Hop Hash - Caldera Brewing Company

kencarman

Tennessee

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This could be SO much better. The nose is very, very promising, but once you gt into taste... eh, so what? Needs more complex grain bill and hopping. A bit one dimensional and background-ish in taste. Mouthfeel orange-ish in hops but just pale malt. This is a, "common, you can do better than this," beer. There are SO many decent IPAs out there. Why choose this one when there are so many stand out, or interesting, examples?

While nose is interesting, hop taste is just bitter with not much more than a hint of orange-like hopping.

Light gold, small bubbles with some pillow, clarity: a bit of fridge chill... perhaps? Head holds for a while.

It's not bad, just needs to stand out more..

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:38:58 | More by kencarman

Halcyondays

California

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber,

A: Pours a clear orange with a huge root beer float type pillowy head. Great head retention and lace. An impressive beautiful pint.

S: White grapefruit pith, melon rind, lemon.

T: Lots of citrus immediately, but finishes with a sweet biscuity malt note that adds a balanced touch to the beer. Grapefruit and tangerine zest throughout.

M: Medium-bodied, frothy creamy carbonation, light resiny aftertaste for the style.

O: A solid bomber of IPA at a good price, these Caldera bombers can get up there, but this is a nice value. Very northwest, but with a hint of Cali.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 02:41:11 | More by Halcyondays

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazy orange-ish to copper color with an off white head. In the aroma, mellow orange citrus hops. In the taste, a dryer orange citrus hop and a nice malt balance. A small hop bite, but mainly smooth, with a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dryness of orange citrus and somewhat malty. Nice hops with balance, fresh and pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 21:08:32 | More by OWSLEY069

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Snagged a bottle of this for 5 bucks at the House of 1,000 beers. Brewed once so it must have been bottled in March of last year making this bottle 10 months old. Peeling back the tag the original price was 15 so no wonder it didn't sell.

A - Not an exposition of carbonation but much more than I expected. Got a solid 1/4 inch of opaque colored head atop of a hazy deep amber brown beer. In the glass it's still very alive with a constant stream of bubbles from the base.

S - Actual quite juicy still with grapefruit hops and musky caramel bread base. Some herbal sort of hop smells as well.

T - Kind of acidic with faded sharp pine hops, malt balance and some hops clinging to the back of the palate. Kind of a dirty muddled hop profile with a touch of herbal bitterness which actually reminds me of aspirin. In other words not great.

M - Light to heavy, somewhat chewy, still quite bitter.

Overall I was surprised to see these hops still alive even after the expected 6 months expiration but that doesn't mean it's a great beer. Very bitter, herbal, and medicine like this one is worth passing on even for 5 bucks.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:27:57 | More by DrDemento456

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.28/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked this out when back home in NC, we get some Caldera stuff here in OK, but not this one...

Pours amber with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Breadyness, orange peel & grapefruit. Easily the best aspect of this beer

T: Grapefruit, orange rind, some caramel & a touch of aspirin up front. Herbal & woody hops as this warms, grapefruit rind & more aspirin & then some leafy hops & a little bit of pear fruittyness. Finishes with piney bitterness with some lemon & orange zest & astringency & dryness, plus some biscuitty malt

MF: Creamy with medium body that thins as this warms. A bit more malt profile would've helped with balance

Nothing to get excited about here, was hoping for more

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:36:06 | More by russpowell

Spikester

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From John's Market in PDX. Pours a clear copper with three fingers of off white head. Lacings are plentiful. Aroma is resiney pine, some citrus, and bread notes. Taste is white grapefruit, leather, and a big push from the malts help the tongue deal with the hop oil resinous bitterness. Mouthfeel is full with good carbonation. Medium dry bitter finish. Still a bit of foam at the bottom of the glass. Overall a fine beer but maybe a bit too bitter for most Pale Ale fans. Close to an Imperial Pale Ale IMO.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 08:06:39 | More by Spikester

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured out as a deep orange color with a nice looking white foam on top. The lacing and retention were decent on this beer. The smell of it was a mixture of hoppy aroma's ranging from earthy to resin-like. I felt that the aroma was a little underwhelming. The taste is decent, it's bitter for sure and there is a bit of malt in there to balance the beer out a little bit. I feel that it's just a little one dimensional in the taste. The mouthfeel of the beer was good, it had a solid medium body, it was nicely carbonated and drinkable. Overall this beer wasn't bad, but not one of my favorite in the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 13:06:35 | More by Knapp85

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - orangish amber with a huge layer of thick, dense, off white head

S - citrus with a faint bread aroma

T - pine, bread, citrus, pineapple, mildly bitter finish

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is rather solid, refreshing, easy to drink pale ale. It has a great hoppy character with a balanced malt. This is a solid offering from Caldera.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 14:20:10 | More by tdm168

rangerred

Tennessee

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Pours a slightly hazy medium copper with a thick off-white head. Great head retention.

Has a very citrusy hop aroma along with a little bit of dankness. A little bit of caramel and biscuit malt as well.

Taste is a great balance between malt and hops. Great earthy citrus quickly followed by biscuit and toasted malt. No one flavor really overpowers the other and the balance is really outstanding. Bitterness is high and it leads to a crisp, clean finish. Nice full mouthfeel.

I am really impressed by this beer. It is not a humungous hop bomb but more of a balanced IPA. Would like to have again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:56:34 | More by rangerred

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into a snifter. Thanks to the sharer.

A: Clear, reddish-amber body with a thin, frothy cap of off-white foam. All right.

S: Hops. Very floral, honeyed, and lightly fruity. Melon and cucumber. Different and delightful.

T: More balanced and normal here, with floral hops and bready malt being the dominant flavors. A bit of melon-like fruitiness persists. Bitter finish. Really nice.

M: Light to medium bodied; creamy carbonation. Good.

O: Great APA; it hides its surprisingly high ABV entirely, and it's especially fun to hear about the unique process that lies behind it. Very cool indeed.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 00:29:36 | More by woosterbill

beer2day

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a steady orange gold with 2 fingers of khaki cream head. Good retention and very nice thick lace all over the glass.

Bread and caramel malt dominate the nose. Light pine underneath. A bit earthy.

Lighter caramel in flavor, but stronger pine. A bit of toffee goes with the bread malt. Nice dry, arid hop finish. Even a bit tart.

Body is spot on. Esters are a bit strong here, so comes on a little thick for some. I liked it, though.

Overall, an easy drinking pale. My bottle says 6.2% abv, so just a tad lighter than listed.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:07:02 | More by beer2day

bstave

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle

A- Pours a translucent copper with a 2 finger white fluffy head and sticky lacing. Nice looking beer.

S- Citrus with big toasty caramel notes.

T- Citrus hops and big malt backbone.

M- Thicker than most APAs. More on the likes of a DIPA. It is smooth, however.

O- This is a fresh bottle and tasting pretty nice. This is a solid APA that flirts into the IPA category.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 03:37:07 | More by bstave

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up at Bier Thirty... Poured into my slim tulip while getting boxes ready for shipment...

2 finger off white head... the brew is clear light amber... nice retention and lacing..

Nose shows big grapefruit zest with another heavy hand of toasty/light caramel malt..

Bruising bitterness ... Hops seem muted by the malt.. no doubt.. light pine and zesty citrus is blown out by the malt.. toasty, caramel, and even hints of burnt sugar.. lingering bitterness with no where to go.

The body is more like a DIPA... and even then, a DIPA with too much residual malt... too thick for sure. Burpy carbonation doesn't do much for me.

4/3.5/3/3/3

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 06:36:58 | More by JohnGalt1

peacebone116

California

2.65/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 22-oz bottle of this from the Davis Beer Shoppe. Bottle lists this beer at 6.5% ABV.

A: Pours a slightly hazy copper color with nice, visible carbonation. The head is slightly off-white, almost creamy.

N: The nose is a little bit skunky, actually. There is sweetness from the malt and then a bit of vegetative floral. Not much positive here, really.

T/M: The flavor is actually a bit better than the nose. The bitterness is clean up front but digresses to a slightly light-struck quality. The malt is well balanced and pairs well with this bitterness, but there is not much complexity to this one. The body is medium, finishing a bit dry, but not too far off for the style.

Although this is a pale ale, with a name like "Hop Hash", using the resin of the hops in the brew, one would expect a much more floral beer (something more akin to an IPA). This is more bitter than most pales, but it has none of the redeeming qualities that I enjoy from the bitterness. It lacks a lot of citrus crispness and floral qualities I have come to love from the hops. It is possible that this bottle is old (not bottle dated) or that it was mishandled, but over all just not a beer I would recommend to people.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 01:25:39 | More by peacebone116

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle I brought to share at drewone’s tasting.

Pours a clear copper with a tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, and herbal hop aromas. Taste is the same with a higher level of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but definitely heavy on the bitter hop flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 01:08:16 | More by UCLABrewN84

Reidrover

Oregon

2.9/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 oz = bottle from ’Lifesource" Salem $3.99 Clear burnt orange/copper ale with a large frothy off white head. Fine aromas of spicy/citric hops..some hay in the back Very astringent..really attacks the taste buds..becomes almost ashy in its intensity..after sitting for a while some of the intensity subdues..but really needed more oats to get this in check Palate is fine OK for style Overall i can get it down my throat but never a great experience

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 03:20:42 | More by Reidrover

t420o

California

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Caldera Hop Hash

A- pour produces a two finger light beige head with very good retention and very good lacing. Body is golden-copper. 4.5 

S- very resiny slightly bitter hop smell that I love, tropical hop smell, earthy, caramel malt is in good balance. I really enjoy the smell of this beer, just a bit light on the smell. 4  

T- this is a very good pale ale in my opinion. Resiny hops, tropical fruits, Graham crackers, caramel malt, earthy undertones. Finishes kind of dry. 4 

M- good mouthfeel. Medium carbonation and medium body 4 

O- really digging this beer. Hop flavor is earthy and resiny and malt balance is excellent. Very good drinkability 4.5

A-

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 18:18:26 | More by t420o

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle $4.99 and marked at 6.5% ABV. Copper color, decent head, smells boring. Slight bit of hops and malt, really underwhelming. The taste was a step up, decent bitterness, hops, chewy malt and a thickness that is good. Definitely feels more like a string pale ale rather than an IPA. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 02:20:25 | More by ArrogantB

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an impy nonic a clear deep copper color with a fantastic one finger clingy head that stuck like glue to the glass leaving two full rings of lace as it settled into a frothy mass atop.Sharp grapefruit-hop aromas over top of a mildly sweet biscuit malt base.Citrusy but not overly bitter hops dominate the palate with some boozy notes,if you like alcohol and fruit based hopped up beers this is for you,I like it alot.It's gotta fruity boozed element to it and I love it,it's a a great APA,I consider it more of an American IPA,either way it's a hop lovers kinda beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 00:28:32 | More by oberon

mactrail

California

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Quite rich and perky hop celebration. Coppery amber in the Duvel tulip with a very decent head. Nice foamy mouthfeel. Medium bodied with a tart flavor. Modest nose but plenty of hop flavor.

Fairly spritzy on the tongue. Lots of malt with some biscuit flavors peeking out. Orange peel, lots of resiny taste. Flattens out some after sipping a while. Heading towards harsh piney flavor but the malt is rather pleasant. Certainly not a standard Pale Ale. Quite bitter aftertaste, more fitting for an IPA. From the 22 oz bottle. Label says 6.5% and sold for $4.49.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 02:05:01 | More by mactrail

Docer

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: (4.0)

- Pours a rather dark malty clear amber with a fluffy inch of foamy mad head. Settles to a foamy thick blanket with bubbly lace sticking around. The brown in the color is quite rich and inviting.

Smell: (3.5)

- This brew actually has quite the malty and yeast aroma. Sweet caramel, toffee, and some esters. Quite the fruity touch, some grape, passion fruit, and perhaps mango. It does however contain a slight off-putting buttery aroma (which unfortunately I have experienced a lot from this brewer).

Taste: (4.0)

- A pleasant caramel and bread malt up front. The bitterness and grassy/earthy hops show up a little late. Some fruity hops, grassy, herbal, and a nice bitter flare. The beer tastes great, and doesn't have any buttery flavors. Resinous pine, grass, and earthy is what I get from the hops.

Mouth Feel: (4.0)

- This is a pretty heavy bodied brew.. but not quite like a strong stout or porter. It's creamy, well carbonated, and chewy. It's a touch dry, and cloying as well. The creamy malt body, and bitter hop finish really compliment the feel well.

Overall: (3.5)

- I like what they have done here. This is one of the better brews I have had from this brewer. For me they have slowly gotten better over time, but almost lost me as a common buyer. I do see their canned brews in quite a few outlets around town. Beers like this one spark my interest once again in the brewer. It's a worthy drinker, and is quite drinkable and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 04:25:19 | More by Docer

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to MADhombrewer for sending this along in a recent box.

A foamy dull finished off white head is about a finger thick. A touch of sudsy lace. Straight Amber color with good clarity.

Light, somewhat sweet aroma with toasted malt. A touch of green and muted fruity aroma.

Actually bends a little towards the malty side of things. Decent balance, decent APA, but nothing quite special. Somewhat fruity with a bitter and sweet finish.

Basic body and feel. If anything carbonation is a little strong.

Glad to have tried it, but not among my favorite APA’s

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 21:05:58 | More by Reagan1984

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a deep golden color ith 1/4 beige head, some good lacing

S: Bittering hops, pine needles, Earthy with osme caramel

T: Starts with a bigger bodied that I expcted with bittering hops and pine needles, some citrus and Earthy notes with some caramel. I thought it was pretty one dimensional

M: Light to medium bodied, well carbonated.

O: Average drinkability, no major issues, probably would not drink again

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2012 15:54:27 | More by barleywinefiend

flexabull

California

4.4/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared this growler with a friend last night, filled on Friday.

Pours a bright and clear dark gold gold, almost amber, with a very nice white head.

Aromas are nice, pleasant and hoppy. Mostly hard candies and sweet citrus, maybe some orange and mango.

Taste is just like the nose. Lots of hoppy and semi sweet citrus flavors. Some mango, peach, orange, cream, bread and with some crystal malt flavors. Finish is crisp with some mild resin and fruity bitterness. This is a well balanced beer, with both good malt sweetness, and plenty of hop flavors.

Mouthfeel is very nice, smooth, full, and nice mellow carbonation.

Overall, an excellent beer. The beer is listed here as a Pale, the server said the same thing, but this seems a bit strong, and bordering on an IPA. But I really don't care what this is, it's that good. I wish Caldera would consider bottling or canning this.

Serving type: growler

09-14-2011 16:51:40 | More by flexabull

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap into pint glass at Nano-brew festival PDX.

Brewer's notes (couldn't find online, just on the card I had):

"This beer gets its name from the Hop Union Hop Hash nuggets..." "...the beer is designed to be a surprise on all fronts. Even the brewer had no idea how hoppy it would be. (Last keg of this beer)."

Poured a lovely pale ale/IPA copper hue with decent head retention and very fine lace. Really intense on the nose. Amazingly complex but dominated by the hops and hop oils. Bright citrus, bread, and cooked oats all waft out. Lots going on. On the palate, the beer is richly flavored and insanely dry with intense hops that never really seem to be too over the top. The texture is lovely with a great finish. This was the beer of the night! Intense, yes, but with complexity and nuances to help round it out, the resulting beer never seems to be too much.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 21:19:44 | More by cbarrett4