Bitter Valentine - Williamsburg AleWerks

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

bomber into tulip.

A: brilliantly clear copper. head is white, rich, and has good retention/lacing.

S: sticky weed. grapefruits, piney, resinous. vanilla/malt notes for balance. however this aroma is mostly a blast of fresh american hops.

T: the malt is really quite pleasant. biscotti notes that keep it sweet and balanced. otherwise, bitter and very fruity. finish is bready and sweet.

M: moderate amount of carbonation on a full body.

D: a really tasty DIPA here. the aroma is super american and super fresh. enough grain to provide balance. well done williamsburg aleworks. im looking forward to trying more brews from these guys.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 01:14:57 | More by Jimmys

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22oz courtesy of ygbtsm94. Thanks!

A: Semi-opaque dark-orange body with a resting white foam on top. Some decent legs. Get some good head retention on this.

N: Tons of mandarin oranges, clementines, grapefruit, and mango. A little bit of peach. Some pine and there's plenty of that sweet crystalized sugar. Very well dry hopped - very impressed.

T: Very well balanced. Plenty of bitterness mixed up with a sweet undertone. The citrus flavors shine through quite well. Perhaps not as strong or as bitter as some of the others in the style, but this fits my palate very well.

M: Very dry, resinous, and medium bodied.

O: Definitely up there with the best DIPAs for me. I'll definitely finish this entire bottle and enjoy every sip. Every sip reveals a changing dimension

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 03:06:45 | More by writerLJBerg

tgeorgf

Maryland

5/5  rDev +16%

06-11-2013 23:40:44 | More by tgeorgf

Bluecane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-08-2013 02:44:51 | More by Bluecane

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

06-07-2013 23:44:40 | More by RedneckBeerz

PHBoiler

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

06-06-2013 14:58:57 | More by PHBoiler

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle into tulip.

A - Hazy orange-amber with a large bubbly white head.

S - Tropical fruits, mango, grapefruit, pine, sweet caramel.

T - A perfect balance of grapefruit, pine, mango, and sweet toasted malt. Starts out sweet but finishes bitter. Hints of orange juice and caramel. No alcohol evident.

M - Smooth, a bit chewy, medium-full body. Warming alcohol, dry finish.

O - This is an awesome double IPA. Easy to drink, balanced, and packed with flavor. Definitely above average, I wish it was available all the time.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:39:40 | More by mooseo

pk18

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-13-2013 01:42:55 | More by pk18

beernads

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%

05-09-2013 06:12:16 | More by beernads

RayUF07

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-07-2013 03:07:52 | More by RayUF07

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-05-2013 02:09:26 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

zrab11

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

04-25-2013 12:47:42 | More by zrab11

ElderPuma

Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance is quite nice as it pours a solid copper color and is nearly clear but not quite. A one to two finger frithy white head leaves some nice kacing behind as it is consumed.

Aroma is heavy tropical fruits balanced nicely on a malty caramel grain bill. In addition, a decent alcohol presence in the nose also exists. The aroma leaves me optimistic that the flavor may be smiliar to dreadnaught or other world class IPAs.

The taste is a medley of tropical fruit up front that mellow to a malty caramel background which washes out to a crisp a somewhat hot finish making it very easy to come back for additional drinks.

Mouth feel is light ot medium bodied but very crisp and clean making it a great summer session beer that goes down easy and smooth.

Overall a very good example of the style and one that I would certainly grab more of for the summer if I had local access to it.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 00:12:57 | More by ElderPuma

Dagsy

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

04-20-2013 22:38:39 | More by Dagsy

Tacoboomerang

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

04-20-2013 20:35:39 | More by Tacoboomerang

Rbodacious

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

04-15-2013 22:39:55 | More by Rbodacious

robwestcott

Indiana

4.66/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to SToneyBrew for this one.

Poured cold from the bottle a translucent deep copper to a dogfish head signature glass with a finger and a half foamy white head leaving a sheet of sticky lace to the rim.

Big aroma floral and grassy hops.

Big bodied, creamy smooth, hot going down, medium bitter, sweet hint of strawberries (?)

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 22:57:10 | More by robwestcott

JandJMD

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

04-13-2013 20:43:12 | More by JandJMD

resistdefy

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -13%

04-13-2013 00:23:31 | More by resistdefy

Pando

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

04-10-2013 03:46:16 | More by Pando

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

04-07-2013 18:15:07 | More by Damian74Shensky

thegerm87

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -7.2%

04-06-2013 17:13:00 | More by thegerm87

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Although this is by no means my favorite style, I found Bitter Valentine to be delicious and quite easy to drink with milder hops than I feared. This beer grows on you even if you prefer lower bitterness. Great complexity of flavors and just the right mouthfeel for the taste and abv. So far, this is my favorite of the style. While others might be hop bombs, I prefer this milder example. I will drink this again as soon as I can.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 00:03:48 | More by Beer-A-Lot

mhaugo

California

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 ounce bomber. Decanted into an imperial pint glass.
Appearance: Almost perfectly clear copper color. Thin head that barely holds together. Slight haze.
Smell: Sharp resin and pine. Sweetness followed by a hint of mint.
Taste: Citrus pith bite. Lingering bitterness, but not unpleasant. In fact, it is very nice. But it’s followed by a faint, odd sulfur aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and rounded.
Overall: Certainly a big double IPA, but very palatable. Not over the top in any regard. I like it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 03:58:18 | More by mhaugo

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.16/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to Sam for this one. 22oz. bottle into a Founders snifter.

Pours a creamy 1 finger white head with moderate retention. Beer is a clear orange-goldenrod. Lacing is thick and layered with excellent stick. Real nice looking beer.

Nose is sweet citrus, pine sap hoppiness, cane sugar, pineapple and other tropical fruits. Aromatic and very enticing. Good balance too.

Opens sweet citrus, mango and passion fruit. Grapefruit hop bitterness balanced with a robust cane sugar malt backbone at the middle. Ends slightly tart citrus and very, very dry. Sappy hop finish with a lingering, bittersweet and just a touch of caramel aftertaste. Really tasty.

Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Quenching and smooth in the mouth and goes down dry and puckering. Finishes dry with a sticky, lingering aftertaste. Appropriate for the style. Real drinkable.

Another above-average offering from Williamsberg Alewerks. The flavor here is complex and balanced and the aroma and feel are spot on. Quite the looker too. Definitely a beer to seek out.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:18:10 | More by SpeedwayJim