Hardcore IPA (2nd Ed. 9.2%) - BrewDog

thepeter

United Kingdom (England)

4.8/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was the new version of this brew and I can not imagine them EVER changing it again as this was the best Brewdog beer I have ever had and one of if not the best DIPA's I've ever had. I am sure the fact that it was on cask and extremely fresh had a lot to do with it.

Looks to be a dark amber with a nice small head that stays a film for the remainder of the beer. Left a very VERY pretty lacing all over the glass. So much was going on with both the smell and the taste. Tons of smells and flavors and it made me wish that I was better at picking them all out. Lots of hops and citrus fruits, the zest of oranges, grapefruits and maybe some lime, also some sweet pineapple is definitely tasted in there. Extremely well balanced but still a lot of hops up in there. Can barely taste any booze and for a 9% brew, that says a lot, and may be dangerous! Felt great as I swirled it in my mouth and I could easily drink this all night and probably would have if it wasn't for the some other very special beers being on tap the very same night.

Fantastic in my opinion, will be seeking this one out and grabbing it on cask whenever possible. This may be my second review of Hardcore IPA but this is NOT the same beer. If you can get the new batch, fresh, do it!

Serving type: cask

01-08-2011 00:10:39 | More by thepeter

superdudeo

Connecticut

4.78/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My wife bought me a bottle of this for Valentine's Day (how about that?!). Normally, this isn't a beer that I would buy as I have avoided the style lately. However, I was surprised by such a delicious, and well-crafted, beer.

Beer poured a cloudy dark blonde with a one inch head. It laced nicely around the glass as I drank it. It took me a long time to drink this and I was amazed at how the head managed to stick around.

The beer smelled of sweet citrus. I could make out a little pine in there too.

The taste?! Oh man! I really enjoyed it. It had hints of citrus and a nice hop presence. It tastes like a really good homebrew should.The type of homebrew that just piles in the hops. That maybe shouldn't come as a surprise. The blurb on the side proports this to be a small brewery. I probably won't ever find out because I don't have the money to visit Scotland anytime in the near future.

You can clearly taste the hops with a hint of pine that compliments it nicely.
Little bitter, but the perfect bitterness for the style.

For a 9.2 IPA, I was very surpised at how drinkable it is. It didn't burn going down and at the end I lamented how I did not have another.

Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 20:51:38 | More by superdudeo

neckbracesub

Indiana

4.78/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I’m not the one to go to when inquiring about IPA’s, and to be honest the only reason I tried BrewDog’s Hardcore out is because I became such a big fan of their Tokyo that I decided to try out any and all BrewDog products that I could get my hands on. Not being a fan of IPA’s much at all, I must note that this is one of the few that I found was more pleasant to drink that others of its kind.

Like all India Pale Ales, the Hardcore offers hops upon hops and packs a punch, but there is a nice malty aftertaste that provides a bit of a balance.

***THIS RATING WAS UPDATED ON 6.13.13, REFLECTING HOW MUCH OF AN IPA FAN I HAVE BECOME OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS***

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 00:34:15 | More by neckbracesub

--Dom--

Missouri

4.69/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Pours a just slightly hazy deep orange, almost a red. Decent 2 finger or so head with decent retention and lacing. Smells of pine and citrus as to be expected.

Wow this beer has great flavor and boldness. Big hop flavors up front, solid malt backbone. Great balance overall. I'm not sure if I believe it's 150 IBU's, at least not with the great balance I'm tasting here. You know the deal, it's big, it's hoppy, it's got a good malt profile as well. It is in my opinion a world class DIPA. It is what you'd expect it to be and then some. I could go on and on about the subtleties but I wont. Just try it. You won't be disappointed.

Mouthfeel is heavy, slightly sticky. Good carbonation. Overall just a great beer. A little high for the pricepoint so probably not something I'd pick up very often, but purely for cost reasons. I'd session this if it was cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 05:10:06 | More by --Dom--

RexlySnipes

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this beer last night for the second time and i love this beer. I poured it out of a 750 btl into a glass and the color on it was beautiful. It was a nice amber color with not that much head on it in the glass. First sniff is just a overwhelming gorgeous smell of hops, and sweetness. It was a very bitter smooth taste on the pallet, and very light. Overall i think the beer was great but it is deff not for the week of hops this bad boy is overwhelmingly bitter and you better be ready.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 02:58:21 | More by RexlySnipes

Heavenisbeer

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark golden amber. A thin head. Amazing lacing leaves rings on the glass following each sip like rings in a redwood marking time.

S: Tropical fruits, apricot, passionfruit, tons of grapefruit hops. And a barleywine malt profile.

T: Follows the nose. A sweet (!) hop finish that really stays with ya. Lots of booziness that blends oh so well.

M: Creamy, bitter, and warm.

One of the top 5 DIPA's I've ever had. What a surprise. Top friggin notch.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 07:18:51 | More by Heavenisbeer

salvo

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Something happens to BrewDog as it crosses the ocean. On-tap, hardcore is vibrant and almost glows. It has elements that put any west coast American IIPA to the test. Otherwise, the Scottish tap snifter I had at the Edinburgh BrewDog bar is very close to the original bottle tasting review from January in the USA, only everything is heightened at the source:

Pours a beautiful amber from the bomber into my half pint taster with a half inch of Eggshell off-white head. Rich biscuity malt, honey sweet big malty nose gets completely displaced with the first hoppy sip. So big and buttery my instinct is to chew. Warm alcohol shines throu and cuts sweet malt with the citrus hops biting through. Hops turn to resin and pine as the beer warms in the mouth, and becomes more pronounced as the beer warms. Unfolds on the palate: rich and rewarding. A worthy Scottish competitor for big American double IPAs, DIPA, or whatever. Tis is fabulous. The bottle is silly "Explicit Imperial Ale" and a catalogue of ingredients in each bottle, down to the brewers and the dog, but what's inside is worth any label-posturing. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 20:21:16 | More by salvo

NATOuk

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance
Poured into a large bubble glass, it pours a hazy deep orange colour with a decent head settling to a ring around the glass.

Smell
Massive amounts of citrus and resinous pine. Divine.

Taste
There is a definite malt sweetness at the very front of the mouth at the start, it gives way very quickly to a building bitterness which crescendos on the finish and stays at the back of the mouth for a long time. There are notes of citrus and pine through from the start to the middle. A very aggressive beer but if you are a fan of American hops in large quantities this beer will not disappoint.

Mouthfeel
Feels thicker than usual beers, almost like a very light syrup. Coats the mouth and ensures the flavour hangs around.

Overall
As a fan of American Double IPAs, this beer is a very good representation. Massive amounts of hops, a well balanced sweetness and a hefty alcohol content makes this a fantastic beer. I could quite happily recommend this as a session beer although your session won't last too long at 9.2% ABV! They've nailed this one, I'll be making sure to keep a regular stock of this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 20:59:04 | More by NATOuk

Wattsox

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle, consumed Jun 2011, BBE Jan 2012.

A - Burnt orange body with a tightly-bubbled head that dissipates gradually, leaving thick lacing and cling.

S - Strong aromas of citrusy, resinous pine from the hops with a few malt notes in behind.

T - A touch of malt sweetness on the opener, which gives way to an increasing bitterness and notes of citrus and pine that builds up to a lingering bitter finish.

M - Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth and quite creamy, feels like it coats the mouth to keep the flavours lingering.

O - Overall, a fantastic example of the style. The 9.2% ABV probably counts it out of a session beer, but great to sit and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 18:23:14 | More by Wattsox

diamondc

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best before 16-09-11

A: Frothy head, moderate amount of lacing. Orange/bronze, opaque. So far so good.

S: Grapefruit and a mix of tropical fruits, pineapple and apricots jump out. Some subtle pine notes, but mostly fruity. Excellent.

T: On the sweet side, resiny, almost sticky. Sugary grapefruits, more pineapple. Some malt does show up as toffee and faint caramel on the aftertaste, but the hops shine here. Good stuff.

M: Quaffable, can't detect much hotness. Bubbly til the last sip.

O: A darn good DIPA, worth a single or 4 pack purchase.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 03:36:16 | More by diamondc

Mit

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a deep clear amber with a decent lasting head.

Very citrussy on the nose some strong malt flavours hinted at....alcohol smell...

Very hoppy...alcohol flavour...interesting malty flavours...grassy finish.

Mouthfeel is thicker the beer is pretty big.

Overall this is a fantastic Imperial IPA....would def buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 02:59:01 | More by Mit

BruceBruce

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A. Beautiful amber color

S. Grass and hops

T. Hoppy, grassy, citrusy, then hoppy again and Bitter all the way through. Great taste.

M. Good carbonation, not too thick very solid

O. This is one of my go to beers, I love it and is my always in the fridge beer. If you haven't tried it, and you love hoppy bitter beers, then run to your local shop and buy it now.

Bruce

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 01:41:38 | More by BruceBruce

rarbring

Sweden

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is clear amber with a copper tone, an off-white head, some lacing and curtains.

A lot off hop smells; pine, resin, grape-fruit, mango, grass, hay.

The taste starts sweet, toffee, bread, grape-fruit, peaches, bitter oranges, pine resin. Citric zest!

Medium carbonation, a heavy body, very dry.

Another clever re-engineering from Brewdog, very well done!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 18:53:17 | More by rarbring

janubio

Spain

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

330 ml. bottle. Hazy amber colour, decent foam that does not hold much. Leaves a lace in the form of tiny bubbles in theside of the glass. Strong funky aroma of tropical fruits, citruses, spices and some toffee. It feels very nice in the tongue, bitter and roasted, but silky. Taste of tropical fruits, spices, toffee, sweet and sour, but more on the bitter part.
Impressive.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 20:23:39 | More by janubio

BugattiRoo

Australia

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a brown red color with a head that quickly dissipates. Leaves a wonderful lacing.
Smell: Big citrus hops with a sweet carmel malt and fruity pine resin.
Taste: A bit of citrus with some hops bitter but leaves a nice finish inviting you to drink more
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied warming and well carbonated.
Overall: Nice double IPA. Good if you get the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 12:25:21 | More by BugattiRoo

B33R501

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From the bottle "2 humans and 1 canine companion are relatively happy with the results" well make that 3 humans and really, what else do you need? a good beer and a good dog. Now maybe my knucklehead 50 lb 6 month old puppy will be a great dog and take care of my girls soon.

Getting serious, this beer is made with my favorite malts (Maris Otter) and Centennial and Simcoe hops, my favorite hop combo, yes try Port High Tide, one of the best IPA's on the planet.

Beautiful copper amber look. Best before 12/4/13 so I dont really know exactly how old this is, from the aroma I'll guess brewed 12/4/11, 7-8 months old. Doesn't matter, the aroma is refined, but the taste just pops, bitter grapefruit, bitter orange, tons of hops on a gorgeous caramel, toffee malt base. Finishes dry, bitter, with even some butterscotch malt on the last sip. Lingers forever, love that.

Outstanding. Unique. Enjoyed 2, went back and got the last two on the shelf. $2.99 per single Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting, where great beer meets great value. If this beer is indeed 7-8 months old, just proves my point, a great IPA will last a good long time.

One of my favorite doubles, one kick ass hardcore beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 21:12:06 | More by B33R501

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew pours out as a deep copped color with a really nice tan colored head. The lacing was really good on this brew. The smell was excellent, really enjoyed the hoppy pine aromas this one had. The taste was also very hoppy with some light citrus fruits and a powerful pine sting that really males this brew special.'the mouthfeel was a little on the thicker side which I liked. Overall this is a great ipa. I could drink many of these along with several other IPAs out there. Really worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 18:18:36 | More by Knapp85

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Going off the pictures of the bottle presented here, I had this version rather than the original. Certainly, I imagine this is the most recent version, and this one has a best before date half a year ahead of me.

Pours a lovely deep orange colour, dark enough to have flashes of ruby to it, with a firm and frothy head of white foam. Often with highly hopped beers you get a yellow tinge to the head, but this is clear and pristine. Lacing is lovely and intricate, falling in anarchic patterns as the beer goes down the glass. Very good looking IPA.

Nose is fresh and hoppy, with big pine resin and spicy citric characters. Indeed, almost getting a minty herbal quality. It's a really delicious nose: fresh, heavy and robust, and on a par with some of the great American pioneers of the style.

Taste is really well balanced, exceptionally so in fact: big hoppy presence on the front, but a tempered bitterness that melds really nicely with the light malt and grain characters on the back, to a very pleasant nutty finish, that reminds me of Mikkeller for some reason. In any case, it's a delicious palate, balanced really nicely between malt, grain and hops, with enough body to support it. Oh yes.

What a great beer. This is certainly one of the best brews I've had from BrewDog. Fresh and robust, but beautifully balanced. For once, I believe they're capable of getting the balance right, rather than just skewing insane beers off in insane directions.

A lovely IPA, I'd say comparable with the best.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 06:56:56 | More by lacqueredmouse

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 fl oz bottle into my long stemmed tulip. best before 01-27-13.

A: a very clear, very rich amber color. dark. head is bubbly and starts about three-fingers. retention is more of a rim and leaves some lacing behind.

S: reminds me of popping open a fresh, vacuum sealed bag of centennial hops. fresh nugs. wow, this thing is really stinky. glad i like hops or it would be overbearing.

T: the body is super rich, caramel malts, little bit of brown sugar. loads of american hops. piney, grapefruity, and melon. theres enough malt to provide a backbone while still letting the hops shine. really tasty.

M: carbonation is pretty subtle, but its just what the style calls for. full-bodied for sure.

D: i have been putting off trying this for far too long. a little pricey for a 12oz bottle (almost $4), but definitely worth it. compared to what i pay for some other DIPA's it is actually pretty reasonable. great, super fresh, super american hop characteristics should make this a hop lovers dream.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 23:25:37 | More by Jimmys

danieelol

Australia

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a decent orange colour with good head and exceedingly resilient lacing. The lacing is very nice and forms all sorts of patterns on the glass. 4.5

S: A sort of funky burnt malt smell assails the nose initially. Caramel. This beer has seemed very malt-forward to me both on tap and in the bottle. Fresh bottle too, expires on the 10th of the 8th, almost seven months away. As the beer warms and opens up I get some more coffee-ish umami smells from it. Definite pineapple in the nose. Bit of pine subdued by some maltiness. 4

T: Hops are more prominent in the taste. As well as some pleasant honeyish malt there's some floral notes and some sort of flowery citrus fruit taste. The alcohol is detectable but actually very well integrated with the overall flavour. There is a vaguely unpleasant aftertaste which may come from impurities in the serving vessel or being served too cold or simply a fault in the brewing process. I'm not sure what the cause is. The honey-maltishness gets particularly pleasant later on. Quite sweet initially, but bitter enough as it goes down to make one want more. Fruity ice blocks are also present in the taste. 4

M: Thick and pretty hard to complain about for the style. 4

D: Expensive but worth it. I'd only have one a night though. 4

Goes very well with rich meat dishes- especially the rich malty hoppy finish. Would readily drink this beer any time (especially if it were more affordable), but I still get the feeling I'm yet to find my holy grail of IPAs/DIPAs.

Edit: bumping up the ratings cause it's such amazing stuff. I gladly pay through the nose for this beer because it's the only good DIPA you can buy off the shelves in Australia. When will Australian brewers learn how to make good beers?

Perhaps I've been getting the fresher stuff recently.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 03:14:11 | More by danieelol

MadCat

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm amazed that this beer has so few reviews, maybe because it is confusing as to which version of the Hardcore IPA I have. I just went by the look of the bottle.

Appearance: An orangey yellow color with a good white head that dissipates fast and leaves good lacing

Smell: Pine, resin, good bit of malt, somewhat sweet, hints of citrus

Taste: Pretty darn good. Up front, you are met with resinous hops and some sweet malt, with some pine and citrus hops in the back. Respectable bitterness, but decently balanced with enough sweetness to reduce harshness.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with medium carbonation

Overall: Personally I enjoy this better than the Punk IPA, though I'm drinking this one slower. The added malt helps balance the flavors better. BrewDog has earned my respect. Now I would like to try more of their lineup!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 03:06:28 | More by MadCat

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle 9,2% Abv.
Served chilled in an oversized wine glass.
Batch: 317
Best Before: 09/10/2013

I was so shocked to see some bottles of this sitting on the shelf at my local bottle store. I never thought I would see the day that I could buy a decent beer locally!

Appearance: Hardcore IPA pours a beautiful amber-orange colour (crystal clear), with a rough pour generating a creamy off white head that lasts really well and leaves rings of lacing as it recedes. The 9,2% Abv is noticed as a swirl yields some light alcohol legs.

Smell: Hmmm, well the age of this bottle is certainly apparent (an IPA with a year shelf life! Really?), but it still smells pretty good. Sweet citrus notes (orange/tangerine), grape fruit pith, resin, orange blossom honey as well as caramel and toasted malt make up the bulk of the aroma. Warming yields some additional fruity notes (pineapple and peach) as well as a light floral character. Even at room temperature, there is no trace of the 9,2%.

Taste: Mmmm, this is still pretty tasty. Sweet caramel and orange blossom honey are noted at the front of the mouth, but are quickly overtaken by a massive wallop of bitterness and notes of grapefruit pith, pine resin, sweet citrus, touches of pineapple and peach and some dankness. Warming brings out a little more sweetness and a light toasted note. As with the nose, there is no trace of the Abv.

Mouthfeel: Wow, the mouthfeel on this bottle is far better than I remember - I am not sure I could ask for much more from a big IPA. Medium-full bodied, with a little stickiness and a medium level of ultra smooth carbonation.

Overall: This bottle was not as good as the three week old bottle I had in 2011, but it is still probably the best beer I can buy in the country!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 13:55:56 | More by Thehuntmaster

endovelico

Portugal

4.34/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pristine amber brew with white frothy head that holds well with good lacing.

Aroma: Complex and intense. Spearmint at the front and honey and flowers on the back. It feels a bit rough around the edges but it's notwithstanding very pleasant and powerful.

Taste: Medium high in intensity. Taste is earthy, citrusy (grapefruit comes to mind), spearmint, caramel and toffee. So elegant and balanced.

Palate: Medium full bodied. Medium low carbonation. Medium high bitterness.

Overall: When it's good, it's good. They're not reinventing the wheel here sure, but they hit nearly every mark with stupendous craftsmanship.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 20:27:47 | More by endovelico

digita7693

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Note: this is not the same version as the original black label Hardcore IPA, which was 9% alc, this is a new formula and bottle, dark aqua bottle with white lettering and 9.2% alc.

A pours a beautiful amber/orange with a good 2 finger head and decent lacing.

S great citrus (grapefruit) and pine jump out at you, strong hop aroma, smells simply wonderful

T Delicious. Again the citrus grabs you right away, very bitter, then a wonderful sweet malt backbone, not overwhelming, but a nice change to just bitter (honestly reminds me a bit of some fresh barleywines, like a fresh bigfoot)

M sticky and coating on the tongue, which I would expect, and which is not a bad thing... but dont expect to taste too much after this

D good, but I do not think i would drink more than 2 of these, though for me thats saying a lot... so I guess highly drinkable:)

just got back from a few days in Edinburgh and once again got to try many wonderful beers, including several brewdog beers, picked up a bottle of this at Cornelius Beer and Wine near Leith Walk.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 21:17:03 | More by digita7693

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the 660 ml. bottle marked 62-17-04-11. Sampled on December 30, 2010. The hazy orange-amber pour explodes into a two-inch, long lasting foamy cream colored head with excellent retention. I love them hops in the aroma with a kind of biscuit-like wrapping and a good dose of malts and yeast. The body is of good medium to heavy texture. Hops fill the senses with the taste too weith a tart finale and no noticeable alcohol. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 22:52:39 | More by puboflyons