The Audacity Of Hops - Cambridge Brewing Company

yossarian14

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a tasty and interesting concoction. Like nothing I've had to date. This beer flips the Belgian IPA mutant-style onto its ass and brings us an ultra-hoppy IPA with the Belgian characteristics taking the back seat. The fruity Belgian yeast is there in the finish but a big simcoe-heavy, West Coast hop aroma and flavors dominate, staying on the palate until your next sip. Lots of pine in the taste as well. The 8.5% keeps me from drinking this all night. A must try for hopheads.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 14:35:06 | More by yossarian14

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The description is awesome, but I didn't write it down. It's not on the website yet, hopefully soon.

I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about Belgian IPAs. I love the concept, and I've enjoyed most of the Belgian IPAs that I've tried. However, most of the examples that I've had seem to be more like a heavily hopped Belgian Strong Pale Ale/Tripel rather than a true fusion of the styles. The characteristic Belgian flavors still seem to dominate. The hops are evident, but aren't the focus, nothing about them really makes me think IPA.

The Audacity of Hops is what I've wanted in a Belgian IPA. Lots of hop flavor with the Belgian characteristics providing the balancing backbone of the beer. The hops seem like the focus rather than an afterthought. You may disagree, but this is what I think a Belgian IPA should be


The Audacity of Hops pours a deeply cloudy golden. Topped by a thick white head that thins to a film leaving sheets of lace.

The aroma says IPA more than Belgian. The citric and resiny hop aromas are most evident, with a bit of underlying Belgian yeast fruitiness.

The malts start sweet with bready and caramel notes. The center is fruity, with notes of banana. The finish has a yeasty and peppery kick. The hops are noticeable throughout, but really become strong in the finish with nice resiny and herbal hop flavors that linger in the aftertaste along with a pleasing bitterness. Medium-bodied, with a bit of oiliness from the hops, and a good amount of carbonation without being overdone.

Hoppy, but balanced well. Crisp and drinkable. Like I said, this is what a Belgian IPA should be.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2008 22:28:29 | More by EPICAC

FrankLloydMike

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I know I'd have this on-tap in the past, but I couldn't remember it very well, and I definitely didn't remember it being as wonderful as it was when I poured from an attractive bomber yesterday. I went to the brewpub afterward and verified that it's just as good on-tap, but this review is from the bottle:

A: Blonde-copper in color with a big, fluffy white head; little lacing and surprisingly un-sticky.

S: Incredible! A big smack of extremely fresh hop smell--lots of grass, some pine and floral notes, and grapefruit in there as well. This is among the crispest, cleanest, best smelling beers I've had. I couldn't keep my nose out of the glass, even as I was enjoying drinking it.

T: Speaking of which, the taste lives up to and matches the nose. It's nearly all hops--starting piney and grassy, then moving into a bit more juicy grapefruit territory, but still light and clean, and surprisingly not too bitter. The malts are hardly noticeable, but evident in the balance, as is the Belgian yeast. Wonderfully crisp, clean taste, with no hint of alcohol or syrupy sweetness, and a cleaner balance, which I'm assuming is from the Belgian malts and yeast, than many other IIPA's provide.

M: Clean, crisp, slightly light for an IIPA, but still medium-bodied. Extremely drinkable and pleasant.

O: While I often dislike the candi sweetness of many Belgian styles (none of which is present here), I think I really prefer a Belgian IIPA to a traditional DIPA, as it seems to knock the syrupy sweetness, which I dislike, out of the equation. Maybe that's just the CBC's interpretation of the style, but I'd put this just in the IIPA/DIPA category, and in that case, it's among the best I've had. This is fantastic beer--audacious, indeed--providing that wonderful, fresh hop aroma and taste without the excessive bitterness or syrupy taste of so many others. My heart sunk when I realized it was after 11pm at the brewpub last night, and so I couldn't pick up another bomber to take home.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 14:57:49 | More by FrankLloydMike

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.59/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Cambridge Brewing Company - The Audacity of Hops - 1pt 6fl oz bottle

Look - Pours a slightly hazy golden amber or copper with a nice soapy head. Phenomenal lacing. Rambunctious carbonation.

Smell - Bready spices with hop on top. Interesting mix, DIPA & Belgian-style, both share the stage evenly.

Taste - Citrus hops come in first, then a wave of spicy, bready Belgian yeast. After this a blast of bitter grapefruit hops. Boom!

Mouthfeel - Great drinkability. very unique and enjoyable. The blend is so smooth and really works. In the aftertaste you get the hops but also the sour that you expect from a Belgian.

Overall - Would definitely recommend. Great fusion of styles. Stellar brew that bridges the gap between my two favorite styles.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 13:22:41 | More by JMScowcroft

RickS95

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A bit on the dark side for a pale ale, it pours a weathered burnt orange. Depsite the relative darkness, it's kind of a pale burnt orange, though it's still dark enough that it's opaque. The head is attractive while it's there, but lacks retention, so look quick. You'll see a contrasting white lid of small bubbles. Eventually you're left with just remnants up top and a bit of lace.

The smell is the cat's meow. Full of citrus flavors like orange, pineapple and grapefruit, with some pine for balance. I'll put the smell of this beer against any other.

Taste follows suit, though the citric items are toned down a bit and the pine is ramped up. A little bit of a cracker taste as it works it way across the tongue.

Acidic early on with a gentle sweetness, the teeth of the beer greets you mid-sip as the hops start to take over and the piney resin coats your tongue with a lingering bitterness. There's plenty of hoppy bite, but it's welcomed and manageable making it reasonably tame for a DIPA. There's plenty of carbonation to clear your tongue, along with the citrusy acid, but the hoppy oils won't let go.

Overall, this is right up there with the best IPAs or DIPAs I've had. It's got good flavor, is easy to sip, and has a nice kick to it...and the alcohol lets you know it's a beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:44:52 | More by RickS95

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My second bottle of this beer. I loved the first one and hope this lives up to what I experienced last weekend.

Soapy bright white head with lots of sticky lace. A bright clear brass colored beer. Head shows excellent retention.

Aroma is fantastic. Actually very complex. A burst of citrus/grapefruit followed by some nice spice and some yeast notes. Then you are hit with a resin like burst of juicy green hops. Very nice.

Yep, I like it as much this time around. As in the aroma, quite complex. Lot’s of yeast character and spice. Black pepper and some green notes. Lot’s of aggressive hop notes with juicy grapefruit again laced with black pepper. The aftertaste is like that of a big fresh DPA with a layer of herbal notes layered on top. Nice complexity.

There is a soapy texture to this and I do not mean this in a negative sense. Oily on your tongue with fresh hop flavor.

Really really good beer. If this is going to be available locally from here on out, this is going to be fun.

Well done!!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 23:32:35 | More by Reagan1984

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a La Fin Du Monde tulip glass.

The color is a yellow gold with a good amount of bubble on the inside of the glass. There is a nice 2 fingers of foamy white head and some nice lacing left on the glass.

The smell is all hops at first with a nice pine aroma. There is some nice malt aroma hanging there with the hops that hop thing down here.

The taste is hoppy which is no surprise but there is a really fruit juice flavor that is giving out some sweetness from the malts. Good Belgian flavor comes out with a nice crisp pear and apricots coming out at the sharp edges. There is a slight bubblegum flavor just back there in the way far background but is there with some hops coming back to finish the flavor at the end.

The feel of this beer is bitter but medium bodied with some mellow feel. It seems to be just the beer for kicking back and relaxing. This beer just seems to soothe the sense.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 05:04:42 | More by Duhast500

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one a few days ago while visiting friends in Boston. At the pub, in a teardrop glass. These are the notes from the back of my coaster:

"Appearance: Medium tawny straw w/ white 1/2 inch head, gripping the glass.

Aroma: CA-style hop profile, citrus, pine, lots of pine!

Palate: Medium- to-light carbonation, med. body, marmalade on oak, Belgian spice note on finish?

Notes: Simcoe dominates this beer, palate and nose. I wish there was more Belgian character, but it gets overrun by the delicious hops. A overall, B+/A- given style claims."

I could drink this beer all night. The only complaint is that the Belgian characters are just whitewashed by the huge, and I mean huge amount of hops!

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2008 03:53:19 | More by SFLpunk

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I never thought I would land this one in a million years. Huge thanks to the dr for throwing me this one as an extra. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 11/12/2009.

The pour was very solid, rich amber in color with a nice two inch cap of white that came up and over the top, settling down nicely with tons of side glass lacing and a good bit of carbonation that could be seen bubbling up toward the surface. Huge aroma of grapefruit and rich citrus hops are all over the one. Nice balance of light buttery malts as it warms, but this one was truly a hop monster, just what I wanted indeed. First sip nearly ripped the tongue out of my mouth with a bitter joy. Huge ripe grapefruit notes, rich touches of pineapple, and the tongue buckling hops that pierced right through to your soul. Huge flavor here that really did not stop. Very floral and fresh with an enormous bitter flair to it. Just and immense IPA by all accounts. Nice medium feel with a good solid crispness to it, this went down well.

Overall I am very glad I got to try this one, it was truly one of a kind and one of the most bitter IPA's I have had in recent memory. Would love to do this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 23:56:49 | More by mikesgroove

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch No. 01, bottled December 2011.
Clear gold/orange colour with a soapy eggshell cap. Good head retention with some spotty lacing. Lots of citrusy hops in the aroma, mostly grapefruit with elements of flesh and pith, quite floral. Malt notes were mild and there was some yeasty fruitiness, along with a soft spicy character. Solid bitterness that lingered long into the finish. More citrus, grapefruit and an edge of lemon zest, just enough malt presence to keep the hops from being overpowering. Spicy character from the yeast and mild alcohol flavour/warmth. Medium bodied with smooth carbonation, some dryness, nice texture overall. Really well constructed and hits the right notes for a Belgian (D)IPA. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:31:05 | More by DrJay

phantomwyse

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: This beer pours out a beautiful honey color with golden highlights. The body is rustic and unfiltered crowned with a solid one finger white head that recedes at a moderate pace.

S: Hop aroma is definitely present, your typical pine and very orange citrus. There is a fantastic sweetness that surround this whole beer, honey, tea with lemon, Madeline cookies, dry wheat, touch of yeast.

T: Whoa! There is a roll of hop bitterness that just edges of puckering, but manages to pull back just in time. Hefty pine, fermented orange and grapefruit flavors, touch of lemon. There is a sweetness that it almost dry in nature, that same touch of yeast coming in to play, herbal and earthy like dry grass.

M: Medium bodied and crisp that finishes dry like Champagne.

O: Audacious, absolutely. Brilliant? Borderline. After eating at CBC yesterday after a 5 mile road race, I felt compelled to review one of their beers today. This is powerful, potent, and worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 02:54:44 | More by phantomwyse

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle from batch 1 (bottled in December 2011). This one was poured into my Bruery tulip.

The Audacity of Hops pours a hazy, but not opaque light orange, with plentiful tangerine to goldenrod highlights. The off white head approaches, but maybe doesn't reach two fingers in height. Head retention is just OK, but there's a decent amount of lacing coated onto the side of the glass. The nose is a little on the weak side, but there are definitely clove and tropical fruit notes there to appreciate. The flavor profile steps things up big time though. The front end has some candied sugar sweetness, before an aggressive charge of bitterness come through. The back half is where things get interesting though, as phenols, esters, and hops come together to bring wave after wave of flavor coming through. Notes of bubble gum, tropical fruit, light citrus, clove, and a bit of earthy herbs all come through in time. No one sip is exactly like the last, but they're all delicious. The body is nicely dialed in, not desert dry, but tending towards the dry side of the spectrum. The carbonation however, is just a little bit dull. I'm thrilled that CBC is bottling some of their beers now, and only wish I lived in MA so I could have a glass of Audacity of Hops (or any of their other beers) at home more often.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 04:38:18 | More by axeman9182

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear golden-orange color with a thin finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind some good lace.

S - Aroma is full of piney hops with some citrus and tropical hops, sweet caramel malts, and some light spices and Belgian yeast esters.

T - Starts off with some pine hop with some light grapefruit and bitterness alongside some sweet caramel malt. Through the middle some more bitterness comes through alongside a touch of yeast esters and some lightly bready malt. The finish is big on the pine and grassy hops with some good bitterness and some spices and Belgian yeast flavors.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really great Belgian IPA with a good hop profile and a good amount of flavor from the Belgian yeast.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 20:53:32 | More by ngeunit1

nickfl

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - One finger of white foam on a slightly hazy, golden body. The head settles quickly but leaves decent lace.

S - Strong fruity hops, citrus and pineapple. A backbone of toasted malt with some bready character.

T - Sweet with fruity, spicy hop flavor notes of pepper, orange and pineapple. Moderate bitterness comes in next with toasty, sweet malt. The finish is spicy with sweet malt notes and fruity hops competing with assertive bitterness, spicy alcohol notes, and a nice, smoky tobacco character.

M - Medium body, moderately high carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish with just a hint of hoppy astringency.

D - A nicely balanced, fruity and drinkable IPA. The belgian character is not overly strong, as any spice and fruit notes from the yeast blend with similar characteristics form the hops. The hop character is excellent, with a strong aroma and flavor as well as smooth, balanced bitterness. Overall a very nice beer, too bad I can't get any more.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2009 01:33:49 | More by nickfl

BeTheBall

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured in my Duvel tulip from a bomber. Dark golden color with average head after a fairly hard pour. Smell was very piney from hops. Taste was dry and piney, not much of the citrus that other IPA's may have. Very refreshing and tasty; light in a way despite the alcohol. Mouthfeel was great, a very enjoyable IPA that I could, and would drink any time.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 14:28:40 | More by BeTheBall

natescape

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint stein out of a bottle. Batch 02, bottled in February, 2012. Given as a gift that was regifted. :)

A - Beautifully golden, with the last pour being somewhat hazy.

S - Not as much hops as I'd expect... with a bit of the yeasty Belgian Double aroma that I would expect.

T - YUMMY. Well-balanced - malty, hoppy, and very very smooth. Almost no aftertaste. Very impressive for an 8% brew.

M - Full mouthfeel, yet clean and not overpowering.

O - Seek this beer out. Really excellent example of a Belgian Double IPA. The 8% is totally lost until the very end (as it's warmed).

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 23:40:36 | More by natescape

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a frothy head that leaves some splashy lace behind

Smell: Floral and piney, with some rye spice and sweet Belgian yeastiness

Taste: Biscuity, up front, with a bit of rye spice and stone fruit jumping in just before the audacity begins; the hops are floral and piney, with plenty of pith as well; after the swallow, the hops really burst forward, and mingle with the malt in layers of complexity

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with lively, though moderate, carbonation

Drinkability: Unlike many other Belgian IPAs I have tasted, I would characterize this one as 3/4 American IPA and 1/4 Belgian; I really like that profile rather than 50/50

Thanks, jleblanc, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 23:29:34 | More by brentk56

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3-finger eggshell head from last of the now-kicked keg at CBC on January 2, 2009...served in a goblet. Light honey/lemon zest body - solid lacing.

Big, soapy, floral grapefruit hops with mild crystal malt boiliness - big, BIG hops and slight yeast electricity.

This one fits the part - huge floral citrus/grapefruit hoppiness with only a tiny hint of Belgian yeast and accompanying esters (coriander and slight orange zest). Malt is there but is only part of the supporting cast.

Good palate feel - slightly tight on the finish - not quite one-dimensional but this is all about the hops.

Not quite a sipper but lots of power. Anyone's political leanings aside...damn, this is good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2009 11:48:36 | More by IBUnit63

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

fresh off the bottling line, picked up at CBC tonight.
(batch 1, bottled Dec 2011)

pours a slightly hazy, medium amber / gold tone; fairly aggressive pour yields a solid 2+" head - great retention and lacing.

fragrant hops come bull-rushing out of the glass; nice bouquet of floral / pine / citrus... secondary malty notes and a hint of candied sugar.

flavor follows the nose pretty closely. opens very hoppy with some sweetness emerges mid-palate before finishing on the drier, more bitter side. very flavorful with hops obviously showcased but nice cameos by the candied sugar and some spice.

overall i'm incredibly impressed here, maybe my favorite beer to date from CBC.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 02:43:40 | More by perrymarcus

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Solid, frothy head that settles in a dome. Leaves chunky, but spotty, lace on the glass. The liquid is deep gold with a mild orange hue. There's a steady cascade of minute bubbles upward. Mild chill haze.

Like a bouquet of peppery flowers--a beautiful hoppy aroma.

A very nicely balanced IPA. Great malt start and while the bittering hop presence is huge, it doesn't overwhelm. The body is rich but the carbonation is also high. The swallow is a mixture of bitterness and earthy yeastiness. The aftertaste is short-lived given the flavor. Less "Belgian" in taste than American.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:43:38 | More by smcolw

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint, formed a 3/4" light beige head over the slightly cloudy golden amber brew. Pillowy head slowly collapses, with sporadic chunky lacing. Aroma is skanky green hops.

Taste is pale sweetness to start, spicing and earthy hops in the middle, giving way to biting bitter numbness and a slight alcohol warmth. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is good as well. Almost as good as I remember.

8/3/09 - 4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/5
12oz bottle gifted from a kind individual.

Poured into a Mayflower nonic, formed a 1/2" off-white head over the slightly cloudy golden brew. Head lasts and lasts, with thick coating lace. Aroma is spicy hops and candi sugar. Taste starts with a light pale sweetness, hits with spicy hops in the middle, then floral bitterness to close, with a shot of warmth. Mouthfeel is smooooth, and drinkability is way easy. An example of hops working hand in hand with flavors in a brew, instead of just bashing around with the bitter club. Audacity of hops, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 22:20:14 | More by ppoitras

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a slightly hazy, medium amber / gold tone; fairly aggressive pour yields a solid 2+" head - great retention and lacing. fragrant hops come bull-rushing out of the glass; nice bouquet of floral / pine / citrus... secondary malty notes and a hint of candied sugar.

flavor follows the nose pretty closely. opens very hoppy with some sweetness emerges mid-palate before finishing on the drier, more bitter side. very flavorful with hops obviously showcased but nice cameos by the candied sugar and some spice.

overall i'm incredibly impressed here, maybe my favorite beer to date from CBC.

(originally reviewed: 12-20-2011 - batch 1, freshly bottled, purchased at CBS)

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 23:14:09 | More by BostonHops

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a slightly hazed honey color with unbelievable amounts of rising carbonation. Brilliant head. An inch high that laces and retains masterfully.

S-Very aromatic. Hops galore. Tons of floral hops. Citrus and pine too, leaning more towards the pine. Nice Belgian yeast notes too that let you know this is not an American styled DIPA. Excellent smell. Malt is detectable but far behind the hoppy aspects.

T-Audacity is correct. Floral and pine hops assault the palate. This beer boasts one of the grassiest finishes I have come across. High amounts of bitterness. Very herbal. Belgian yeast has the right amount of potency. Malt sweetness sets in but the hops still manage to set fire to the tongue. Nice, nice, nice.

M-Heavy side of medium bodied. Nice carbonation. Sharp but not too much. A bit resinous. Really digging the bubbles. Dry and bitter finish.

O/D-Overall, this is a kick-ass beer. American IPA/DIPAs I find to be far superior than their Belgian counterparts. However, this beer trounces many of the American DIPAs I have tried. Super fresh and super tasty. Seek it out. Gotta try more CBC.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 00:10:18 | More by VelvetExtract

olfolxholme

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

22 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip and a SN IPA Glass

A - Clear and bright golden beer with nice, crisp white foam. Good head retention, especially in the SN IPA glass. Almost no lacing.

S - Apricot. Some Belgian yeast character. Enjoyable. Especially nice from the SN IPA glass.

T - Nice, dry, hoppy bitterness. Mostly apricot from the hops, but some herbal character, too. Malt presence is golden and a little sweet, especially in the Duvel tulip. Very nice belgian yeast flavor. Dry and reserved.

M - Pleasantly dry. Refreshing carbonation.

O - Excellent example of the style. One of the best I've had. I think it's a real challenge to successfully marry big hop character with Belgian yeast. They are both such strong and distinct elements that it's easy for them to be in conflict. But, they did it near perfectly. I'm really impressed with this beer. I also don't usually enjoy apricot anything, but they made me love it. I was not expecting much from this beer but it delivered in spades. Bravo!

62

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 05:32:35 | More by olfolxholme

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 1 bottled Dec 2011 Wicked fresh :)
Pours a slightly hazy deep straw yellow color with a decent sized head that slowly recedes and leaves marginal lace. Wow this is hoppy! Huge amounts of pine and citrus waft into the air long before I get my nostrils over the top of the glass. Slightly spicy with a hint of green onions and just a touch of yeasty esters. Taste is resinous, pine, citrus, spicy, woody hops with barely enough bready malt to call this anything other than fresh squeezed hop juice. Belgian yeast adds a hint of phenols and a touch of pepper to round out the flavor. Medium body with a spirited level of carbonation and a bubbly, prickly, resinous mouthfeel. Finally a Belgian IPA where the yeast funk doesn't hide the hop funk on my palette. Very nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 06:26:01 | More by johnnnniee