India Pale Ale - Iron Horse Brewery

smakawhat

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. No obvious bottle dating.

Out of the bottle a rich, nice eggshell off white head is made, but just far too large in appearance, just overtaking the pint on first pour. Does settle a bit, with lots of retention though. Body is murky and looks unfiltered, Light muddy brown, with some rising tan carbonation bubbles which rise pretty quickly. Not the most attractive looking brew here, some decent lacing saves it.

Nose is filled with a nice chocolate malt sense, and some density. Some faint hop angle of citrus orange comes out. This smells considerably more malt forward but it's a nice scent, but the hop angle here is a little bit buried. Orangey juicy chocolate malt and wet.

After first sip the palate comes out with a bit orange juice character, but it's quite weak. A light bodied almost wet palate with a mild malt backbone. Some earthy character is just wanting to peak out here. Fleeting aftertaste, almost herbal finish. Light pine sensations but subdued.

Overall though the label calls, crisp, hoppy and danktastic. Unfortunately it is non of these things or else this bottle is old. The boom here is just not coming, and while it does have a somewhat unique profile, it's totally hammered down. Just not impressive, I don't feel the urge to be having this. It really feels like something here is missing, and that this has the ability to be so much better.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 19:30:56 | More by smakawhat

baklo

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

11-14-2012 11:12:48 | More by baklo

joelparker

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

08-28-2012 19:40:03 | More by joelparker

jdense

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Uncle John's Kennewick WA, $4.50 a pint, 4.4.12.

One finger pure white head, medium dissipation with above average lacing over clear medium gold body, no visible carbonation. Fruity nose, more citrus than tropical, good dose of crystal malt adds to fruity aromas. Taste is pretty malt intensive up-front with a mild cherry like quality, citrus grapefruit pith in the middle with some noticeable pine resin notes on back end which became more noticeable as the beer warmed. Medium mouthfeel, decent effervescence. OK, better than some of the other Central Washington IPA offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 15:20:22 | More by jdense

harrymel

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at brewery.
Amber, diaphanous with a little white surface foam. Some grapefruit and yeast smells on the nose,a little sweet. Bitter with solid hops and a bit of muddy hops on the sweet malts. Medium bodied with assertive carb and semi dry finish. Nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 22:00:11 | More by harrymel

piclee

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

03-17-2012 05:32:47 | More by piclee

nicoga3000

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

03-07-2012 00:44:17 | More by nicoga3000

sharpski

Oregon

3/5  rDev -15.7%

02-15-2012 22:59:03 | More by sharpski

Kevlee722

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

12-01-2011 19:41:37 | More by Kevlee722

beefandbean22

Washington

4/5  rDev +12.4%

11-23-2011 19:35:07 | More by beefandbean22

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had at the Yakima fresh hop festival. Copper and yellow color, ordinary for an ipa. Aroma was missing a bit of hop character, but bitterness and caramel represented.

Moderate hop flavor, not exactly exuding fresh hops (seemed like lots of regular ipas at a fresh hop festival). Not balanced, in that there was too much bitterness and not enough hop mouthfeel (I'm a broken record on that but dammit). Couldn't really pick up much in the way of flavor over the bitterness. Couldn't say pine or grapefruit, guess I'd lean grapefruit since it was all bitter.

Middle of the pack stuff since there weren't any true off flavors or anything, but I dunno. The standard is pretty high for ipa's these days.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2011 00:03:12 | More by Beerandraiderfan

beerandcycling88

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Spot in Bellevue.

A Pours a orangish color with minimal head.

S Some citrus and pine notes. Malt doesn't really factor into the nose of this one too much.

T Like a lot of west coast IPAs this one is really hop forward with the malt being almost an afterthought. You get lots of pine, a grassy flavor and some citrus notes.

M The body was smooth and easy to drink. Nothing special though.

Overall this is decent IPA that is worth drinking but its nothing spectacular. However it isn't bad and I guess I would drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 21:56:13 | More by beerandcycling88

chumba526

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears dark orange with a half inch white head.

It smells quite sweet; there is a nice orange smell. I also get a floral and grassy aroma.

The taste like the smell is very citrusy. There is a nice orange peel taste going on. I also get a floral flavor and a sweet flavor. There is a noticeable hoppy bitter finish. The bitterness is there but it is not that in your face. This is a refreshing IPA.

The carbonation is moderate low.

The drinkability for this is good. It is really refreshing and smooth. There is a nice hop flavor but it does not wreck your palate.

A good IPA. Worth trying better then a lot of IPAs. It has a quite unique refreshing taste as well.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 00:19:39 | More by chumba526

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

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

S: Nose is pine, grass and caramel

T: Taste is caramel malt, some bread perhaps, pine, grass, tad citrus

M: Nice, medium body, good carbonation and feel, sweet and nice hop bitterness, subtle

D: Good

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 01:20:57 | More by barleywinefiend

philbertk

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

iron horse brewery--iron horse IPA--crisp * hoppy * danktastic.--2010 22 oz. Bottle. 6.00% ABV? 65 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0) Dense foamy lacy rich off white head. Sediment dusting hazes fizzy pretty bright rich orange gold color. Earthy mild floral pine hop front. Cloying dry sweet creamy hint earthy hop resin mild caramel fruit chewy IPA body. Bitter earthy chewy dry pine hop end. Mildly floral, richly bitter, tasty malt base. Bitter for NW IPA. Sampled 7/10/2010. 2 @ $5.49 Each.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 05:11:17 | More by philbertk

Spikester

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Hazy copper with two fingers of off white head. Lacings traveled from top to the bottom of the glass. Aroma is piney fruity hops. Taste is full Northwest IPA with just a bit better malt character than most. Good mouthfeel with a bitter dry finish. This IPA is quite satisfying especially given the low 5% alcohol.

Serving type: growler

05-14-2010 03:17:31 | More by Spikester

beertunes

Washington

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in in straight pint glass. Poured a hazy orangeish-gold color, with just less than an inch of thick, foamy, sticky white head that had decent retention and very good lacing.

A strong pine hop aroma greets the nose, with nice citrus undertones. The flavors were similar with the pine dominating upfront and citrus on the finish.

The body was typical for the style, perhaps a touch fuller than most. A good thing in my book. Drinkability was good for the style, as usual palate fatigue would set in after a couple.

Overall, a very good example of the style. This is an example of why we here in the PNW don't get all excited over the latest new "hype" beer. Every brewery makes at least one, and usually several, IPAs that would send most beer fans elsewhere into a tizzy. Worth some effort to try and a must try if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2009 21:52:23 | More by beertunes

RJLarse

Washington

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Roadhouse in Ellensburgh, WA Served in a pint glass.

Pours a gold/bronze color and is cloudy. A white head with good resiliency caps the beer and yields decent lacing.

Smell is a grain aroma with a faint pine scent.

Taste is malty with a hint of a caramel flavor, followed by a sour citrus taste.

Mouthfeel is zippy, highly carbonated.

Drinkable for an American IPA. Not overly hopped, "chewy" in an unfiltered way. A bit like an Inversion IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2009 03:42:38 | More by RJLarse

tbeck

Washington

2.98/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a clear reddish-brown with a good brown/white head. Aroma was of hops but a hint of malt. Taste was hoppy that fizzled quickly into more of an ale type taste. A lot of malt and sweetness. Very smooth but light, a lot thinner than most IPA's I have had. Somewhat dissapointed as the hops come up short. Overall not terrible, but low on the IPA scale.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2008 04:25:31 | More by tbeck

RedDiamond

Oregon

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

Over several evenings I drank a six-pack of this copper colored IPA. It poured clear with tiny flocs and a light head composed of pockets of multi-sized bubbles. The aroma threw a peculiar garden herb fragrance reminiscent of tomato plants that also touched upon baby aspirin and cream soda. Very unusual. The taste is similarly hop dominant and is defined by rugged bittering and the central hop variety that keeps hinting at tomato vines. This taste will either win you or lose you. I found it intriguing and worthy of pursuit, but not enough to draw me away from the more floral or citric IPA styles of the region.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 03:51:12 | More by RedDiamond

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle with a yellow label, the brewery name is in a western font w/ a barrel and mash paddle in the center. Hops and grain are displayed and the the words 'India Pale Ale' are displayed in white on a blue ribbon. The cap is twist off. It was poured moderately cold into a goblet.

A - Brilliant copper w. a minimal haze and an off white head that measures a healthy 2 fingers. A fine film of lace remained.

S - The smell is strong of citrus. A nice ruby-red grapefruit aroma is dominant. Sweet herbal notes follow.

M - Full and astringent w/ a bitter smack. Puckering hop bite w/ sweet tinges. Moderately carbonation and finishes bitter.

T - A copious amount of citrus in flavor- big on grapefruit. An overly bitter taste for the strength. An ale this made for sipping. What malt I can taste underneath all the citrus is flavorful.

D - Just a good IPA and could use some toning w/ malt. A bit too bitter for my taste. A regular IPA but I would probably not try again due to the acidity.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2007 04:58:42 | More by Slatetank

rm0312

Idaho

4.38/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From the bottle into a pint glass - This is just about as bitter as you can go and still say it wasn’t too bitter. An amber body with a strong lasting head. There is a citrus hint from the fine hops that brought about the great bitterness. This is one I will purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2007 23:26:27 | More by rm0312

woemad

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle froma sixer purchased at a Yoke's Fresh Market in Kennewick, WA, for $7.99.

Pours a clear, copper color that takes on an orange hue when held up to the light. The head was thick, off-white and enduring. A sticky lace was left behind.

The smell of this was dominated by the hops, as one might imagine. The hoppiness (at least in the nose) is primarily of the citrusy kind, with a subordinate, but still significant, piney hoppiness in the background. The malts are grainy yet relatively meek when compared with the hops.

The taste sees the piney elements of the hops charge into first place, leaving the citrus flavors behind in a cloud of dust. While still detectable, the citrusy hoppiness is nowhere near the dominant player it was in the nose. The grainy malt backbone is almost overwhelmed by the hops. As one could well guess, this ends on a very dry note. While not particularly well-balanced, it's still tasty.

This is a medium bodied beer. The mouthfeel is as dry as the Kalihari Desert.

This is a mediocre IPA that would be improved with a bit more balance. I wouldn't be afraid to try it again, but there are better, more balanced IPAs to be found in my neck of the woods that are cheaper than what I paid for this.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2006 00:21:01 | More by woemad

RoyalT

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance – This AIPA is a light, clear orange in color with some nice orangish coloring in the head as well.

Smell – This nose has a mild, even citrus hop aroma with some delicate pine. The malts are well-toasted if a bit on the grainy side.

Taste – The pine takes over at the taste, leaving the fruits and citrus in its wake. I like the rather heavy approach to this PacNW hop profile but cringed a bit at the grainy malt backbone.

Mouthfeel – This one is just shy of medium-bodied but is dry as a bone.

Drinkability – This IPA lacks balance for sure, but it makes for a nice hoppy fix.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2005 23:03:18 | More by RoyalT