IPA - Santa Cruz Ale Works

Philousa

California

3.73/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Imbibed on tap at Rose & Crown on 3/30/2012.

Poured a clear copper, a little pale for the style. Not much head, but it had to to with the pour more than anything else. Aroma hits with hops first, which are very tree bark-ish. It's weird to describe, don't judge me. Hops could also be described as resinous, fresh. Some biscuity malt lies beneath the hop aroma. Taste is very toasty, buiscuity malt to start, followed by very bitter hops. Somewhat floral, they aren't really going for 'in your face' bitterness. Nice to taste some hop complexity not in the aroma. That said, lingering hop bitterness is significant. balanced, drinkable, dry finish.

I'd like this again. Seems like a good stand by IPA. With all the IPAs I've had, you just have to not screw up and I'll like it. By that I think I mean use cascade hops a lot. I'd really like to try something that isn't going for the West Coast IPA style. If things keep going this way, the IPA market is going to be saturated with homogeneity. Not to put this one down, it's good, just a thought I had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2012 18:12:20 | More by Philousa

InfernoBoss

California

3/5  rDev -8.5%

04-28-2013 16:34:53 | More by InfernoBoss

LoFiDave

California

3/5  rDev -8.5%

04-13-2013 02:37:01 | More by LoFiDave

Ilovebeer1549

California

3.5/5  rDev +6.7%

03-10-2013 05:51:36 | More by Ilovebeer1549

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -8.5%

12-28-2012 03:25:41 | More by t0rin0

theempire

California

4.25/5  rDev +29.6%

07-16-2012 03:50:39 | More by theempire

creez

California

3.75/5  rDev +14.3%

06-28-2012 15:45:17 | More by creez

tizride

California

3.25/5  rDev -0.9%

05-05-2012 02:09:49 | More by tizride

javiernano

California

3.25/5  rDev -0.9%

03-06-2012 08:02:55 | More by javiernano

edgardelgado

5/5  rDev +52.4%

02-28-2012 19:42:21 | More by edgardelgado

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pop the top and pour a reddish, honey-colored brew with a massive four finger head. This is fluffy, cream-colored, and shows monstrous retention. The liquid has an opaque cloudiness, but no sediment is noted. Carbonation appears normal. As we sniff, we immediately notice a rich and earthy hop-quality, with both piney and floral notes. Additionally there is a warm rich spicy quality to the nose, almost of cloves, but not quite. Alcohol is noted, but is not overpowering, and we get a nice faint hint of toastiness to the malt bill. As we sip, the earthiness of the hops is apparent right up front. These present with both a dirty herbal vibe, and a crisp pine flavoring. Here, too, we begin to see a bit of the toasty malt profile, which brings us to the middle of the sip with a nice warmth. This warmth is further exacerbated by clovey phenols and warming, peppery alcohol. The end of the taste brings us back to some of the earthy qualities from the beginning of the taste. More herbal hops enter, bringing a dryness to the palate, and a nice muskiness to the finish. The aftertaste breathes with even more hops, but here they appear citric, and more warming peppery alcohol. The beer has a medium body, and carbonation, with nice slurp from the foamy head. It is particularly drying, which helps to bring out all the earthy and herbal qualities this beer possesses. The abv is appropriate and the beer is greatly refreshing and easily drinkable.

Overall, our favorite thing about this brew is how the earthy qualities of the hops combine with the warmth of the clove and alcohol. As the beer tasting went on, and with warmth, the hop profile seemed to shift from a dirty, earthy, floral, piney quality, to one of a softer and sweet citric air. This made for an extraordinarily refreshing brew and, when combined with the creamy feel, made this a unique IPA with some great, balanced flavors to back it all up.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 22:03:11 | More by TheBrewo

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +6.7%

12-26-2011 12:28:12 | More by dbrauneis

jenray

Texas

3/5  rDev -8.5%

12-10-2011 02:37:27 | More by jenray

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bomber bottle with out any freshness indication.

Pours lightly hazed lighter almond amber. Loose and puffy off white head, leaving some fine bits of lace and low sheeting.

Mild grapefruit infused hoppy nose.

Decent hop crunch, with fresh tasting cascades, and tasty grapefruit notes shining through. Dry and biting in a hoppy good way. Worthy IPA.Suprised by the low numbers for this one, maybe I got a freshie bottle, close to the source...either way I enjoyed this one as a better then respectable example of a west coast IPA

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 16:49:36 | More by Billolick

Gobzilla

California

3.13/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: poured a golden orange in color with yellow highlights with a thin head but left some good frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: had some nice citrusy aroma upfront on the nose with hoppy and candi sugar character. it have good malty sweetness though more than anything.

T the malty sweetness was more apparent on the taste with hoppy, candi sugar, and citrusy notes.

M: the brew was medium in body with a with s fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, malty mild hoppy, citrusy, slight bitter finish.

D: drank really good but was not as hoppy as other west coast IPA's and was let down on the bitterness factor. Overall it was just an average brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 23:04:53 | More by Gobzilla

t420o

California

2.33/5  rDev -29%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

A- The beer pours a golden-orange color with a large white head that lasts and leaves little lacing

S- Bitter hops, sweet cereal, citrus, sweet malt. Not too much going on in the smell, hopefully the taste is better

T- Nope, taste is no better than the smell. This is a very underwhelming IPA. Taste is just bitterness with slight pine and cereal grains taste. There are hints of citrus and burnt sugar

M- way too overcarbonated and light. Poor mouthfeel.

O- This is not a very good IPA. It's drinkable but for a style that I love, this was a complete miss. This is the first beer I have had from Santa Cruz Ale Works, and I will say that it may be my last. It may be alright on a very hot day, but thats about it.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 17:14:16 | More by t420o

womencantsail

California

3.23/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From old notes.

A: The beer pours orange in color with a huge white head on it, far too much, in fact.

S: Smells alright at first. Some good citrus notes up front, but other than that, the nose is pretty "meh". Fairly malty with lots of bready malts and some toasted notes as well.

T: The flavor is similarly bready and mild to moderate in terms of the sweetness. Some citrus notes of grapefruit and oranges, and a decent amount of bitterness.

M: Medium in body with a moderate carbonation.

O: Unfortunately, this beer is just decent at best. Not really what you look for in a west coast IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 21:43:52 | More by womencantsail

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Hazy burnt orange copper with a large, rocky, off white head that slowly reduced to a thin cap and left copious amount of sticky lace.

S-Light spicy orange with toasted biscuit notes and a touch of fresh bread. Rather ho hum for a west coast IPA.

T-Quite similar to the aroma profile with a decent smack of spicy citrus up front with a supporting underlying base of toasted biscuit malt.

M-Medium bodied and rather sharp with a crisp carbonation level and good lingering spicy hop bite.

D-This stuff is solid and certainly better than average stuff but in the HIGHLY competitive market of California IPA's this one would be an afterthought. Sure, I would drink another if offered but I couldn't be bothered to seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 22:32:17 | More by Deuane

philbertk

Washington

2.3/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Santa Cruz Ale Works--I.P.A. India Pale Ale--2010 22 oz. Bottle. 6.50% ABV. 65 IBU's? (3.5 / 5.0) Fizzy lacy big white mild lace head. Clear thin bright pretty light gold color. Sediment dusting hazes orange. CO2 enhanced aromatic mild floral hop front. Thin fizzy dry sweet light caramel pine citrus hop resin crisp tangy body. Aged citrus hop spice crisp end. Sampled 6/13/2010. 2 @ $2.95 Each. Bad Bottling.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 05:04:43 | More by philbertk

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Nanoslug for including this in a recent trade.

The head was quite aggressive here. Took me close to 5 minutes to pour a glass. The head is like whipped egg whites. Cloudy light amber color. Some clumps of lacing

Aroma is of toasted malt with a whiff of yeast.

Flavor is much like the aroma. It has that distinctive "homebrew" flavor with some phenolic notes. Lots of yeast and the biscuity malt flavor. A touch of grapefruit but not the standard west coast IPA punch.

Smooth mouth feel with an almost creamy feel. Very slight carbonation.

The yeast taking a main roll in the flavor knocked down the drinkability for me. I am happy to have had the opportunity to try this, but it won't hit a highlight reel of my favorite IPA's

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 12:39:17 | More by Reagan1984

portia99

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle received as an extra in a trade with nanoslug. Thanks! Poured into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A - Pours a pale translucent orange color...plenty hazy and yeasty. A very thick whipped creamy off white head with good staying power...never seems to die and leaves tons of sticky, sticky lacing left on the glass.

S - Thick with hops...rich and citrusy - tons of lemons and grapefruit in the nose, a touch of mint andorange. Some sugary sweetness with a fair amount of bread dough - very yeasty overall...a bit spicy.

T - Follows the aroma quite closely. Sharply bitter. Good citrus notes - mainly grapefruit and oranges. Very yeasty, spicy, a bit of cloves and mintyness. Some breadiness in the malt. A touch of sweetness in there too.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit on the thin side. Carbonation is medium to high. Lots of sticky, resiny hops coat the mouth.

D - Very yeasty and full flavored with good fruitiness and nicely bitter. Alcohol level isn't noticeable. Never heard of this beer but glad to have a chance to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 03:38:24 | More by portia99

Reidrover

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber from Roth's Vista Market Salem OR. Clear slighly burnt golden coloured ale, as a huge rocky off white head. Aroma is mainlly of grapefruit like hopping,sweet and slightly spicy. Taste is a bit of a let down, its mainlly sweet a sort of artificial sweetner type sweet, there are hops but they are buried for an instant under the sweetness,the hops do emerge near the end. Watery palate..but the aftertaste is OK. Overall dissapointing IPA, coulda been way better.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 05:31:24 | More by Reidrover

yesyouam

New York

3.55/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Santa Cruz Ale Works IPA is a clear, golden ale with a small, off white head. It has an aroma of pine resin. It's light bodied and crisp with a slightly gritty finish. It's a resiny flavor that's well balanced. The aftertaste is long and resiny. It's a simple and tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 20:18:27 | More by yesyouam

bulletrain76

California

2.73/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz bottle. Orange with a big, sticky head. Fresh piney and grapefruity hops in the aroma. Nice malt base in the flavor, with good juicy citric hops, but pretty tame for an IPA, especially compared to their pale ale. I think that one might even have a more bitter flavor, but this is a drinkable and flavorful IPA regardless. Crisp, medium body. Rerate: 22oz bottle and draught. After a couple more times having this since the initial case that I had from the brewery last year, I have to say that it certainly hasn't gotten any better, and tastes like all bittering hops and husky malt. Aroma hops are just not cutting it for an IPA, and the IBUs could stand to be reduced by a good amount to balance this out.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 07:43:30 | More by bulletrain76

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz. bomber shared with FooFaa, Slatetank, tenderbranson69 and brewslut on 8/15/09.

A - Poured a hazy amber/orange body with about a finger's worth of creamy off-white head that settled into a thin ring of retention and deposited some spotty lace around the glass.

S - Citrusy hop presence suggesting orange rind, as well as some subtle peppery spice. Malt is sweet and caramel-based.

T - Citrusy hops with a hint of spice and lots of caramel malt sweetness. Bitterness opens up a bit in the backend with a lemon/orange rind character that is a bit metallic.

M - Medium bodied with a syrupy texture and moderate carbonation on the palate. Pretty metallic bitter finish with a lingering hop bite on the tongue.

D - Average IPA with a decent hop character, but ultimately a little muddled and unbalanced overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2009 20:15:48 | More by ffejherb