Mean Manalishi Double I.P.A. - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

mechamifune

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As luck would have it, my 3 favorite dipa's (pliny, dreadnaught, double trouble) are not available in the area at the moment, so i've been trying to find something close to those three that is actually readily available.

So far Mean Manalishi is the closest i've found (just as a reference point, i tried this with hercules double, harpoon leviathon, thomas creek extreme ipa and both the current Dogfish doubles and found this to be the one I most enjoyed). I like my DIPA's to be especially citrusy in taste and smell, and while MM doesn't go the extent that PTE does, it still does so more than the normal DIPA (while maintaining an obvious malt presence). A very pleasant overall DIPA that's not difficult to drink.

No obvious weakness other than that i'd have to say that the price point is a little off. At $10 for a bomber, I paid more for MM than I did the three previously mentioned, superior DIPA's. I know Hoppin Frog is a smaller brewery, so if that's the price point they need to stay afloat then I understand, but its going to make it hard to justify repeat purchases despite it being a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 18:34:19 | More by mechamifune

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

05-21-2013 22:27:31 | More by Molson2000

moonknight31

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-21-2013 14:23:11 | More by moonknight31

Erice78

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-19-2013 01:42:33 | More by Erice78

parejkoj

Minnesota

3.59/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Light amber, nice lingering head. Haze as you approach sediment, plenty of yeast in suspension at the bottom of the bottle.

Smell: Expected more hop-derived aromas for a double IPA. There isn't anything pronounced, a bit of alcohol, a bit of resin and a bit of sweet malt. Would be nice to have more piney/citrus/resin aromas.

Taste: Not what I expected from a double IPA. Plenty of malt up front with decent bitterness at the end. Would be good to balance the malt a bit more or dry it out. I think drying it out would bring up the bitterness substantially.

Mouthfeel: Smooth. Only problem would be noticeable alcohol that may be perceived as harsh to some people. Good carbonation, not overwhelming.

Overall: Pretty good. For a double IPA it could use more aromatics and a drier finish. But it's enjoyable. If you're someone who doesn't like floaty yeast chunks, keep in mind to leave behind the last bit of beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 21:29:41 | More by parejkoj

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-12-2013 21:01:57 | More by twenty5

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-11-2013 01:14:11 | More by ToddHolder

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

05-09-2013 17:26:49 | More by ncstateplaya

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

4/5  rDev +6.1%

05-08-2013 18:22:53 | More by MrBuckHigh

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-05-2013 00:06:18 | More by mendvicdog

wyckydsceptre

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

05-02-2013 04:44:03 | More by wyckydsceptre

Lledd

Massachusetts

2.59/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.25

22oz served into pint glass

A: Dark amber/medium orange color. Half finger head receding quickly. Some, but little carbonation. <3.75>

S: Predominantly funk. Meh. There is some citrus and malt but its all behind this musty smell. <2.25>

T: Musty malt. Over bready maybe? Burnt caramel? Bready Caramel - that's it, thats the malt flavor. <2.5>

M: Not bad actually. Creamy and nicely carbonated. <3.75>

O: Weird and funky. Must bready malt dominates, hops have no citrus or pine and barely shine through whatever they were trying to do with the malts. It's like someone took a DIPA and shoved in molding biscuits and an old lady. <2.25>

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 02:35:17 | More by Lledd

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

04-26-2013 23:35:47 | More by spycow

TequilaTom

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

04-19-2013 18:42:52 | More by TequilaTom

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

04-19-2013 00:30:19 | More by jfcaa193

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured bomber into 34oz mug; slightly cloudy orange with less head than I was expecting. I poured rather carefully, expecting your usual massive IPA head, but my slow pour only yielded a one-finger head that dissipated relatively quickly. Smell is hops and flowers and citrus, as you'd expect. A bit more pungent than most. Taste is sweet and smooth upfront, hops come into the end and demolish the sweetness with bitter and spicy flavors that almost go up your nose. A bit spiky in mouthfeel due to the insane hops, but this is a great DIPA. It has character. It might not be very well balanced, but it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 03:09:35 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

morimech

Minnesota

2.73/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear amber color with one finger of head that quickly settled to a thin film. Moderate amount of spotty lacing is left down the glass.

Aroma is a lot of caramel with just a slight hint of citrus. No sign of alcohol.

Underwhelming hop flavor for a DIPA. Still very bitter however. I get a lot of caramel with some citrus. Slightly warming alcohol in the finish.

Big bodied but a touch undercarbonated. Not sure better carbonation would of helped the flavor, but it would of added to its drinkability. Just feels a bit lifeless on the palate.

No bottle date on the bottle. Have to assume it is as the brewery intended as I bought it in a reputable store a few days earlier. My score is being generous. I will stick with Hoppin' Frog stouts from now on.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 21:45:49 | More by morimech

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +12.7%

04-07-2013 15:45:11 | More by Hopheadjeffery

manutdfan

Florida

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-06-2013 00:51:21 | More by manutdfan

madnismo

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%

04-03-2013 02:54:46 | More by madnismo

BYOFB

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +6.1%

04-02-2013 04:42:49 | More by BYOFB

pcguitarwzrd

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber to pint glass. Would have used a snifter but didn't have one handy.

A: Deep copper, hazy, lots of sediment, thick, off-white sticky head.

S: Fairly malty aroma but the hops are there.

T: Rich caramel and bready malt, then the hops crash in. Lingering sweetness as well as astringency. Definitely on the sweeter end for the style, but I like that every now and then.

M: Moderate to heavy, somewhat syrupy and not overly carbonated.

O: I like this beer, I think it's a fine example of a DIPA, and would drink it again. I would probably not, however, buy it over Southern Tier Unearthly or Stone Ruination, both of which are at least as good and several dollars cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:13:06 | More by pcguitarwzrd

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.4%

03-23-2013 18:06:34 | More by ejimhof

irish01980

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

03-22-2013 19:08:47 | More by irish01980

Dogzbone

New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%

03-19-2013 23:32:06 | More by Dogzbone