Apocalypse IPA - 10 Barrel Brewing Co.

NWer

Washington

4.51/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured cloudy golden in nonic. Head retained nicely. Good lace.
Aroma flowery, sweet, malt forward.
Taste wonderfully ballanced. Very smooth easy going flavors ranging from mildly hoppy to malt smoothness. Tastes extremely fresh though it's not the season for fresh hop IPA's nor is it hyped as one.
Aftertaste is near perfection. The perfect IPA for a hot Summer (Spring?) afternoon.
Overall, there is nothing to dislike about this beer.
I want more.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 19:05:33 | More by NWer

Vancoubeer

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

OK...before I go into why I rated this so high let me digress. I am skeptical of IPA's that are 6.5%..it seems generic...I tend to like 6.9 or above...don't ask me why but this description will contain info that will explain this.

Got a bottle at my local grocery store to give it a try...ya that sounds lame but it was for $3.79.

Poured into my glass it was a dark, filtered orange...looks like a really nice IPA. Sticky white head and bubbles sticking to the glass.

The smell was really ripe with that hoppy citrus and a touch of pine like many nw IPAs. It also has that biscuit tone that I like from the malts.

The taste is where this one takes control. The 6.5% tastes more like 7.5%. Not in booze but in bitterness. Very bitter and not watered down or tame like some in this category. With the bitterness was the citrusy sweet flavors I savor in an IPA. Really surprised for such a cheap IPA. Impressive.

The mouthfeel was sticky...just like the lacing on the bottle. the flavors linger and the carbonation is not too high and it cleans the palate for more.

Overall, this was one of the best IPAs I have had in a long way. It was very balanced, not too hoppy but the bitterness was high. The malt backbone is there to balance it out. These guys know what they are doing and the name of the beer is in no way an over exageration.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 06:44:05 | More by Vancoubeer

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear dark amber almost copper color. Not a lot of head, but some frothy white lacing is left behind.

S: Smells of pine needles, ripe grapefruit, and some toasty brown bread. Nice aroma.

T: Whoa, didn't expect this! A piney assualt of hops up front with some bitter grapefruit following soon after. The middle has some breadiness, but is mostly pine and grapefruit hop flavor. The finish is of grapefruit rind and some light caramel.

M: Bitter, dry, medium bodied, well carbonated.

D: This is a fantastic IPA, thanks for shipping the growler mychal! This beer reminds me a lot like Blind Pig, though it is darker.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2009 17:36:24 | More by Patrick

ccrida

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into my large St. Feuillien goblet, Apocalypse IPA is a lightly hazed ruddy bronze with a small off-white skim of head with a bubbly collar that leaves elegant, draping lace.

Smell is dank and resinous hops, skunky, with some sweet gingerbread malt notes. Robust, perhaps the only knock is that it smells like the alcohol might be dirty (which it it very well may be the hops style, but as I'm enjoying it, the fusels are hidden on the palate).

Taste is also robust, classic NW IPA with the huge, fresh hops, and a fairly substantial malt base as well, mostly bread, some sweetness. While the hops have some substantial bitterness, they combine with the sweetness of the malt to bring out some tropical citrus that you don't get in the nose. The lingering aftertaste is hop resins, like you've chewed on one.

Mouthfeel is oily, a bit chewy. The tongue is really coated with hop resin in hurry, did I mention this beer is dank? I like it for the audacity it reminds you this beer brings.

Drinkability is great if you're a hop head. Wow, what a great IPA, glad Bend finally sent us some bottles!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 01:17:30 | More by ccrida

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap into a shaker glass at Tracktown Pizza

A- Poured a clear copper color with visible carbonation and big bubbly head that left chunky lace

S- Big pungent grapefruit, pine, sweet tropical fruit pineapple, and some sweet malts. Very aromatic

T- Big pungent grapefruit, sweet tropical fruit, pine, and light pineapple hops. Some sweet malt backbone.

M- Dry, refreshing, pretty high carbonation, effervescent

O- A damn good IPA with great hop flavors and aroma.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 04:59:19 | More by Hoptometrist

MADhombrewer

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Burnt orange color with a strong off white head. Lots of lacing left behind. 4.5/5

Smell- Earthy and grassy aroma. Some sweet citrus in the background. 4/5

Taste- Sweet orange. The big, grassy bitterness comes out in the end. There is some sweetness but it doesn't overpower the hops. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel- This a little thick for my taste, but it is a really good IPA so I don't mind. 4/5

Overall- I remember this being a little ho-hum the last time I had it. I had heard that the brewery  redid the recipe and I grabbed a six pack. Much better than what I remember. The price is a little high at $10+. 4.5/5 

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 00:42:39 | More by MADhombrewer

Brad007

Vermont

4.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a light gold with a one-finger head into my glass. Lacing on the edges. Nice colors overall.

Jimmy said so, eh? Well, he didn't tell us what kind of hops were used. I'm guessing they're of the NZ type. Citrus mango tango?

Flavor confirms the aroma. It's not your usual pine/grapefruit affair. Refreshing. Not much dough.

Lingering dough and citrus notes make up this ale. At 6.8%, it drinks like something much lower in ABV.

I think I'm falling in love with Oregon and its' marvelous beers. I give 10 Barrel mad props for putting out such an enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 17:52:08 | More by Brad007

Spikester

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Full amber with a large cream color head. Plenty of lacing. Aroma is very prominent floral, piney hops. Taste is immediate hop bitterness with plenty of resins. Pink grapefruit with some leather and pine resins. Plenty of sweet malts to support all that oily bitterness. Mouthfeel is better than average and well carbonated. Drinkability is very good. I haven't seen many R.R. products around lately and this tasty brew would be a fine stand in. Last pour was quite hazy. If you can find it buy some now. Found at Market of Choice in West Linn, Oregon. About $5.00 for the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 06:37:03 | More by Spikester

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper with a white head, excellent retention & lace.

S: Grapefruit rind, pine, hint of tropical fruit.

T: Grapefruit rind, pine, sponge toffee, candied pineapple, great malt (biscuit), good bitterness.

M: Smooth moderate body, light hop acidity, dry finish.

D: A really good drinker and well-crafted. Not a pallet bruiser... I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 04:57:04 | More by Derek

triggerguy

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden almost copper color, slight haziness, one finger of head that quickly subsides

Tangerine and pine aroma, with touch of caramel.

Tart citrus up front, fading into pine flavors, backed up by a touch of sweetness and lightly toasty. Assertive bitterness that does not overstay its welcome. The lingering flavors are pine and floral notes.

Medium thin body, low carbonation for style, but enough to bring out the more subtle flavors.

Overall I think this is an excellent example of a PNW IPA. Could use more hop aroma, and a touch more carbonation, but overall this is a thoroughly enjoyable beer that I will enjoy again and again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 06:09:21 | More by triggerguy

CooperEllis

New York

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz into Ommegang Anniversary glass.

Thanks to JohnGalt1 for 4 bombers from 10 Barrel as extras in our last trade!

The aroma out of the bottle is f#$%ing perfect. Big, a rainbow of citrus aromas from ripe grapefruit to lemon pith. The in glass aroma fades quickly blending nicely with the cut grass laying in my yard.

Little lacing and no active carb dropped the look score, but the color is nice, lightly rounded amber.

Good taste. Like the aroma out of the bottle, the taste seems to fade to one note quickly, but the opening salvo is tops. Sweet and bitter with a very earthy finish.

Mouthfeel is a little light, not oily like with some resinous IPAs.

It's solid+ without being outstanding in any one area - the 5 in aroma not withstanding.

(180th/1st since The Crash)

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 17:39:19 | More by CooperEllis

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.11/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark gold color with middling clarity. The head is an impressive looking four finger (via aggressive pour) offwhite shade. Retention here is quite strong, and as the head slowly recedes, plenty of lacing is left on the glass.

S: Big grapefruit here on the nose. A bit of malt sweetness breaks up all the hops, but ultimately, the pine, black pepper, and grapefruit qualities from the hops win out.

T: Similar to the aroma, the dominant flavor on the palate is grapefruit-derived hop flavors. I half-expected an upsurge of bitter, piny hop flavors on the back end, but no. The bitterness is really well restrained here, seemingly replaced with savory, nonintrusive caramel malts and bright citrus peel. Nonintrusive is the key word here - to me, an overt malt backbone can kill an IPA worse than excessive hop bitterness can, and this strikes a balance between the two aspects. As it warms up, the flavor really takes on a savory, herbal bend to it, especially on the finish.

M: The texture features good dryness, however it could be a bit lighter in my opinion. Still, I like the lack of palate wrecking bitterness here. I'd almost call it 'soft' - but not quite.

O: What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't really expecting too much here, but I'm honestly impressed with this offering. This is a great example of a 'balanced' IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 22:41:51 | More by ThisWangsChung

bstave

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into regular pint glass.

A- Poured a deep hazy golden with very little head and no lacing.

S- Smell is superb. Big citrusy hops explode in your nostrils.

T- Taste doesn't quite follow the awesome nose but certainly does not disappoint. Big citrusy flavor and sweet malt backbone.

M- Nice amount of carbonation, yet a bit lacking in body.

O- This is a very solid NW IPA. Very enjoyable and one that I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 03:25:18 | More by bstave

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy golden amber with hints of copper. Fine two finger off-white head with great retention and pillowy lacing. Nice aroma of piney and herbal hops, citrus, fruit juice. Flavor follows with pine and citrus hops, sweet malt and complex fruit flavors. Good pine hop finish with residual sweet malt. Medium bodied and light creaminess. A well made IPA with a great balance of hop and malt with interesting fruit juice flavors to keep interest high.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 03:14:07 | More by LiquidAmber

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up last night at the COOP.... poured into my little CC goblet.. the brew is slightly hop hazed orange.. only okay retention with a good head.

Nose is good citrus zest... slight caramel malt.. maybe some pine in there.

Pithy citrus... tangerine? and some piney hops... sorta oily and yummy... a touch too much malt for my liking, but it is a minor bitch..

Nicely balanced PNW IPA... I dig it overall, but it could stand to be a touch drier on the palate.

3.5/4/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:39:46 | More by JohnGalt1

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Apocalypse IPA pours a hazy straw color with a really nice head. The aroma is citrus and herbal hops and just a hint of light malt. There is a nice balance of citrusy hops and light, sweet malt. The finish retains the balance, with a nice resiny character. Overall a really nice IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 06:59:57 | More by ericj551

iD9

California

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured in a straight pint.

Appearance: A medium bodied amber, crystal clear through the middle and... oh wow the carbonation. Tons of carbonation in this guy. Head retention is pretty good for an IPA. It seems a little on the light side but I also usually drink my IPAs out of the bottle instead of in a glass.

Smell: A little pine, a little resin, a little citrus. I get some of the floral notes of the hops but its not kicking me in the face like I expected. Not bad, its just not standing out at me right now, I wonder if its my glassware? There is a little something I can't quiet place in this beer, it seems a bit off for some reason.

Taste: There's the hops I was looking for, you can't smell it but you can taste it on the front end and the back. Not the hop bomb that Firestone's Union Jack or Bear Republic's Racer 5 is but its nice and subtle, a little more in the PNW style.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied but extremely solid. Chewy-deliciousness, just the way an IPA should be.

Drinkability: Very good drinkability. It doesn't smash me the way some of these high IBU IPAs do. All those hops really wear out my pallet fast, this beer doesn't suffer from that problem. Hurray beer!

Overall a very solid, very well presented beer. Not earth shattering by any means but superior in its fundamental strengths. Good job.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 03:23:23 | More by iD9

philbertk

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22 oz. Bottle purchased @ Chuck's 85th Hop Shop, Ballard, Seattle for $4.59 + Tax. No sediment. Thin light lace bright white wispy head. Clear bright thin pale gold color. Big aromatic citrus hop front. Dry sweet light textured crisp tangy grapefruit citrus hint of grassy pine burpy hop mild malt body. Very aromatic. Very mild hop spice clean dry citrus end. Herbal floral easy o drink hoppy balanced mild malt IPA. (4.25 / 5.0)

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 21:29:30 | More by philbertk

Wetpaperbag

Washington

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

A- Beer is nice and golden reddish orangish amber color with a thick two finger head that is very clingy and sticky.

S- Big grapefruit smell in the nose, not so much pine but some lemon, perhaps Buddhas hand zest. There is a slight ginger and gin smell too.

T- The taste has a big malt presence that helps the hop flavor. Bready and roasty come though the flavor. The hops are grapefruity and clean with a nice wonderful spruce tip taste to it. Solid brew.

M- Thick to medium body in the feel.

D- Very easy to drink, this is a well rounded brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 02:33:44 | More by Wetpaperbag

oberon

North Carolina

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

Poured into an oversized wine glass a hazed deep orange with a sticky one finger white that left broken rings of lace as it settled slowly.A mix of resiny and earthy hop mixed with caramel/biscuit malt and sweet alcohol,almost candy-like in the sweet alcohol note.Big earthy tones at the onset along with pine resin hop flavors,a big sweet alcohol dipped fruit element comes in late.This is a very earthy toned hopped ipa,a bit different but I like it.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 22:44:56 | More by oberon

superspak

Michigan

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

22 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but was purchased recently. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a nice 1-2 finger dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big grapefruit, orange zest, tangerine, floral, pineapple, orange rind, lemon zest, pine, honey, light caramel, and floral earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of hops and malt sweetness. Taste of grapefruit, orange zest, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, floral, pine, grass, honey, light caramel, light bread, and floral earthiness. Moderate floral and citrus bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, citrus zest, pineapple, floral, light pine, honey, light caramel, and floral earthiness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance and complexity of hop flavors; with a great balance of hops/malt that still showcases the hop flavors; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy and fairly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice IPA! Great balance and complexity of hop and malt flavors; and very smooth to drink. No complaints at all, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:39:15 | More by superspak

Hendry

Vermont

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

Very slight cloudiness in this golden orange IPA with a pleasant head of light foam that leaves somewhat quickly leaving a consistent cap.

The nose is typical in the North-West vein. When other reviewers refer to BIG grapefruit and tangerine in the nose, as they do with so many other IPAs, I have to wonder what they are comparing it to? I keep smelling fresh cantaloupe and caramel with a hint of alcohol.

When I think of BIG grapefruit, in terms of a single IPA, I think of AleSmith, which really hits the mark at an extra $1.50 per bomber. The characteristics of the North-West & South-West IPAs are clearly different and something I am smelling and tasting with more definition each time I sample.

The flavors, to my palate, are a nice example of a NW IPA,but certainly nothing that blows me away. More lingering flavors of cantaloupe and raw Bavarian pretzel dough: same thing many others deliver in a similar fashion. Easily as good as Gigantic IPA and very much in that same Oregon style that is becoming more familiar to me.

I recommend the $5 bomber rather than investing $12 in the six pack to see if Apocalypse is your taste or not. If you are looking for a more truly defined grapefruit/pine/tangerine nose,flavor and aftertaste, spend the extra buck-and-a-half on the AleSmith bomber and you won't regret it.

After getting spoiled like a brat to our Vermont offerings from Lawson's, Hill Farmstead, and The Alchemist, there are very few "six-pack" beers that really make a lasting impression in their wake.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 02:22:56 | More by Hendry

GreenCard

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: orangey-copper brown, hazy, thick layer of tight-beaded yellowy foam

Aroma: caramel, passion-fruit, lemon rind, strawberries

Flavor: biscuity malt profile with a mellow sweetness offset by a really balanced hop bitterness; hint of orange; finishes dryish with a lingering hoppiness

Mouthfeel: medium body, gentle carbonation, crisp

Other comments: This is a really well-balanced IPA. Tasty and easy-drinking. Not overly hoppy and not overly malty. It's in the Goldilocks Zone!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 21:45:11 | More by GreenCard

SkurvvyPirate

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on Tap.

A: Light and bright orange in color, almost looks like a Hef. Really pleasant color.

S: Not a lot of strong smell, a hint of tropical fruit, maybe pineapple.

T: Mostly tropical fruit, a little bit of an earthy taste.

M: The carbonation was perfect, a little more than usual in an IPA but I liked it. Finished smoother than most IPAs. Very enjoyable mouthfeel.

O: I really enjoyed this beer. I drank two in a row and could have stuck with it. Not your average IPA

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 20:51:46 | More by SkurvvyPirate

Pete27lax

New York

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to pkasten for this extra in a trade! Had this one on 10/16/12

Looks good, not too different from a typical IPA look. Hazy light orange, head dissipates some what quickly but leaves some nice lacing along the glass.

Smell is great! In your face fruity hop smell. Pineapple and orange really take over the smell but grapefruit is also present. Definitely the high point of this beer.

Taste is solid. Very good but nothing mind blowing. Not extremely flavorful which was a slight let down and not what I expected after enjoying the smell so much. Good balance of piney and citrusy hops. Good bitterness as well.

Mouthfeel is very nice but a bit to carbonated in my opinion. Bitterness hits the palate nicely. A fuller bodied ipa which is always nice.

Overall this is a very solid IPA. Very drinkable and would not shy away from buying more if it were available in my area.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 00:27:47 | More by Pete27lax