Wolaver's India Pale Ale - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Rich and glowing darkish golden. Slightly hazy with some floaty bits and a few streams of bubbles. A large, pillowy, golden / off-white head that turns rocky as it settles. Very good retention and lacing.

S: Rather mild hop nose – vague, soft citrus. Toasty, slightly grainy, pale base malt with hints of caramel and sweetness. Nose is rather shy & simple. Warming doesn’t help much – just a slightly increased earthy / grassy note out of the hops.

T: Far more firmly bitter and flavorful than the nose. Opens with citrus (grapefruit rind & a touch of lemon) and a bit of pine, but also with some earthy & grassy notes. Middle is firmly citrus rind with a bite. Some spicy notes come through in the end and stay into the finish to linger with more earthy / woody notes, some resin, and the continuing rind. Malts are pretty simple – mostly just pale base malt with hints of toasty grain, perhaps some biscuit, and hints of caramel and sweetness. Provide a good platform for the hops. Just the barest hint juicy at the edges.

M: Medium to just a bit under with average carbonation. Quite attenuated, but still some hints of sugars and dextrins. Sort of brisk with a strong hop drying.

D: Weakish nose, simple malt profile, but flavorful and dynamic hops. Nicely straight forward interpretation of an American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 00:14:08 | More by SickGnar

rudzud

Massachusetts

2.93/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ontap The Reservoir Restaurant and Taproom in Waterbury, Vermont. Poured into a pint glass.

A - pours a clear copper hue with a barely there head that left light side lacing and hardly any retention.

S - Super light hops (citrus) but for the most part this is all malty sweetness. Very disappointing.

T - Sweet malts with the light citrus hops. Its almost a bit musty...just, average.

M - Crisp, light finish with the sweetness throughout.

O - Overall, this beer was a big disappointment. Was looking forward to having this beer, but regretted getting it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 01:25:54 | More by rudzud

9InchNails

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

White head that settles quickly leaving soap-like lacing on the glass. Hazy light golden body with some noticeable yeast floating around.

Sweet caramel right away with some citrus aroma. The bottle reads floral notes as well but I only noticed it because it mentioned it. Very pleasant smell nonetheless.

Sweet caramel, a spicy --almost peppery taste, with the floral taste coming in with a balanced sweet and bitter finish.

Easy drinking, light body, medium carbonation. It leaves the lips feeling a little sticky.

This is a session-able IPA; I really hope I don't finish the six pack all in one shot but I might have to. Tasty, nice looking, pleasant smell and easy drinking make this a IPA to try if you see it around.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 23:37:19 | More by 9InchNails

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy copper color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is mild, some hops. Taste is very hop heavy, considerably bitter, really not much else going on. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall this is a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 20:49:51 | More by tone77

Brenden

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a clouded copper color. A sturdy tan head of some thickness retains itself very well, and what's left after it recedes is a thick foam that leaves lots of patchy lacing.
The pungent aroma is strong enough that it reaches my nose almost as soon as I open the bottle; there's a bit of fade after the inital burst, but it's sturdy. Citrus hops overtones with a bit of grassy earthiness, pretty raw, but with a balancing malt sweetness primarily offering notes of light fruits. It's also got a pretty grainy undertone.
This is a solid, well-balanced beer in the flavor. Citrus hops again seem prominent, with some earthiness and lightly fruity element coming out. A bit of breadiness pulls in that goes into the more familiar grains aspect of the nose. A ghost of citrus rind bitterness comes through into the finish.
There's a smoothness in a medium body, but it tapers off a bit quickly and doesn't sill out fully. There's a touch of crispness from the continuous bubbly activity. Overall the feel is unimpressive but still above average.
This is simply a good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 18:42:15 | More by Brenden

soju6

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a copper color color with a decent head that fades to nice lacing.

S: Mild citrus aroma with fresh grain with a bit of malt sweetness in the background.

T: Mild mild and grain flavor, nice underlying bitterness with a dry finish.

F: Medium , smooth and somewhat creamy and refreshing. Very good balance.

O: Very good IPA. Not overly hopped. Easy drinker, good for a few anytime.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 02:19:59 | More by soju6

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This is a pretty decent, albeit average IPA. It's fairly bitter, with the one-note hoppiness overshadowing the malt as expected. Not a lot of detail in terms of flavor. Moderately carbonated and crisp, pretty refreshing overall. This one really doesn't stand out amongst a crowded field although I guess if you're looking for an organic beer than this might be your choice. Not super impressed with Wolaver's offerings to this point, unfortuneately...I have been a patron and visitor to Otter Creek for a long time.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2011 19:31:29 | More by tobelerone

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Pilsner glass at the shore.

Pours a hazy orange with a finger of foam. Aroma is moderately hoppy, citrus, grapefruit.

First sip is quite a hoppy rush... more than I expected based on the aroma. Bitterness is sharp and cuts through the malty sweetness. Some sweet caramel malt flavor is detected before the bitterness rushes in.

This is a nice, bitter but drinkable, IPA. Not over the top on aroma and hop flavor, but certainly scratches your hop itch.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 00:13:43 | More by FickleBeast

cavedave

New York

3.18/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A cloudy amber/gold, topped by a finger of beige foam ringed in some clingy lace.

Not much aroma, a bit of caramel, citrus, some yeasty tart, hints of herbal bitter.

Add a hit of minerality to the flavors of the nose, and add a touch of pine to the end of the sip, that is the light/med. strength taste.

Good viscosity, overcarbed, decent clear out, average finish.

If you want a certified organic IPA I guess this is the one, though it is decidedly average, and surounded by stellar, though not organic, competition on the shelf.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 16:42:38 | More by cavedave

dbossman

Nebraska

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark honey hued with a thin but very steady head that eventually fades to a thin film; lacing is fantastic

S: Very subdued aromas; a lemon citrus and slight herbaly and grassy presence emerges but quite subtle overall

T: Thankfully much more presence in the flavors: tea leaf and lemon bitterness up front followed by a grainy malt bill; some slight medicinal off flavors in the back end but fairly decent overall

F: Nice medium body with great oily stickiness

O: Not a standout IPA but a pleasant, balanced one nonetheless

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 00:41:55 | More by dbossman

Spikester

Oregon

3.23/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle with minimal head and good amount of lacing. Smell is minimal floral hops, some hay. Hoppy with good malt compliment. Slightly dirty hop/ malt profile. Good balance. Palate is good. Nice bitter dry finish. Good for an organic IPA. Not in my top ten IPA's maybe but a good choice if you're into "organic" products.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 05:12:13 | More by Spikester

HopsYeast

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

very nice ipa. usually would expect a strong to almost pungent hit of hops with most ipa's but not with this one. very pleasant beginning, middle, and end. very drinkable and very smooth.

a-actually will edit this since i drank it straight from the bottle.
s-very subtle hops. has a sweet aroma that i cant quite put my nose on.
t-will have to re edit this one too eventually. but the hops do not seem to be the overall driving force in the flavor. there are some layers of complexity going on here but my palate has other food on it right now thats cloudy my taste
m-smoooth. very drinkable pleasant carbonation level and doesnt leave me feeling full.
o-glad to find an ipa thats a little lighter on the hops. although some people may discredit this beer for not being as hoppy as a traditional ipa, i like it.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 00:53:15 | More by HopsYeast

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz longneck.
A) Pours with a big head. White, thick, frothy and sticky. Settles leaving a nice lacing at the edge of the glass. Thin, sticky lacing in the drink down.
S) Nectarine. Peach. Hints of fresh cut grass.
T) Nutty notes mixed with caramel malts and hop citrus flavors - orange, grapefruit. A noticeable alcohol warmth in the finish.
M) Fizzy and creamy. Medium body. Fairly smooth. Finishes clean and not too abrupt.
O) A nice IPA not too ridiculous on the hops but a notice dose of them. I'd definitely have another.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 00:16:38 | More by u2carew

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review adapted from notes taken 2/16/11

Appearance: A nice burnt orange color, white head to start that fades to nice lacing

Smell: Sweet caramel and pale malts with lots of hops - some citrus and pine, but these are on the mild side - some grassy/herbal/floral aromas, too

Taste: Somewhat balanced and mild - malts are great, pale and nicely sweet - hops are good, but not very intense - light resin, orange, grapefruit

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, remarkably effervescent - nicely carbonated, somehow not too much

Overall: Above average, not mind-blowing

This is an all-around good IPA. It's not too crazy, and it's not boring. I could drink a lot of it. I'm confused by the 14.85% pDev... Maybe this beer is inconsistent? I've had this a few times, and it's always been all-around good.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 17:11:37 | More by angrybabboon

Kendo

New York

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is a slightly chill-hazed coppery-amber with a small whitish head. Leaves some lace.

S: Some citrusy and earthy hops and a touch of wet cardboard.

T: Sweet malt foundation followed by citrusy hops. Seems tea-like at times, with a more herbal hop character. As it warms the malt foundation seems slightly fruity. Finishes with a metallic/minerally bitterness.

M: Carbonation is active, call it lighter side of medium in weight.

O: OK. I've had better, that's for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 19:47:52 | More by Kendo

cooncat

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bought as a single at the V.E. in Boardman, OH. for $1.79.

The pour into my SA glass produces a brilliantly clear amber-gold beer, topped with a thick foamy ecru head. Some splotches of lacing appear on the sides of the glass. Nice look!

The nose is light and unremarkable. I can't pick out anything dominant. It almost smells like a Bud-light ... ewwww.

The taste is equally unremarkable. I don't think it even rises to the level of a pale ale, much less an IPA. My taste buds are used to extreme IIPAs, Am. IPAs (West coast and East) as well as Am. Pale ales. It tastes like it is less than 30 IBUs. I've had ESBs that had more hop presence. Malt flavors are equally light, with a touch of caramel and a breath of bread. The mouthfeel is light ... almost Bud-light light. The finish is dry, but not exceedingly so.

Overall impression is not very favorable. It looks nice on the pour, but that seems to be the beer's highlight. I've been a homebrewer for over 3 yrs. Even my very first extract brewed ESB was better (imho) than this offering. I guess the most positive thing I could say about it is that it's better than a Bud Light. On that note, I can't really give it a recommendation, unless you just want to try it to see how it measures up to your palate.

Sorry Wolaver/Otter Creek ... I'm not impressed, and it will some time before I'm ready to sample another of your offerings.
(ymmv)
Cheers

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 22:54:13 | More by cooncat

Ralphs66

New York

3.3/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first organic beer, and I have to say it's not too bad. Poured a nice honey gold, with creamy white head that held on for a good bit. Smell has vibrant citrus mixed with a little vanilla. I got a bit of a chemical taste on the first sip, but the lemony hops jumped to the middle of my tongue quickly. Good bite, nice dry finish that lingers just a little bit. I have a six in my fridge and I'm happy knowing it's there; ready and willing to spend the rest of the weekend with me...

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 19:35:34 | More by Ralphs66

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into Ommegang tulip

A - Pours a hazy amber/copper with a finger of big off-white head. Great lacing.

S - Delicious. Sweet caramel malt with some pineapple and grapefruit hop in the background.

T - Follows the nose pretty well. Tropical fruit hops, hop bitterness, followed by some sweet malty caramel. Finish is a bit grainy

M - Medium body, a bit sticky in the end. Leaves the mouth too sticky, very cloying and sugary.

O - Overall a very impressive IPA. I'm surprised at the relatively low scores. This is a beer that smells divine and has a taste that matches it. Not the best ever, but I'd be happy to have this in my fridge each day.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 03:11:47 | More by greenmonstah

Wamesit

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep copper/amber with a thick, chunky slightly off-white head that gives way to clingy lacing.

S - Sweet malts in the nose. Earthy hops lurk just beneath, along with a touch of spiced fruit.

T - Noticeably sweet for an IPA. Grainy malts hit immediately with a more subdued (both in flavor and spectrum) hops presence making up the body of flavor. There is a sweet chewiness that goes well with the hint of fruit esters. Well-balanced.

M - Medium but chewy.

O - Very well balanced for an American IPA. That is not always a compliment but for this beer it is. Even certified hop heads like myself should check this out. Solid ABV% as well.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2011 01:53:14 | More by Wamesit

surprenant1138

Connecticut

3.08/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle pours a hazy golden amber with minimal head and some decent clinging lacing. Aroma is light, with some pine, earthy hints, yeasty, and maybe a faint nit of citrus. Mouthfeel is medium bodies, and with a fair amount if carbonation. Taste is like a sweet bread, with some earthiness, and a hint of pine and orange peels. Very dry. This is a slightly different tasting IPA. It is worth drinking again, I prefer many others of this style.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 23:33:18 | More by surprenant1138

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up via the single bottle at Buy-Rite in Jersey City a few weeks ago. Hadn't had a Wolaver's before and figured that the "organic" quality to it would make it stand out from other IPA's. This did stand out but only because it wasn't the dry hop-bomb that I've come to expect from the California beers that I've come to love over the years.

Good copper hue to this pour with a head that lasted for a quite a while. The lacing was moderate and the first notes that I picked up in the taste was a metallic-copper mix that approximated the look of this. After that, a sour feel takes over with lots of earthy hops and the lightness of mint both in the taste and in the carbonation. There's a bit of lemon and citrus as well but it's not that prevalent like in so many other IPA's. No dry-hopped aftertaste here as the mint softly lingers once the bitterness slowly fades.

This is pretty easygoing for an IPA and although I couldn't taste the alcohol, I could certainly feel it once I finished the contents of my glass. This isn't a bad beer but with so many other IPA's on the market, there's no real reason to seek this out. I could picture myself having one of these on a summer day since I didn't need any water to wash this down but otherwise, there's nothing particularly memorable about this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 18:59:16 | More by JerzDevl2000

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle. Pours a cloudy burnt orange with a medium sized head. Fair amount of lacing. Aroma is bready, sour, orange peel and maybe a bit earthy. Flavor is like a bitter brown sugary bread kind of taste. Some hop flavor but its mixed in. Fair amount of bitterness. Somewhat sour. Orange peel flavor peeks out at the end. This doesn't quite taste like a lot of the IPAs out there. Overall, it is decent but I've had better. Not in a rush to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 20:26:24 | More by PicoPapa

Buggabeer

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A light copper in color with a thin off white head that is lacing nicly down the glass

S picking up bread smell from the malt and some hop citrus and pine

T Not a great ipa by any means but better than others. I get a slight pine finish but it almost taste more like a Pabst's than an IPA.

M nice carbination but has the feel of a macro beer than a craft brewed IPA

O Average nothing to write home about but nothing to run out and buy either It's OK

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 00:05:39 | More by Buggabeer

Tartarus

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A&S: Translucent copper color with very little head that dissapates very quickly. Smell is of citrus hops and not a ton else.

T&M: Fairly subtle hop taste, good amount of fruity flavor. Aftertaste is a little dry. Mouthfeel is smooth and light bodied with a little bit of carbonation. Clean flavor, good underplayed hop taste.

D: Very drinkable, could definitely down this one quickly if I wanted, and could definitely drink a couple of these in an evening.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 01:44:05 | More by Tartarus

MaltsOfGlory

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a one finger head, body is copper in color and is too cloudy to see through. It looks okay. On the nose I pick up primarily a sweet smell, which I fear is the malts. I also pick up a small hop smells, but not nearly as much as I should be smelling in an American IPA, I'm worried this beer will have too much malts, not enough hops. Yeah, on the taste you don't get nearly as much hop taste as you should. It tastes fairly watered down to be honest. Instead of a lot of hops it just tastes like water with a little sweetness and a little malts, and then a tiny tiny bit of hops. This should not be considered an IPA. For sure the most disappointing Wolaver's I have had, all there other beers have redeeming qualities, the only redeeming quality to this beer is it's drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 08:52:27 | More by MaltsOfGlory