Jaipur IPA - Thornbridge Brewery

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a pint glass)
A- The clear deep yellow body supports a spongy snow white head and some nice strands of tiny bubbles glide to the surface.

S- The dry herbal floral hops have a nice musty lemon quality to them with some grainy pale malt notes that turn just a bit husky.

T- The dry finish of green hops is the first thing I notice. Then more woody and floral hop flavors come in and some dry woody pungent hops linger afterword with a skunky hint, not light-struck but more hops derived.

M- This beer has a medium light mouthfeel with a gentle fizz that complements the hops.

O- The nice dry British hops character is full with much softer pale malt flavors underneath. The dry hop character takes on an almost astringent quality but there is enough depth in the hops to counter that.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 18:23:42 | More by rhoadsrage

Durge

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Happy to try this at My Place in Newtown, CT, this English IPA shows a clear pale amber color with a fair white head and very little signs of lacing. The aroma brings solid pine citrus hop and biscuit malt hints. Not bad as English styled IPA's go. The flavor brings very much the same profile as the aroma, no surprises, decent enough and probably a bit more hop than many other British hop brews. I find it to be medium bodied with decent carbonation for a very solid, liquacious feel with a little tinglation. Very nice IPA, not highly memorable but plenty drinkable and worth a revisit anytime.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 05:48:05 | More by Durge

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Churchkey in DC, poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a clear orange color, topped with an inch of fluffy white head, leaves nice lacing.

S- Fruity and citric hops, as well as some floral and herbal hops and bready malt.

T- Similar to the nose, fruity and citric hops as well as some grass and floral hoppiness. Malt is well-balanced and has a bready, slightly caramel character.

M- Medium-bodied, carbonation is on the low side, smooth feel.

O- An interesting IPA, has very assertive, citric hop flavors for an English IPA, definitely give this a try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 21:12:20 | More by WillCarrera

eriktoyra

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a pale golden and crystal clear liquid into the glass. The head is pale white, about one finger high and creamy.

S: Intense pineapple smell up front. Clean and crisp citrus with lots of grapefruit. Fresh!

T: Clean and nice, well balanced. Sweet pineapples, dry hay and grassy tones. Citrus marmelade. Lots of citrus tones in this one.

M: This is a beer that goes down easily. Low to medium carbonation. Light to medium body. Very refreshing.

O: A perfect IPA for a warm summer day. If you like intense citrus tones in your IPA this is a mush try.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 20:17:51 | More by eriktoyra

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Firm, gentlemanly, and chocked full of grace, nothing satisfies the palate like a well balanced English ale.

Burnish orange in color, the beer's mildly hazed copper tone casts a soft glow from light behind. Creamy foam caps the beer with off white pillowy character. It's staying power and lace is classic and sturdy.

Caramel soaked fruit aromas carry and rich bread flavor like shortcake and biscotti. Floral honey-like scents bridge into supple tea-like notes with fresh cut grass, citrus, and pine.

Malty sweet with flavors of caramel, honey, and biscuit for a taste that weaves into the fruit esters and triggers the taste buds with notions of appricot jam and strawberry shortcake. Herbal with the hop taste of freshly mulled herbs, grasses, and citrus zest. Dried oranges, apples, and appricots give rise to the hop bitterness and deliver a nearly American hop taste and bitterness.

Medium bodied from the richness of malt texture and low-lying creamy carbonation. But the dryness of hop resin, alcohol woody warmth, and slowly fading carbonation and malt taste allows for a crisp and semi-clean finish with lingering grassy bitterness.

Although the beer tilts decidedly toward hop flavor and bitterness, it's not without the firm support of malt flavor and feel. This beer will surely delight the palate of any fan of English beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 18:52:52 | More by BEERchitect

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

On tap at Max's. I've enjoyed this beer on tap before but never reviewed it.
Clear light orange with a thin white head with decent retention and lacing, this looks good. The nose has a nice, big C-hop character, with citrus, citrus pit and a light bready malt character. The moderately mineral character that makes this beer a delight on the palate adds a snappy brightness to the nose. A lightly bready and cracker malt palate are both present. Not the freshest sample I've had, but still damn good.

The palate has a very nice herbal hop bitterness with a deliciously snappy mineral character, making this very refreshing. Cracker-like malts make this drying and refreshing. The mid-palate has hop resins and mineral incorporated in a way that each character enhances the other. Drying with a bitter finish with nice resins, the hop character is decidedly American with a little bit of an English leafy and earthy character. Light in body with crisp carbonation, this beer is excellent. Highly recommended. I'll have to revisit it when I find fresher samples.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2012 20:44:58 | More by DefenCorps

tylerprince

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at DBGB in NYC (Bowery and Houston).

A: Pours a clear, pale strawlike amber with a one finger white head. Head dissolves quickly and leaves behind a thin lacing. Little to no carbonation evident.

S: Extremely mild. Hop oils, citrus, floral notes.

T: Also quite mild. Starts citrus, gives way to floral finish with a nice bready maltiness. Pleasant mild bitterness lingers. Faint alcohol. Extremely well balanced, albeit understated.

M: The most sessionable IPA I have tried to date (this is review #45 or so). Thin, perhaps a tad watery, with little carbonation. No booziness.

O: A solid IPA for those who want drinkability over flavor. A bit lackluster for my taste; I enjoyed it but wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2012 22:49:58 | More by tylerprince

shanblur

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Local Option in Chicago. Served in a tulip. Slightly hazy straw color. Thick white lacing clings to the glass. Muted hops and malts with a distinct floral aroma. Wheat flavor with a floral hops finely integrated. Not overpowering. Medium body with a light carbonation. A nice easy drinker. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2012 20:28:48 | More by shanblur

StaEva

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

slightly hazy yellow color. nice loose bubbly head, very white and sudsy looking.

smells of slight amonia, almost cat-pissy, but in a good way! Nice English grassy/lemony hop aromas. Not much malt.

taste follows smell, but less cat-piss in the mouth. very dry, pretty bitter, slight lemony-malt happening in the middle. light and crisp mouthfeel with good carbonation.

overall a very good beer, but not something I'd frequently go out of my way for.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2011 23:52:41 | More by StaEva

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Post Road Tavern.
In a pint glass the beer was a hazy apricot color with a small white head. There was a tiny bit of lace. Not very visually appealing.
Sweet malt and citrus aroma.
Mostly grapefruit taste, also some orange and apricot. Nice biscuity background.
Well-balanced beer, very drinkable. This version on tap just wasn't a pretty beer. Maybe I'll try a bottle next time.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2011 21:26:31 | More by lordofthewiens

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at the Winking Lizard in Bedford Heights in a pint glass. Pours a straw yellow with a white foam head that slowly reduces to leave a lid of foam.

Has very little aroma, but this is likely due to WL's insistence on pouring beer too cold.

This is a dry, dry bitter beer, and by that I mean the English bitter, not the American bitter. Tastes of lemon pith and tobacco, gripping the tongue with tremendous astringency before drying the throat.

Medium bodied, but what is most noticeable is its dry presentation.

I like a good, dry beer, so this is right up my alley. I would have this again, but I can see how it would not be for everyone.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2011 22:04:59 | More by TheHoppiest

jampics2

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Winking Lizard. Served in a pint glass for about $7.

The beer looks nice in the glass. It's a mostly translucent orange color with copper highlights and a touch of gold around the edges, slightly hazed with alluring depths. A beautiful white head leaves great lace.

The smell is OK. I'm not a fan of traditional English IPA's compared to American ones, but I can throw out my preference enough to say this has a good hop bill, full of citrus and flowery notes, atop a solid malt base.

The taste is also good, but nothing great. Some grassy hops have touches of citrus and flowers and the malt base has caramel notes with a touch of breadiness. Some spice and biscuit are noted, along with grapefruit and lemon notes and a touch of honey. The fruitiness emerges and the tart touches subside, resulting in lingering bitterness.

The mouthfeel is acceptable. The beer is a bit chewy and grainy in my mouth, but the medium body is bolstered by a decent carbonation. The overall score is between average and good. If you love English IPA's, this is your beer. Not my thing, but a good example of the style overall.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2011 15:14:24 | More by jampics2

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at TJ's, 4/13/11.

A-Clear straw gold with a very thin white head that leaves some nice white lacing.

S-Biscuit malt, some noble hops, very light aroma for the style.

T-Crisp biscuit malt with a light finish of noble hops. The mild bite is fine for the style.

M-light bodied and crisp, slightly buttery.

O-If this were 4.5% ABV, I'd think more highly of it. Too much alcohol and too little flavor for my taste.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2011 19:38:04 | More by sholland119

birchstick

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at the 33 Wine Bar in St Louis

A - pours a pale, straw yellow with a nice one finger head

S - smells very citrusy, with tones of grass and some grainy malts

T - taste follows the nose well. Starts off with some grain malt character that is then pushed to side by very lemony and citrusy hops that have a touch of grass character to them. Very light and refreshing taste for an IPA.

M - medium body and very smooth

D - this is a really good English IPA. It is nice to take a break from the American hop bombs with this lighter, very crisp IPA that is full of lemony and citrus hop goodness.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2010 07:33:04 | More by birchstick

metter98

New York

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer poured clear pale yellow in color with a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface. A very light amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of floral and grassy hops in the nose along with notes of biscuity malts.
T: The taste has a very good balance between flavors of malts and hops and is accompanied by a mild amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a light amount of carbonation and some dryness.
D: The beer is very drinkable and rather refreshing. The low alcohol content makes this quite sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2010 13:40:34 | More by metter98

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap@ Armsby Abbey.

A: Golden straw yellow with a nice fluffy 1 finger head that fades slowly and leaves a nice pillowy lacing.

N: Fresh hops, EKG with some light grassy and mild bitter aromas. Light golden malt character. Touch of spicy floral hops with a nice effervescence.

T: Nice! A tasty hop profile with lots of fresh hops, grass mild hops with a touch of bitterness. Lots of EKG hops. Light golden malts too. Touch of sweetness and almost taste of wheat, but i think it is tricking me.

M: Lighter body with good carbonation.

F: It finishes somewhat bitter with almost a touch of astringency. The grassy floral hop character really builds to a nice finish. Touch of malts. It is mostly dry too. The freshness of this really shows and makes the beer much more tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2010 20:51:37 | More by jlindros

DerBayer

Germany

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Just had this on tap in the sloay pony and it s not bad at all.

The taste is strongly of dry hops and the firt whiff is already a tell tae sign. The beer is definitely on the bitter side as you would expect but there are some balancing malt aromas in it.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly refreshing for the style with minimal unpleasant coating and aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2009 20:49:54 | More by DerBayer

stimy

Maryland

4.53/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I drank this at an "Art of Refermentation" beer tasting hosted by Garrett Oliver at the National Geographic.

These are my tasting notes:

This was the last beer we tasted so my perceptions may have been a bit off by that point... This beer had a very nice hop aroma. It was a nice dry ipa and very hoppy. I could sit down and drink several of these without problem. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2008 18:14:12 | More by stimy

dwren89

Virginia

3.26/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: great clarity, surprisingly pale gold color, much lighter than most English IPA, white, sticky, fluffy head

Aroma: Strong citrus aroma of grapefruit, orange, very little to no detectable malt aroma, clean yeast

Taste: fruity, citrusy, spritzy carbonation, much more American than English, very soft pale malt backbone that is only detectable really in the body; hops flavors ring through start to finish with a mildly bitter medium finish

Mouthfeel: Spritzy, carbonation lightens the body, you can only tell its medium bodied if you hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing; very easy drinking, medium bitter, somewhat dry finish

Overall Impression: For a beer that is ranked this highly on Beeradvocate’s top beers in Britain, I honestly expected more. It is a little too light in body and malt character, and uses obviously American hops, to be considered an English IPA. When compared to the best Ameican IPAs, this would not have a prayer to make the top 50. That being said, it is quite refreshing, light on the palate, and thirst quenching.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 21:12:07 | More by dwren89

stcules

Italy

3.84/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Oranged yellow color, lightly veiled. White foam, decnt, not very beautiful.
Very pleasant smell, fresh, citrussy, grassy touches, maybe citron. A hint of hay.
Very good taste too, same notes, pleasnt citrus notes, chamomile, hay, fresh hop.
Good malty base, then a lot of hop, fresh and pleasant. Well balanced.
A good hop in the aftertaste, not too long, with earthly and citrussy notes.
Well done and pleasant beer, great drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 20:10:58 | More by stcules

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From notes.

A - Cloudy light golden. Soapy one finger white head. Spotty lace with one finger of retention. Good stuff.

S - Super hoppy. Tropical, a little grape, grass.

T - Really juicy tropical hop flavour. Orange, giant tropical hop flavour.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, nice tropical bite.

O/D - A nice IPA. Lovely interpretation of the American style. Great hop profile, light, and really drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 15:35:27 | More by tbeckett

danieelol

Australia

3.86/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours totally yellow. Nice head and lacing.

Nose is all pine and grapefruit.

Taste is all pine and grapefruit.

Slightly "softer" IPA, lacks aggressive carbonation, but still has plenty of hops and seems perfectly fresh to my palate.

Nice IPA, doesn't have the body, resin or carb of many US takes but still perfectly enjoyable. Extremely drinkable.

Evokes a somewhat bigger Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 11:31:15 | More by danieelol

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pale straw colour and a bit hazy. Frothy 1 inch head on top.

S: Citrus, a bit of pine,

T: Grapefuit, citrus, low breadiness flavours.

M: Low-med body, med-high carbonation, low-med bitter finish. Dry finish.

O: A good IPA but lacks a bit of the malt flavours to balance.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 02:13:25 | More by Kremlock

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

4.06/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Very pale yellow. Snow white head. Well-defined lacings to the finish.

Aroma is fresh hops, vibrant tropical fruit.

Hops right up front. Bitter juicy pineapple with just a hint of pine. Malt is hard to pick out. Clean grain, but the hops are certainly the star of the show.

This is a pretty simple beer. Juicy hops and that's about it. Fresh it's very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 23:46:10 | More by CanuckRover

bark

Sweden

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

The colour is surprisingly pale, reminding of a pilsner (6 EBC) tan anything else. The white head is compact and white; some lacing occurs.

The smell is hoppy with medium bitterness (for an IPA) and quite a lot of thick sweet notes of pine needles, grapefruit and lemon curd. Minerals and dought in the background.

The taste is bitter and semi-sweet. Lots of citric fruits and -peels. Not much malts, and almost no caramel at all, it is just enough to create a balancing background to the hops. It it clean and focused. Light to medium body. Orange peels, some perfume and grapefruit juice in the aftertaste as well as some clean alcohol and hints of cereals plus a touch of butter. The finish is clean with citric bitterness.

The carbonation is strong; the many small bubbles fresh. The liquid is light and somewhat dry.

A very refreshing and innovative take on the American IPA style. Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 19:54:26 | More by bark