4 Seasons IPA - Voodoo Brewing Company

portia99

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours a hazy, rich amber color with 2 full fingers of cream colored head which lingers briefly and falls to a thick layer with sticky lacing covering the glass.

S - Has an overall hoppy and fruity aroma. Unusual combination and overall effect. I can't quite identify the fruit, but I'm thinking it might be figs? and there is a bit of spicyness in there too, again unidentifiable...also, there is a tea-like quality to the aroma too. Seems to be a good amount of caramel in there too, but the stange fruit flavor might be over-enhancing this. Not sure what to make of this one.

T - Fruity and bright - differs quite a bit from the aroma. Good, crisp bitterness with an underlying fruity aspect. A touch of caramel, some sugary sweetness, and a lot of tea flavors too. Not your typical IPA, but somehow seems to work. To me, this tastes better than it smells. After smelling, I was expecting a less than stellar beer, but it is pleasantly surprising and enjoyable.

M - A little bit on the thin side of medium bodied. Bitterness pushes its way throughout the mouth. Carbonation is medium with enough tingle to keep things interesting without overpowering.

D - Overall, I'd say this is an IPA on the fringe of the style. Some unusual, and largely unidentifiable, flavors come into play in this beer. It is a beer that I will easily finish, but not sure I would look to revisit it. Bottle label is a bit confusing, saying there are 4 different recipes (at least) to coincide with the seasons, but no indication (at least that I can see) to say which one I'm drinking. Glad to try it, but think I'll stick to some regulars and trying some others I can't usually get.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 01:35:12 | More by portia99

RollTide7

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

06-13-2013 03:58:00 | More by RollTide7

billbeers

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.8%

06-08-2013 20:28:48 | More by billbeers

BMart

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

06-07-2013 19:23:30 | More by BMart

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

06-07-2013 01:36:50 | More by randylangford

alltakn

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +28%

05-28-2013 18:11:36 | More by alltakn

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

05-21-2013 23:51:34 | More by CosmoHopHead

tommyguz

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-11-2013 00:54:08 | More by tommyguz

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -19.1%

05-10-2013 21:52:22 | More by mikeburd1128

Wowcoolman

California

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

05-03-2013 03:00:20 | More by Wowcoolman

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-01-2013 05:08:22 | More by spycow

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

04-27-2013 16:46:39 | More by rolltide8425

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

04-27-2013 15:51:56 | More by browniewithnuts

brendaniel

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

04-27-2013 15:49:47 | More by brendaniel

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.06/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up a 12 oz bottle of this brew a few months ago and poured into a pint glass at cellar temperature the other night.
The beer pours a slightly cloudy copper hue with fizzy eggshell white head of about 1.5 cm foaming up and fading slowly to an edge layer.
The aroma is citrusy and earthy with grapefruit rind dominating the beer. There is some caramel candy malt buried in the nose.
First sip reveals a bit of sweet caramel and then rolls to some rind and earthy herbal notes. Lingering flavor is a little bitter but not astringent, does dry the palate a little. No hint of alcohol on the beer and very easy to drink.
Texture is smooth and carbonation is gentle rolling across my palate.
A well made IPA from the home of Allegheny College, my alma mater. WEll done VooDoo!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:26:10 | More by sulldaddy

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.25/5  rDev -12.4%

04-14-2013 00:44:36 | More by yourefragile

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.8%

03-31-2013 05:01:32 | More by WDJersey

Em30

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -25.9%

03-29-2013 20:22:53 | More by Em30

mmsimmons

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -19.1%

03-29-2013 20:18:13 | More by mmsimmons

ncaudle

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

03-25-2013 16:19:37 | More by ncaudle

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

03-24-2013 20:44:10 | More by IPAchris

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%

03-24-2013 15:43:54 | More by orangesol

HeyJim

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -73%

03-24-2013 01:44:08 | More by HeyJim

claaark13

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +14.6%

03-23-2013 01:51:09 | More by claaark13

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.51/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I have only glowing accolades for the Voodoo Brewery. Now comes the classic American IPA that's deeply rooted it the resiny citrus taste and gripping bitter finish that the style deserves- Let's see...

The aggressive ale pours with a medium amber color and with a touch of rusty highlights. Hazy brown in its shadows the beer develops a creamy ivory foam that yields high retention which fuels a broken lacing pattern that layers all sides of the glass evenly and consistently.

Sharp limey hops start the show, and then the more vegetal part of hops show with the character of wood, stems, and leaf that remind the senses of sassafras and lemon teas. Caramel underpinnings show somwhat of hone before. turning white wine-like heading into taste.

Soon after the short-lived caramel malts digress, the real beer flavor emerges to celebrate the taste of citrus pith, skins, and extracts. In complement, there's an earthy taste of woodish bark, lemongrass, thyme, and fresh cut grass that aids a chlorophyll- rich taste that grips the taste buds and aids in its refreshment. Limey, winey, stemmy, and gripping in the throat with its bitter taste- any caramel underpinnings rely on toast and grain to allow any semblance of support.

Sharp, crisp, and clean early and often, the early offshoot of residual caramel and dry toast textures buffer the palate from the hop onslaught to ensue. Hops dictate both bitterness and astringency thereafter and lead the beer to a slight harshness in grassy bite to close the lingering bitter aftertaste.

Much like Flying Dog's Snake Dog, the beer is harsh, aggressive, and earthy in its raw taste but it does remind me of the early American taste of our own Pale Ales that existed long before the current microbrewery culture. Also like Anchor's Liberty Ale, the beer is unrefined but still gentlemanly in its rawness.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 06:12:40 | More by BEERchitect