Watershed IPA - Oakshire Brewing

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Thanks to GRG1313 for sharing this one at his tasting.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy orange-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus fruit, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice hop presence in the aroma and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 03:59:15 | More by UCLABrewN84

RJLarse

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I bought a bomber of Watershed IPA in a bottle shop. Poured in to a pint glass.

Pours a pale gold color, clear with a bit of chill haze. topped with a creamy white head.

Smell is faint, a sweet citrus and floral aroma.

Taste is balanced, with a cereal presence up front, and a light citrus flavor on the finish.

Mouthfeel is crisp and clean, with a dry bitter aftertaste.

Overall a drinkable but average IPA. I would have it again, but there are better IPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 23:25:35 | More by RJLarse

skivtjerry

Vermont

3.36/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Can purchased in Waterbury, VT. Served in a Unibroue snifter.

A: Hazy orange color with a sticky medium head... the classic look.

S: Earthy, herbal and citrusy hops with a touch of pine, some crystal malt. A little alcohol as it warms. Aroma is subdued for the style.

T: Grassy, herbal piney hops and sweet malt. Hop flavor is a little weak for the style and the firm hop bitterness just reinforces the relative lack of flavor.

M: Medium carbonation and body. A hint of alcohol. Clean bitter finish.

O: Not bad but nothing special. Could definitely use more flavor and aroma hopping, and maybe a smidgen less crystal malt. This reminds me of the dreaded 'east coast IPA' of 15 years ago, back when there actually was a difference. It's nice to have a decent IPA in cans and I might drink quite a bit of this outdoors if I was local. Given the 3000 mile trip it must take to me and the associated price premium, plus the abundance of good canned IPA's in New England, I probably won't be buying a lot of this but I'm glad for the opportunity to try it.

Serving type: can

04-26-2013 22:28:25 | More by skivtjerry

Immortale25

Florida

4.39/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Random 12 oz. received from a trade. Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. No readable freshness date but the sticker on the can put there by the store where purchased says 3/13/2013.

A- Pours a medium amber color with a full two fingers worth of head that retains for a super long time, almost too long, before finally creeping down to a 1/4 inch head with a protruding bump of foam in the center. A chaotic trail of spackled lacing is left behind on the glass. This is exactly how I like my IPAs to look.

S- Grassy, almost metallic aroma of hops that's also slightly musty and sweet.

M- The flavor expands upon the sweetness found in the aroma with a nice caramel malt showing itself pressed up against the mild hop bitterness. It's actually quite complex as it displays both earthy and citric hop characteristics as well as some bready, sugary malt. Also highly drinkable for the ABV (the can says 6.7, BA says 7.1).

M- Very balanced with a slight hop bite, hint of oiliness, moderate body and medium carbonation.

O- Great stuff. It's nice to try a beer from a brewery that's completely foreign to you and be impressed.

Serving type: can

03-28-2013 00:48:45 | More by Immortale25

smakawhat

Maryland

3.14/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a Dogfish Head Ale glass. Bottle date indecipherable.

A really nice texbook orange amber body, all the same color throughout it seems. Head makes a creamy two fingers with a good settling one finger puck on top. Rings of lacing, and some large collar like bubbles underneath. Just the faintest carbonation which travels real fast in the middle.

Biscuity malts, crisp sense a bit on this too, but there is virtually no hop presence. A little bit of grain hides in the back, with a sense of dry flour.

The malts dominate on this one, with just a little hint of wet palate. Flavors are fleeting, and there's next to no hop flavor on this. A little bit of pine on the finish and herbal tea presence. Light bitterness coats the mid palate a bit, but honestly not much to speak of.

Either this bottle is really old, or it's more likely just not doing it for me. Hard to say, but this really tastes and smells like something is missing. Drinkable and fine, but for the hop heads another one to pass on.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:42:19 | More by smakawhat

Brad007

Vermont

3.35/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice mild gold color with a whitish hue at the bottom and a thick, frothy head into my glass.

Light and fluffy with a good balance of citrus and pine in the nose. Label says that it's their take on the PNW IPA.

Tasty with just the right amount of bitterness. A touch of pine and grapefruit. Crisp. Seems fairly fresh too.

Lingering buttery malt with the pine and grapefruit flavors. Carbonation isn't too high, which aids in a seamless transfer to the throat.

I like this. It's very balanced. Though it's not a DIPA, it reminds me a bit of heady topper in a sense.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:05:15 | More by Brad007

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.14/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Copper and orange colored pour, good near 1" head on it, predominantly white in color, small bubbles. Very bitter aroma, but not dropping a lot of citrus, pine or tropical fruit notes to it. Just bitter. Sweet malt.

Taste, very bitter, but again, easily establishes itself as something far from an elite level ipa. All bitterness, little flavor. Tweekers are looking at this wondering how much copper wire they can strip out of it. Lots of sticky caramel malt to it, thankfully, not heavy, but not really working with the high bitterness that lacked any decent amount of dry hopping, or at least never used any aroma or proprietary hops. They went old school with C hops I suspect, which can make a damn good ipa, but it needs a kick up on the mouthfeel, taste and aroma.

Found this one to be way too bitter and astringent without supplying much in the way of taste. Too many superior options out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:54:04 | More by Beerandraiderfan

AshleyKing

4.34/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

OK, here is a new beer in the poor but getting better Alaskan beer selection. Hadn't seen it so I must try.

Nice clear, light amber with nice head. Pity most of the hops fade once they get up here. Not this one: good hop on the nose immediately, and very clear pine on the aroma side with the fading citrus on the bittering side.

Thanks for the hops. Sometimes lower 48 IPAs are just past the aroma gifts by the time we get em.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:31:55 | More by AshleyKing

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.89/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottle obtained on the road in Oregon within the past three months (I think)!
Poured in a chalice...medium size bubbles...gold color.
Aroma of citrus hops, pepper, wheat.
Significant carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of hops, but with no malt shortage...rich and bold, challenging and tasty. Let's do 5 minutes...
OK...five minutes have gone by...shared with another good taster...head hangs on nicely, lotsa lace...big aroma of spicy hops, fresh baked bread, dark amber malts, creamy, and a rough and tough finish, but tasty!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 04:58:12 | More by DenverLogan

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

3.11/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Bomber into stwndard pint.

A: clear honey gold color. A half inch of white head that fell to a sparse cap with a thick ring around the glass.

S: pretty standard ipa nose. Grassy with a little bit of fruit. A slight tropical note but mostly citrusy. Maybe pineapple in there. A little bit of the malt body.

T: runs the gambit of ipa flavors. Grassy floral hop that leaves a pleasant bitter on the palate. Not overpowering. The malt body is well hidden.

M: lighter than it should be as far as body goes. Kinda slick actually. Feels a little oily.

O: typical NWIPA less agressive than other ipa from Eugene OR, for that I am glad.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:27:09 | More by N3rdM3t4l

Idris

3.49/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear, honey-orange brew with a solid crown of tight white bubbles and very well carbonated. Very nice looking beer! Pleasing aroma, with piney hops dominant, and some honey malt characteristics present in the tail end of the the nose. Malt is more assertive in the beginning of the palate than I anticipated, with an astrigent, biting bitter coming in toward then end. I found the mouthfeel to be odd...a bit thin, yet a slight stickiness.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 06:56:27 | More by Idris

ChugginOil

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly cloudy straw color with at least 3 inches of white head. Moderate lace.

The nose has some sharp piney hop notes. There is a bit of pineapple and mango followed by a sweet malty scent to balance things out.

The flavors incorporate the aromas noticed. Pine and pineapple/mango hop flavors are bitter and tasty. There is quite a bit of sweet malt that outdoes the hops by just a bit.

The mouthfeel is clean, crisp and medium bodied. Low carbonation.

That Oregon water is working nicely here. The near balance makes for a pretty solid ipa.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 02:29:34 | More by ChugginOil

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap into a shaker glass at Track Town Pizza

A- Poured a very light orange, very clear with some visible carbonation, frothy head left glass coating lace

S- Big astrigent piney, grapefruit, and orange citrus notes. Very powerful and pungent aroma

T- Big piney, orange, and grapefruit notes. Very bitter and pretty astrigent

M- Very dry, prickly carbonation, medium body, a little sticky

O- This is a really nice and bitter IPA, pretty astrigent and very West Coast.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2012 04:03:12 | More by Hoptometrist

beertunes

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From the hated and despised 22oz bottle format. Poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a lightly hazy orange-amber color with less than 1/2 inch of off-white head that had very good retention and lacing.

The aroma had some very nice citrus hops upfront, with some malt in a supporting role, making for a nicely balanced scent. A similar story on the tongue, bright hops upfront, malt smoothing things out in the middle, and a slightly lingering hop finish.

The body was good and clean, it was a bit fuller than than typical for the style, and had a slightly sticky finish. Drinkability was much better than average for the style, I would happily have a few of these. Overall, a better than average example of the style. A must try if you see it and probably worth working a trade.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 21:19:10 | More by beertunes

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from the Whole Foods in Tanasbourne. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a bottled on date.

Pouring a clear copper with a dense off-white head with good retention and lacing, this is a nice looking IPA. The nose is decent. Moderately hoppy, this has a blend of pine, weed, herbal character and some nice grapefruit along with some tangerine. A definite crystal malt presence is noted. The hop character is also quite green and grassy, moderately chlorophyll-like. Quite nice.

The palate is better than i was expecting, given the nose. While crystal malt flavors are perceived, sweetness is minimal. Opening modestly hoppy with a blend of fruity hop flavors, a moderate bitterness and a mildly grassy character, this is nice. Quite juicy with a mild caramel sweetness and some crystal malt flavor without the sweetness, this beer is medium light in body and moderately carbonated. The grassy hop notes are distracting, but otherwise, this is a pretty solid ipa, especially at the sub $4 per bomber price point. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 05:35:57 | More by DefenCorps

Bookseeb

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance of a hazy copper amber color supporting a thin dissipating head that leaves spotty lace. Smell is balanced well with sweet caramel malt, grapefruit and pine. Taste has the scense of aroma that has that nice balance of hops leaving a dry bitter in the end. Mouthfeel is a viscous medium with a good spike of carbonation. Overalll a nice well rounded blend of flavors that bring this IPA together.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 01:35:56 | More by Bookseeb

morimech

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Slightly hazy golden color with one finger of head that had decent retention before settling to a thin cap. Moderate amount of sticky lacing is left down the glass.

Aroma is a surprising amount of sweet smelling malt. The hops add some citrus, possibly lemon, and herbal aromas.

On the sweeter side of the IPA spectrum, especially for an American IPA. Hops give some citrus and herbal qualities. Bitterness seems moderately high. Alcohol cleanses the palate in the finish.

Has good carbonation for an IPA. Light and fine bubbles that give just enough life to the beer.

I would of liked more hop flavor to accompany the bitterness. Otherwise an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 19:12:56 | More by morimech

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a slightly cloudy red orange amber. One finger white head and lacing. Nice appearance. Aroma of aromatic hops, citrus, light fruit and light malt. Sweet citrus and malt, followed by nice hops and a hoppy, light malt finish. Nice flavor progression and pleasant to drink. Somewhat understated, but worth trying again.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:24:22 | More by LiquidAmber

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a hazy amber-gold with a small, bubbly white head.

Smell. Nice toasted light grains, piney hops and a little cedar.

Taste. Good hit of bitter piney hops with those nice toasted light malts I was smelling. Good ballance, slight sweetness, abv well hidden. Pretty nice.

Mouthfeel. Medium body, medium-low carbonation.

Overall. Nicely surprised by this random grab from a recent Portland beercation.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 01:29:12 | More by Rutager

scootpolute

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

1 Pint, 6 FL OZS...brown bottle...

Appearance: Hazy orange/copper beer with a patchy cream off-white foam head that clings to the sides of the glass.

Smell: Very pronounced grapefruit hop aromas, spicy with background sweet malts and a faint bready grain aroma.

Taste: Hmmm...not exactly what I was expecting from the smell & appearance...Funky soapy flavor, which could be crazy hops?! Then, mellows out to a smooth and creamy with a relatively weak-body. The initial taste is a strange soap/hop mix on the palate! Some spicy, leaf and grass flavours pull-thru, then are followed by an alcohol presence and spiciness. The malt in this beer is faintly present but gets lost in hops/soaps weirdness. Beer finishes with residual hop spice and faint malt sweetness, with the last touch of weird soapy flavor.

Notes: I'm not sure about this beer? I've sure had better. 7.10 % abv.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 00:20:34 | More by scootpolute

flagmantho

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: murky orange hue with plenty of haze and a nice cap of frothy tan foam. Looks like a good West Coast IPA.

Smell: earthy and biscuity. Hops are big but balanced and appealing, mostly earthy with citrus and other fruity notes tucked nicely around the edges. I quite like it.

Taste: biscuity and earthy but bitter and very nicely hoppy. This is probably my favorite beer that I would call "biscuity". The hops start out earthy and then reveal their fruitier characteristics; the bitterness at the end is dank and satisfying. This isn't the hoppiest or most bitter IPA out there, but it appeals to me in a way which is hard for me to articulate. Just fantastic.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and concomitant creaminess. Good.

Overall: this might be my favorite Oregon IPA ever; it is certainly in my top 5 Oregon beers. Usually I disdain "biscuity" beers, but the hop combination here is just exactly my cup of tea. Fantastico!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 22:46:36 | More by flagmantho

cosmicevan

New York

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

thanks to MADhombrewer for this one!

a - opened the bottle and filled my capt lawrence taster tulip. poured a really murky orange with a steady line of visible carbonation. nice classic 2 finger plus of classic frothy chunky ipa head. lacing clings to the glass in chunks. really attractive.

s - subtle hops. mildly sweaty. orange peel. very subtle. clean.

t - some decent orange peel hopping then a slap in the face of thick piny sticky bitterness.

m - medium bodied. finishes very bitter and really cools my mouth. refreshing zing at the end. the mouth is actually the highlight for me. leaves such a nice feel and glow in my mouth.

o - overall a nice ipa. nothing earth shattering, but if this was available locally i'd probably have it every now and again. mouth is amazing and makes this one worth a try for any fan of ipas.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 03:46:12 | More by cosmicevan

Durge

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the bomber to the pint glass this brew shows a cloudy amber color with a solid white head and a blanket of lacing. The aroma offers sweet nutty herbal hops with a little banana bread. Real tasty! The flavor declares more peanut butter grassy hops with toffee/caramel sweetness. It’s medium bodied with light and frisky carbonation for a smooth but crispy feel. A very nice entry to the IPA world.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 04:13:13 | More by Durge

draheim

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle (batch 174) poured into a tulip. Golden glowing orange color with a nice dense creamy sticky white head.

Aroma is nice piney citrus, grapefruit, pineapple. Smells great.

Taste is bitter hops, pale malt and clean water. Really refreshing. Nice crisp bitter hop bite on the finish. Great balance, smooth mouthfeel.

Overall a solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 04:54:04 | More by draheim

dgilks

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear golden colour with a nice white head. Fair head retention.

Mild, citrussy hops with no malt and yet still slightly balanced.

Really good flavour with lots of fruity hops woith some grapefruit. Plenty of bitterness but not harsh in any way.

Medium light body with moderate carbonation that gives it just enough zip.

A good West Coast style IPA. I really like the smooth bitterness here.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2011 01:33:02 | More by dgilks