Kipling - Thornbridge Brewery

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The best American-style pale ale I have ever enjoyed from a British brewery. As a self-professed "hop head", this beer is an exceptionally pleasant surprise.

Pours a hazy and insipid yellow with a limited white head that did not offer great expectations. However a delightful hop-forward aroma of tropical fruits with a mild citrus undertone hints at the upcoming flavour profile. Enough malted barley for a decent body and mouthfeel, but an impressively wide hop palate: mango, pineapple and other tropical fruits with pine resin and citrus elements. Nice balance of sweet and dry across the body with a lingering bitterness to the finish.

Rating it based on enjoyment rather than style, as this is unlike any other "British" ale I have had... would definitely recommend!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 00:09:58 | More by hopsolutely

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

06-18-2013 14:16:00 | More by mrfrancis

yancot

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

06-17-2013 21:28:37 | More by yancot

gloryhole

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -26.1%

06-16-2013 01:21:31 | More by gloryhole

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.6/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours gold with a fading head.
Nose shows passion-fruit, lychee, cookie dough-like malt, some grassy and spicy hops.
Very hoppy flavours, spicy and grassy notes along with a hint of pine. Not much malt underneath although there is a biscuity character.
Body feels a bit watery.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 02:57:38 | More by CrazyDavros

dwren89

Virginia

2.63/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: great clarity, pale gold color, frothy white head,

Aroma: Exploding citrus aroma of grapefruit, orange, and a tinge of kiwi, white wine like dry/citrus aroma (Nelson Sauvin hop), soft almost undetectable pilsner malt biscuitiness

Taste: Definite bitter finish and citrusy twinge of the grapefruit/orange/kiwi aroma, no real malt flavor comes through

Mouthfeel: light, crisp, moderately low carbonation, light body
Overall Impression: A nice beer to kick back and drink in the sun on a hot day, as it does quench thirst fairly well, but definitely lacking in body and overall “umph.” I was disappointed by the lack of taste after such a fantastic nose. Advertised as having “initial sweetness” and “medium body”, but I find it to be definitively lacking in both of those areas. It drinks very watery.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 21:18:09 | More by dwren89

jmkoscie

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

06-06-2013 00:15:30 | More by jmkoscie

pkenkman

Estonia

4/5  rDev -1.5%

06-04-2013 20:44:57 | More by pkenkman

heygeebee

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.5

From Slowbeer. BB 02/14.

A- clear straw/gold, two finger head.

S - tropical, passionfruit, mango, and some earthy hops.

T - integrated English meets New World pale ale with tropical notes, citrus, lychee, earthy hop bite.

M - a little over-carbonated

O- Great beer, well made, and despite not being an extreme beer, you could drink all night. As usual with Thornbrisdge, unsure whther to drink at English temp, or New World temp. Went for middle ground, seemed to work.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 07:59:01 | More by heygeebee

Zorac

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +17%

05-24-2013 03:54:37 | More by Zorac

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.01/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A- pours a cloudy colour of apricot, very small head of foam, doesn't leave much lacing.

S- aromas of tropical fruit, some sweetness and citrus.

T- tarts with tropical fruitiness and sweet malt and bread, gets a bitter mid palate and in the finish with some lemon and grapefruit. Pretty balanced and flavourful..yeah, I'm a fan of Nelson Suavin hops, and Thornbridge did a good job with them here.

M- medium bodied, rather light with the carbonation, good mouthfeel.

O- a tasty 5.2% abv brew that's easy drinking and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 13:02:56 | More by Bitterbill

KTCamm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Discovered on tap at The Little Pub in Ridgefield CT.

Pours yellow, dark and cloudy. Fluffy white foam that is clingy. Fruity passion fruit nose. Malty too. Quite peppy. Smooth full tasty fruit tones, firm hop. Smooth throughout. Leaves a pleasant follow through taste. Surprisingly really good,.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 22:41:02 | More by KTCamm

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-yellow with a finger of frothy white head.

S - Caramel and biscuit malts, citrus, pine, and floral hops, English yeast.

T - Sweet caramel and biscuit malts, grapefruit, citrus, pine, and floral hops, slightly resiny bitterness, English yeast, lemon zest.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet, lightly bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balanced hoppy English Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 07:41:26 | More by ngeunit1

GrantBrennan

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-28-2013 22:52:34 | More by GrantBrennan

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From old notes.

A - Poured with a light golden colour and a two finger fluffy white head. Bright. Very carbonation, good thick lace rings and a half finger of retention.

S - Light fruits, very tropical, mango, crackers.

T - Fruit juices, tropical fruit, some nice sugary fruit sweetness. Mango, grass, juicy sweet fruits up front then a deeper flavour in the back.

M - Decent bite in the finish, good carbonation but maybe a bit much, light to medium body.

O/D - Nice and fruity. Shows off Nelson well. Light and easy to drink, yet flavourful and complex.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 14:36:22 | More by tbeckett

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-21-2013 01:31:03 | More by fdig23

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-01-2013 09:00:36 | More by RedneckBeerz

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

03-28-2013 22:13:44 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
A- This beer has a slightly hazy lemon yellow body with a big bubbly dish soap head of white.

S- The clean papery green hops have a nice green lemon aroma to follow

T- The green papery English hops are followed by a gentle green herbal hop flavor that lingers as a nice mellow pungency with no real bitterness.

M- The medium mouthfeel is smooth with no alcohol heat

O- The fresh easy drinking beer has great hop flavor but the malt and yeast profile are pretty well hidden. It still very drinkable and would be lovely as a British pint instead of a 10oz. tulip.

Serving type: cask

03-27-2013 14:22:40 | More by rhoadsrage

iD9

California

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a 8 oz. cognac snifter.

Appearance: Bright straw-yellow color with a foamy head. Little retention, immediately boils down to a minimal lace. Notable carbonation in the glass. Brew is clear through-and-through. A slight golden tint through the body of the beer.

Smell: Slight earthy nose, and a touch of piney aroma. Ends with a mild fresh-hop finish. Aromatics are inoffensive and fit the style.

Taste: Dry throughout, with a hint of malt towards the back end. Finishes with a touch of hop bitterness but, again, very mild.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and crisp. As the carbonation dies down some the body fills out a touch but is still notably effervescent.

Overall: Infinitely quaffable. Light, crisp characteristic with a mild aromatic profile and refreshing array of flavors make Thornbridge's Kipling and excellent summer beer. A definite improvement on many summer standards. I approve.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 22:13:57 | More by iD9

JohnQVD

New York

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on Feb 19 from a growler filled on Feb 16.

Straw colored with a light layer of foam. Mildly effervescent. Nose is grapefruity and floral with pine resin. Mouthfeel is light and bright. Taste is bitter and tart at first, with a hint of mineral and a slightly bitter, nutty aftertaste.

Overall, this beer is well balanced, tasty and refreshing.

Serving type: growler

02-20-2013 01:55:42 | More by JohnQVD

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: medium yellow-gold color, with a touch of haze....topped with a bright, off-white, soft-foamy head....very nice, narrow bands of lace, some smears

S: fresh, green cereal grass, earthy and woody....lemon or grapefruit peel....sweet, sugary crystal malt and some light toffee....some faint toasted pale malt

T: earthy, "plant-like" hop flavor, potent, vibrant...nice hop bitterness, balanced well with the honey-ish, slightly doughy malt flavors....moderate, smooth citrus-zesty zing...touch of sweetness....refreshingly bitter and fruity (white grape, lemon) through a dry enough finish

M: light, yet malty, in a Czech Pils fashion....perhaps some delicate graininess

O: fantastic English pale....more like a prototypical American pale, but with very (or entirely) English nuances....could see this being misinterpreted and/or underrated (though I see here many agree with me on its merits)

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 19:04:48 | More by Bouleboubier

Pelicanrocks

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -1.5%

02-01-2013 20:11:38 | More by Pelicanrocks

MikeyMikee

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

01-26-2013 21:27:50 | More by MikeyMikee

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

01-11-2013 17:41:23 | More by westcoastbeerlvr