Hoppyum IPA - Foothills Brewing Company

lynchtae

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer from a cask at Growlers in Charlotte NC.
The cask added and enhanced certain elements in the beer, but to be honest I missed the carbonation.

AP - Very cloudy beer, light brown, creamy white head forming lace on the glass as you drink

AR - Very hoppy, a benefit of the cask is that the beer is very fresh, unfiltered, and had had very little exposure to air. Lot's of malty and caramel notes.

taste - Pleasantly bitter, very dry. Hop flavors: Citrus, Pine, Spices. A bit of maltyness. I expected some yeast flavors due to the cask conditioning but didnt detect any.

Mouthfeel - I am still uncertain/inexperienced with cask beers. Not sold on the mouthfeel. It did have a spicey bite at the back of my throat.

Finish - long, long bitter hoppy finish. Crisp.

Overall - Very good. i think this beer really benefited from the cask conditioning. I don't know if I would love it in a bottle, or even on tap.

Serving type: cask

05-05-2011 20:14:18 | More by lynchtae

porterwoobie

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

cask ale, poured into a standard pint glass.

A: orangish amber color, slightly hazy, slime head, some lacing

S: very hoppy smell. citrus, pine, grapefruit. slight malt aroma also detected.

T: very good balance of malt sweetness and hops. tastes slightly sweet, but very hoppy. the bitterness lingers on your tongue tempting you to take the next sip.

MF: medium bodied, low carbonation, drinks very smooth (cask conditioned)

Drinkability: awesome beer. my only complaint is that this brewery is 2 hours from my house.

Serving type: cask

06-30-2009 20:51:07 | More by porterwoobie

atsprings

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

20oz Imperial pint on cask at Raleigh Times. Served a nice slightly hazy orange with a thin slowly diminishing head. Aroma was a nice amount of citrus hops with malts right behind. The taste was a nice balance of citrus hops with the malts knowing their role right behind, not overpowering. Slight pine hops are present as well. The beer is light and crisp and extremely smooth in it's cask form. I must say, like the stout, this is a very enjoyable beer in its normal form and even better on cask.

Serving type: cask

01-22-2009 16:56:24 | More by atsprings

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a hazy copper color capped by a modest head that hangs around for a while and delivers some good lacing

Smell: A nice floral citrus and piney aroma

Taste: Starts out with a nice caramel malt base but delivers the goods with a good citrus hops finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a modest level of natural carbonation

Drinkability: Really enjoyed this first firkin at Foothills and looking forward to many more

Serving type: cask

07-29-2006 02:22:06 | More by brentk56

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Cabo Fish Taco

A- hazy amber-orange color with a creamy white head that retains long after the pour and leaves great lacing down the entire glass

S- grassy and citrus hop notes, grapefruit, slightly sweet malt and fresh mint on the finish

T- juicy citrus hop with notes if grapefruit zest and mint, sweet sugary malt, danky citrus hop finish that is dry-yet-tart with a long linger.

M- medium body and carbonation, creamy mouthfeel leads to a smooth and velvety finish

O- huge citrus flavors make this one an enjoyable IPA. Citrus-forward ipa's are my favorite of the style and this one doesn't dissapoint. The tapped version seems to have a bit more pronounced flavor than the bottled version, I'd definitely try this one again

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 04:45:01 | More by Treyliff

HopHeadRyan

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber in South Carolina at a gas station...

A very solid IPA, nothing spectacular, but defnitley enjoyable. Pretty generic citrus notes in the nose, a little more subtle than I would prefer, very carmelly as well. A little more malt character than I like but relatively balanced. Give it a try, it may have been an old bottle. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 18:34:40 | More by HopHeadRyan

wyatt13

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Big thanks to 67couple for unexpectedly sending this my way! Poured from a 22oz. bomber into my 7venth Sun tulip.

A - A great orange color, with a range from darker amber tones to toasted yellow. Lots of floaties congregate in the bottom immediately. A nice fluffy two-fingers of froth leaves sheets of lacing as I drink.

S - Nice gratefruit aromas instantly, with juicy fruits abounding. There's also a detectable malt presence, and a bit of a bready quality. Some earthy bitterness as well.

T - A melange of citrus to start, with some grassy hop bitterness as well. Caramelly malt and toast are at the transition point, with a finish of lingering bitterness that invites more tastes.

M - Rather dry after the swallow, but some good carbonation and a pleasantly light bodied brew.

O - A nicely balanced IPA, that is very refreshing at the moment. A very pleasant drinker that is not by any means intense or overwhelming with bitterness. Thanks Jon!

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:29:49 | More by wyatt13

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.89/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- A slightly hazy light orange with a one finger off white head.

S- Very crisp, sharp nose. A touch of citrus. A dry and plain malt backbone.

T- A clean beer at first. A plain malt backbone at first. A nice bitterness takes over and leads to a nice hop profile. There is a pungent citrus in this beer. A more herbal and garlicy hop profile but infused with fresh lemon and pineapple. A balanced hop to malt character. A nice drirnking an pretty well done IPA.

M- A good body and carbonation. Good balance. overall well done.

O- Not one to tell your friends about but a well done east coast style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 23:50:30 | More by TwelveOunces

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a tumbler. Pours a hazy dark burnt orange color, minimal white head, small chunks cling to glass, very average appearance.

Nice blend of hops combine, resulting somewhat in a mutted flavor profile.

Taste Is a bit piney and resinous, on top of the hop blend.

Mouthfeel is smooth front, medium carbonation. Aftertaste is bitter, piney, and full of resin.

Overall, a half decent IPA. I think the blend of hops is a bit much, but I'm glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 02:02:31 | More by rodlavers

mikem0487

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into ale glass.

A-Pours a off white two fingers width head. Nice and frothy. Leaves a good sticky lacing around the rim of the glass. Copper body thats nicely filtered.

S-Hop resin up front. Get citrus mixed with pine notes throughout the nose. Get some of the caramelized sugars from the malt.

T-Piney earthy hops throughout the palate. Nicely balanced by the malt bill. Bread crust and caramel sugar are in there buried beneath the hops. At the end you get the mellow citrus notes of melon. Leaves a nice lingering finish thats bitter and sweet at the same time.

M-Well carbonated. I would say above average for the carbonation for this style. A little thin on the body. Has a mildly dry finish.

O-A great IPA thats very drinkable. The nose and the taste make it highly enjoyable. A standout for sure in this crowded genre of beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 04:48:48 | More by mikem0487

dpodratsky3

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap at Carolina Ale House in Raleigh, NC

A: Crystal clear golden color tinted with light orange, head is silky foam that starts at 2 fingers and settles to .5 finger that stays the whole glass, thick sheets of lace down the side

S: Pure resin, strong and hoppy but not all that inviting

T: Dank fruit and resin, a good but not great balance of the two

M: Dry, lighter carbonation and body than I expected

O: Solid IPA, but nothing to wow you

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2013 01:38:28 | More by dpodratsky3

Dalgren

North Carolina

4.36/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pale, slightly cloudy, light amber color. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Spiegelau, DFH, Sierra Nevada 19 oz. IPA Glass. Carbonation retention, took a while to settle down. Slight lacing.

S: Citrus peel, pine, caramel and a hint of peach.

T: Sweet caramel well balanced with tart hops and a peach/apricot taste. There is typical hoppy citrus flavors.

M: A nice lingering flavor that sticks around long enough to beg for another sip. A wonderful balance of moderate complex flavors.

O: This poured like it was a little over carbonated, then settled down. The character then came through as a very good IPA. I think it was a bit too cold coming out of my fridge, but after letting it rest for just a minute, the flavors really emerged. I would have to put this on my short list of really good IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:06:44 | More by Dalgren

gigaknight

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Thanks to BA kevingordon for furnishing this killer IPA for review!

A- Pours a lovely honey hue with a bit of orange when backlit. A finger of somewhat soapy off-white head dissipates within a few minutes to a halo around the edge of the glass. I love seeing particles floating around in an otherwise nice clear beer. Unfiltered beer builds character. Almost no lacing has stuck around, and there's barely a wisp of head left around the edges. Don't be discouraged by the less-than-impressive appearance, you won't be drinking this with your eyeballs.

S- The first thing I notice is the smell of canned peaches, but it's not syrupy or artificial. Notes of dried apricots follow, with a hint of honey in the background. No alcohol detected in the nose, and the light sweetness is lively and fresh. A pinch of caramel malt comes forth as the beer warms, filling out the peachiness and forming a smell reminiscent of cobbler. Yum.

T- A light malty sweetness greets the palate, branching off into those drupe fruit notes, apricot being more prevalent in the palate than peach, and that same old hint of honey. Wonderful citrus rind tones emerge, bitter orange being the foremost. Floral elements and a light grassiness round out the already broad complexity of the palate, and meld nicely with the resinous bitterness which emerges at the same point. An interesting mineral character hangs off in the background, providing interesting contrast with the sweeter elements. A flash of alcohol serves the bitterness, and the palate lingers with fairly aggressive resin and citrus zest.

M- On the heavy end of medium-bodied, but making this any lighter or heavier would be a mistake. The mouthfeel is right where it needs to be, lending a pleasant bit of chew to the juicy notes and keeping the wonderful aftertaste around for ages. The finish is sticky and lingering, offering a distinctly different flavor from the onset of the palate, making each subsequent sip and pleasant reminder of how the flavors evolved.

O- This is a refreshingly balanced IPA for those who love aggressive bitterness with loads of complexity to match. Sweet fruity aromatics combine well with the resinous bitterness, and I'm glad they didn't wimp out on the mouthfeel, as too much carbonation would have detracted from the overall richness of the brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 21:30:45 | More by gigaknight

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.14/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Slight chill haze on a dark gold color. Head is white with a loose, foamy cap. Drops to a thin wispy cap with a tiny collar. Some specks of lacing. Lighter carbonation than.expected.

Smell: Light caramel malt sweetness. Some backing breast notes. Hops run through pine and citrus. Pine needles and orange zest. Lightly floral with a slightly spicy hop finish. Vague salty aroma. Juicy and sweet. Nice balance. Orange juice sweetness. Cooked malts.

Taste: Slightly spicy and leafy hops. Cooked and slightly caramelized malts. Bready, like.crust. Big juicy orange with some backing pine needle. A bit watery. Marmalade and a touch of mint. Low-grade balance. warming tamps everything down a bit, leaving more juicy orange than anything else.

Mouthfeel: Light carbonation on a medium to light body. Incredibly smooth and pushes creamy. Very clean and easy drinking.

Overall: Suboptimal.

Decent. Best thing it has going for it is the silky smooth mouthfeel. Flavor is balanced and approachable.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:59:58 | More by Goblinmunkey7

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.24/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

22oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - murky orange/amber color with a thin white head that became just a ring.

S - tangerine aroma, I'm not really getting anything else.

T - tangerine sweetness upfront with citrus rind bitterness on the finish.

F - medium bodied with mild carbonation.

O - fair example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 22:00:42 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

PorterPatrol

North Carolina

4.41/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this tasty beer within 2 weeks of bottling date on the package, super-fresh hop aroma and nice, well balanced hop on the palate with plenty of lingering Simcoe on the finish.

Beautiful, mid-range IPA and well done at this price point. Looking forward to watching this brewery grow and expand its distribution and offerings. Long live NC beers!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 16:24:50 | More by PorterPatrol

cottonkoozie

North Carolina

4.49/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Golden honey color that is slightly cloudy. Pours a nice head that sticks around for a couple of minutes before dissipating to a lacy head. Leaves moderate lacing down the sides.

S - Balanced. Citrus notes, piney notes, and earthy malt undertones.

T - Lives up nicely to the smell. Nice hops, not overpowering, and a nice malt backbone to balance.

M - Very good, perfect about of carbonation to give this a really nice feel.

Overall I've had this one tons of times but this is my first time from a bottle. I have to admit I was a little excited to see that I could enjoy this one at home now, even though I can get this at most bars nearby here in the Raleigh, NC area. It does loose a little in the bottle, maybe not as fresh as what I'm used to on draft around here, but still fresh and a great beer. One of the more balanced IPAs out there to me. This has what an IPA should, strong hops character with a nice malt balance, and what makes the balance better is that to my taste, one particular hops flavor does not stand out, rather nice combination. Great beer and a good example of what the North Carolina craft scene has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 00:08:41 | More by cottonkoozie

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a 12 oz tall pint. Pours a darker but still light orange with a nice white head. Smells of nice citrus hops, nice but not overly complex. Tastes of piney and floral hops, very nice taste. Beer goes down smooth, good carbonation, light body. Overall a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 22:50:31 | More by cyclonece09

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a murky orange in color with about an inch of fluffy head. smells of pine, grapefruit citrus, and fresh cut grass. a nice bitterness up front followed by a very floral flavor of hops (cascade?) blending nicely with the sweet malty backbone. medium body with moderate carbonation.

a really nice ipa with a modest abv. the first FRESH tasting ipa i've gotten from my last 2 mail orders placed. a shame on the other ones, but this is really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 01:29:00 | More by facundoCNB

zac16125

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Foothills Hoppyum IPA
22oz bottle into a pint glass
no born on date

First beer Im using the .25 increments on. My world is in shambles (I dont like change).

A: Pours a slightly hazy apricot-amber color with 2 fingers of light tan head, which is very bubbly and has good retention. Leaves lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.

S: Really nice aroma here. Juicy hops, citrusy, mint, floral-y, lime. Subtle sweet malt notes. Smells refreshing. Is reminiscent of a mojito (fairly certain Ive never said that about a beer before) with the mint and lime notes. I really dig this aroma, which is quite unique.

T: Taste is a toned down version of the nose. I still get mint and lime citrus, along with lemon zest. Some piney bitterness that lingers for a while after each sip. I like the taste, but its fairly muted. The flavors as a whole could certainly be more prominent. Theres not much of a malt backbone, and the one dimensional hops dont make the flavor feel full.

M/D: Medium body, appropriate carbonation, has a light feel to it. Somewhat lacking. Drinkability is high.

O: Started off strong with a great aroma, but the taste and lackluster mouthfeel dropped this down in my book. Unfortunately without a bottle date, theres no way to tell if this is fresh or not, but as is, I dont think its something Id buy again. It wasnt bad, but there are just so many really good IPAs, I dont see myself going back to a mediocre one like this.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 01:21:17 | More by zac16125

jpro

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from a sixer picked up at Peabody's in Boone. Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint glass...

A: Pours a pale gold, with a half-finger white head; minimal retention and not much lace.

S: Citrusy, lightly resiny hop aroma; some lemon notes, too. Sweet / honey in there, too.

T: Nice resinous hop flavor with some light tropical fruit character; pale malts don't compete with the hop flavor.

M: Light bodied; moderate carbonation; nothing too crazy - actually a bit lackluster in the mouthfeel department, but I guess it does lend to a greater drinkability.

O: A nice IPA - definitely not too heavy, but it does have some decent hop aroma and flavor. Doesn't seem like a 6.3% brew (feels like it should be lower) with the thinner mouthfeel which might trick some into making it a "session" IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 01:50:29 | More by jpro

fmccormi

New York

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Straight pour from a 12oz pry-off bottle to a tall Ommegang flute; no freshness or bottle dating, but this was bought at Sam’s Quik Shop in Durham a little over two weeks ago. I had a bottle of it that night and it tasted beyond fresh as hell, so personally I’d wager that this was bottled as little as three weeks ago, if not less, and likely no more than four.

Appearance (4.0): Just about two and a half fingers of tight, custard-colored foam rises off the pour, topping a warm, honey-gold body that’s crystal-clear. It has average retention, and not so much lacing as evenly-spaced, spotty suds all around the glass as the beer goes down. Less webbing or sheets of lace so much as just suds, but they’re all over. In the end, it’s still a rather good-looking beer.

Smell (4.5): Very, very nice pineapple and mango citrus-sweet fruit tones are clear and fragrant in the nose, undergirded by a moderate candy sweetness that blends well with that sticky, sweet pineapple juice scent. The hops have some resinous, herbal character backing up the citrus, too, adding a nice dimension. Any malt or yeast character present is clean and essentially undetectable.

Taste (4.0): The bitterness is between moderate and rather strong for the style, which is great—a solid grassiness mixes with a skunky, herbal bitterness whose astringency blurs the line with chewing on citrus peel. The sweet citrus character in the nose is almost entirely absent, though—as is any of the candy-like sweetness in the nose, too. This is just a dry, pale, crackery, bready (the malt is really just like liquid Vermont Common or oyster crackers), and clean ale with a very solid dose of skunky, grassy, herbal hops bitterness.

Mouthfeel (3.5): Just barely on the light side of medium-bodied, with some moderate hop oil character drying out the finish nicely; the carbonation is a little underpowered, foaming modestly on the way down and lending a slight prickle here and there. Better than average, not great.

Overall (4.0): This is really a solid IPA, and for $8 or $9/ sixer this is a great value. It’s got a simple base with a straightforward hop profile, done well—fruity in the nose, grassy-herbal on the palate, and with a hefty bitterness. It’s solid, dependable, and refreshing. Especially considering the price, definitely pick some up if you see it, if you’re looking for an easy hop fix.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:20:54 | More by fmccormi

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber (no freshness data) into a Bell's tulip. The pour is clear and orange-gold with 1-2 fingers of head. Decent retention. Nice blend of citrus and pine on the nose. Citrus includes grapefruit, lemon, and some orange.

Medium body, but feels a bit thin. The beer is quite bitter without much malt behind it. It's not the most well-balanced IPA I've had. The bitterness is rather piney, sappy, and unpleasant. There isn't as much fruity bitterness promised by the nose. Just a sharp, flowery bitterness followed by some tea and lemon flavors. The finish is dry and minty and lingers nicely.

I doubt I'd buy this again. It's good, but there are other IPAs out there that are more worthy of repeat purchases. The flavor reminds me a little of Sweetwater IPA, though I didn't enjoy it quite as much.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 11:32:47 | More by deadonhisfeet

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber picked up at the brewery on Saturday while visiting family.

Pours with a 1-2F white head over a very clear golden body. Some carbonation flowing up. Decent lacing.

Incredibly fresh, clean aromas. Plenty of Simcoe, which I love (apricots, mostly). Tangerine and other citrusy qualities round it out.

This is all IPA. Sharp hop profile hits you in the face. Lots of fresh pine, with lime, lemon, and orange peel. Just a touch of sweetness to help round it out. Pretty crisp and clean on the palate. Not heavy at all.

This is a very full-flavored IPA, and just loaded with hoppy goodness. Could enjoy several of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:50:37 | More by BeerImmediately

Wolfpack2005

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a transparent light copper/amber color with a 2 finger head that fades quickly

S- Strong piney hop aroma with mild hints of grapefruit. A faint caramel malt presence.

T-A nice malty caramel sweetness that is hinted at in the nose, up-front. Follows by a nice pine and citrus hop flavor. A nice dry hop finish.

M-Light, dry body with moderate carbonation.

O-A nice semi-sessionable mild IPA, not overly complex but well executed.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 21:02:25 | More by Wolfpack2005