Organic IPA - Napa Smith Brewery

Lauthaha

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Beer is a rich, deep golden-copper color. Fairly murky, with a frothy head which recedes quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

Smell: There's a lot of sweetness in the nose, more so than with most AIPAs or IPAs. Warm, toasty caramel scent with slight bubblegum tones and a good amount of floral hops. Very beautiful bouquet here.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Beer is very rich...unfortunately, it's rich in some somewhat heinous areas. Upon first taste, there's a nearly-cloying sweetness which invades the palate. This is followed up quickly by some gentle carbonation which spreads a raisin-type sourness across the tongue. The malt character is very heavy though, with some beautiful buttery-toast tendencies. Hops are gently bitter, mostly floral, and last throughout the sip. Beer goes down very wet, lots of buttery-ness and gentle bitterness in the aftertaste. The foretaste is a 2.5, but the aftertaste is a 4.5, so I'm placing my rating right in the middle of those two.

Overall: I had never heard of Napa Smith or their products...a new beer store opened up next to my place of business, and I found a little four pack of these guys in the back of the cooler. Priced at $10, I'd say that was more than fair for this beer. An awesome AIPA, and a good beer in general.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 02:06:39 | More by Lauthaha

Ajlvt

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

05-21-2013 00:51:03 | More by Ajlvt

tazzman

Florida

3/5  rDev -12%

05-20-2013 22:46:51 | More by tazzman

2bet

Norway

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

05-20-2013 18:58:18 | More by 2bet

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.76/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

not saying this is world class or anything, but I am surprised to see it rated so low here. its actually a pretty darn good ipa. it pours a really hazy faded brass color, with an inch or just less of stable white head. I smell more bitter hops than anything, centennial or cascade or something else west coast and big, without being overly sticky and dank. there is a mild pale granular aroma as well. big hop flavors all the way through, but never falling out of balance. I think what maybe people don't like about this beer is all its yeast. it has a bit of sediment left in suspension, and it does impart some bready characteristics that might be unfamiliar to some. to me, I really enjoy the yeast in here, it reminds me of more of the Belgian style india pale ales, and it helps the finish be interesting without being just a straight hop bomb. medium body, very very brightly carbonated, and a balanced bitter aftertaste. its a well crafted beer overall, and my first from this brewery. I appreciate that its organic, and will look forward to trying some of their other stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 14:32:35 | More by StonedTrippin

LSx

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

04-25-2013 04:35:18 | More by LSx

bpasquini

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

04-22-2013 04:14:53 | More by bpasquini

juliusseizure

New York

3/5  rDev -12%

04-15-2013 01:47:20 | More by juliusseizure

IPA1978

Missouri

2.99/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A. Deep hazy copper with average head and lacing.

S. Sweet malt, fruity, herbal, sour funkiness.

T. Sweet caramel malt, granny smith and citrus like hops, some dark herbal earthy bitterness. Finishes with a weird funky dirty sock, bad parmesan flavor. If it weren't for the weird finish this would be a good beer.

M. Good carb, medium to heavy body.

O. This beer is good up front but once it gets to the back of your taste buds the funky cheese ruins every thing.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 01:43:03 | More by IPA1978

eriknordlund

Sweden

3/5  rDev -12%

04-07-2013 17:40:19 | More by eriknordlund

seagullbeer

California

2.23/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

A- cloudy brown, looks sorta like a fresh unfiltered apple juice, pours tall head that falls fast

S- apricots, fig newtons

T- bitter but not hoppy and bright that i like in ipas. has a bit of a syrupy caramel flavor. as i sip it i really enjoy it but the after taste isn't my favorite.

M- light on the front end heavy in the butt

O- okay beer but it is kinda pricey and comes in a four pack. not the complexity i want in an ipa. too heavy on the malt and caramel for my taste

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:48:11 | More by seagullbeer

snohojimbo

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +24.6%

03-26-2013 23:53:25 | More by snohojimbo

BuddhaBrowett

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev +10%

03-22-2013 18:37:23 | More by BuddhaBrowett

Aschap

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +24.6%

03-21-2013 16:46:02 | More by Aschap

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

03-19-2013 12:22:28 | More by grahamboudreaux

JohnQVD

New York

3/5  rDev -12%

03-17-2013 19:36:57 | More by JohnQVD

radknee

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This be my 1st review. Felt compelled to speak up since the beer only makes a 78 and I think it rates 85-90. Not savvy in all the lingo but here goes.

Pours a deep-orange copper with noticeable sediment. Head is moderate.

Smell is unique in my experience -- most prominent is SWEET CARAMEL, and fruity hops.

Taste matches smell with a sweet, creamy, delicious party in my mouth :-) Like other full-bodied beers I've had, it's like a meal-in-a-glass. Usually don't experience this kind of body with less than 9-10% alc.

Finishes with caramel stuck to the top of the palette, and a slightly bitter, grapefruity finish.

This is the BEST ORGANIC I've experienced -- and makes it onto my favorite beer list as well. It's unlike most IPAs I've had as hops aren't as in-your-face.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:54:14 | More by radknee

sseyler

New York

4.5/5  rDev +32%

03-12-2013 02:00:21 | More by sseyler

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Large, dense head. It recedes very slowly with plenty of peaks and chunky bits on the glass--plenty of blanket lace. The liquid is quite cloudy with an orange, dirty amber color.

Lots of caramel malt aroma. There's some floral hop, but it's in the background.

The hop is far more pronounced in the taste. Some definitive alcohol warmth on tongue up front. The finish is quite bitter like chewing a grapefruit rind. Average body but the carbonation is low, making it richer than expected.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 02:08:12 | More by smcolw

Mibarak

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +17.3%

02-27-2013 04:40:39 | More by Mibarak

jesus808

California

3.75/5  rDev +10%

02-22-2013 04:53:45 | More by jesus808

mcdsports

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%

02-20-2013 03:04:36 | More by mcdsports

msondel

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +24.6%

02-16-2013 23:39:59 | More by msondel

Jree261

California

3.65/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Foggy copper to brown, I love the color of this beer.

Smell: Dense malted aroma, nutty

Taste: Scorched earth finish, nuts, blue cheeses. The scorched finish is the longest lasting impression of the flavor. Overall, not bad, not great either.

Mouthfeel: Satisfying full body with a medium length finish. Nice warmth because of the 7.1% ABV level.

Overall: Average, a nice drinking beer. Not overpowering or very complex. I think it would pair well with spicy foods and nutty or blue cheeses. I would steer someone who was looking to get into I.P.A.s as a beginner toward this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 01:42:24 | More by Jree261

cosmonick

Indiana

3/5  rDev -12%

01-14-2013 03:36:12 | More by cosmonick