Hop Bomb - Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

jdhchi

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Had this one on tap at Rock Bottom..great smell and taste! Surprised its only 7% ABV considering the taste. Less than a finger worth of head but long lasting and I mean it was there on the last drop! Good lacing and color dark amber golden like. Plenty of hops make this one a real competitor and one to enjoy anytime. I would stop for another!

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 21:29:43 | More by jdhchi

mds1101

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

03-02-2013 00:12:16 | More by mds1101

tswater

Colorado

4/5  rDev +2%

02-22-2013 21:19:03 | More by tswater

jenray

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-12-2012 21:47:16 | More by jenray

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

called hop bomb "c" at the westminster, co location. this is a nice big ipa. it pours clear and bright, orange to gold in color, with a nice two inches of white lace on top. the nose is fresh piney hops, bitter and bitey, with a lighter american malt profile. taste is more citrus than pine, despite the smell. grapefruit bitterness and lemon rind tartness combine nicely with a pale malt body. excellent carbonation and a lighter feel for what this is. drinkable and approachable for a big ipa. a good potential conversion beer for those who think they dont like hoppy beers, this is less offensive than most, but still featuring the hops well. for a chain beer, this one is pretty darn good.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2012 19:36:29 | More by StonedTrippin

MerkurKing16

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

10-12-2012 01:04:53 | More by MerkurKing16

JMBSH

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-07-2012 03:14:42 | More by JMBSH

codynevels

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

02-27-2012 05:10:10 | More by codynevels

eorwar

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

01-21-2012 21:53:56 | More by eorwar

HopHead84

California

1.73/5  rDev -55.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

5/18/2011

On tap at Rock Bottom La Jolla.

A: Copperish gold with a white head and some scattered lacing.

S: Oxidized bread with a little orange and pine. It really just smells like alcoholic metal and oxidized bread.

T: Again, oxidized bread with some harsh metallic notes. Good lord. The hops taste like nothing, though there is some alcohol in the flavor.

M: Medium in body with moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is sticky and smooth.

Overall: Horrible.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2011 01:01:56 | More by HopHead84

katan

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz into a pint

A - Pours a goloden color, with a lean towards straw. Very clear, filtered, brilliant. Lightly bubbly. Super strong head, bright white.

S - A balanced mix of caramel and toffee and american hops, floral and fruity. The hopping is not as bright as I would have expected.

T - Starts off lightly malty, some caramel, nutty notes. Mid-stream gets more balanced, with a restrained hop note. Turns a little bit husky in the finish, with even more nuttiness.

M - Solid body, stronger carbonation. Somewhat clingy and sweet at times. Light alcohol warmth.

O/D - Easy drinking. ABV is manageable for the style. Soemwhat filling at times. A little bit pedestrian.

Will have to try this again fresher.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 05:49:26 | More by katan

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Comes out quite dark. The color is a deep amber with a moderate head. Decent lace.
A light scent. Caramel up with pine and citrus to back it.
The taste ups it a notch. Caramel, slight booze heat, citrus, a slight nuttiness and a touch of pine. Very smooth going down.
This was a beer I could enjoy. Very nice DIPA.

Serving type: cask

03-25-2011 22:40:51 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

mrkrispy

California

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had on tap at the La Jolla Rock Bottom in San Diego. That location has been turning out several tasty IPAs so I was excited to try this one (which appears to be a franchise-wide recipe?)

Nice golden and orange color. No haze. Minimal head.

Big hop aroma of citrus, pine, and floral. Great combo, it really jumps out.

Moderate level of carbonation. Clean base with a complex fruity and piney taste...the malt bill allows the hops to shine. Lots of lemon and grapefruit, some pineapple. A pleasant bitterness that lingers around. Again very clean, no higher alcohols/solvent flavors. The bitterness does not get overwhelming, so it is quite drinkable....several pints would be great.

A well constructed and complex IPA. Perhaps not innovative, but very well done. Not sure who the recipe is from in the Rock Bottom Family but the La Jolla crew brewed up a fantastic version. The Hop Bomb is a beer I'd love to have frequently.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 21:15:47 | More by mrkrispy

alleykatking

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap....

A- Pours a clean coppery color. One finger white head shows poor retention. Light sheety lacing that turns into streaky lace on the sides of the glass.

S- Citrus hops right off the bat. Piney bitter hops seem to jump out next. Some caramel malts in the there that linger to and from in the nose. The ending has some light alcohol notes and more citrus hops.

T- Citrus hops dominate the front of the beer like in the nose. There is a light bitterness to offset the sweetness to the beer upfront. Middle of the beer has a nice clean malt taste which is lightly bready. This leads up to the ending of the beer which becomes a little more bitter one again with a nice clean alcohol taste. the bitterness of the beer is really balancing all the sweetness that is underlying with it.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is good for the style. Citrus hops and piney hops dominate everything in the palate and leave a oily resin over everything it touches. Aftertaste is mostly faded alcohol, bigger bitter hops, hints of citrus hops and faded malt. This beer is overall balanced for what it is not being either too bitter or too sweet. No off flavors were present at all. Medium high drying on the palate from the alcohol.

D- This IPA was worth trying and I would love to drink again. There is a nice balance to this beer but it is still bursting with a crispness from the hops that makes you actually want to drink it. A few flaws in the appearance and the aroma but a drinker never the less with the ABV being 7%. Alcohol is never an annoyance which I enjoyed a lot.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2011 20:41:44 | More by alleykatking

JamesS

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured a nice light copper color with good head, but little lacing. Nice aroma with a huge citrus (pineapple and grapefruit) scent. Excellent thick malt sweetness with a wonderful huge citrus-pineapple hop flavor that lasts on the tongue. Slight hop roughness and alcohol heat, but still goes down well.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant And Brewery, 10 West Washington, Indianapolis

02-09-2011 13:58:07 | More by JamesS

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice orangy amber color, good retention and lacing from the cap of soapy white head. Scent is packed with piney hops with notes of grapefruit, flowers and grain in the background. First sip is pleasently bitter, not overpowering, good blend of the piney and grapefruity hops, touch of mango. Medium bodied, slightly overcarbonated. A great suprise from Rock Bottom, one of their best.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 160 N Gulph Rd, King Of Prussia

12-06-2010 18:15:03 | More by rfgetz

deapokid

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Drank at the bar on 11-26. Reviewed from notes.

Chalkboard above bar notes a birthdate of 11-24 and an ABV of 7.1%. Description states "Golden Simcoe-hopped IPA."

Pours a translucent golden/yellow with a thick white head and substantial lacing. Carbonation is extremely lively, making for a fun and visually appealing beer.

Aroma is packed to the brim with tough, alpha hops. This massive stank is balanced well by the accompanying mango and orange notes.

Taste is a bit of a shocker. Nearly all of the scratchy Simcoe hops in the aroma are nowhere to be found. What is on display is a creamy and orangey IPA with old mild hop scratch in the final moments and nearly nothing to balance the sweetness.

The smoothness can get you past the lack of floral/grassy notes and it's relatively easy to sip on, but something called Hop Bomb should be way more explosive.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 160 N Gulph Rd, King Of Prussia

12-04-2010 17:48:23 | More by deapokid

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a lighter gold color with good carbonation and a nice white head

S: Smells of caramel, biscuit, and pine

T: Tastes of grapefruit up front with a nice sweet caramel and biscuit backbone and a nice piney dry finish. Very hop assertive

M: Medium body with good carbonation. Crisp and sweet with a dry bitter finish. Easy to drink but just not that unique.

D: Good

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 160 N Gulph Rd, King Of Prussia

10-13-2010 01:19:13 | More by barleywinefiend

emmasdad

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap a somewhat hazy copper color, with just the right amount good white foam on top. The nose here is all aromatic hops, orange peel and freshly mown grass. On the palate, again nothing but citrusy hops (tangerine, grapefruit, mandarin oranges) with no balancing malt whatsoever. Great hop flavors, but a bit thin for a DIPA. Pretty enjoyable, nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

06-17-2010 22:13:19 | More by emmasdad

Gobzilla

California

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at rock bottom

A: poured a golden orange with yellow highlights and a finger of fluffy head that had good lacing.

S: nice piney hops with sweet malt hints of citrus fruits and caramel in the nose as well.

T: crisp refreashing piny hops up front with a pretty decent sweet malt balance and caramel citrus accents.

M: medium body with a good amont of carbonation that added to the overall taste and a crisp piney bitter finish.

D; drank very good and was a decent Ipa from rock bottom. Was really surprised with the quality of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

05-30-2010 23:47:39 | More by Gobzilla

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap at the brew pub into the Mug Club mug.

A: A hazy yellow golden color with a two finger white fluffy head. Glass lacing receeds back into the beer.

S: Citrus smells with some pine earth and a nice malt sweetness. Hops play major role here.

T: Citrus hops with orange, lemon and a bit of grapefruit coupled with a earthy spicy piney hop flavor. Very hoppy and very bitter. A slight malt sweetness holds it together, but the spicy biting hops leave your mouth tingling with bitterness. Great beer.

M: Full and prickly with lingering bitterness and low alcohol flavors, very nice.

D: High, damn they are good.

Overall another great beer done by Brian. His IPAs are fantasic there, kudos to him. If you have not gotten there, do so and enjoy the excellent beers he is brewing there.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

04-28-2009 14:58:11 | More by Kadonny

gibby

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at King of prussia: Described as a golden ipa with centennial hops on the beer board, 7.5% abv.

Nice golden color with a soapy white head when it came over to me. Head went away within a few mins. Smelled alot of lemon, grapefruit and citrus all around. I also tasted alot of citrus qualities as well, especially lemon. Big time lacing on the glass. The hops are not too over powering but there is not much malt peeking through. I wouldn't say its balanced b/c it definitely leans towards the hops but its certainly not anything overpowering. I may be biased though b/c I love ipa/dipa's. Its a very hoppy IPA for sure and I liked it enough to have a 2nd pint. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

04-22-2009 02:54:17 | More by gibby

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Without a doubt, the hoppiest beer that I've ever had at any Rock Bottom. The Head Brewer explained that the predominant hop used here is the Simcoe variety; and boy does it shine in this beer.

The beer shows with a solid golden-amber hue, mild haze and great head formation, retention, and lacing with eggshell tinted froathiness. A great IPA appearance.

The nose is domiated by citrus hops. Grapefruit, orange zest, and a lemony tough resinates throughout the brew. Softer grassy, piney note follow up and eventually pineapple, mangos, and strawberry jam show as the malty barley taste comes into play. The malts round out the aroma while contributing a subtle bready delivery system for the hops.

Hop flavor, as expected, dominate the beer. All the citrus notes hit the foreground while the softer, sweeter hops and barley take a quick backseat. A soft grain flavor compliment the hops well while adding just enough sweetness to keep the hops from being alone on an island. Light on esters, the yeast give a light bready taste that just add to the depth of the flavors.

Very well attenuated for a crisp, clean, refreshing malt profile. No distractions are needed from the strong bitterness that hit all parts of the tongue and throat, chasing the beer from nose to finish. A dryness ultimately takes the beer and leads to a resiny, citrusy finish.

This is a fantastic hop-dominant beer that showcase the Simcoe hops very well. A pleasure to drink. Maybe the best I've experienced at any Rock Bottom! Hat's off to the brewing staff.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

02-17-2009 04:41:53 | More by BEERchitect

oakbluff

Manitoba (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap RB Minneapolis- nice frothy looking brew, light orange with white head. Nose is candied oranges and pine. Creamy body, good caramel malt backbone, piney finish, medium carbonation. Finishes smooth with dry citrus yet touch of malth sweetness. highly drinkable

Serving type: on-tap
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

11-15-2008 02:32:39 | More by oakbluff

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thoroughly hazed crimson appearance, a little towards peach in the look....slimmish, off-white head.

Bombastic hoppy nose...all sorts of pine and citrus blowing up in your face...and I did not pick those puns, they just blew out of me...Grapefruit, orange, banana, tangerine...and pine needles. And cream. Mmmm.

Taste: Bam! Boom! There it is, all over again, an explosion (I would've said that anyway) all over the tongue...and the booze creeps in a tiny bit...Fantastic stuff. Great on cask, but I never took notes from those tastings.
Moist, and bitter, and big and smooth...how is that possible? I keep drinking, and keep enjoying, the hops never quit and the body is right solid, square in the middle...Tons of hops in here, the Cascade, Centennial, & Amarillo variety, I think...just guessing...

Mouthfeel is right on, finish is long, and pleasantly hoppy.
I've bought 4 growlers of this, at $17 a pop, that should tell you how I like it!
Good one, Bryon!

Serving type: growler
@ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1001 16th Street, Denver

11-06-2008 09:49:25 | More by feloniousmonk