Tricerahops Double IPA - Ninkasi Brewing Company

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

ngeunit1

California

4.23/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy amber-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, pine, floral, and grassy hops with some sweet caramel and biscuit malts.

T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit and citrus hops with some bitterness and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some pine, grassy, and floral hops come through with some more bitterness and some biscuit malts. The finish is a mix of pine, grapefruit, and grassy hops with some resiny bitterness and some sweet bready malts.

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

D - Very drinkable. Nice hop profile and bitterness throughout with good overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 05:09:09 | More by ngeunit1

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

billab914

Virginia

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

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Southern Tier tulip glass. It poured a hazy copper color with a modest white head to it. The head faded to a thin sticky covering and immediately started to leave some thick sheets of lacing.

The aroma not surprisingly shows mostly hops to it. It has some grapefruit and pine, along with some hints of pineapple and mango. It's not overly intense with hops compared to other versions of the style, but it's nice.

The taste also has a lot of hoppy flavors going on. It starts out with some sweeter flavors coming through with some hints of some tropical, fruity, hoppy flavors. As you get to the finish more of the grapefruit and pine come through to give it more of a bitterness. The grapefruit bitterness lingers for a while too.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and carbonation is moderate. Drinkability is good, it was a pretty nice hoppy beer. I didn't find it overly intense with hops, but the hops were nicely done and flavorful. I really liked the bit of tropical like hoppy flavors I got out of it. Pretty nice beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 22:19:32 | More by billab914

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bomber

Appearance - Hazy copper colour with an average size frothy and fizzy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some good lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for 5 minutes before it began to dissipate.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and the most noticeable flavours are malts, caramel, and orange/grapefruit. I can also pick up on some pineapple juice. It finishes with a malty aftertaste with undertones of citrus juice and zest.

Overall – There alcohol in this beer is extremely well hidden. It drinks almost like a IPA. The taste is well balanced and it has a nice flavour. There isn’t an extreme amount of hop taste going on, so I can see how it might disappoint the hop heads out there. Still a good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 18:33:42 | More by spinrsx

superspak

Michigan

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

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours fairly hazy golden orange color with a nice 2 finger dense off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some good spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of big orange zest, grapefruit, pineapple, floral, pine, caramel, honey, bread, and a decent bit of alcohol. Some pretty good aromas, with good strength and balance. Taste of huge orange, pineapple, grapefruit, pine, floral, caramel, honey, bread, and herbal spiciness. Decent amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of orange, pineapple, grapefruit, floral, pine, caramel, honey, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Great citrus flavor balance with piney bitterness. Maltiness is slightly stronger. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a nice creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish noticed. Quite smooth to drink but is still a bit of a sipper. Overall this is a great DIPA! Great hop flavor balance and smoothness; and extremely enjoyable to sip on.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 03:34:48 | More by superspak

srandycarter

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Murky amber/unfiltered apple cider. Near white head leaves and chunky clumps and lots of webbed lace remains.

S - Pine and citrus dominate. Some of that pot/cat pee smell.

T - Big caramel center surrounded by equally big hops.

M - Medium to full, nice balance between sweet and bitter. Lush beer.

D - Pretty good for how big and full flavored it is.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 04:13:18 | More by srandycarter

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

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

Overlord

California

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

With such an awesome name, I expected more.

Pours a golden-ish amber/orange hue. Big white foam head.

Smells mostly of pine, but there's some grapefruit rinds and sweet white grapefruit there also. It actually smells better than it tastes.

The hops are too muted in the flavor. Too much malt, and a weird sweet herbal aftertaste. Some grapefruit, some sticky citrus resin, but it's a bit off kilter for a DIPA.

Good mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 09:54:13 | More by Overlord

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Viggo brought this one over. thanks eric!

22oz bottle. sampled april 23/09.

pours fairly clear copper orange, turning hazy toward the bottom of the bottle. a small dense white head forms, dropping fast and leaving a bit of spotty lace.

aroma is nice. bit of caramel. earthy and slightly floral. bit of light citrus. light alcohol. white bread and cracker. slightly buttery.

taste is nice. light alcohol. medium bitterness level. earthy and slightly floral. almost perfumey. light citrus. bit of buttery toffee. light caramel. cracker and a bit of white bread. touch of sweetness.

mouthfeel is good. just under medium carbonation level. medium body.

drinkability is good. fairly well balanced. this one just didn't do it for me. the taste seems a little disjoint and odd, not what i'd expect from an american dipa.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2009 03:01:43 | More by grub

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

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

From a brown 22 oz. bomber, picked up in Ponderay, Idaho. Pours out a slightly hazed copper hue, tall foamy ivory head with impressive retention.

Bright burst of grapefruit hops on the nose, and after much sniffing, not much else. No complaints here though.

The flavour is straight up, in your face, mouth puckering grapefruit citrus hops. A hint--if not simply just a glimmer of the imagination--of bready, biscuit malt can be discerned behind it all, however that may only be urban legend at this point.

Medium-full mouthfeel, full silky smooth texture, with medium carbonation that has its brisk moments.

Everything I'm personally looking for in a regular American IPA, it's lacking some malt backbone or balance for a DIPA, but who cares, this is delicious. Wish I would have picked up more. Really enjoyable stuff, worth seeking out more.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 05:49:16 | More by IronDjinn

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

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Well, I'll forgive the misspelling of "Tricerahops" for such a fine beer; enjoyed this pint at Henry's Tavern, 9/7/2007.

A: Pours a hazy, amber/orange with a 1/4 " cap of creamy head; light soap bubbles and a thin film of frosty cream as it settles. Slow carbonation rising sporadically. Modest lace in thin bands.

S: Big aroma of fresh hop cones; purely citrus and pine. It's nothing intricate, just bold and full, with an ample dose of caramel malt.

T: Oh, wow. Superb balance; it's understandable why this won the Concordia Cup recently as favorite DIPA. Outstanding balance, I was very impressed by the melding of sweet/sugary and chewy caramel malt with a burst of citrus. Bitter bite is minimal in the end, coming off as gently pithy but pleasingly floral and herbal.

M: Silky, medium-full mouthfeel. Nothing syrupy/heavy, just a smooth an balanced feel that expertly masks that nearly 10% alcohol heat.

D: One of the most drinkable DIPAs I've enjoyed. Quite well-balanced, with malt and caramel flavors mashing up beautifully with orange/citrus hoppiness.
This may be my new favorite of the ubiquitous NW IPAs - a treasure worth seeking out!

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2007 02:47:08 | More by msubulldog25

nickd717

California

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

Bomber from BevMo in Sunnyvale.

Pours clear copper with a one-finger white head that leaves a ring as long as the beer lasts.

Aroma is a very nice west coast style hop character. Orange peel, pine, and weed as well as sweet malt.

Flavor is great and very hop-forward and rough. Feels like there are whole leaf hops in there with the beer. Orange peel and grapefruit rind, the wacky tobacky, and some resins.

Very nice palate, with hop oils nearly stripping your enamel off. Medium bodied for a DIPA; not syrupy.

Overall this is a very nice DIPA in the west coast style. Drinkable. For about $4 a bomber, it's one of the better values out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 17:30:21 | More by nickd717

mdaschaf

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Burgundian

A: Pours a clear amber color with one finger off-white head, very nice head retention with sheets of lacing down the glass.

S: Nice piney aroma upfront with some lighter citrus underneath, a bit of grapefruit and orange. A bit of caramel.

T: Nice combination of citrus/pine and caramel malt.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Enjoyable, not amazing, but easy drinking with a nice flavor profile.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 06:20:53 | More by mdaschaf

flexabull

California

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright orange color with a pretty nice white head.

Aromas are of bright citrus, grapefruits, oranges, and hard candies. This is a nice smelling DIPA, with lots of citrus hop notes.

Taste starts of with a sugary creamy malt backdrop. Beer then settles into a mixture of citrus hops flavors, starts out a little bit tart and sour, then finishes bitter, with candied grapefruit, and hints a resin.

Mouthfeel is nice. Full and smooth, with good carbonation.

Drinkability is good. This is a very fine DIPA, drinks easy, with very nice hop flavors that are balanced with a nice malt backbone. I am impressed with how easy drinking this is, reminds me more of an IPA. Well done Ninkasi!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 03:43:14 | More by flexabull

illidurit

California

3.78/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque bronze color with a small beige head that leaves some scattered lacing. Aroma is sort of appley, but not in the same way that Fuggles give off. This is more of a bright, sweet apple note rather than the earthy, stewed flavor of Fuggles. Anyway, there's also some Simcoe-esque mango notes and a fresh bread maltiness. Flavor reiterates the mango and apple and adds piney resin and modest caramel. Not really very bitter. Finishes on the sweet side. Medium body, carbonation a little low. Good, not great.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 09:21:40 | More by illidurit

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

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

A-pours a slightly hazy golden amber color with a big thick slightly off white head that lingers for quite some time and leaves a great lacing on the glass

S-the nose is quite nice and all hops. It gives off a very oily piney resignous hop aroma. Grapefruit and tangerine come in at the back to add tropical fruit aromas

T-the taste follows the nose and is big and hoppy. Tons of hop oils and a strong note of pine are right in front. Hop bitterness and grapefruit takes over, lots of bitterness. Its sticky and resignous.

M-full body, chewy, smooth, syrupy, thick. It coats the mouth as it is so thick. Hints of alcohol in the back and well carbonated

D-huge bitterness makes it tasty but definitely takes it's toll on your palate. Big flavors and hops right in your face.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 00:52:17 | More by cpetrone84

BretSikkink

Mexico

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

Nice orange color, hazed and covered with an alabaster head. Sticky.

Aroma is covered by the foam, but eventually releases citrics and a note of mildew. Not bad, mind you. A little more power for top shelf.

Very little malt here to sweeten up the job. Butter cookies with a hint of toffee, and then carbonation. Bigger on the hop end with sugar-crusted citric zest being my main takeaway. Smooth body, not too sticky, and drinkable as hell.

Doesn't blow me away but I enjoy it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 03:03:22 | More by BretSikkink

rye726

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Up for review is a 22oz bottle of Tricerahops from Ninkasi out of Oregon. Pours a cedar orange with a nice beige head. Nose has floral hosp and malts. As does the taste. Nothing too special here. Body a bit thin, but drinks well. Not bad, but lack depth.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 00:34:17 | More by rye726

HuskyinPDX

Washington

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

Taken from notes on 3.24.11

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A - Pours a bright, hazy orange with a thick, bubbly head.

S - Pine and citrus.

T - Hops/pine, citrus, and slightly like cleaning solution.

D - Pretty bitter.

O - I was a bit let down from this one. I may give it a try at a later date.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 23:44:22 | More by HuskyinPDX

allengarvin

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Snagged at a run-down station across the street from Pacific U. I love Oregon! Poured into plastic dorm cup. This is a nice, somewhat hazy amber color with a fine white head on top. Those is a tad faint, with pleasant enough citrusy-hops, and a hint of malt, but really not a lot there. Disappointing flavor as well. While sufficiently bitter, hop flavor presents nothing more than a moderate grapefruit cascade taste. Might have been exciting twenty years ago, but it doesn't stand up in the crowd of excellent DIPAs today.

Not bad for a tiny gas-station find. Hopefully I can seek out something better later this week in downtown Forest Grove.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 20:35:42 | More by allengarvin

wagenvolks

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Props to hopsleeroy for sharing this gem at the Austin BA tasting. As a vertebrate paleontologist, I feel it is my duty to have tried Tricerahops at least once in my beer-drinking tenure.

The bomber pours a hazy, orange-caramel hue into my pint glass; a bit too cloudy and syrupy-looking for my liking. As expected, lots of lacing and head retention from the light khaki foam. The aroma became significantly better as this IIPA warmed up past the 45-degree mark. When cold, a strange, cooked squash/veggie note is all that emits from the glass; however as it warms, Tricerahops delivered pleasant hop and yeast notes in the form of citric mandarin orange, fresh cut grasses, and mint leaves.

Flavor is very solid for the style, with fresh, hoppy citrus and tropical fruits layered all across the palate. Malts lay down a solid backbone of biscuit and caramel before the finish is assaulted by a bitter (but restrained) pine and resin note. Good carbonation level despite what the appearance says, and the medium-thick body is creamy without becoming too syrupy or sticky. Overall, a solid IIPA with a great name and a delicious hoppiness that will probably lead me back for more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2009 04:53:25 | More by wagenvolks

Arbitrator

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Re-review. First time I had this (courtesy of end 0))), I gave it an A.

A: Pours a clear copper / orange / gold with half a finger of off-white head with several minutes of good retention, thanks to the continual refreshing by generous effervescence up the glass. Recedes to a nice film on the glass with dribbles of sticky lacing down the sides.

S: Primarily fruity hops: peach, pineapple, lychee, and of course grapefruit. Also has a nice undercurrent of sweet caramel and toffee malt. I'm glad to experience such a fresh nose on this one. It's quite nice.

T: All fruit up front, with the aroma components each making a play: peach and lychee in the initial taste, a tart pineapple, and citric grapefruit laying the groundwork. However, amongst the fruit, caramel, toffee, bread, and sugar cookie are very strong. This beer is a step removed from being a barleywine. Don't get me wrong; it's fresh and enamel-peeling, but I'm not blown away by the ratio of hop to malt.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Some alcohol burn, which is surprising at [only] 8.8%. A very small metallic aftertaste makes me a little annoyed by the end of the bomber, but it's fairly mild.

D: I enjoyed this one, and I'd certainly get more of it if I can be assured freshness. At $4 a bomber, I think it's very fairly priced. Now, it's no A-level DIPA on the level of Pliny and Alpine offerings, and it lags a little behind an upper-tier B like Hop Stoopid, but I'm comfortable giving it something in the lower B range.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 08:41:32 | More by Arbitrator