Tricerahops Double IPA - Ninkasi Brewing Company

meatyard

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance is a hazy, dark orange.
The smell is a crisp bit of citrus & pine though not real strong.
The taste is sweet and bitter. It has a pleasant hoppiness and a malt sweetness. It doesn't taste like a IIPA hop bomb.
Mouthfeel is thick and oily.
Drinkability is very good for the ABV.

I like this beer a great deal. It doesn't seem like a typical West Coast IIPA but more balanced than expected. I do like the usual WC IIPAs but find this satisfying too.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2008 00:13:27 | More by meatyard

kirok1999

Ohio

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

Thanks to unclejedi for a generous gift.
Pours a hazy dark gold, looks like apple cider.
Smells of lush green hops, slightly sweet malts, almost candy-like.
Taste is not as hoppy as expected. There is a lot of bitterness in the finish which lingers quite a while. The malts add quite a bit of sweetness. Hops lend a slightly herbal note, not a lot of citrus. This is fairly well balanced, it's not all about the hops. Smooth and creamy with a lush feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2008 00:33:51 | More by kirok1999

MMAJYK

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A. Bright bronze, hazy and oily looking. Lacing is very sticky on the glass.

S. Sweet from the malts, a little bit hoppy (floral and citrusy) and spicy. I also get some musty basement going on.

T. Starts sweet for sure. Nice and caramel like, but bitter hops hit you HARD midstream. The finish is definitely dry.

M. Oily with high carbonation.

D. This beer is quite rich. We split it between 4 people; it was plenty and all I wanted.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2008 16:39:09 | More by MMAJYK

Reidrover

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Hazy,burnt orange coloured ale, thick creamy creme coloured head. Very nicely hopped aroma..mainlly citrus aromas,some alt in the back ground, nice and fresh. Taste is very nicely hopped, citric in style , but oddly orange peel flavours..like a good darker breakfast marmalade. Strong malt backbone to this..long lasting bitter after taste. Nice on the palate..quite thick and satisfying. Overall a good drink..one of the more balalced DIPAs I have encountered.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2008 19:39:35 | More by Reidrover

dirtylou

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22oz bomber, purchased at lovely Bottleworks in Seattle and lugged home in checked luggage

ah yes, the northwest...a magical land of hops, hops and more hops. Oh what a region - i shall live there soon

appearance: poured into a hopleaf tulip, cloudy copper-amber body with a frothy beige cap and light retention...murky and cloudy

smell: a hop dominated nose but not one that jumps out of the bottle to punch you in the skull...a sharp green hop presence, mild bitterness...nice but not overpowingly great

taste: a nice refreshing DIPA, which isnt always the case. This brew has a nice sharp green hop presence with a light pine kick...there is some light pineapple and pear involved. Northwest hops, citrus (grapefruit, not-yet-ripe orange), and a light malt structure.

mouthfeel: light bitterness, very refreshing and drinkable for the style

drinkability: very high

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2008 23:49:32 | More by dirtylou

julian

Washington

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

A: pale cloudy tangerine in color with a thin layer of foam across the top.

S: sweet aromatic smell of tropical fruits, malt, and hops.

T: right up front there's a blast of citrus hops. This mellows after a few sips allowing for the real fruity (grapefruit, orange, lemon) flavors to take more of a center stage. The taste is rounded out by a caramel like malt sweetness and an prominent American hops aftertaste.

M: Nice amount of carbonation, good mouthfeel all around beginning with that fruity bitter blast upfront and finishing with a smoother, creamier feel.

D: As far as DIPA's go, this is right up there. I also just noticed this was 8.8% (listed on bottle) and you wouldn't be able to tell. This drinks very easily and is abundantly flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 06:31:01 | More by julian

erikm25

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a huge orange and copper golden hue. There are hazy tangerine and amber undertones. Overall this one just glows in the glass. Amazing retention and a full halo of draped frosty lacing that coats from top to bottom all the way through. So much lacing that if I look closely I begin to decipher an ancient Mayan code.

S: Nice pine resin and citrus hop aroma balanced against delicate earthy undertones. A perfect blend of citrus acidic grapefruit and sweet floral aromas. Very subtle yet fruity, full, and rounded.

T: While hoppy, as expected, this is mildly refreshing. Like crisp pine soaked pineapple. Subtle honey limed and floral taste with a well balanced tart tinge. No malts present here. Very smooth and absolutely perfect finish without the slightest nod that this is a double.

M: Medium body with a long perfect finish and minimal carbonation.

D: Easily drinkable and delicious. Besides that the name is just flat out cool. I plan to put this one in regular rotation. Note to self, try as many other offerings I can from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2008 04:58:35 | More by erikm25

WonderfulSam

Washington

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

Wow! Deep, honey colored, slightly opaque, glowing, with a smallish white head that fades to a white bubbly haze on the surface. The smell is all hops. It doesn't come off as a complex smell at first, but after repeated huffing a myriad of aromas becomes apparent: fruity, citrus, pine hops lifted my spirits! Fruit and honey malt starts to come through, and I get really excited to have a drink. I am not disappointed. Herbal, floral, and pine hops are right up front, with a bit of sweet malt in the middle. It finishes crisp, with a slightly bitter pine hop edge. Medium bodied, with good interplay between the carbonation and the hop crispness. Dry but smooth. Very, very easy drinking for a DIPA!

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2008 03:14:08 | More by WonderfulSam

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Pours mid to dark gold with a healthy head. The nose is pretty pungent hops. This is one tasty DIPA with a serious hop taste but a smooth finish. Very well constructed and way to easy to drink at that ABV. I need to find more of these bad boys next time I am in Portland

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2008 04:16:17 | More by canucklehead

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My bottle says 8.8%, not 9.7% ABV as currently stated on BA. Whatever the alcohol level, Tricerahops is one of the best names for a hoppy beer, ever.

Pours a big creamy head that reduces to a very thin layer of sea-foam surprisingly quick. Color is the beautiful orange/red that typifies a double IPA, with a lot of haze creating a nearly-opaque effect.

Aroma fills the nose with grapefruit. Big fat gobs of grapefruit,
but with a spicier backup that recalls peppermint and cinnamon, and plenty of mild, sweeter fruits like peach and pear. Has a kind of musty roundness to it.

Flavor is unripe orange, citrus rind, lemon drop candy, with just a hint of caramel to help with balance. Having had two different Ninkasi beers before, I'm starting to get wise to their game: big kick-ass Northwest hops in abundance. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the big malt base that should be here, and likely IS here, is cut down considerably by the big, piney, fresh, raw, citrus-rind hops. I like, because I like hops, but this also lacks that gooey, creamy essence of a more well-balanced DIPA. Same goes for the texture, which isn't as creamy as I'd like, but still manages to be rounded and slick and a worthy conduit for the flavor.

Best Double IPA ever? Nope. But a totally enjoyable hop-overload that remains drinkable and likable. Very much a product of its region. "Ninkasi" is starting to equal "Pacific Northwest Ale" in my mind...don't know how I missed them when I was actually out there last year. Can't wait to try their other offerings.

Graciously sent VA-way by msubulldog25, thanks Brian!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2008 21:56:30 | More by Metalmonk

travisd13

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a Pike tulip.

A - Burnt orange in color with a light tan head.

S - Piny hops, grapefruit/orange, caramel malts.

T - Much like it smells. Balanced very well.

M - Light on the carbonation making it very smooth. A little sticky on the finish.

D - For the "style" very high. I'm not sure I'd call this a double. I'm still enjoying it very much.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2008 04:13:29 | More by travisd13

bosco7

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale copper color with nice voluminous head.

Orange, sugar, flowers, and cedar in the nose.

The beginning is very sweet almost syrupy, very orangey. Pine is the predominant flavor after that. I also can taste some lavender. Hop character is pleasant. Bitterness is very high. Alcohol can be perceived the finish is almost numbing on the tongue.

Mouthfeel is medium to heavy.

This DIPA is good but there are some things I find hard to enjoy, like the sticky sweetness coupled with the big alcohol presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 05:08:01 | More by bosco7

bkilpatr

Oregon

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

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass. 07/29/08.

Pours a burnt orange-amber color with a thin finger of beige head. The head quickly dropped to a thin layer and didn't leave any lacing. Aromas of sweet malt, caramel, sugar, piny hops, and oranges.

Taste up front is a lot of sweet malt and caramel malt. This makes way for a blast of bitter piny and citrus hops. Within all of this is a nice earthy grapefruit taste. Lots of other citrus as well - orange, coriander, lemon. Very nice balance between the malts and the hops, and the citrus flavors as well - no one flavor dominates. It tastes somewhere between an IPA and a DIPA, it doesn't quite have that killer hop presence of a DIPA.

Feel on this beer is very nice. Ample carbonation, yet it still feels kinda thick and creamy. Leaves some nice stickiness on the back of the tongue. Drinkability is also pretty good. It doesn't get too sticky, and the alcohol stays pretty well hidden.

Pretty good beer. I don't know if I'd call it a DIPA, but somewhere between that and an IPA. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2008 02:32:03 | More by bkilpatr

cjgator3

Florida

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

22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Pours a very nice dark orangish amber color with an off-white head. The aroma is sweet malt and really nice resinous citrus and piney hops. The taste is sweet malt up front with a very nice citrusy hop profile in the finish. This is not as hoppy as most DIPAs, but it definately packs enough hops to satisfy most hop fixes. There is also a really nice malt backbone, making this beer very smooth and balanced. My bottle says 8.8% ABV, but it is pretty well hidden. Overall, Tricerahops Double IPA is an excellent DIPA that is highly recommended. Yet another solid IPA from the PNW.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 03:47:26 | More by cjgator3

joe1510

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz Bomber

This was thrown in as an extra in a box I recieved today from msbulldog25, thanks again Brian! Ninkasi's Tricerahops enters the glass a hazy apricot orange that glows when the beer is backlit. A soft pour didn't produce much head so I sped things up on the second half of the glass and was met by a dense three finger ecru head. The head slooowly fell to a finger and left sticky webbed lacing all over the glass on its way. I don't see much carbonation rising to the surface but what's there crawls very slowly. This is how an IIPA should look!

The smell comes across with a solid spattering of grapefruit rind. A few lightly sugared grapefruit segments here and there compete with alcohol soaked apricots, both finishing nose to nose. There seems to be a little earthiness flashing through along with a squeeze of orange oil. The malts show signs of caramel, orange blossom honey, and a cake like sweetness that stays where it should, in the back.

The flavor seems to follow the aroma closely. The flavors in this beer are mellow and come together very nicely. The hops are the main point in the flavor profile and come across as grapefruit, both sweetened and bitter. The quick apricot zing flashes through and orange peel shows itself throughout but stays back enough to let the grapefruit do its thing. Caramel maltiness lays down the base and tries to balance this beer out but falls just short. The grapefruit tends to linger on the swallow just the way I like it.

The body of this beer is close to perfect for the style and something I don't come across too often in IIPAs. The mild carbonation and moderate weight make the body of this beer slide through the mouth like velvet. It's incredibly silky smooth.

The drinkability for the style is high. I have to force myself to slow down with this glass but I keep picking it up regardless. This drinks more along the lines of an IPA which could easily get me in trouble.

Ninkasi makes a damn fine IIPA. I wouldn't mind having a couple more of these. It's not as big and bold as others of the style but that's part of the reason it's so refreshing and a nice change of pace. I'm digging this one. Thanks Brian!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2008 23:47:04 | More by joe1510

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

3.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber to a pint glass the liquid is dark yellow with gold hues and ok carbonation. The head is small white yet leave a bit of lace.

The smell is earthy hops with a few pine and citrus notes.

The taste is fuller nice citrus tasting hops, also a good caramel malt that is equal to the hops.

The mouthfeel is good nice better then medium but less then full body and good carbonation.

The drinkability is good, not the biggest DIPA on the block but plenty hopy and big that is quite drinkable. Very nice well rounded brew. Prosit, MK

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 04:15:22 | More by MuenchenerKindl

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

Thanks to yllwsmly to trading this to me and giving me a chance to try this beer. I just missed this coming out the last time I was in Portland, so I was happy to be able to get some from this fairly interesting brewery. Pours a slightly hazy orange with a fairly nice head that fades quickly to a cap that sticks around for a while. Some loose lacing. Very nice aroma of grapefruit and orange from the lovely hops. Some floral aromas as well. Quite delicate. The taste is also clean and somewhat delicate but very clean and pure tasting. Nice flavors of orange and grapefruit citrus again, quite bright. Slightly sweet, so the malt is there, but it is a bit thin, and the flavors could be a little longer as well. Still, very tasty. Nice level of carbonation. The body is on the thin side, but it worked with the clean flavors. The slight sweetness gives it a nice finish. Quite nice, although it is on the light side for a double IPA, the pure, citrusy flavors and slight sweetness makes this a pleasant experience.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2008 01:54:16 | More by Georgiabeer

tayner

Arizona

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle from LS poured into a tulip glass.

The liquid is a medium brown color, slightly opaque but not completely, and it is topped with a 2-3 finger foamy white head that is comprised of tiny, compact bubbles. It is very sticky and is clinging to the glass everywhere and leaving lots of foamy lace. Very pleasing to the eye.

Smell is very muted. For DIPA I was expecting something bold. I get some slight floral hop tones, but everything is very muted in the nose. There must not be many aroma hops in this bad boy, I hope that is all it is.

The taste is nice, although not nearly as bold as I expected. It has some citrus/pithy hops noted right up front but that is quickly hijacked by a strong malt profile that makes this beer sweet toward midpalate. The finish saves it for me as it ends with a bitter green, unripe citrus bite that lingers for a bit. I am not sure I would call this a Double IPA, but seems more along the lines of an IPA or a Double PA, but regardless, I think it has good, and more importantly, balanced flavors that work well together.

This one has plenty of carbonation to make it easy to drink and only medium bodied.

Drinkability on this one is too good. It is 9.7%, but I had 2 slices of pepperoni and jalapeno pizza for lunch and put down the entire bomber while eating those two slices. The beer stood up well to the spicy food. I felt the % for sure but did not taste the alcohol. It is surprisingly well hidden behind the malt. Be careful with this one, tastes more like a session, but has a hammer in it if you do!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2008 19:36:18 | More by tayner

RustyDiamond

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my SA beer glass. Hazy, bright orange with a faint little white frothy head. Aromas of pine & citrus. Head quickly dissipates leaving a white ring of film.
Sweet taste at first, which becomes piney and chalky. Very drinkable for 9%...almost too easy. Honey in the mouthfeel...dry hop finish. Very clean for a big IPA like this.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2008 21:19:06 | More by RustyDiamond

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light orange color with a below average head, average lacing and average carbonation. The dominate smell is heavy citrusy floral hops and mild malts. First taste is light, sweet, and a very crisp hoppy note. Light in body and taste. The 9% ABV is very well hidden. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2008 03:32:58 | More by ATLbeerDog

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Tricerahops is double of everything you already love in an IPA. More hops, more malt body and a higher gravity define this Double India Pale Ale. Fiercely flavorful, guaranteed to satisfy."

--Tricerahops Double IPA label

Polished kumquat with a handful of swirling yeast that settle into suspension shortly after the pour. Unfiltered (hoppy) beer looks better, smells better and tastes better. The bone white cap tops out at two fingers and more than does its part to add to the attractive appearance. Hopefully, lotsa lace means lotsa hop resins.

Once the foam melts a little, the nose is able to be appreciated. It's pretty good, but it isn't roaring out of the glass. The citric cheesiness brings Cascade to mind. One other variety might be present; it's hard to say for sure.

This Ninkasi offering isn't a rampaging, slavering, ripsnorting, carnivorous beast of a DIPA, but then triceratops were placid plant eaters, weren't they? Yeah, I'm well aware that the beer's name is TriceraHOPS, but with a name like that it should be hoppier. If the brewery is claiming that this DIPA is twice as hoppy as Total Domination IPA, I don't believe it for a second.

The biggest reason it's still above average is that it's closer to a big IPA (as all versions of the style should be) than a barleywine in disguise. In other words, there isn't so much malt that it gunks up the taste buds with sugars. It provides a modest amount of sugar cookie sweetness, then gets the hell out of the way. Trouble is, hops don't exactly rush into the breach.

Candied lemon and grapefruit peel are present, as is a modicum of funky cheesiness that adds another level of flavor interest. The IBUs might be higher here, but this beer doesn't seem as hoppy as Total Domination... which wasn't a hop bomb anyway. Fresh and right out of the keg it just might be killer. Too bad I'll probably never know for sure.

While the mouthfeel is a fraction lighter than the style average, it doesn't deserve to be dinged for it. It has just enough smooth stickiness to be enjoyable, while still allowing one to sip or drink quickly with equal ease. The ABV tastes and feels like a misprint. I'd have guessed at least two percentage points lower.

Tricerahops is a great name for a DIPA. Too bad the beer isn't as spectacular as the name. I'm sure there are those who think the world of it, but from my perspective, if the brewery wants to keep this offering from becoming extinct, they need to use a bigger shovel when adding hops to the kettle.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 21:45:01 | More by BuckeyeNation

cswhitehorse

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The Tricerhops pours a cloudy light autumn orange with a solid 1-2 finger foam head. There was some intermittent lacing that left its mark.

The aroma is heaven for a hop head like myself. I could glean the lovely cascade smell with some real sweetness.

The taste was really smooth with not alot of bite but a lot of hop flavor. It was like drinking a DIPA ice cream cone. On the finish there was some dank bitterness that left a pleasant feeling in the mouth. Overall a wonderful effort by the Eugene brewers. I would drink this just about any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2008 01:34:08 | More by cswhitehorse

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from bottletrek, pours an effervescent bronze with 1+ finger of pearl white head. Very good head retention & lacing

S: Some citrus hops & honey as this warms

T: Biscuitty & honey malt, lemony & orangey hops, plus a touch of dryness up front. Booze starts sneaking in along grapefruitty & piney hops as this warms, I also get toffee balancing out the hops with the help of some passion fruit & tangerine. Finishes with resiny & citrus hops, caramel, a bit more booze, pineapple & a touch more grapefruit & a good amount of honey

MF: Medium bodied, fairly creamy with superior balance, skews a bit malty, but I like em that way, a bit hotter than I'd like. Has some stickyness to it as well

Drinks too easy for the style, well put together, just a touch too much boozeyness to session, unless you have a death-wish!

Bring back the Cretaceous Era!

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2008 07:32:30 | More by russpowell

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.35/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Got this in the mail from CCrida, thanks! I love the name.

Amber color with a very small white head. Leaves a little bit of lacing.

Not a strong smell, just a little floral hops.

Tasty. Bitterness up front gives way to citrus in the middle. Follows with a little dry piney flavor. I notice just a little sweet malt backbone in the finish. VERY smooth. Maybe the smoothest DIPA I've had, and well balanced too. Great brew, medium bodied.

This is a very drinkable beer. Smooth, well-balanced. Super high drinkablitity. Shared this with a few guys who aren't BA's and they loved it too.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2008 16:03:05 | More by Hojaminbag

abankovich

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a 22oz bomber into my snifter. Nice warm deep amber color with very little head that was a clean white color.

Not too strong of an aroma compared to other DIPAs that I've had. Noticeable citrus hops and sweet caramel malt smells. Some toasted hints and also buttery notes present.

The alcohol on this is masked very well. This is a very smooth drinking DIPA. Sharp and bitter tastes up front that pass over the tongue very easily, nice and well rounded. Hop bitterness is present on the back end. The well-roundedness of this beer is fantastic.

Mouthfeel is light-medium and clean making the drinkability high on this one. Very refreshing beer and I'm glad that I got a chance to try this from a trade. I'll look for it next time I'm passing through Oregon.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 00:32:09 | More by abankovich