Ace Of Spades - Hopworks Urban Brewery

velosuds

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a clear pint glass. No freshness date apparent. Paid $8.19 at John's Marketplace in Portland, Oregon.

A-Pours a slightly hazy golden amber color with a two finger, off-white head with good retention and copious lacing.

S-Citrus like hops, especially grapefruit are prominent. Piney hops too. No wonder since three of my favorites are used: Amarillo, Cascade, and Centennial.

T-Good balance between the aggressive bitterness from the hops at 100+ IBUs and the pleasant slightly sweet, bread like and caramel malt base. But at 21.5 degrees Plato (or about 1.090 original gravity) and 9.5% ABV there is a bit more residual sweetness than I like in a DIPA.

M-Very smooth and extremely well balanced with a medium to full body, but I would like this better if it were a bit drier. Nicely carbonated.

O-Another fine beer from a brewery I like to support due to their commitment to organics and sustainability. Well done, Hopworks!

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 02:35:12 | More by velosuds

zoolzoo

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to ever generous oregonskibum for this one.

A: Clear burnt golden, bubbly, white frothy head

S: Pungent bitter hop aroma, piney and spicy. Pretty apparent whiff of booze as well. Big aroma, smells nice.

T: A sweet and resiny DIPA, same bitter hops from the nose backed up with bready caramel malt and a dash of tropical fruit. Gotta knock the T and D a bit because of the fusel alcohol presence in the back of my throat. This finishes really "sharp" with a killer lingering bitterness coupled with booze evaporating off of my tongue. Mouthfeel is coating, but finishes super dry.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 15:38:52 | More by zoolzoo

goatgoat

California

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Sam Adams pint.

Pours a hazy burnished copper and gold. Moderate tan head with no lace. Big hop aroma, a slap of citrus, grapefruit and some pine. Taste starts strong, the bitter comes in quick, big and clean. Feel is resiny, chewy. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 19:27:32 | More by goatgoat

NorCalYeti

California

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

taste- citrusy hops, compact bitter hop finish, butterscotch flavors

color- orange amber

clarity- pours clear but dense in glass

smell- complex notes, citrusy hops, must, candy

body- compact bitter hop finish

appearance- thin slightly off-white spotty carbonation and lacing, good carbonation when agitated in the glass

overall impression- above average double ipa, nice presentation on the palate, well balanced, beer opens when consumed but not overly so, nice lingering character with hop bite at the front of the mouth and nice sour/bitter character on the sides and back of the mouth, not a "hot", over the top abv which makes it easy to drink...thumbs up. beer is a nice example of the style

beer spy- ashland or, june 2011, 22oz

glassware: tulip

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 03:23:00 | More by NorCalYeti

kemoarps

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This is certainly a pretty beer. Deep amber, opaque, minimal white head. No lacing.

The nose is... different than I had anticipated. There's some grapfruit hops, and something that I can't quite get my finger on. Wet.

This is a potently bitter beer. It's crisp, yet quite large. No balance, just damp vegetation.

Not a well balanced IPA. One that might appeal to those who just want a hop bomb, but it doesn't really do much for me. Even other high-hop/high-IBU brews I've had and enjoyed, they had some balance to them. I probably wouldn't drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 03:28:16 | More by kemoarps

cbros

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type- 22 ounce bomber poured into a snifter.

A- This beer pours a dark orange color with little carbonaton activity present or head. There is a small less one finger white head and no lacing to speak of. Overall not a great looking beer but standard for IPA's and DIPA's.

S- To me this is a weak smelling beer. For a DIPA I am expecting massive hops, piney, and bitterness however I am not picking up on any of these. I am getting rather mellow notes coming of the top of this beer. Smell is not this beers strong suit.

T- The muted nature found in the smell carries over, to a lesser degree, in the taste. I am picking up muted flavors and a small bitter aftertaste. Nothing overwhelming or outstanding in the taste of this beer. Don't get me wring I think the taste of this beer is fine however when I compare this beer to other DIPA's I have had in the past this beer seems to be a weaker version. Overal an average tasting beer that leaves a lot to long for.

I recieved this from madhombrewer and unfortunateley this beer does not live up to other Hopworks offerings. This is a decent tasting beer and maybe Hopworks is a victim of its own success. I will certainly try an other beers from Hopworks I can get my hands on but I don't think this will be one.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 20:07:14 | More by cbros

ottovon

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: a clean copper color with an off white head.

S: citrus hops at first. then you get some nice melon flavors, some peach, orange peel, and some nice piney aromas. just a really nice and clean hop aroma.

T: just like the aroma. citrus, peach, piney, and some caramel. it is dry and bitter.

M: has a good medium-thin mouthfeel with good carb for the style.

O: this is a solid offering, that I wish i could get more.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 05:10:20 | More by ottovon

IllNate

British Columbia (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured in tulip at hopworks. Solid amber with amble off white head and good retention. Nose is all citrus with orange and grapefruit. Bit of caramel coming through. Taste follows with big Curtis hop and caramel madly back bone. mouth if all pucker with big bitterness, but good balance for iipa. Fine beer. Only one point for me though.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 00:11:41 | More by IllNate

squaremile

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had the first batch in growler, this is the latest on tap. The closest thing I can compare this to is Fish 10 Squared. This has a nice hop profile but has a ton of the sugary malt and booze. Clear dark orange color. This is almost barelywine-esque on tap, the first batch felt lighter. It has a depth to it with the pine balanced by the trademark Hopworks sugar cookie backbone, significant alcohol in the nose and on the tongue. Touch of biscuit and bread long into the aftertaste. Very good, not great.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 05:19:35 | More by squaremile

UMNbeerhunter

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured in to an HotD tulip on 4/13/11.

Pours a beautiful golden amber with two fingers of frothy off white head that dissipates quickly leaving almost no lacing. Not very much head retention in this beer but it looks very nice post pour before the head disappears.

Smells of carmel malts and then the hops hit you. Tons of hop notes to pick out for my underdeveloped nose... Citrus grapefruit and others. This really made my mouth water.

Taste is a lot of the same. I get the sweet malt taste that comes through very well but then a nice mix of fruity hops. Still has some booze flavor but very delicious.

Mouth feel is a medium weight. It goes through the palette smooth with some alcohol burn on the backside. Some resin that leaves a little of hops bite left over.

Drinkability on this one is high. Takes a little hit because of the alcohol burn but the juicy hops and malt balance is great. Well balanced and hey! Its organic and certified carbon neutral according to the bottle which I can dig. Good beer I will definitely be asking for this one from my Portland trading partners.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 00:06:03 | More by UMNbeerhunter

slaintemhor

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this in September of 2009 at the Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, Oregon. The colour was orange-amber with no had at all. The aroma was full of citrus skin and pine pitch. On the palate, a burst of froth followed by piney, resin-like hops in front and more citrus-like hops on the soft and back palate. Highly cloying, but not in such a manner as to be offensive [to me]. I thoroughly enjoyed the long, bitter finish that lingered for many minutes.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2010 05:03:13 | More by slaintemhor

2xHops

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - The color looks golden and cloudy when you tries to look through it. It certainly isn't transparent, and for me it means it will have at least some body.

Taste - It tastes very citrus-like while very hoppy at the same time. It's why I like Imperial IPAs more than the usual fare you see with breweries offering ordinary IPAs.

Mouthfeel - The beer lingers in your mouth for a while, and the finish is certainly hoppy.

With a strong ABV and higher price point, I imagine there's not a lot of people that would buy this beer regularly. However, it's definitely something I would want to drink once in a while when I'm in the mood for an Imperial IPA. It's also nice to see that you can brew quality beer that is organic.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 01:25:25 | More by 2xHops

BeerisfoodLLC

Maryland

4.68/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On a tour of HUB we got to try a glass of this awesome DIPA directly from the source, fresh as it gets.

A - Slightly cloudy orange tinted, fair head.

S - strong bouquet of citrusy hops, slight malt sweetness to the smell as well.

T - One of the best imperial IPA's I have had. Well balanced, complex, very hoppy as expected, smooth.

M - Well carbonated, medium/heavy bodied.

I will seek this beer out anytime I am in Oregon. Bonus that its organic.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2011 01:22:49 | More by BeerisfoodLLC

Kakaraht

British Columbia (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crisp amber with a finger of light tan head than has good retention.

S: Wow, super malty with raisins and caramel, The hops have a very floral and bitter like aroma.

T: Almost like a barleywine, the delicious malt body has sweet brown sugar and caramel flavor, and the bitter citrus like flavor of the hops balances it out perfectly. The alcohol and a nice warm burn to the beer as it warms.

M: Heavy body, medium carbonation and a warm round character.

D: A little expensive at $25 dollars a bottle, but ohh so tasty.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 01:38:00 | More by Kakaraht

coastiefish

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

"100+ IBUs"

If it weren't for a 20% discount I receive at the store that carries this brew, im not so sure I would've bought it. After chatting up the beer guru at our store, he comforted me its worth [at the discount price].
Im a pretty big IPA fanatic. Ill drink all across the board, and take them for what they are. I have been taken back by this beers claim to be 100+ IBU (what does that even mean?) because this brew to me didn't even reach 70. 100+ IBU can mean /something/ there is a certain point when IBU's are that high...
This is *not* one of those beers.
I love HUB.
I love explosive over the top IPAs.
I think "100+ IBUs" in this case needs to be rethunk.
I drunk, & methinks while this beer is tasty, I will not agree that number should have been slapped on the bottle. Im disappointed in that; not the beer itself.
Worth a try, but not at retail price.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2010 09:24:39 | More by coastiefish

benpopper

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Stolzle Beer Glass a great bright amber with an inch of off white head that fades fast leaving behind only the faintest signs of lacing.

Smelled fantastic and Strong! There are a lot of differnt fruity smells in there but the one I got most of seemed to be grapefruit esk. made me want to swim in it.

Taste is very similar, but very surprised and happy to to get a whole lot of alcohol. Sweet malt taste surrounded by fruity hops.

Feels pretty good in your mouth. Drinks easily with a little heat on the tail end. Bitter finishing, but not so much you don't want to go right back in.

This drinks great. Much closer to a very hoppy IPA than the double I'd say. Wanted more of it, but there were different bottles to be drank!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 20:43:57 | More by benpopper

Franch

New York

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

very little to say about this. it's very solid and a reliable backup IPA in the same way Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is. the citrus comes through delightfully, and the drinkability is shocking - it hides its ABV very well compared to say, the firestone walker double jack that i had the same weekend.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 05:11:07 | More by Franch

jellikit

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: orange-orange. No head. Just small bubbles. Not much lacing. Thin and quick.

Smell: faint floral and a little orange peel. Not in your face aroma.

Taste: hate to say it, but orange peel and more citrus. Not too powerful. But hops linger for a few. Balanced well with the high alcohol level.

Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation. Medium-large. Not thick, but full body. Think Jenny McCarthy.

Overall: hoppy taste and strong bittering make this a hoppy, strong beer. Good. I would buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 04:05:06 | More by jellikit

hopluva1

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz. bottle bought from the brewery, served in a snifter.
Deep hazy orange in the glass with a 1/2 finger off white head that fades quickly. Man, this is a hop bomb! The aroma is huge citrus hops, grapefruit, maybe a little peach. This beer really showcases traditional west coast hops well. It has good clean hop bitterness with just enough malt sweetness to make this really drinkable. It is easy to keep adding hops to a beer and call it a IIPA. This was constructed with a finished product in mind, well done.

I am going to let one bottle sit for a couple of months to sweeten up a little more.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 16:14:29 | More by hopluva1

kitty66

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tastes like a souped-up hopworks ipa. Great hop tang, very piney and oily. Kind of a straight-shooter, would be more interesting with bigger malt body.

Overall a good choice for the cooler days of spring in the rainy northwest, sweet but not syrupy, a kiss of caramel to soften the booze.

Nice artwork on the bottles, might become popular with rock bands.

Rock on ace !

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2011 23:44:36 | More by kitty66

kevinmkirk

Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nearly clear, orange-amber liquid from the magnum into my favorite tasting glass with a strong two fingers foamy head, not much in the way of retention, but decent lacing as the glass empties. The nose is big, pine hops, citrus rind, herbal flowers, and caramel malt notes. Flavors include, but are not limited to oily pine hops, grapefruit rind, caramel malts, and a pretty boozy finish. Mouthfeel is slick, with appropriate carbonation. A very tasty sipper that'll whoop yer ass if you're not careful. I like it, though the boozy finish is a wee much for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 23:52:52 | More by kevinmkirk

slicknuss

Washington

4.85/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. This is one of my favorite DIPA's. The beer goes down very smooth, but you get a strong hop flavor as well. It is like melding the best of both worlds. An easy to drink, hop heavy beer. Whenever bombers of this beer come in to my local beer store, I am down there buying it ASAP. I just prefer to drink this beer whenever I can. This is everything a west coast DIPA should be.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 23:23:02 | More by slicknuss