Hopalicious - Ale Asylum

wmumba

Michigan

5/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is very hoppy and tastes great.

It has a nice yellow color toward brownish. It has a nice head when poured into a pint glass. They recently moved the brewery to a larger facility and have switched from the stubby bottle to long necks. The quality is still A-1.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 11:30:33 | More by wmumba

ZAP

Minnesota

4.93/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First off it should be pointed out this is an APA although it has the hop flavor of a good IPA...sure the body is a little thin when you think IPA but for an APA it is fine...perhaps a little on the light side but in the right area...

Hops are fantastic....awesome aroma and taste of pineapples, mandarin oranges, and tangelos...milder notes of pine trees,lemons, limes, and a fresh bouquet of flowers...pale malt is the backbone but it has some mild toasty qualities.

This is the type of beer I could drink every day...literally...if I had a kegerator this would be a great call....rivals the Mpls Rock Bottom Simcoe hopped pale ale I love so much (Itasca) but with a different hop featured...

The bottle says it all...a lot of great hop without crazy bitterness....totally on the mark...this is what good hop usage is all about.

Top notch brew!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2009 01:40:53 | More by ZAP

wgk

Wisconsin

4.85/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Oh, what an incredible accidental find this one was! At the grocery store liquor outlet on a hunt for something that stressed hops for the Fall. We love this beer! High quality and consistency from 6-pack to 6 pack so far, except wider price variations than others we have seen, perhaps. The only ding is that it is almost too good to interrupt a session and have to revert to anything less.

A - lighter than expected, but very appealing and inviting
S - exceptional -- Really! -- Heavy hops with smoooth hints of a caramel/floral bouquet that stays nice all the while you drink
T - Absolutely on the top of my list...Blends the hops deliciously (honest) and strongly without overpowering anything else
M - Again, top of the heap. Great carbonation balanced with smooth, creamy finish...the ABV is in there, but you don't know it.
D - without question your first will invite your second and likely more if you wish...did I see a review where someone sessioned 10 of these? (With a designated driver, maybe!) It is an EASY brew to pace, though, as the quality is "extra special" and you can get a TON of taste in a tiny splash.

Satisfies the soul!

It says enjoy it with passion on the label. Doubt you could do anything but enjoy this brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 20:09:11 | More by wgk

nickapalooza86

Wisconsin

4.59/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice yellow, with a good haze and a nice half finger of white head, decent lacing

Smell is all citrus at first, lemons, orange, limes and grapefruit aromas are all present

Taste is more of the same citrus charachters followed by a nice sweet malt precense, finishes clean and crisp.

Mouthfeel is light medium, pretty standard for a APA

This is a beer I pick up to switch it up every once and while from NG Moon Man, I really like this one, I have had a couple of bad 12s and 6ers though.... Once they get that under control I will be picking this up more and more... Glad this 6 was good, the last was not, neither was the 12 before it.

One other thing, I do not really understand why have a blank white spot with best buy written above it.... Why not put the best by there instead of leaving it blank.

All in all I will base my score off of this beer, I do not review beer from bad batches or that is infected as it is not fair to the overall score.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 18:17:08 | More by nickapalooza86

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Acquired from JeffKrenner courtesy of the Birthday Club 2, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a cloudy gold color with a short foamy white head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is full of floral hops and fruity citrus sweetness with a good background of caramelized malt.

T: The taste is very nicely balanced with a strong burst of hops bitterness up front along with a nice citrus sweetness that isn’t too intense. The malt character is on the thin side for the style but provides plenty of substance. The after-taste is hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Very crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, very clean finish.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, good kick, excellent representation of style, this is definitely a great beer to drink for a whole evening. I think I could drink quite a few of these and not look for anything else. This is one of the best APA's that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2007 04:07:05 | More by TheManiacalOne

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.49/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
5.8% ABV, Best Enjoyed By: blank.

A - The golden-orange body shines bright even with a light particle haze but the real show-stopper is a monstrous cream-colored thick and rich head. It's retention turned to a rocky surface is only matched in awesomeness by the incredibly thick and art-like lacing it leaves on the glass.

S - Hopalicious has a fantastically potent blend of fruity and floral hop aromas that's more akin to an IPA. Mandarin orange and nectarine create a nice fruity medley around light pine and a slight citrus tang. A crystal and light malt sweetness stands strong in the background comfortable letting the hops steal the show.

T - Neither the hops nor malts dominate the flavor the way they do in aroma, instead they work harmoniously. The flavor starts off smooth and malty with no real flavor definition but shifts seamlessly to the hop bitterness. The hops lack the big fruity punch but retain the floral aspects; flower pedals and light pine-needle mingle with a small squirt of citrus.

M - Hopalicious is well carbonated but without the serious throat-bite at the end; instead, this beer is a bit creamy and smooth. Bold hopping in this pale ale imparts a dry and bitter profile that finishes with a touch of alcohol warmth in the stomach.

O - Ale Asylum has struck gold with Hopalicious, a delicious and round-bodied pale with a great aroma and inviting appearance. The flavor lends itself very well to a (richer) hoppy session beer that has great drinkability!

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 00:08:58 | More by BeerFMAndy

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I bought a 6pk of this from Woodman's in Janesville, WI for about $8 in Summer 2011.

Pours a semi-clear amber color with a rather thick head of off-white foam. Scent is heavy with hops, a scent of crisp apple, and bitter malts. Taste is smooth, clean, and crisp. Hops are well blended with some spice for a good taste and I'm getting a hint of apples as well. Ends with a dry after taste. Hits the taste buds well with flavor but is still light enough to be enjoyed at a cook-out etc. One of Ale Asylum's most popular brews!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 19:20:13 | More by Lemke10

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer had a light tan head sitting on a orange hazy body with a carbonation of tiny bubbles. I can tell this beer is still alive.

S- The smell of pine and grapefruit hop smells had a spicy to them that was dry ginger. The ginger was blended very nicely with the hops and was not over powering. There was a faint wet dog note in the hops that was actually quite pleasant.

T- This beer has a big grapefruit hop flavor with notes of pine and dry spice in the finish. The spice has a faint note of almost cinnamon and more so of ginger that makes it snappy. There is a faint pale malt note that comes through more as it warms a bit.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a slight slippery note in the finish.

D- This beer has big juicy hops and the ginger is a perfect amount to give the hops a twist but not being a ginger dominated beer. Whenever I am in Madtown again this will be the first beer I seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2006 22:57:01 | More by rhoadsrage

SafeAtFirst

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - A deep gold color, a little hazy - medium carbonation. Nice film of lace that went the distance.

S - A big hop blast in the nose - nice citrus note (oranges), a little pine - cascading flavors of cascade hops!

T - Citrus flavors continue in the taste also a nice grassy flavor, some pale malt, light bread flavors as it warms. Not a lot of bitterness or aftertaste.

M - Good medium body.

D - I had this in a blind tasting with Liberty and Sierra Nevada. Hopalicious was my favorite. The hop blast is awesome and the lack of bitterness in the finish makes it very drinkable and highly enjoyable.

If you are in the Madison area, you need to stop by Ale Asylum and sample this beer - very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2007 01:47:50 | More by SafeAtFirst

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a hazy, unfiltered orange amber with a creamy, one-finger, off-white head. Generously sticky lacing.

Floral, hoppy nose with notes of citrus and caramelized malt.

Nicely balanced profile of hops to malts. Cascade hops and citrus upfront yield to caramelized malt and hints of toasted toffee. Moderately bitter. Finishes dry.

Smooth and medium-bodied with active carbonation on the middle of the tongue. Yum, this is one drinkable ale.

Eureka! Hopalicious is an American Pale Ale with the soul of an IPA. You'll find all the bold and spicy hop flavor you crave, without crazy bitterness.

If you're an IPA drinker who has all but given up on APAs, try Hopalicious. It's hopariffic!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 01:04:41 | More by CaptainIPA

deereless

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Resiny head along the edges of the glass, slightly opaque, color of a dark peach juice - 4.00, S: Nicely hopped aroma, lots of citrus and pineapple, possibly even some mild bubblegum, balanced with some biscuity malt - 4.50, T: Lots of bitter bite in this brew, hops play the primary role, I detect Cascade, there is the faintest hint of some other grain in this beer - maybe a rye - 4.25, M: Medium bodied - 4.00, D: Though identified as an Pale Ale this one borders on the line of an IPA, I would happily purchase this beer again - 4.50

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2008 23:40:42 | More by deereless

alcstradamus

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A--Light copper color with about 1 finger of head using a standard pour into a pint glass. The head recedes quickly and leaves a little bit of lacing.

S--Biscuity malts, citrus and floral hops. Orange peels, white grapes, grapefruit. Smells yummy!

T--I was almost sure that the hop taste of this was going to be too subdued, I don't know why I pre-judged it but I'm glad I proved myself wrong. This is about perfect as far as APA's go, IMO. Its not a style that I usually praise because I prefer huge DIPA hop bombs, but Ale Asylum got it right here. VERY well balanced with a noticeable malt sweetness that is pleasantly overshadowed by a crisp citrus hop flavor that is damn good.

M--Medium bodied with a soft pillow of carbonation and not much aftertaste

D--Great session beer here, perfectly drinkable and this would be good during any season and with any meal.

Overall, I have to say I love this beer. Its tough for me to rate beers like this because it becomes a struggle between rating it on its own merit vs. rating it versus the style. I would say that as far as the style goes this is an A+, but I must also take into account that it is not a style known for huge flavor (which I love), and therefore does not stack up against the other beers I consider to be the best. In the end, I will settle with the score I gave it and give Ale Asylum themselves an A+ for doing a great job with this beer

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 22:22:01 | More by alcstradamus

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to BeerFMAndy for sending me this brew as part of a fantastic Wisconsin monster box that he sent.

A: Pours a dark, yet glistening orange color, with a nice inch or so white head that kept it's retention throughout the session.

S: Soft pine and grapefruit with hint of a floral nature.

T: The name speaks for itself. The balance is fantastic and the citrus profile is nicely done without being too hoppy or bitter. I would rank the smooth refreshing aftertaste up there with some of the best APAs on the market!

M: Thick, without being too. The ABV is perfect for the style and the balance between the sweet and bitter elements is perfect.

D: I could drink this all day long.... if only I could click my heels together and end up in Wisconsin.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 21:06:33 | More by Chaney

Estocker

California

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Wow!

Pours a nice looking amber color with hues of gold.

Smells nice. Some soft floral notes are present, and maybe some citrus in the background.

Tastes better than it smells! This is an incredible APA. Perfectly balanced, a nice bouquet of floral and citrus hops that aren't too bitter. This is one of the best Pale Ales I've ever had. I would drink this every day if it was brewed locally. Unfortunately it isn't even available here :(

If you enjoy IPAs and Pale Ales, this is a MUST try.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 03:49:01 | More by Estocker

blackearth

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at Ale Asylum in Madison, WI. Pours a cloudy grapefruit color with a thin white head. Aroma is of citrus hops. Medium bodied with a sweet caramel flavor to balance the hops that linger long into the finish. Very good pale ale. I will be having this again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2009 20:44:12 | More by blackearth

pdoran10

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first brew from Ale Asylum have been meaning to pick up some of their beer for a while now.

pours out a slightly hazy dark golden color with three fingers of head that will not quit. Really impressive lacing left behind. Amazing appearance here.

Smell is fresh grapefruit a hint of fresh cut wet grass. really vibrant fresh smell. Makes me feel like i have some very fresh hops going on here.

taste is again fresh grapefruit but not overwhelming. just enough nice bready spicy malt to balance. A real winner of an APA. and hey I'm a sucker for a well made beer with fresh cascades.

Mouthfeel is moderate to high carbonation with just enough body to balance. Dry finish which I am partial to.

A bit of a blast to the palate being so dry and grapefruitey but I love these flavors so I could drink these brews a lot. Will be making the trip back to Wisconsin soon for more of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 07:53:24 | More by pdoran10

Soonami

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks EROCK75 for sending me this bottle of Ale Asylum Hopalicious to me as an extra. This is a great beer from a brewery I haven't tried a beer from yet.

The beer is a golden orange with just a wisp of pale foam that decorates the snifter with a thin ring. The beer smells very fruity like tangerines and of fresh toasty malts. The beer is delicious with just sweet citrus flavors, well rounded malts and just enough bitterness for balance. This is probably the best tasting APA I've every had. Often I feel like APA's are too bitter without the fresh hop flavors, but this beer hits all the notes and is just so juicy and sweet. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 05:36:43 | More by Soonami

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow! This is just great beer!! Poured with a nice frothy foamy head and some lace. Hazy amber color. Very hoppy aroma with some malt and caramel in there. I don't pick up on the citrus; but, I do get a real dry chewiness. Great mouth. Satisfying with a clean pleasant finish. Superb session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2008 19:34:34 | More by drpimento

shreddy

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma - strong American hop presence.

Taste - mild malt background followed up by a very strong but welcome hop flavor. The beer was not overly bitter for being so hoppy. The hops were mostly late addition to effect the aroma and taste.

Drinkability - a mild abv and a strong hop flavor makes this beer very drinkable. I would even say its session worthy if you can handle the hops.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 16:37:13 | More by shreddy

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Like opening a bag of fresh, whole leaf flower Cascades, Hopalicious delivers a bright, resinous and citrusy hop nose!!! The body is a hazy golden-amber, beneath a creamy white head that holds well and leaves patchy "walls" of spotty lace in its wake. The Cascade hops continue into the flavor with resinous notes of citrus (grapefruit, lemon, pineapple) and pine over a lightly caramelish and just slighty biscuity malt base. The bitterness is well balanced, and it finishes dry and subtly acidic with some lingering notes of piney and grassy hops. Quite nice! An impressive APA that takes the hop flavor and aroma of an IPA, and jams it into a standard strength ale. Very west coast! Remarkably drinkable despite the intense hop charge. Very well done!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 15:00:13 | More by NeroFiddled

leftmindedrighty

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Eleven separate additions of Cascade hops give this APA it's lush citrus aroma and bold hop flavor without crazy bitterness"

Ok, that little blurb convinced me this beer is hop forward. Lets taste it and find out.

Smell, lovely citrus hop flavors wafting throughout. With a little bit of malt sweetness.

Taste, Follows then nose. This one is really well balanced, with huge hop flavors but a great malt body to back it up.

Overall, simply Awesome APA. One of the best I've ever had, bar none.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 15:51:31 | More by leftmindedrighty

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice deep golden to almost orange color, with a creamy white colored head, that sticks around for awhile leaving a hint of bubbly lace all the way down the glass.

Has a strong floral, citrus hop aroma up front followed by a thick, resiny pine smell, that has just a minor hint of caramel and sweet malts.

The flavor of this beer is full of freshly cut grass freshness, some delectable grapefruit, citrus and floral notes with an almost black pepper spiciness as well, and a very nice, yet subdued sweet malt background that balances out bitterness quite well, leaving you with a delicious sugared grapefruit aftertaste.

A very good light-bodied APA that still manages to feel creamy in the mouth, and retain a nice refreshing carbonation factor. I have had this out of a bottle and would give that about a B, however on tap at Ale Asylum is where this beer really shines, undoubtedly due to the freshness which really makes the hop profile "pop."

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2008 15:37:09 | More by Soneast

soze47

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had several of these when I was in Madison in mid-October. I used the 33 Beers tasting book to review, so I'll include those ratings in the body of this review, and do my best to translate into BA numbers above.

Aroma Notes: On the nose, you get a lot of hops. Piney first, then citrus second. I get a little bit of caramel malt, but not a lot. Definitely leads with the hops.

Taste Notes: Hoppy for sure, but the malt plays a big role in the flavor. It accentuates the flavors, not the bitterness, of the hops to make a very tasty drink.

Other notes: This is a highly drinkable, medium bodied beer. It is refreshing and flavorful, but not light in any way.

Flavor Wheel (1 low to 5 high):
Dark Fruits: 2
Citrus Fruits: 4
Hoppy (Pine): 5
Floral: 3
Spicy: 1
Herbal: 2
Malty: 3
Toffee: 2
Burnt: 1
Sweet: 2
Sour: 2
Bitter: 3
Astringent: 1
Body: 3
Linger: 2.5
Alcohol/Solvent: 2

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 12:53:36 | More by soze47

Ek0nomik

Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured In: Tulip Glass

Appearance: Pours a dark orange color with a finger of head. Not much, but a little lacing going from the top to the middle of the glass.

Smell: A noticeable caramel malt, but a little bit of citrus here as well.

Taste: Initial flavor is bitter with the caramel malts making their appearance. Following the initial flavor of malt is a very pleasant mixture of grapefruit and orange peel. I need a six pack of this in my fridge at all times.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body and well carbonated. Goes down quite easily. A little hop oil coats itself throughout my mouth. A nice crisp beer.

Drinkability: I think this could fall into the IPA category instead of an APA, but regardless I find this very enjoyable. Most of the APA's I have had have not had this much hop flavor to them, but I find it very pleasant. One of my favorite beers, and it's nice living only a few miles away from the brewery. The ABV is hidden quite well, and this could definitely be a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2009 02:35:32 | More by Ek0nomik

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice pale

A: straw yellow with a slight reddish hue. good lacing but required a long pour to get head to build.

S: great citrus hop aroma, lemons.

T: solid bitter from start to finish. a slight english malt taste at the front but far more about the hops.

M: a bit thin in the body, bu thats the profile of a pale ale. washes lightly and refreshingly makes your pockets want more.

O: a good pale ale for those tart bitter hankerins.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:51:15 | More by BasementBer