Southpaw IPA - Original Gravity Brewing Company

Fanhitter

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the OG Pub on 9-30-2012 during a dismal offering by the Lions.

Pour is solid. 1/4 inch of head, pours an autumnal amber, with a yellowish hue around the bottom of the pint glass. What I expect from a fresh brewed IPA.

Smells a tad malty, but moreso a floral hoppiness, with a nice citrusy overtone. More of grapefruit peel than anything else.

Taste is mellow and very dry, not very characteristic of many modern IPAs. This beer stays smooth, easy drinking and flavorful, despite being void of much of the sometimes offensive hop amounts seen in other flagship IPAs.

Upon the initial draw, the consistency is light and mildly syrupy, almost Guinness-like in its pull, but offers a very balanced amount of carbonation when swallowed; a pleasant gulp.

Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable beer. Really liked it the first time I tried it a few months ago, and feel the same about it this time around. If I see this beer on tap it will always be in contention for one I'd order as far as IPAs go. This is the beer that brought me to the brewery, and for an easy-drinking draft IPA, is one of my favorites. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a smooth pint with some gusto.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 19:35:25 | More by Fanhitter

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-14-2013 23:08:15 | More by HarmonMW

rjcoy06

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

05-10-2013 21:50:37 | More by rjcoy06

smb4087

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9%

04-14-2013 03:42:39 | More by smb4087

Hoppyman49

4/5  rDev +9%

12-16-2012 02:38:08 | More by Hoppyman49

JVoyager

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9%

08-28-2012 23:52:38 | More by JVoyager

MButkus

2.25/5  rDev -38.7%

08-27-2012 20:56:26 | More by MButkus

gopens44

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

08-13-2012 22:29:15 | More by gopens44

thebends1

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

08-01-2012 20:03:35 | More by thebends1

pmeice86

Arizona

2/5  rDev -45.5%

07-26-2012 02:20:30 | More by pmeice86

HarrySTruman

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Minimal head, virtually no lacing, amber and cloudy appearance.

Smells of hops and tropical fruits. Orange and floral nodes, though bitter hops takes over the smell for the most part. Typical IPA smell, but quite inviting.

Tastes of a typical AIPA. Hops for bitterness, sweetness from citrus fruit. Not quite as bold as some AIPA's, pretty average overall flavor.

Mouthfeel was kind of syruppy and it wasn't well balanced. A bit more bitter than it needed to be for such a low ABV.

Overall this is pretty much an average IPA. Nothing I would seek out again, but nothing I would turn down on tap. It seemed like it was trying to be a big bold hopmonster, but it failed at that, instead it was a slightly unbalanced beer that felt a bit thick on the tongue, but the flavor was light. It just didn't have a direction.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2012 08:04:08 | More by HarrySTruman

cynical1027

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9%

02-20-2012 16:26:44 | More by cynical1027

BMMillsy

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

02-15-2012 22:15:50 | More by BMMillsy

schwee

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9%

01-19-2012 15:44:35 | More by schwee

brycevolk

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9%

11-15-2011 18:38:25 | More by brycevolk

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the brewpub. It's a dark orange color, orange-brown almost, with a thick wet-looking foam. The dark color is a clue that this will be caramel malt heavy, not my favorite approach to an IPA, but it comes down to personal opinion.

The aroma confirms that caramel malt plays a big role, giving strong balance to the hops, which are more citrusy than floral. Very approachable smell and probably a good approach for the median drinker, just not the hops-heavy construction I prefer.

An the taste is the same. Equal doses of citrus and caramel, hops coming out ahead in general but not enough for me. Still, well crafted as a standard American IPA.

Refreshing and drinkable and all that, just not aggressive enough for my tastes. I stayed with the 440 Pepper Smoker after this.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 15:17:49 | More by TurdFurgison

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A growler filled on 11-Jun-10. It was opened yesterday for a few pints. My review is based on day two.

A: The growler opened with a vicious psssst. Unfortunately that seems to be all of the CO2 escaping. Poured into my glass, the ale is a dark tea color, brown and opaque. No head arose on the pour although, in fairness, an eggshell white head was plentiful yesterday.

S: The IPA is well-balanced, offering up citrusy hops alongside a strong caramel base. The hoppiness is deceptive, strong but never jumping out at you like some IPAs are prone to do.

T: I appreciate the balance in the ale, the mingling of caramel and biscuit with sharp citrus hops. The caramel, as suspected, is rich and bready, a relatively sweet foundation for the hops. The hops, strong as they are, aren't in your face. Instead the bitterness slowly blooms into an all-out citrus assault. The peppery grapefruit flavors are quite strong by the last sip of my glass, leaving a long bitterness behind.

M: The gradual crescendo of hops is enjoyable, really bringing out the strength of the IPA. I don't mind the lack of carbonation during this second outing.

D: Yesterday, I was too burned out to review the ale. Today, I'm digging it. Well done, Original Gravity. I didn't appreciate Southpaw the first time around, my bad.

Serving type: growler

06-13-2010 00:29:14 | More by akorsak

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Golden hued copper with a medium white head that reduced to a thin cap and left spotty lace.

S-Lemon citrus hop aroma with a healthy underlying sweet caramel base.

T-Sharp, citrus hop forward pop. Nice backing caramel malt without being overly sweet. A well balanced taste profile.

M-Medium-light body quite sharp and crisp with good lingering bitterness.

D-A solid, easy to drink go to IPA. A nicely done beer that won't blow your doors off but it doesn't leave you hanging either.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2009 11:08:52 | More by Deuane