Total Eclipse Of The Hop - Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Company

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It's too bad that Howe Sound makles so many limited edition beers -- this one would quickly become one of my go-to choices for an IPA.
It looks like a bitter, it smells like a bitter, and it had the big, thick head I associate with lots of hops, but the taste is so much more complex. The initial hit to the mouth is not so much hops and hop bitterness, oddly. I immediately detected caramel and other sweet malty notes, with a hint of hops. The bitterness arrives later and it is mighty fine.
It got better with every sip. Lovely!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 17:56:40 | More by MAB

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

05-20-2013 05:07:29 | More by Kmat10

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

02-14-2013 12:38:28 | More by DaPan

Hopmodium

Washington

4/5  rDev +2%

02-14-2013 00:34:18 | More by Hopmodium

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

02-11-2013 15:45:30 | More by ericj551

pudoo

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

01-23-2013 01:04:05 | More by pudoo

thefullpython

4/5  rDev +2%

01-17-2013 08:20:37 | More by thefullpython

TequilaTom

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

12-29-2012 03:53:37 | More by TequilaTom

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev +2%

12-28-2012 20:00:45 | More by strongaf

hickmancase

California

4/5  rDev +2%

12-01-2012 20:34:06 | More by hickmancase

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-29-2012 02:28:24 | More by KalanM

urbantornado

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

11-28-2012 18:09:53 | More by urbantornado

FalconA

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-05-2012 05:26:35 | More by FalconA

NWer

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

11-02-2012 01:35:46 | More by NWer

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

10-25-2012 05:58:15 | More by schopenhauerale

DrShakalu

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

10-16-2012 00:41:38 | More by DrShakalu

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.45/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Ordered from a shop in Washington. I was not expecting a 1L bottle, I can assure you of that! lol

Pours a dark caramel colour. Not totally translucent. A beige head adorns. Leaves a little lace.

Aroma was sweet malts, a hint of nuts, some earthy, spicy, flowery hop notes. Not huge; was definitely a more malty DIPA.

Same kinda went for the taste. Sweet up front, rich maltiness, though a nice bitterness, but more of a spicy, herbal, earthy hoppiness on the taste. Not my favourite hop notes, but it's pretty decent either way.

Had a creamy texture. Full bodied for an IPA.

Not bad. Not sure how fresh this was either. Initially, wasn't too keen on the price, and while the size of the bottle made up for that a bit, I probably wouldn't want to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 12:28:48 | More by EgadBananas

Adamostella

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

09-24-2012 21:38:24 | More by Adamostella

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

08-18-2012 23:03:59 | More by 4ster

Coastal_Brew

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

07-15-2012 15:30:22 | More by Coastal_Brew

rodrigueZflyingf0x

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

07-11-2012 18:52:40 | More by rodrigueZflyingf0x

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1L bottle into tumbler.

A- Hazy dark copper pour with a two finger sticky, soapy, off white head. Lacing is sticky and chunky.

S- Sweet, sticky up front of toasted malts, strawberries, simple syrup and a touch of maple syrup. Pine bitterness and a little citrus notes are muddled in the background.

T- Roasted malts, sweet start with a bitter floral presence and a bit of citrus. Very chewy and bitterness seems lower than the 92 IBU the bottle claims.

M- Medium bodied, nice chew, dry lingering finish.

O- This is really malty for a IIPA. Problem with so much malts is that it starts to taste like a pale ale or a standard IPA. Why add so much malt and not ramp up the hops to make it stick out. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, just could be better.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 22:19:32 | More by korguy123

maclean25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought this at a liquor store in northern BC. I've come to expect high-quality, flavourful but mellow beers from them. This one pours with a fluffy head which reduces fairly quickly with lots of lacing. The body has cloudy, copper-orange colour. The aroma has lots of citrus and an earthy, slightly smokey quality scent. Beginning to drink, I was bracing for a heavy hops and bitterness but found it starts rather lightly. It all hits soon afterwards and lingers in the aftertaste. Despite the high hops, there is still significant malt presence. Hides the alcohol well, which is at 8%. It feels oily (or creamy) with little carbonation and a full body. Overall, it basically met my expectations (which were high).

Serving type: growler

06-17-2012 04:00:17 | More by maclean25

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from a private order, 1L swing top into a tulip several times over.

Reddish brown with some orange highlights, dense cream coloured head, strong retention and lace. Nose of grapefruit, piney, citrus and some tropical notes. Really identifiable as a BC IPA, has a similar hop character to most IPAs I've had out of the province before. Some sweet malt character. Taste has sweet citrus, grassy hops and a big caramel back bone. Alcohol content is easily confirmed. Good bitterness, medium-full body and a low medium carbonation. A good IPA, but doesn't really stand out.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 23:45:21 | More by liamt07

TJMcScmeebs

4/5  rDev +2%

05-21-2012 13:55:44 | More by TJMcScmeebs