HellRazer - DuClaw Brewing Company

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a moderately hazy burnished copper color. The head is a two finger offwhite shade. It features a nice creaminess and okay retention.

S: This seems to be very malty - crystal malt, to be precise - with a lot of caramel, marzipan, and toffee. Sadly, the Motueka hops aren't very present, but they do impart a combination of grassy noble characteristics and grapefruit qualities. Typical of many DuClaw offerings, there's almost a peppery tone to the yeast used.

T: In a way, it drinks like a typical IPA, but the finish has a peppery zest to it. Before that, an initial wave of malt sweetness and a midtaste of grapefruit and orange help tie things together. It's really not very bitter at all, just spicy. Subtle expressions of herbs pop up as well. Aside from being just a hair sweet at times, I like the balance of this one, if not the boldness.

M: I find many IPAs that prodigiously use crystal malt have a coarse sharpness to them - and sadly this is no exception. Luckily, it's clean enough where it doesn't really linger too harshly. Carbonation and texture thickness are about par for a typical IPA.

O: If you're not going to make a great IPA, at least make a unique one. It doesn't quite fit into the former category, but this does enough to be considered the latter. Even if it's not necessarily worth investing a case of, it's certainly good enough to try once. Just don't expect bold grapefruit and pine hoppiness.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:04:48 | More by ThisWangsChung

SFC21

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 15:52:29 | More by SFC21

earlholman

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

05-14-2013 13:39:08 | More by earlholman

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9%

05-12-2013 19:14:54 | More by whallgren

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

05-10-2013 23:54:42 | More by Rhettroactive

JakeDebus

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-10-2013 15:03:13 | More by JakeDebus

Magery

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

05-09-2013 00:57:18 | More by Magery

lupercmda

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +9%

05-08-2013 02:52:31 | More by lupercmda

Hockey_Fan

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

05-06-2013 18:24:01 | More by Hockey_Fan

Lurkerson

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

05-04-2013 04:37:24 | More by Lurkerson

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

-death defying levels of New Zealand Motueka hops.

A: Ferric oxide with a translucent nature, a weak milky colored thin head with a light moderatly paced effervecse. Light speckled lacing.

S: The death defying levels sure weren't utilized during the late aromatic stage addition. Faint tropical fruit skin, pineapple-orange with a really faint ,not even respectable let alone hellrazing, level of aromatic appeal that was more faux pale then anything else. A different, refreshing twist with a unique hop profile really missed the mark by skimpping on the late aromatic hop additions and really hard to appreciate. A bit of butterscotch.

T: Flavor is a bit malty, creamy, with some tropical grassiness, dried tropical fruit skin, butterscotch sweetness and a dry spicy leave. Small hints of fresh lemon and toasted grains.

M: Medium maltiness, light carbonation, spicy floral hops off the tongue are the highlight.

O: Somewhat respectable level of hop bitterness, but hardly justifiable of thier warning label. Moderate levels, sweet, smooth malt profile has an unique hop profile from the New Zealand motueka hops. Very easy to consume, a suitable summer ipa, where the malt sweetness and the tropical fruitiness from the moteuka will be at home poolside in multiple quantities. Maybe my only beef against this is the misapporpiate name and a underperforming nose that failed to capitalize on its unique, fresh and fruity quality to entice and bring in the drinker with mooted appeal.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:02:35 | More by beerthulhu

bigeyedfish89

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

04-26-2013 23:52:26 | More by bigeyedfish89

voodoo

Maryland

4/5  rDev +9%

04-23-2013 16:32:41 | More by voodoo

HoppySailor

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

04-21-2013 21:28:09 | More by HoppySailor

ROGUE16

Delaware

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

04-19-2013 19:06:40 | More by ROGUE16

WeissBoy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

04-14-2013 03:53:23 | More by WeissBoy

BobsledTM

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

04-14-2013 00:25:40 | More by BobsledTM

TomG2751

Maryland

3/5  rDev -18.3%

04-11-2013 16:40:09 | More by TomG2751

Hophead420

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

04-11-2013 06:04:51 | More by Hophead420

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a nice brownish orange color - slightly unfiltered with a good finger at least of head initially. Head disappates to a nice film on top and a solid ring around the glass. Smell is hoppy but difficult to place in a particular category - good but not over the top. Taste is slightly malty with a good balance with the hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 00:45:58 | More by Oakenator

UncleNeighborChris

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -72.8%

04-05-2013 14:44:45 | More by UncleNeighborChris

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

04-02-2013 02:50:10 | More by rolltide8425

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Ba Review #263
Served On: 3/29/2013
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 7.5%
Date/ Code: -

This was from a sixer baught at Evergreen Liquors in Frederick ($7.99).

Look: Poured a dark orange color. Head was a think coating of beige suds. Lacing was thin and minimal. Carbonation was also low.

Smell: Sweet English malts behind a sharp hop edge. Also some honey and fusel alcohol.

Taste: Very easy on the palate. First was a sweet English malt that resembled the honey character from the nose. The middle was a smooth and refreshing grassy quality. The finish started off with some light bitterness and ended with a fairly clean aftertaste.

This was a solid IPA which could border on a session ale. It was very light on the palate for the 7.5% ABV, but still was very drinkable and would be great on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 16:16:57 | More by CraftBeerTastic

t0rin0

California

2.75/5  rDev -25.1%

03-28-2013 03:46:47 | More by t0rin0

TheBigBoy

Pennsylvania

2.25/5  rDev -38.7%

03-25-2013 00:43:48 | More by TheBigBoy