Tricerahops Double IPA - Ninkasi Brewing Company

abaer123

California

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A nice offering from Ninkasi. A double IPA with sharp hop bitterness on the beginning, smoothed over by rich fruit apricot flavors. The bitterness continues to linger and reminds me of the initial sharpness. I hope this one will stay in my nose for a while to remind me of its hoppy goodness.

Appearance - golden amber color, rich

Smell - fruity and sharp with hops

Taste - sharp bitterness to begin, smooth fruit middle, bitterness linger and linger and linger. :)

Mouthfeel - light carbonation makes this an easy drinker. 8.8% abv says go easy.

Overall - one of my favorites.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2011 03:45:01 | More by abaer123

Sokool

Washington

3.86/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Mine didn't actually much of a head to speak of, and didn't leave any lacing either. Possibly my sinuses here, but not a lot in the way of an aroma either. Smelled tangy hops and a light biscuit aroma. I really enjoyed the taste of this beer though. I've been drinking a lot of the more fruity/citrusy IPA's lately, and it was nice to drink something with a more buscuity/bready malt profile. The hops were still tangy, and I enjoyed the bitterness of it all. Overall, considering it's availability in my area and relatively low price, I would definitely drink it again... and again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 18:08:29 | More by Sokool

Andy1618

California

4.43/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours a slightly hazy, somewhere between dark gold and honey amber with a tinge of copper. A nice thick head sticks around for a little while and leaves moderate lacing.

S - Very grassy aroma from the hops, with a hint of lemon. Malt is subdued.

T - Strong and clean hop bitterness balanced by caramel malts. Grassiness and is less pronounced than in the aroma, but still present.

M - Smooth and creamy from lots of malt, followed by mouth-drying bitterness that lingers nicely.

D - This is how a double IPA should taste. Goes down easy and comes on strong. An all-around excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2010 04:20:37 | More by Andy1618

cubancigar2000

Idaho

5/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have been a beer fan for 50+ years and this one has blown me away. Exceptional flavor and after taste. I wish the beer was less damaging so I could drink more but two is absolutely all I can handle. The wife works for the distributor so I get a break on cost. I just love this beer

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 19:37:46 | More by cubancigar2000

bmerz

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Appearance

Burnt orange snow globe. I'm guessing yeast particulates float around the medium size bubbles.

Smell:

Grapefruit, peach, yeast when it warms. Under-ripe orange with rind on the back

Mouthfeel:

Thicker and more yeast on the back of my throat than is normal for an DIPA or I like from one.

Overall:

Not into it. Why so much yeast. Why boast hops when they aren't complex, well rounded, or that forward in the nose or flavor. Yet it isn't malty enough to imagine they are hiding.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 06:12:45 | More by bmerz

mshannon

Montana

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz into pint glass.

A- Gorgeous dark amber color, very clear, creamy head, long retention and thick lacing, definitely inviting

S- citrus and floral hops, also nice caramel/biscuity malts

T- relatively big hops, not what I was expecting with double IPA, but tasty and citrusy, same malts, alcohol is mild, nice balance

M- thick and bubbly

D- awesome, very drinkable though not really double, I'll buy it again

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 23:54:58 | More by mshannon

SecondSandwich

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I lived in Portland, OR for the last couple years and Ninkasi was available just about everywhere you look (God, I miss Portland). Their "Total Domination IPA" was one of my go to beers and is one of the best in its price range. The "Tricerahops Double IPA" is a delicious step up from its tasty nephew. A bit more pricey, but that certainly didn't stop me from enjoying my fare share of this scrumptious brew.
Now, I am not up on beer terminology (despite being an avid craft beer consumer) so forgive me if my description is "unconventional". I'll also have you know that I am heavily biased toward IPAs and the double/imperial IPAs in particular.
I have had the Tricerahops many-a-time in the bottle and have been lucky enough to discover it on tap on at least one occasion. The Tricerahops has a light-ish amber color and somewhat of a flowery aroma. In terms of taste, it really packs a nice punch. It delivers a lot "on the front end" as I like to say. It has a nice, crisp hoppy attack. It has a lot of treble and mid-range flavor. However, it doesn't really have much of that bass-y complexity that comes out about mid-taste with some other double IPAs (the Hercules Double from Great Divide for example, mmm). That being said, I don't think that bassy flavor was intended with this beer. It is more of a zippy, refreshing, deliciously hoppy (and high gravity) treat to enjoy when you are out on the patio in the summer or autumn.

Bottom line, if you like IPAs, you will love the Tricerahops. Also, if you haven't really experienced the Ninkasi Brewing company (I have not seen it outside the west coast, unfortunately) I would recommend seeking them out. I have not been disappointed by anything I have tried from them.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 16:55:35 | More by SecondSandwich

evyoung

California

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
-massive yellow head that doesn’t quit (after a vigorous pour)--little valleys appear in it
-crazy thick lacing all the way down

Smell:
-sweet toffee and some floral hops

Mouthfeel:
-lighter than I expected from the appearance and smell, but still great
-only criticism (and I admit I’m nitpicking) is the presence of some wateriness

Taste:
-very sweet malt toffee (just like the smell) that overpowers/covers a good deal of the hop bitterness (I would expect more to come through up front in a DIPA)
-citrus hops pair well with the sweetness
-there is an constant underlying alcohol feel and taste

Overall:
-My first from this brewery, and I will absolutely try some of their other offerings. I really enjoyed this one, but wasn’t as crazy about it as my girlfriend. It’s her new favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 03:23:48 | More by evyoung

volatilesther

California

3.03/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a clear golden amber that left nice lacing on the glass.

The aroma is barely present. I got hint of citrus and cooked oats.

The first few sips were very bitter. I love bitter ales but there was something not very balanced about this beer. Perhaps I got an old bottle because the bittering hops are very dominant and I don't taste any flavoring or aromatic hops. It is also a little too tart for the style. After a few sips the maltiness was more apparent and I could taste ripe bananas. Very dry and earthy finish.

Mouthfeel is a little light for a DIPA but it is very smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 01:54:59 | More by volatilesther

runjack

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Before I start off I should say that I love this beer. The malt is malty the hops are hoppy and it fits like a puzzle piece on my palate.

A) Foamy head with a hazy body. To me it seems a tad to dark for the style but thats just me being nit picky... just a tiny little bit tad

S) Hops, like hops in a bag from the lhbs packed and crisp BUT I should mention not what soever is the smell even close to the perfect heavenly smell that ipas can have...

T) this is one of those beers you have to taste to really understand. It's a perfect example of a real IPA. The hops aren't highly on center stage with the malty flavor filling all the gaps

M) the mouth feel is as expected from something almost perfect. It's not to thin not to thick its just about right

O) I love this beer though I know that out in that wide beautiful world is an IPA that really truly showcases brewing at its finest this may not be it though its pretty damn close...

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 02:57:54 | More by runjack

LagerThanLife

4.63/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

the malt and the hop flavors make this beer for me. I know that sounds stupid because what (besides yeast) the hell else would you be tasting bud? right? I know, however, a lot of IPAs I have had recently, now that they make up like 90% of the 22ozers at my liquor store :( , have been really bitter and really sweet which i guess = balanced, but i cound't for the life of me find another tasting note for them.
HOWEVER, this beer, this beer is bursting with both flavor and subtlety. malt flavor is rich but not over powering (2 row, munich and carahell) i dont know much about carahell and now i am interested. the hops bring bitterness, but alos complex tropical fruit aromas and spiciness.
this is an all around great IPA

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 21:06:31 | More by LagerThanLife

Caedus

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A:Golden Amber with Orange hue, nice 3 inch fluffy head with lacing.

S: Citrus notes with some passion fruit ripeness, grapefruit rind and a nice resinous hop character.

T: Nicely balanced between the ripe passion fruit and bittering hops on the back end. Finishes well, leaves a bit of a lingering bitterness. A bit of alcohol can be felt on the back end as well. The citrus and ripe malts come through well, but are balanced well by the very present hop character.

M: Medium body, light carbonation, a bit of sugar present but leaves a slight bitter linger.

D: Very nice, very smooth, well balanced, very much enjoyed.

Full review here: http://bit.ly/WlkjHP

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 05:21:53 | More by Caedus

kswbeer

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is a pretty solid Imperial IPA, and ranks among the best.

Our group just called Ninkasi and asked what hops they use. Search for "what hops are in tricerahops" or check out the following link:

http://www.kswbeer.com/2011/05/what-hops-are-in-tricerahops.html

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 19:11:00 | More by kswbeer

qgardner

California

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am truly a fan of just about everything this Brewery makes - and I only say just about because A: I haven't tried everything they make and B: Maiden the Shade is okay, but while the nod to Bruce Dickinson and company is very cool, the beer is still just okay. On the other hand you have this 8.8% ABV, 100 IBU Jurassic stomper that is just absolutely awesome. Very, very well balanced, the hops definitely don't overwhelm as one would expect at 100 IBU. A warm, caramel, toffee malt backbone and almost velvety mouthfeel (out of the ordinary for the style) pervade throughout the pint, and contrary to what another reviewer said, I think this beer gets even better as it warms. The hops are ever present, floral and remind me of fresh cut marigolds, but they don't whack you over the head like some extra IPA's. Behind all that love is a nice lingering aftertaste that leaves you wanting more. Would pair very well with chicken tikka masala.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 03:08:45 | More by qgardner