Abrasive Ale - Surly Brewing Company

Immortale25

Florida

4.54/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. Bottom of can says Canned On 01/08/13. Thanks Chazari99.

A- Pours a medium amber color with a full two fingers worth of off-white head that retains decently showing soft bumps and thin webs as it travels down the glass. Eventually it resides at an 1/8 inch thick ring around the edge of the glass and a large bump in the center of the surface.

S- Enticingly floral hop aroma that's very musty and dank. Plenty of tropical fruit notes with sharp grapefruit, tangy lemon, tart peach plus a lot of wet grass.

T- Strikingly bitter but balanced with the malt enough to make it smooth even with the alcohol flavor being very apparent. Has an earthy aftertaste that's actually more enjoyable than the initial taste. Reminds me of leafy greens. Speaking of which, I get a slight cannabis note out of the overall profile. The tropical fruit is less apparent than in the aroma.

M- Sharp and dry with a lingering hop bite. Medium carbonation and a somewhat light body.

O- I just checked my review for Furious that I wrote a week ago, and I gave it the exact same score as I am for this guy. The only main difference I find in these two is the Furious shows off the citrus characteristics a bit better whereas Abrasive is a bit more earthy and herbal which is a bit confusing since Furious uses Amarillo and Simcoe hops which are generally more earthy and Abrasive uses Citra (which is obviously more citrusy) and Warrior...Maybe I'm overthinking this and should just enjoy the beer. Cheers!

Serving type: can

03-24-2013 02:33:13 | More by Immortale25

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16 oz can into a large wine glass. Canned 12/20/12. Acquired in a trade from FrostyWG, cheers!! Age wasn't ideal but I didn't have a huge say in the matter!

A: Light golden/orange, slightly cloudy, decent white head on pour but quick die off, ok lacing floating around on top afterwards

S: Fresh hops, light floral, but much more tropical hops I find... mango/pineapple sweetness, some light cider aroma, light on the citrus's...not so much pine resins...

T: Starts off again with tropical sweetness; more mango, pineapple and light malts start to come up, especially as it begins to warm, moves then into the more pine resin, pepper as others note, bitter grapefruit, and citrus peel in the after taste.

M: High carbonation, pretty balanced, only slightly dry and sticky, and only slightly boozy.

O: While it obviously could be fresher, drinking 3 months old), you can tell this is a very excellent DIPA. I would say that the name Abrasive though is pretty fitting as the beer doesn't shy away from pounding your face with hops. That being said, it is well balanced, though a bit double headed. A nice balance between very tropical sweets and bitter citrus's. Very nice drinking beer as well, though I would say it is the slightest bit more harsh that Heady, the transition/blend not being as smooth, & the hops are more in your face and I don't quite get the same hop complexity I find in a Heady, also not quite as strong IBU it feels. (Again, could be the age... ) Looking forward to trying this fresh one day though and it certainly doesn't fade in the shadow of other hyped DIPA's..

Serving type: can

03-24-2013 01:48:00 | More by 4ster

sbxx

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16oz can
Poured into FFF Teku glass
Canned on 2/15/13

Appearance - Hazy golden honey. 3 fingers of fluffy, foamy head. Thick lacing.

Smell - Getting some citrus notes. Grapefruit. Tangerine. Little bit of floral as well. Nothing too overpowering. Kinda surprising.

Taste - Astringent citrus and pine with a nice bitter bite. Very smooth. Toasty malt backbone that holds it all together. Solid stuff.

Mouthfeel - Med/heavy body, medium carbonation, dry finish.

Overall - Both this and Furious are winners. This one is just stronger and more bitter. If you're an IPA/DIPA fan, you can't go wrong with either one. The only drawback here is the price. $15.99 for a 4-pack is brutal. It's understandable why it's a seasonal; Furious is better for every day drinking. This is more of a bold, hoppy once-in-a-while treat.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 07:46:50 | More by sbxx

merc7186

New York

4.19/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16oz can into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Orangish/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Decent Lacing

S: Grapefruit Rind, Oranges, Piney

T: Piney, Grapefruit Rind, Mild Bittering Hops

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Bitter, Mildly Drying

Overall, i liked this beer better than Furious, similar qualities without the maltiness.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 00:56:24 | More by merc7186

patm1986

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured out 3oz for the review, but it's cooler from the can.
A-Golden straw, dehydrated urine look(really though). Head is thick and rich and milky, cafe-latte-like.
S-Ginger, grass, lemongrass, aspirin, scallion, garlic.
T-Onion, light caramel, bitter, strong booze, chinook(maybe?), amarillo.
M-Smooth, cool, and dry, but not too dry. full.
Killer brew. Unique in that it's big, but not big in hop bouquet or taste bounty or diversity/saturation. It has its own interestingly bitter profile(onion, garlic, scallion) in comparison to Heady, Pliny, etc. It stands on its own, and I love that.

Serving type: can

03-15-2013 16:06:27 | More by patm1986

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.16/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

16oz can from Powderhornphil (just because he was an awesome line-mate at Hunahpu's Day!). Canned 2/8/13. Served in a Cigar City snifter.

Pours clear orange hued gold with about two finger of pale head that leaves nice islands of lace.

Smells of piney and tropical hops with a note of cracker and just a smidge of some metallic note.

Flavor is a nice blend of orangey, mango, pine and pineapple hops with a nice bready/cracker sweet maltiness and touches of pepper, rind and lemon zest. The booze is quite subdued.

Resinous, oily medium feel with moderate carbonation. Long, dry, bitter, slick finish.

Not sure I'd give it quite the props that it gets from most but this is still a world class DIPA. Well balanced with a wonderful blend of hops and nice feel. I believe that I will try to get more in the future.

Serving type: can

03-11-2013 04:02:38 | More by ThickNStout

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.56/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16 oz can into a tulip. Canned 1/17/13. Acquired in a trade from stafford2, thanks man!!

A- Pours a orange unfiltered body with a gushy thick white head that reduces slowly to some chunky foam. Leaves uneven lacing. Awesome

S- the second opened this beer, a pungent tropical , grapefruit-pineapple, tangerine, piney aroma filled the air. Absolutely inviting!!

T- An intricate balance of juicy tropical notes and bitter, piney, resinous notes that go together quite well. Not cloyingly hoppy as the name suggests, quite balanced. Raw.

M- light and easy to drink, not a malt bomb. Medium- low carbonation.

World class balance and flavor, up there with the big boys. Definitely the best surly I've had so far and a must try for hop heads.

Serving type: can

03-03-2013 21:40:11 | More by gcamparone

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.54/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the can into a pint glass, the beer was a light copper color with a slight white head. It left acceptable lacing and retention in the glass. A big floral citrus aroma jumped from the glass, awakening the sense of smell. In the front, notes of peach, pineapple, apple came from the hops. A pleasant maltiness laid in the background as to not allow the hops to be overwhelming. The hops notes seem to unify in the end to a megahop that resembles grapefruit at its base in the aftertaste. Pleasantly warming notes are allowed to linger with thick texture helping the sensation to cling to the back of the throat. This is an excellent example of the style that I could drink any time.

Serving type: can

03-01-2013 14:03:18 | More by JohnnyHopps

themind

New Jersey

4.99/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is amazing! poured a perfect head, smells great and the taste is flat out amazing! this is a World Class brew that lives up to the hype. I would buy this anytime it's available. Seek this out as it's one of the best IPA's I have even had.

Bottom Line: Legendary beer that lives up to the hype!

Serving type: can

02-27-2013 00:24:38 | More by themind

bifrost17

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16 oz can poured into a FW snifter. Canned on 11/14/12. Thanks to durb777 for makin it possible

A: Abrasive has a hazy yellow color, not that deep orange/amber color you see on some other DIPAs. Moderate carbonation bubbles slowly streaming up from the bottom of the glass. Poured with a solid 2 finger white head that went away pretty quickly. Some spotty lacing.

S: Smells absolutely incredible! When I opened the can I was immediately hit in the face with the hop aroma. I instantly thought of home brewing, the smell coming from the can smells like I just opened up a bag of cascade hop pellets. Unreal.

T: This can isn't super fresh, canned 11/14/12, and I'm reviewing it on 2/25/13. The initial taste is super citrusy, grapefruit and orange peel are what stand out most in my mind. Finishes with an overwhelming hop bitterness. The taste doesn't really live up to the nose, but I realize that this can isn't super fresh, so I'm really not that disappointed. I'm not one of those "this ipa is a week old! it's gone bad!!" guys, but I'd really love to try this beer more fresh in the future.

M: Creamy, on the heavy side of medium bodied. Nice carbonation.

O: Overall this is an outstanding DIPA, the only knock I gave it is the taste failing to live up to the nose. I've been a huge fan of all the Surly beers I've tried so far, and this did not disappoint. I've got family in Minnesota...maybe I need to plan a trip out there soon!

Serving type: can

02-26-2013 07:50:38 | More by bifrost17

DaftPatrick

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

16 oz can poured into a Surly Darkness chalice

A: Pours a hazy orange that you would expect from a great DIPA. With a brilliant white head, that leaves slightly lacing.

Smell: Bursting with grapefruit, pine, hops and other strong citrus scents.

Taste: Simply amazing, exploding with citrus and pine all over the place. The perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness with this one. Though the sweetness is more of a bittersweet. The taste lingers, but when it dissipates you want to go back for another sip immediately. Hides the 9% as if its nothing at all.

Mouthfeel: Very full, especially for a DIPA. Rather resiny, but in the best sense of the word. Slight carbonation.

Overall: This beer is absolutely amazing, hands down my favorite DIPA. Given it's drinkability, it's price and 2-4 month availability, this may actually be my favorite beer of all time.

Serving type: can

02-26-2013 05:16:08 | More by DaftPatrick

dougfur

New York

4.74/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours a beautiful orangy color, with a relatively thin head. It's not super clear, but I wouldn't call it cloudy either.
The smell is of strong, dank hops. The fruity citrusy smell is there, but the skunkier side is present as well. Taste is exactly how it smells. Quite good! Mouthfeel is a tad sticky, but not too much. Overall, it's a world class DIPA. I hate to compare here, but it's really strikingly similar to Heady Topper. In fact, I'm not sure I could tell the difference in a blind test. I'd say Abrasive is not quite as strong in the hop aroma and taste dept. but has a nicer mouthfeel it and isn't quite so overwhelming. A very strong beer and it deserves it's rating in my opinion. However, at 19 bucks a 4 pack, it also makes me want to say Kudos to the Alchemist for providing a very similar beer for a lot less money.

Serving type: can

02-23-2013 00:27:31 | More by dougfur

tectactoe

Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Thanks again to Mike for letting me split his last one with him. My first Surly IPA. Pours a copper-orange color exhibiting exceptional clarity all the way through. A big, white, foamy head piles up and stays perched atop the ale, leaving remnants of chunky lace all around the glass. Overall, very inviting and clean, especially for a DIPA. And of course, great head. Nothing worse than an IPA with no head.

And then I smelled it. Son of a bitch, this stuff smells excellent. As I bring my nose to the glass, a handful of citrus gets launched into my senses and sends me into utopia for a few moments. Pineapples, sweet grapefruits, mangoes, tangerines, and a large assortment of other various tropical fruits just reach out and run a number on my nostrils. The intense citrus is met in equal parts with one of the most raw, and down-n-dirty hop bills I've had the pleasure of smelling. Dank, super oily and resinous, wet, grassy, and full of pine needles. The hops here mean serious fucking business. Whatever they're doing over there at Surly - they're doing it right.

After an aroma like that, how can this stuff not taste excellent? Right up front, the piney, resinous hops swim to every nook and cranny in my mouth and send a shockwave of bitterness through my system. The bitterness is lovely because it seems to hit powerfully and quick, then tapers off and lets the rest of the flavors work their magic - those would include the myriad of fruits I fell in love with a few moments ago. More citrus rind, pineapple, grapefruit peel - tropical, tropical, tropical!

A light peppery flavor works its way into things, along with very slight onion notes, keeping things interesting. The aftertaste leaves you feeling like you just took a mouth full of the freshest and most green grass on the planet. Grassy, leafy, super resinous aftertaste with one, little, dying bit of citrus peel and rind. The malt gives a light bread and cracker canvas for all of the hops to go to town on. After every sip, I am blown away by how awesome this beer is. Medium bodied, carbonated heavily; this one leaves a light stickiness across the palate.

Jesus, this stuff is sickeningly amazing. Some of the freshest tasting hop notes around, nice and bitter without being scary (don't be afraid of the name "Abrasive" - it's not so bad), and one of the best aromas in the business. The formula for success. Surly has it. It's called Abrasive.

Serving type: can

02-20-2013 18:26:38 | More by tectactoe

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16 oz. can courtesy of Patrick. Poured into a DFH Signature goblet. Canned on 1/24/13, about three weeks old.

A - Pours a worn penny copper color with a solid finger of off-white head. Near perfect clarity. Retention is excellent and it leaves a thick wall of lacing on the glass.

S - Citrus hits hard. Lactic grapefruit, sweet pineapple, and floral hops. Faint resinous pine and a honey-like malt backbone survive amongst the hop assault.

T - There is a more aggressive pine flavor than was present in the nose. Some tang juice drink coupled with sourdough malts. Grapefruit and mango through the finish with a mildly bitter aftertaste. I am not sure if I buy the 120 IBU they claim, but it is certainly not mellow.

M - A viscous, oily body, with good carbonation. Crisp and drying on the finish.

O - There is a chance these cans were frozen in transit, but it is still a damn fine beer. Great citrus and tropical flavors with a bitter hop quality. Typically, DIPAs lean towards bitter or fruity, but this one is heavy on both. I enjoy it more as I drink. It is certainly one of the best in the style. I highly recommend it.

Serving type: can

02-19-2013 03:01:32 | More by NoLeafClover44

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16oz can courtesy of kscaldef. Thanks!

A: Light caramel colored with a substantial foam that’s resting in the neck of the tulip. Not really enough room to test the legs, and that’s OK.

N: I can smell this from a foot away. Deep whiffs of pineapple, mango, and passionfruit. Some grapefruit, but leans more towards the tropical. Sticky crystallized sugar and a great base for the pine and earthiness. Tour de force, if a bit on the sweet side.

T: Sticky, candied pineapples. More of the tropical mango and passionfruit. Very sweet, but it runs right along the boundary between cloying and just right, alternating between sips. There is that dank base that overloads the pine needles that I don’t much appreciate because it stings, but this is really, truly good in spite of a minor flaw.

M: Very sticky. I’m not even sure what the body feels like because of the stickiness. Alcohol is quite evident.

O: For being a double IPA, this is more potent than some TIPAs I’ve had. Carries a pretty large stick to beat you over the head with, so if you’re in the mood for something rough, this’ll be perfectly abrasive.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 16:55:19 | More by writerLJBerg

brewtus

Ohio

4.89/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Poured from can into dogfish tulip

A- pours slightly hazy orange with a two finger head
S- woah, tons of tropical fruits, sticky icky pine, hops, lemon, grapefruit, slightly bready.
T/M- as the nose, it's has tons of tropical favors, pine resin, citrus fruits, warm but crisp hops, amazingly smooth for 120ibus, great thickness
O- I was apprehensive that the hype would disappoint me, NOPE. This was as good as heady, just a little more tropical. Like heady, the texture is buttery and leaves your mouth demanding another sip. The alcohol and abv are very well hidden. I purchased this online and it was worth every penny, I can only imagine what it would be like a day or two old. Never pass the opportunity to drink this gem.

Serving type: can

02-17-2013 04:44:56 | More by brewtus

nickapalooza86

Wisconsin

4.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Pours from my favorite style beer vessel a CAN, aka a mini keg, really deep orangish color with a slight haze to it, really nice looking

Smell is very fruity, Mango, orange, grapefuit and a little sweet malt in the background.

Tasts is amazing a lot of tropical and citrus fruit flavors come throu to start, then hits you with a huge bitterness that drys you up real nice and makes you want more and more!

Mouthfeel is a medium with a bitter dry finsih, I do like my DIPAs a wee bit thicker, but that is a small complaint in a otherwish flawless beer.

Wow here it is my favorite DIPA of all time so far... I live on the WI/MN border so I get it every once in a while but the $19/4 pack price tag makes it a very once in a while purchase. That being said if you have always wanted to try it at least this is one where the premium price matches the premium nectar inside!

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 19:39:05 | More by nickapalooza86

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-golden amber color and a nice white head with good lacing

S-pine, citrus, orange blossom, hint of sweet malt, floral

T-citrus, tropical fruit, pine, floral, nice malt backbone, good bitter hop finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, crisp, alcohol well-integrated

O-great DIPA with terrific flavor and easy drinking in spite of the ABV.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 01:00:52 | More by MDDMD

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.36/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from can into some kind of glass, I don't know what you would call this thing. Flute?

A: Pours a hazy orange color with a white, fluffy head that sticks around, and leaves some sexy lacing around the edge of the glass. It leaves a ring timestamp of how quickly you sip this beauty. The lacing is very impressive.

N: As soon as I pour out the can I get a big wave of sweet tropical fruit. Tangerine, orange, even some pineapple in there. There's a bit of resiny pine in the back, but it's definitely fruit forward.

T: And the palate does not dissapoint. Just a big juice bomb. Orange character, with a bit of sweetness provided by a pineapple element, some tangerine, yet is firmly supported by a great hop bitternes. The malt bill isn't overbearing, and really lets this beautifully hopped elixir to shine.

M: There is a bit of sticky mouthfeel, but it's fairly short lived, and lively. There is a bit of that resiny hop sticking around on the back of the throat.

D and O: This beer deserves every bit of praise it gets. It's an extremely well balanced, hop forward, DIPA. It's got a certain amount of dryness that plays well with the juicy hops. Just an awesome beer.

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 21:34:05 | More by MarcatGSB

PoopstainKilla

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

16 ounce can bottled 1-17-13. Pretty Fresh! Thanks TimmyJ21

Poured into Snifter glass. Minimal white head that quickly dissipated. Strong punch in the nose of pine, fruity /orange smell. Slight hint of "alcohol". Smells great.

Slightly hazy in appearance, with little to no lacing. Medium body/mouthfeel. Nice smooth bitter bite up front that transitions nicely to sweet, citrus finish. Slight caramel taste balanced nicely with hops works nicely with alcohol warmth.

Very nice example of a Double IPA. Definitely in my top 5 as of now.

Serving type: can

02-05-2013 04:02:20 | More by PoopstainKilla

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.59/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to BufordTjustice for this one!!

Canned 12/28/12 poured into GI tulip

Pour: A cloudy golden yellow-orange with a great 2 & 1/2 finger bright white head with tight small bubbles. Head retention is fleeting leaving a considerable amount of lacing. Carbonation is not very evident in the appearance.

Smell: Big punch of juicy citrus with grapefruit, pineapple, orange peel, lemon. There is also some resinous pine mixed in but I am getting a lot more of the citrus notes. I also get a caramel type sweetness that does seem to tame the hops in the nose some. This is one great smelling beer.

Taste: Now I find this interesting because I think the taste is a reverse of the nose. I get much more of the pine hops and the citrus taking a back seat. Quite bitter at the front of the tongue and then the citrus peeks through to even things out mid palate some. There is a slight sweetness also cutting the hop bitterness. This one finishes very dry and the alcohol is non existent. This is a hop lovers dream beer.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation makes itself known here with a rather high level but works ok in this beer as it does feel creamy but dry in the finish. This makes me pucker and primes me for the next sip almost immediately. I would call this medium bodied with a hidden alcohol taste.

Overall: This is my first experience with Surly and color me impressed! Damn fine example of a DIPA and one that I would love to have regular access to.

Serving type: can

02-02-2013 23:17:43 | More by sleuthdog

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 16 oz. tallboy can chilled and poured into a pint glass. Canned on date of 12/20/2012.

Appearance: Medium to dark orange in color. Two finger creamy white head that holds really well and leaves a really spectacular lacing around the glass.

Aroma: Mango and grapefruit hop notes upfront. Some bitter pine notes in the background complement the sweetness from the hops and the background malt. Some light caramel from the malt background, which is definitely noticable but works well.

Taste: Pineapple, mango and a really nice tropical fruit tones upfront. Pretty nice, bitter grapefruit and pine. The hop notes are really juicy with plenty of bitterness. Really refreshing and easy to drink. The malt backdrop is really well done as well. Creates a great candied hop note as well. A really tasty IPA.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, but manages to drink easy and stay refreshing. Some sharp carbonation.

Overall, a really awesome double IPA that is really juicy, hoppy and bitter. Drinks really easy for the ABV and doesn't feel bogged down or heavy at all. Feels mugh lighter than 9% ABV. I don't know if this is quite the level of the best IPA's I've ever had, but it is certainly impressive and more than worth the price. I'm glad I have a couple more cans to crack open soon.

Serving type: can

02-02-2013 02:50:20 | More by Gosox8787

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

4.6/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Wow! I gotta say that I am blown away by this can of beer! I am now a believer in the power of the can...or the Surly brew master...probably both

Poured from the can into a snifter as implied by the can

A - Exactly what I see in my mind when I think DIPA. Golden, slightly hazy color. A three finger head roils up, even with a careful pour, and its not going away quickly. Eventually it becomes a solid white filmy cap that leaves awesome stickage

S - Hop oil! Jesus Christ! I have never had a DIPA where the aroma is so close to the taste; you can taste it through aroma alone. Resinous piney grapefruit, rose water note, grassy, earthy: there is a lot going on. Perfumey

T - The hops are so present that it is almost as if it was dry-hopped hours ago. The alcohol is very well hidden and only comes through in the finish: quite rare for 9.0%. Floral notes abound as well as herbs, but the flavor is anchored by the earthy bitterness that may take hours to dissipate. This beer has a long semi-sweet finish, that just reminds me to grab another one from the fridge.

M - Very glossy on the tongue and palate. I feel like all of my taste buds have been bathed in fresh hop goodness. Surprisingly bright and light, which means scarily drinkable.

O - I got this via Haskells online and it is only 6 days old at this point. This could have something to do with how blown away I am, but I think this beer is a must try. I now have a reason to move to MN, but its the only one I can think of right now.

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 08:16:39 | More by hopoilcrazy

popery

California

4.21/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From notes, 7/29/11. Wonderful aroma of pine, tropical fruit, tangerines and grapefruit hoppiness on a background of caramel malt. Pours a coppery color with a good off white head. Taste is nice and bitter but still quite drinkable. Very resinous flavor. Too dry to be called a hop syrup but it’s a hop party. Mouthfeel is round without getting cloying. Hop oiliness abounds. Great beer. Edit: I had previously tried a growler of 16 Grit, but this review is from the can.

Serving type: can

01-26-2013 23:58:18 | More by popery

cfrances33

Illinois

4.71/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Can thanks to yamar68, poured into a Hill Farmstead stem.

Pour: Mostly clear, deep orange, slightly copper body. A two finger cream colored head from, and leaves some very heavy lacing.

Smell: Big citrus and resinous pine up front. A light floral hoppiness. Big bready and caramel malts sweetness shows itself. Mostly, the citrus and pine hop qualities just own the nose.

Taste: Huge grapefruit and pine. Like sticking my head in an evergreen and dumping grapefruit puree on myself at the same time. Perfect with all that sap and juice, a sticky caramel sweetness bolsters the massive hop profile. Quite bitter. I wouldn't call it abrasively bitter, and that's okay with me. Finishes with a lingers citrus bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Pretty darn drinkable. No trace of abv, and the bitterness is quite manageable. Lingering juiciness and bitterness.

Overall: This definitely exceeded my expectations. Abrasive is no joke! Thanks Bennett.

Serving type: can

01-26-2013 19:32:28 | More by cfrances33