Snake Handler Double IPA - Good People Brewing Company

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a deep orangish color with good carbonation and a huge dirty white cap and great lacing

S: Grapefruit, caramel malt and light booze

T: Big body and boozey with a malt forward presence, hops present grapefruit, grass and orange peel with a light dash of pineapple. Finishes w/ a medium bitterness and booziness

M: Medium to big body on this, loads of flavor, malty

O: A cut above average and pretty darn tasty overall.

Serving type: can

03-09-2012 03:26:29 | More by barleywinefiend

drabmuh

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

At the time of this review, this beer is #42 on the "Top Beers - American Double / Imperial IPA" list on beeradvocate.com, also #2 on the "Top Beers - South" list. Served in a Good People pint glass, if you could you would too. Beer is orangish / clear with a huge off white head, moderate retention, moderate carbonation. Lots of lacing, looks like a good IPA.

Aroma is piny, sweet, a little resiny, and mild fruits, Smell fine, this one is going to be a little on the malty side I can tell.

It hides the alcohol well. Medium in body, very bitter finish, hops, very nice, it is a little sweet / malty, nice but not excellent. I could definitely drink a few of these and I'd be relatively happy if this were my local DIPA but there are definitely better IPAs out there. I might have this again.

Serving type: can

03-07-2012 13:54:23 | More by drabmuh

nhudson

Alabama

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Glad this beer is now in can form. Good news is that it will be available once a quarter. This beer fresh is just amazing and can stand up with any DIPA in the country. Its malty, resiny, piny, hoppy and amazing...

A: Slight orange haze color, with a good white head with excellant lacing. Pour this in a pint glass and it will stick!

S: Amazing that this beer can produce such an aroma. When fresh its Resiny and Piney with Citrus notes. Not only do you get this but the smell of a faint maltiness is in there as well. I would also say that it might have a slight bready aroma that comes through in the finish.

T: Up front the hop bitterness takes over then the alcohol comes in which brings in a welcoming maltiness to this beer. Its citrus, melon, piney and the ever so longing of malt that rounds everything out. This is a big beer and it's very balanced among hops, malt and alcohol

M: Very nice mouthfeel, sticky and well carbonated for style.

O: I wish I could get this beer fresh on a weekly basis, but I can't and neither can anyone else. I know the amount of reviews are up there, but in all seriousness this is among some of the best DIPA's in the country.

Serving type: can

03-03-2012 03:09:03 | More by nhudson

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can, sent to Portland via my buddy bluepred (who, I believe, got it from unclejedi - great teamwork!). Cracked and glugged on a rainy/snowy day, the last vestiges of winter before (we hope) spring arrives. Poured to a pint glass.

A: Caramel orange-brown with the finest haziness, a little reddish glow at its core, warm and inviting. Carbonation is adequate, not overly abundant. Head is phenomenal, almost 2 fingers of dense ivory, rocky and pitted, very sturdy. Lacing is equally amazing, clinging in foamy clumps and dripping film - the similarity between and the melting snow outside is noteworthy.

S: Evergreen/pine whiffs and an enticing spice. Oranges and a hint of cloves(?)... an oddly 'holiday' aroma. Good strength but not what I'd call 'powerful'.

T: Sappy pine resin and herbal/green lupulin are strong in this one. Leafy bitters and mildly tangy citrus are offset by enough sugary caramel and toasted grain to strike a balance. Big, robust flavor profile - a bit shocking to my taste buds, to be honest. But I like it a lot - there are no punches pulled and the result is a memorable DIPA. I wish there wasn't a notable metallic twang marring the finish - that's a little disappointing.

M: Body skews just slightly to the heavy side, with some latent stickiness (but its not negatively 'cloying'). A spark of biting bitterness, then mellower/creamier feel. Long-lasting finish with a 'cheery' alcohol warmth - and that hint of metal.

O: An enjoyable DIPA, one that ranks among the better I've recently tried. Drinks far too easily for a +9% beer, balance is excellent, flavor is spot-on. I'd like to get more of this - thanks Mark & Jim!!!

Serving type: can

03-01-2012 14:55:14 | More by msubulldog25

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: golden orange color with a decent sized off-white head and great lacing throughout.

S: melon, citrus, sweet caramel malt, and a touch of bread.

T: focused on the hops - melon, citrus, great bitterness with a touch of sweetness.

M: coats the tongue, but the carbonation alleviates that. Crisp for how much body there is. Too thick when cold - let it warm up and release more carbonation.

O: very drinkable and excellent overall. This is one of my favorite double IPAs. Can't think of a much better way to be introduced to a brewery. This is awesome.

Serving type: can

02-20-2012 23:28:17 | More by Holland

Pete27lax

New York

3.95/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 2/16/12. Thanks to Kirkpjr for sending me this one!

Pours from the can a hazy amber color. Not too much head on this one, not great retention. Decent lacing around the glass as well.

Smell is pretty good, not particularly strong. The strongest smell im getting is citrus hops. Grapefruit is a noticeable scent. Caramel malts are also slightly noted.

Taste is very good. Blast of hop bitterness up front, strong citrus and floral hops are noticed. Alcohol is also present but is expected due to the ABV. Alcohol isnt overwhelming though and is less noticeable after a few sips. Malt sweetness is also very nice.

Mouthfeel was awesome! Not intensely thick but a nice slickness to it. Coats the mouth nicely and has just the right amount of carbonation.

Overall this was a really good iipa in my opinion. Great taste and backed up by an awesome mouthfeel. Only downside would be the light smell but very enjoyable overall.

Serving type: can

02-16-2012 06:06:54 | More by Pete27lax

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to CurtisMcArthur for hooking me up with this one. Cheers!

Deep orange color, slightly hazy with a one finger off-white head that leaves lots of spots of lace.

The aroma is very light, even after letting this beer warm up for a while before serving. A bit of orange rind just tickles the nose. While the hops may be a bit stealthy on the nose, they are all there on the palate. Big, dank hoppy flavor - pine, grapefruit, orange.

Juicy with a big peppery bitter finish. Medium body with good carbonation. A bit of sweetness resolves to a dry finish.

A very nice DIPA. I recommend it and would definitely have it again, given the chance.

Serving type: can

02-06-2012 00:14:59 | More by CliffBrake

BenSelf

Alabama

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Good People recently released this beer in cans and I was eager to try it out, as I enjoyed it so much on tap. This beer pours up with a creamy head and a warm amber hue. The aroma is loaded with sweet orange, floral, and pine notes. The flavor is full of orange and lemon zest, honeysuckle, fresh grass, and maybe a little grapefruit. The mouthfeel is excellent, coating every taste bud for hours. While not especially bitter, this beer is a palette wrecker. Enjoy it while it lasts; I understand they're only canning it once a quarter!

Serving type: can

02-05-2012 21:15:17 | More by BenSelf

sepharious

Alabama

4.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Snake in a can...more than a joke you pull on unsuspecting friends, this beer is a hoppy explosion of malt that now can be taken to the home fridge in a convenient package. The piney, citrus nose gives way to a rich malt backbone that would stand up well to spicy foods or an intense philosophical debate. From first pour to last sip, Snakehandler is a beer that doesn't shy away from being bold yet does not overwhelm as it snakes its way into your veins and massages your brain. Poured correctly, the thick frothy head rests comfortably atop liquid gold, a visual delight that is only eclipsed by the forthcoming tasting. Assembled in a judicious four-pack (believe me, it's for the best) it will make for a evening of fun and delight for all involved. Pick some up and see if you can handle the Snake.

Serving type: can

02-03-2012 21:59:56 | More by sepharious

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz canned Jan 23, 2012. Super fresh. Served at around 45F.

Pours lightly hazy orange with a good light tan head that leaves pretty lacing and holds a good cap.

Aroma features tons of citrus hops, particularly orange and tangerine, but also some grapefruit, apricot, floral hops, hints of grass and pine with a good caramel malt presence that plays nicely with the hops.

Flavor also features tons of orange and tangerine citrus with more grapefruit than the nose, resinous hops, a little pine, good caramel malt backbone offering a bit of sweetness to combat the good bitterness on the finish. A bit of alcohol detected, but not bad at all for over 9%.

Mouthfeel is medium/full bodied, creamy, a bit sticky with nice carbonation.

Really impressive stuff. Very juicy DIPA, very drinkable. Quite a treat!

Serving type: can

02-01-2012 03:37:10 | More by elgiacomo

Reaper16

Alabama

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. can consumed out of the can, but some was poured out in a pint glass to assess appearance and aroma.

The first run of Snakehandler cans just came out this week here in Alabama. It's a very good Double IPA that I've enjoyed on-tap on many different occasions. Will the quality translate to this canned release?

Pours golden-hued sunshine tangerine color. I mean, that sounds fancy I guess, but lots of double IPAs have that color. Nice, sudsy head here. It's a fine looking beer. Not much to say other than that this is how IIPAs are supposed to look.

Resiny, oily, pine aromas abound from the glass/can. This that sticky-icky. The aroma is more pine-focused than I remember this beer usually being. The lush stonefruit of the draught version is still here, but is taking a backseat to the stickier aromas. You can also smell a significant amount of malt sweetness.

The flavor is very balanced between the beer's three central elements: resiny hop flavor, fruity hop flavor, and sweet malt flavor. The sticky pine from the nose is still here, but the ripples of peach and nectarine flavors are in fine balance with them. The malt comes across candy-sweet with its caramel malts so it's a good thing that the pine is there to counteract what is frankly more maltiness than I prefer in my double IPAs. Not much a finish on this can, which is disappointing. This beer exists in a middle-ground between what we traditionally think of as East Coast IIPA and Midwest IIPAs.

Despite the malt flavors being strong here, the body isn't East Coast-thick. It coats the tongue with an oily slick feeling but it isn't thick (which is nice). Overall, this is a good double IPA. I've had better renditions of Snake Handler on-tap, but it is really nice for Alabama craft beer drinkers like me to have a fresh, local double IPA meet the versatility of cans.

Serving type: can

01-28-2012 21:00:50 | More by Reaper16

GPHarris

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a - poured a one finger creamy tan head into a snifter that left good lacing and sheeting throughout. the beer billowed nicely as well. the body was a bright amber color.
s - this beer is very aromatic, i can smell the hops from 2-3 feet away after i poured it in my glass. overwhelmingly piney with some grapefruit aromas but it has a nice caramel backbone here as well.
t - big piney and resiny hops with some peppery spice in there.
m - thick and coating yet slightly bubbly from the carbonation. really nice.
o - this beer was canned 2 days ago so it was fresh as fresh can be. terrific beer and snakehandler is dialed in right now. for a while i thought i was drinking a dreadnaught.

Serving type: can

01-26-2012 15:19:57 | More by GPHarris

STKPICR0720

Alabama

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

This is a big DIPA. Great brew a little sweeter than I like but wow is this good. The alcohol is there but not overwhelming. You most definitely will not drink many. Great to have this brew made in Alabama and also great to hear that they are going to can this beer also.

Cheers

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2012 19:50:59 | More by STKPICR0720

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Amber copper with a one finger head. Good lacing to it.
S- Aroma has a nice citrus fruit aroma. Assertive hoppiness but there is a sugary presence.
T- Big hops right away. Plenty of citrus flavor. I would not have anticipate 100+ IBUs though. At the end a light caramel sweetness blends in.
M- For as big of a beer as it is, it's very smooth. A lingering sweetess to it.
O- A very good IIPA. It's big in flavor and alcohol so it's hard to put down a bunch, but the componants are all there. Pretty darn good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 06:17:12 | More by jsprain1

wndsrfr

Alabama

4.97/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

@ the GP tap room is the best place to enjoy this libation. Fresh, scented and full of flavor.

This is a high gravity offering that has become my favorite.

The color is is inviting with a rich head.

Taste is strong with a delicious and mild bitter.

Extremely smooth, dangerously smooth!

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2011 11:02:19 | More by wndsrfr

bushwhacker

Alabama

3.88/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had it draught. A darker amber color with minimal head and little lacing. Respectable robust appearance with a 'here it comes' smell. Good balance of heavy malt and hops with some bitterness on the aftertaste. Not what I expected but a welcomed surprise. A good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 23:48:56 | More by bushwhacker

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with a somewhat short, but decent head. Given that this is a growler, that certainly seems acceptable. Very malty for a DIPA, but quite a nice hop profile to go right along with it. Lots of pine and some bitter citrus, with a zing of sweetness at the end from all of the malt. Actually somewhat balanced with all the big malt and big hops together. Personally, I'd prefer a little less sweetness, but that being said, I enjoyed this.

Serving type: growler

07-25-2011 02:27:01 | More by Georgiabeer

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A couple 4 oz. pours into a taster glass.

4.0 A: Clear medium orange. About half a finger of creamy, white head. Retention is average with just a touch of lacing.

4.0 S: Mix of citrusy, spicy, and piney hops. Grapefruit, lots of pineapple, some mango, and orange. Malts offer a fairly strong caramel aroma with biscuity malts overall. Nice.

4.0 T: Same fruitiness as listed in the nose, though surprisingly a lot more intense. Malts offer a good bit of caramel and a strong biscuity vibe. Good taste, but too biscuity for me. Light sugary flavor. Moderate bitterness.

3.5 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation, especially for a growler. A bit chewy and could be creamier.

3.5 D: Good beer despite being overly biscuity.

Serving type: growler

07-17-2011 19:48:30 | More by DavoleBomb

CaskBeerouac

Alabama

4.72/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a nice hazy amber. About a finger of off-white head that dissipated quickly. Good lacing that stuck around throughout.

Beautiful aroma. Pine, citrus, floral, all hoppy goodness.

Pine and floral notes really shine through. Great malt backbone to balance out, slightly biscuity and bitter. Alcohol is well-incorporated.

Leaves your mouth high and dry, and ready for more. It's a pretty easy drinking brew considering how big it is. Well crafted.

Not quite as much of a citrus bomb as some other DIPAs, but make no mistake...this is a hop bomb. Good quality brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2011 16:20:22 | More by CaskBeerouac

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

lantern corps beer summit 2010 - day 1, oct 8/2010. Jw347 contributed this one. thanks john!

64oz growler.

pours crystal clear amber with a nice cap of fine white head. the head drops fairly fast and leaves spotty lace as it falls.

aroma is good. pine and grapefruit. biscuit. caramel. whole wheat bread and cracker. light alcohol. hops are a bit powdery.

taste is good. powdery grapefruit and pine, slightly resiny. medium bitterness level. biscuit. whole wheat bread and cracker. caramel. light alcohol.

mouthfeel is good. medium body. just under medium carbonation level.

drinkability is good. great balance. not all that complex, but a good dipa.

Serving type: growler

02-04-2011 05:26:01 | More by grub

crizmo2352

Alabama

4/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a burnt orange amber color with a thick 2 finger head sprinkled with large bubbles. Head sticks around nicely, eventually reducing to a thin pad that stuck with me to the bottom of the glass, leaving lacy rings all the way down. The nose is pretty pungent. Bright floral citrus balanced with pine. The palate follows the nose with grapefruit and orange mingling with resiny evergreen up front, tamed a bit by a warming malt sweetness mid palate. Just enough malt to prevent it from becoming medicinal. Finished with a lingering resiny bitterness in the back of the throat. Gracefully treads the fine line between hop heads dream and astringent tonic. Although I enjoyed it, drinkability isn't great for me because it just gets too intense. That may be the case for the style in general though. Overall very impressed with this brew.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2010 04:32:30 | More by crizmo2352

ztaylor1

Alabama

3.83/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

this is my first dipa review, so bear with me...

a- good looking beer, poured a hazy amber with a nice creamy one finger head. very impressive.

s- lots of piney goodness, and a bit of an orange/citrus aroma. very sweet smelling.

t- the sweet, caramel malt balances the powerful pine flavors. the alcohol is very dominant, but not overbearing.

m- much smoother than i expected. the carbonation is just enough to delight.

d- the alcohol is the only reason i had one. but a very good offering from a very rad brewery.

Serving type: growler

11-08-2010 03:31:27 | More by ztaylor1

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

again big thanks to deacon for another great growler. served cold and enjoyed on 09/05/2010.

the pour was superb, rich amber in color with a lightness to it that came through the slightly hazy body. a big head of white pops up on top of it quickly and rises to about two fingers in height before falling back down to earth.

aroma of light pine, rich malts coming through the air almost immediatly. a light biscuit and buttery sweet flavor coming through cuts the piney hops wonderfully providing a really nice balance here. the first sip was near perfect feel for me, rich medium body with a great carbonation allowed the flavor to just pop. nice piney hops, light citrus notes, mostly sweet orange and tangerine like are coming together with a great bit of sweetness. finishing with a stellar dryness and light pop of alcohol. it was a hit with everyone.

overall a very solid dipa and a really great beer to chill and relax with after dinner. really liked this one.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2010 15:42:58 | More by mikesgroove

ncfranklin

Alabama

3.8/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a large snifter at Mason's in Huntsville Al.

A : A very dark caramel color with a huge creamy head. Very robust in appearance.

S: Piney hop is heavy, with only a slight level of sweet malt in the nose.

T : Far more balanced than the smell would indicate. The hops are prevalent, but not overpowering. A middle sweetness leads to a small tingly finish. Only a trace of alcohol is just a minor warming.

M : Thick and heavy. Seems very carbonated, but the body keeps it from being fizzy in the mouth.

D : A delight to drink, but the ABV will shy me away from too many.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2010 13:50:55 | More by ncfranklin

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.6/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a St Bernardus glass.

A: The clearest double IPA I've ever seen. A gorgeous red amber with a yellow tint. Very nice! No head to speak of.

S: Grapefruit cuts through the scents and is the main aroma. Some hops are noticeable as well.

T: Strangely watery; I feel it could use more carbonation (it's been in a growler for only three days, but this could have contributed). Despite this, flavours are strong. Snake Handler tastes like an IPA -- crisp hops have a muted, oily character and citrus shines through -- but has a malty bent. The aftertaste is clean and lightly bitter. It's an okay beer, I just wish it had a heavier main taste.

M: Not much here. Watery-smooth.

D: Very drinkable (alcohol is only vaguely present), but not great as far as the style goes. In the end, it is just too *thin*. I can't recommend it, but I might buy it again.

Serving type: growler

08-22-2010 18:16:08 | More by AgentMunky