Hoppus Maximus - Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine April 2007.

The Amber Ale is America's session Ale ... at least we'd like to think it is. At a standard 5 percent ABV with 43 IBUs, Hoppus Maximus is Thirsty Dog's hoppiest beer.

Poured vigorously, which yielded an immense rocky head with superb head retention. Chunks of yeast or protein are nearly in suspension as the carbonation keeps moving everything around. This makes for a hazedamber color that should have been clear. Orange peel, floral and blonde tobacco hop aroma, with a touch of refined honey-like malt sweetness. Hop flavor has a grip on this beer, and the bitterness grows as well. Gritty toasted grain and a touch of sweetness doesn't last for long. Quick yeast flare, fruitiness in the back. Long lingering hop bitterness and flavor takes a while to fade.

Yup, this is a hoppy one. Enough for a hophead to get his fix? Perhaps. Too much for a novice? Most likely. Either way, one brewer's Amber Ale is another brewer's Pale Ale is another brewer's IPA. Take away the yeast glow and the fact that this beer is pretty imbalanced, and you end up with a really hoppy craft beer. Go figure. Try and find the sharpest cheddar, or aged Gouda, and some salt-cured beef.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 20:09:42 | More by BeerAdvocate

SC_Beer_Drinker

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

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b1515152004

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -17.8%

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Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.6%

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MikeCactusGordon

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

05-31-2013 13:21:01 | More by MikeCactusGordon

jhop73

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-30-2013 01:42:16 | More by jhop73

UltimateLivewire

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-25-2013 13:48:13 | More by UltimateLivewire

mjw1200

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-12-2013 00:14:35 | More by mjw1200

dalepryor

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -31.5%

05-07-2013 21:59:59 | More by dalepryor

jealmanzar

New York

2.75/5  rDev -24.7%

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buckyp

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

04-27-2013 21:58:45 | More by buckyp

thegodfather1076

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Very cool label in the traditional Thirsty Dog fashion with a K-9 Theme. Eye-catching graphics and font. Label gives a short description of the beer, ABV and IBU info, brewery info, web info, Also states “2001 GABF Silver Medal Winner and 2003 + 2005 GABF Bronze Medal Winner”.

Appearance: Poured form its 12oz bottle into a 16oz English Pint after 10min warming period. Pours out a clear copper color with a 2 ½ finger white fluffy foam head of an airy medium density. Head retention was 4min 12sec before fading to fluffy foam coating and very thick ring. Excellent lacing!

Smell/Aroma: Smell is very hoppy with slight hints of pine, sweet citrus and bready caramel malt sweetness. Smells like an IPA.

Flavor/Taste: Taste starts out with a sweet citrus hop character that quickly turns pine bitter with hints of a bready caramel maltiness. This turns slightly toasty on the back-end with the pine hop lingering through in the aftertaste.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: Medium bodied and crisp with a smooth carbonation. Very tasty and drinkable.

Overall/Comments: This one surprised me with the flavor profile and could easily pass for a pale ale if not an IPA. Very hoppy with a nice malt backbone that has a low enough ABV to be very session-able!! Classified as an American Amber/Red Ale @ 5.1% ABV. Consumed 4-15-13

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 18:54:46 | More by thegodfather1076

Richie24CLE

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.6%

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Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

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New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%

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Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

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Ohio

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Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

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New York

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

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Delaware

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

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Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.6%

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Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

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Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.6%

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Ohio

3/5  rDev -17.8%

01-21-2013 23:45:13 | More by tdog2983

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Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

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