Cold Hop British-Style Ale - Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

mdfb79

New York

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 12/31/10 notes. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pours a nice transparent amber color with one finger of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of pine hops, citrus hops, fruity malts, and floral notes.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, fruity malts, tropical fruits, floral notes, and very light pine hops.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, smooth and creamy.

d - A nice English IPA. I got this as part of my beer of the month club and it's one of the better beers I've received from them. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 23:41:29 | More by mdfb79

PubliusII

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Boulder Beer Company "Cold Hop"

Appearance- Dark bronze pour with a one finger head.

Smell- Hops and fruit pretty uniform smell

Taste- Sweet taste of grapes, apricots, roasted grain

Mouthfeel- Light body, decent carbonation, leaves with a clean, smooth finish.

Drinkability- A fantastic beer with a sweet, bitter taste. It tickles and tongue and is a great buy.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 00:36:05 | More by PubliusII

arboristfish

Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a slightly hazy copper color with a thick white head. The aroma of this beer is delicious. It smells like toasted malts and a spicy noble hop character. There is another aroma that is very interesting that I cant pin down. The taste is toasty, with a caramel sweetness. The bitterness seems to balance with the malt. There is a slight noble spicey hop flavor. The mouthfeel is medium light, with a decent amount of carbonation. This beer is very well balanced, and is also very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 23:27:37 | More by arboristfish

champ103

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy orange/copper color. A one and a half finger white head forms, but recedes in a second. Light lace is left behind.
S: Citrus hops with some bitterness in the nose. Mango and passion fruits. Some sweetness lingers. Smells pretty much like an American IPA.
T: Plenty of fruity hop flavors. Citrus, lemon, and passion fruits. A more substantial caramel sweetness than the nose.
M/D: A medium to full body. A nice crisp snap of carbonation that is very dry. Easy to drink. The alcohol is at the upper limits for the style, but I can still quaff a few.

Very enjoyable. I would not call this an English IPA though. There is some sweetness for balance, but the hops are distinctly American from what I can tell. Regardless, a good beer that I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 20:04:32 | More by champ103

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark yellow, light orange works its way in, a thin wispy head. Aroma, reminiscent to a degree with Stone's 14th, but not nearly as good.

Taste, a lot going on for a EIPA frankly, bitterness is one dimensional uk bitterness without much of a hop mouthfeel, but the alcohol warming gives this beer more of a personality. Excellently balanced.

A good beer, very ssssionable, but its taste is all over the place, aspects of all kinds of ipa, from all over the world. A hodgepodge.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 04:51:55 | More by Beerandraiderfan

wethorseblanket

California

3.85/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Unexpected extra from Steve - Thanks.

Pours a clear amber with a fine white head and minimal lacing. Smells faintly of fruity hops. Taste is good combination of citrus hop and sweet malt. Neither is overly out front. Rather well balanced. Mouthfeel is mildly bitter and sweet. Overall, very sessionable and would have liked another to enjoy. Nice surprise and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 04:39:52 | More by wethorseblanket

magnj

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Orange body with a just a little haze and sediment. Fantastic head leaves lacing on my Guinness pint glass.

S - Sweet malty presence up front backed up by some interesting hops. Nose indicates that it's big.

T - Sweet up front balanced out by a unique hops flavor and bitterness. Really malt forward all the way through but well balanced. Hops are almost like big American hops, pine and pineapple but there's a strong flavor I can;t identify like lime or something.

M/D - Full body that leaves a sweet aftertaste. A nice drink, borderline sessionable but a little too big. Glad I picked it up.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 00:57:14 | More by magnj

mchoffman

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Cold Hop was recommended to me because I like hoppy beer, but I don't find this beer to be that hoppy. It is fairly tasty though. It first is tastes like a pale ale, then kind of hoppy and like an IPA, and it leaves a stout-like taste in my mouth. It is good, but with all the beers out there, I don't think I will purchase it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 00:22:59 | More by mchoffman

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear amber with a not-too-large but steady head.

S - Nose has some floral notes, a bit of caramel and ripe fruit.

T - On the sweet side. Lots of fruit and a rich floral hoppiness. Not particularly bitter but lots and lots of flavour. Actually, the bitterness does catch up at the end, but definitely takes some time to build up.

M - Smooth, resinous body.

D - Really nice rich, delicious brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 23:20:37 | More by allergictomacros

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a amber color with very small head, no lacing. It fortinalty taste and smells the same. A nice hoppy bite, but not overpowering. Finishs very smooth, and has a very dry flavor. Overall a great beer very enjoayble, very surprised, never heard of this comapny before.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 00:55:03 | More by vette2006c5r

TangTKE402

New York

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz. bottle into a pint glass. A good 2-finger head materialized that mellowed in a minute to a thin ring around the edges. Touches of lacing and a nice ochre/tan color appeared. Mildly opaque.

Predominant smells are of hops, pine, flowers, and a touch of strawberries on the end. It says British-style IPA, but the smell is mostly reminiscent of an American IPA, if a bit subdued. Perhaps its the Czech hops used?

Taste initially hits you with a musk reminiscent of damp wool. The hops and barley take over in the mouth to clear the initial muskiness away with some good dry bitterness one would expect from a Brit ale. Nothing floral or piney about the flavor, but the swallow leaves a nice dry-hop flavor in the mouth. On the swallow I could swear there was some rye in here...

The feel is a touch creamy in the mouth, but clean on the swallow.

This is a nice beer that is different from the usual IPA/Pale Ale. Drinkability is all about how you respond to the flavor. It's mild enough that if you like it, you could have a couple no problem. I could also see people taking a sip and putting it down for good...

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 00:40:57 | More by TangTKE402

brentk56

North Carolina

4.26/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a clear lighter amber color with a one finger head that leaves plenty of squiggles of lace

Smell: One of the most unusual aromas I have encountered from an IPA - I am picking up some of the vinous elements of the Nelson Sauvin hops but there is a grassy aspect as well; toffee malt galore underneath

Taste: Cookie dough and honey malt flavors that layer underneath the vinous, grassy and citrusy flavors that arrive by mid-palate; after the swallow the malt and hop flavors balance each other out

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I just wasn't expecting a beer as interesting as this; just love the balance, with the sweeter elements (that I normally would eschew) really complementing an unusual blend of hop flavors

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 01:51:15 | More by brentk56

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Please take this review with a grain of salt. I really don't like British style IPA's.

A - Poured a nice amber color. A bit hazy. Has a bit of head that diminishes into a lacy ring. Looks ok.

S - Smells a bit stale and malty rather than hoppy but I get that a lot with this style and it's not skunked. Mostly grassy hops used.

T - Not that offensive really. I thankfully didn't get a cough syrup type taste just grassy hops and bitter malt. Actually was pretty drinkable.

M - Medium body and dry. It was OK.

D - Naa.... Again I don't really like the style but it was pretty enjoyable. Didn't tarnish my view of Boulder in anyway. Good for the style I guess?

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 02:56:01 | More by DrDemento456

lordofthewiens

Maine

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle with Oct 20 2010 stamped on it.
In a pint glass it was an amber color with a medium sized white head. There was a fair amount of lacing.
It had a sweet malt aroma, as well as a floral, lavender odor.
The taste was sweet and bready, with some good piney hops.
A little on the sweet side, still pretty balanced.
I know the ABV was on the high side, but this would be a good session beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 01:24:12 | More by lordofthewiens

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

Pours a hazy orange color with a small one finger light yellow head that instantly gives in to some sticky lacing. Nose is fruity and fresh, it's got that distinct Boulder note that they all seem to have.

Taste is mellow and balanced, it's got a good maltiness to it but it leaves a nice sharp hop bite on the tip of your tongue. It's fairly refreshing and really easy drinking. Overall a solid EIPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 20:16:15 | More by kingcrowing

jrallen34

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bodega, a server's suggestion to start the night, not a great one...A dark but clearish gold, orange highlights, light head, not much retention or lacing...Aroma is sweet caramel to start, light citrus and some hops but not much...The taste is malty to start then a lot of bad hops, harsh, metallic, boring. nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 16:36:59 | More by jrallen34

thecarster1

Pennsylvania

2.05/5  rDev -46.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

a- bottle poured into a pint, one fingers worth of off white head, hazy honey gold coloring.

s- bright hopy nose, slight sweetness here.

t- right off the bat, very sweet. uncharacteristicly sweet for an ipa - slmost tastes like straight sugar was added. odd aftertaste here as well, not very appealing.

m- medium, smooth.

d- not great, i'm not sure about this one. i couldn't get over the sweetness here - not drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 02:18:54 | More by thecarster1

begforme4484

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a wheat color amber, a tad on the darker side of the spectrum. 2 fingers width head with ample lacing.

Smells somewhat earthy. Hint of malts with some grassy hops there too.

Taste is right on par for an english IPA. Some pale malts floating around encompassed by grassy and earthy hops. Not very bitter, but still has enough bite.

Medium bodied and carbonation. Nice and dry.

Could drink a few in a sitting with the relatively low abv for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 01:21:49 | More by begforme4484

feelmefoam

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cold Hop pours a muddy, slightly murky orange that kinda reminds me a bit of candle wax, for some reason. Dunno. Anyways, nice upward snow of carbonation happening, pushing up a head that sits about the as tall as a pen laying sideways (one of my high-tech beer reviewing tools). The head is off-white... it actually looks like that mocha whipped cream if ya know what I'm talking about. Decent retention, decent lacing, too.

The smell is nice. Easy to find pale malt, a little fruity hoppiness, and some slightly earthy tones towards the end. The only downside is I gotta stick my honker in the beer to get a real good whiff.... not the most fragrant beer going. Good stuff though.

This is just an enjoyable beer to drink. Surprisingly complex, but it doesn't sacrifice flavor. Light pale malts (a little honey-butter biscuit? I'm making myself hungry now) accentuated by a little dank, musty fruitiness.... I like it. Maybe some grapefruit or nectarine, a bit of plum? Hard to ID, but it's tasty all the way.

Maybe a notch below medium-bodied, not a lot of carbonation, but that's ok because this is a smooth drinker. I like the creaminess of the beer, especially as it finishes.

Overall, this is a sexy beer, at least in my opinion. Smooth, sweet, hoppy(in the UK kinda way), and drinkable. I haven't had too many British IPA's, but Cold Hop is good. I'm a little buzzed listening to the Who and drinking an English IPA on a Friday night, I don't think it gets much better. Cold Hop is definitely a drinkable beer with some complexity I didn't expect. I'd probably buy a sixer of this to enjoy again if the price was right (I think this bottle ran about $1.80 at the store). Good stuff, Boulder Beer!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 22:49:01 | More by feelmefoam

beer2day

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Orange gold pour with very active carbonation. Nice tall 2-finger head with excellent retention and nice lace.

Light citrus nose with herbal notes. Orange and some grassiness.

Orange citrus comes out initially and really develops as the glass warms. Also getting an herbal earthiness, contributed by both hop and malt. Weak caramel backbone. Yeasty.

Feel is very creamy with a hint of fizz, only at the end.

Extremely easy to drink and 2-3 of these at a time would make for a good night.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 01:31:09 | More by beer2day

biggred1

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazed, orange amber with a finger of fine cream colored foam that leaves fine lace on the glass. The nose is fruity and herbal smelling hops with some toasty malt notes. This beer is tasty but not for people who don't like funky, earthy hops as this one is nice and dank. Fresh, citrusy fruity and resinous hop flavors with a nice toasty malt backbone. Medium bodied with perfect carbonation and lush creaminess. This is really good to my taste buds but I know quite a few fellow beer enthusiasts who would disagree. Oh well, to each his own.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 21:37:40 | More by biggred1

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle dated Oct. 4, 2010. Sampled on August 16, 2010. The pour is mainly amber and golden with a quarter-inch of foamy, off-white head that lingers. A bit on the cloudy side. A floral hoppiness greets the nose in the taste with a background of sweet malts trying to keep a lower profile. The body is medium to full. The New Zealand hops take me to faraway places but also keep me anchored to the ground with the earthy grains that accompany them. The aftertaste reminds me of flowers. A fascinating IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2010 19:29:49 | More by puboflyons

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2010-07-23 in Lynchburg, VA at Rivermont Pizza

A - Moderate hazy amber with a short white head

S - Apricot and light rising bread

T - Very good. Fruit, medium toasted bread,
orange peel, fresh hop oils and a very nice bitterness, which I'd guess is about 50 IBUs

M - Very good. Syrupy but with medium high carbonation

D - High marks

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2010 19:40:27 | More by Tucquan

racer2k

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my favorite pint glass

A - Beer pours a cloudy copper color and leaves a healthy one finger of off white colored head in the glass which slowly dissipates. Some light lacing accumulates around the glass.

S - Pleasant light hoppy aroma with grassy floral tones and a sweet grainy malt flavors in the air.

T - This beer has a nice balance of citrus, pine and spicy hops and a caramel malt, freshly baked bread flavor. There is a very nice bitter hoppy finish to this beer.

M - Medium carbonation and light to medium body which is quite easy to drink.

D - Nice beer and one that brings a lot of balance. This is something that would be perfect for a session beer selection. I enjoy the interplay between the aggressive hops and malt profile.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 11:57:15 | More by racer2k

JDH2000

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into generic pint glass.

A- pours golden amber with about a finger of white foamy head that dissipates to a ring on the outer edge of the glass. Moderate lacing.

S- Big, fruity hops is the first thing that hits you. Next comes some light hints of the malts.

T- again the big fruity (grapefruit) hops comes first with some bitterness and then mellows to taste the malts. Slight taste of the alcohol on the finish.

M- Medium bodied. Slightly oily but with the alcohol finish.

D- Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. I typically prefer the American IPAs over the English-style IPAs, but I think the blend of hops in this one really helps a lot.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2010 23:17:24 | More by JDH2000