonation level. Tastes of strong hops, some sweet malt, and some earthy malt. Overall, a very tasty IPA and by far the best beer I've ever had from a can. This was practically mind blowing for me to really enjoy a canned beer. Definitely worth a try!

Serving type: can

04-07-2009 03:03:54 | More by Tone