Hop Ottin' IPA - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

TSOFan88

Indiana

1.43/5  rDev -64.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Can't understand all the great reviews. Bought this at the store based on the BA score that they had put up of A or A- since I had not heard of the beer before(got it out of state). Maybe just a bad batch but not sure that I even want to try the 5 cans I have left.

Pours a clear amber with clear, ringing orange highlights. There is only a low, foamy head. Decent lacing follows down the side of the glass. Not bad, but could be much better.

Smell is of mango, booze, tangerine. Not as pungent as I'd like.

Taste is over the top of booze. Harsh hops kick in immediately with a harsh, metallic bite. There's only bitterness here, no hop flavor -- and this from a fan of other hoppy beers. It's just a punch in the face. . Too much booze, sloppily organized hops. Proof that great beer needs organization -- and it's sadly lacking here.

Mouthfeel is blah.

Overall, this is a pretty underwhelming beer. . Hops, booze, and skunk.

Gross. Drain pour.

Serving type: can

09-10-2011 06:16:01 | More by TSOFan88

Gooball201

New Jersey

1.98/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Was excited as a usual microbrewless liquor store in my area has improved selection. This was one I have heard about so decided to try.

Do not waste your money. I had 2 cans over 2 separate nights and drained the others in my sink.

Cloudy orange color.
Smelled of some hops but tasted syrupy.

Maybe these were old cans as there was no "Best by Date" on them but I will not be going back for another $10+ waste!

Leave Ottin in the can!

Serving type: can

11-07-2011 07:48:43 | More by Gooball201

hotstuff

Indiana

2.1/5  rDev -47.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This beer had a white head with small-medium sized bubbles that quickly diminished. The hue of this beer was amber and there was some yeast observed. The nose of this beer was fruity. I found this beer to be very bitter tasting which is not to my liking and it is not a beer high on my list that's for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2003 17:48:22 | More by hotstuff

alleykatking

Indiana

2.1/5  rDev -47.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured from 22oz bottle.

A- Pours a amberish brown color. One and a half finger white head shows great retention. Thick clumpy lacing on the sides of the glass as I drink this one down.

S- Interesting. Caramel bready malts with a little bit of toffee to it. Some light piney bitter hops in the background. Malt driven and I'm curious if this is a old bottle...

T- Light citrus hops in the front of this beer almost get crushed by a sea of caramel malts. Some light bready toffee flavors in the middle give way to a caramel filled hop bitterness in the back. Something is wrong with this picture I think. I am starting to think this is a old beer. Light metallic off flavors as well.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is a little light for the style I think. Flavors are mostly one sided with caramel malts being left on both my palate and long into the aftertaste. Alcohol very drying on the palate.

D- This was a half drank beer which turned into a drain pour. I was not impressed at all with this beer and to be honest either got a bad bottle or else this one was long past its prime. Will review again once I can get another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 00:36:09 | More by alleykatking

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.2/5  rDev -45.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Got this at De Bierkoning in Amsterdam.

From a bottle into a snifter.

APPEARANCE: Pours a two finger, off-white, medium looking, noisy head with good retention. Safety orange in color, perfectly clear with zero carbonation. Head slowly fades to a good foam cap. A slight wisp remains until the end and leaves touches of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Pales malts, bready malts, and some spicy, yeasty qualities. Fainter floral hops and some grainy notes. More of a Belgian pale nose actually; not as hoppy as expected for the style.

TASTE: Pale malts, bready with some earthy spices from the yeast. Some floral notes through the middle, but finishes quite bready and grainy with lots of pine and hop bitterness. Bold piney and bitter aftertaste lingers and lingers. Grainy and bitter, without much real flavor. There are definitely better in the style.

PALATE: This is the best part of the beer. Medium-full body with medium carbonation. Very creamy smooth on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes quite dry on the palate, but not quite astringent. Could be a little oilier, but a decent feel.

OVERALL: A disappointing effort really. Bitter for the sake of being bitter, and not much in terms of flavor. The nose was off for the style as well, reminding me more of a Belgian strong pale ale than an IPA. Needs to be re-worked, or perhaps even scratched in favor of a different hop profile. Not something I'd recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 12:14:13 | More by Jeffo

prg1976

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Clear darker amber in color. Decent head, fades quickly with good lacing.

Smells of malts more than hops. A little sweet smelling. Not much there really.

I don't taste the hoppiness that the labeling implies.

Sour tasting, slightly metallic. No hop flavor, not bitter. Not very good, imo.

Maybe an older batch, or not stored properly. May have to give it a second chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 02:39:45 | More by prg1976

righthereisay

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

It was amber, cream head.

Smell was hoppy, some citrus.

It had a nice body. Not a lot of carbonation.

Ii'm just not into IPAs. I guess for IPAs it was good. It was just hoppy and bitter. Just not my thing.

Again, I'm not pro-IPA. Take this review avec a grain of salt.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 19:26:31 | More by righthereisay

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.33/5  rDev -42.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

See-thru orangish amber body with a finger+ of fluffy cream-colored head. Head retention is good and there are plentiful sheets of lacing.

Smells very tame. A bit of hops, a bit of malt, and a slight hint of a weird medicinal smell.

Taste is tame also. Starts off with a promising sting of bitterness, but it quickly disappears and yields to a doughy maltiness. That medicinal character definitely comes into play and lingers in the aftertaste. Am I the only one who notices this weird medicinal character in AV's beers?

Medium body, moderate carbonation

Overall impression: A disappointingly mild IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 00:41:07 | More by PDXHops

jcalabre

California

2.5/5  rDev -38%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I originally sampled this beer on 26 January 2002. I am writing this review from my notes. This beer has a nice floral aroma, w/ an amber color. It's very hoppy. For me, it's a bit too hoppy. It's good, but not as good as Stone IPA , 2 Heart or Victory Hop Devil

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2003 02:06:06 | More by jcalabre

claminat420

Michigan

2.65/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- poured a slight transparent dark amber color. solid off white colored head. medium to thick lacing.

S- just a faint hop smell is all i could pick up.

T- no malt presence at all. light hoppy aftertase. weak and watery.

M- light bodied. medium/ heavy carbonation.

D- glad i bought a single.

Overall- this is one brew i kinda had hopes for. i was going to get a 6 pack which was priced 12.99 and i'm glad i just bought a single. it reminded me of a crap macro lager like bud, coors, etc just hopped alil more. nothing special and totally a overrated beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 07:58:12 | More by claminat420

jbhuxley

South Carolina

2.7/5  rDev -33%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours clear, copper in color with 3 fingers of frothy off white head. Good retention but hardly any lacing.

Smells strongly of citrus with honey, molasses and biscuits.

Strange taste. The bitterness is present, but not a ton of hop flavor behind it. I can't say much about it, there is just not much going on in the flavor department. Fairly bland.

Very light in body, almost watery. Very little carbonation.

There is nothing offensive about this beer, but at the same time, it has very little going for it. Appearance and smell got my hopes up, but the taste and mouthfeel were a bit disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 00:04:25 | More by jbhuxley

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A thick amount of head with a golden/copper color with a lot of bubbles running up the glass. The aroma is a faint amount of floral/lemon with a lot of grass. The malt nose was also absent with only a subtle amount extremely pale/almost adjunct aroma. Taste was a quick amount of surprisingly tasty citrus hops but quickly changes to a let down of a backing body by the malt (a sweet water flavor) and a very dry and pungent lemon/orange rind bitterness. The hops were not supported by the body of this beer and the balance of hop characteristics did not match up.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 03:00:00 | More by DrinkingDrake

oldgrowth

North Carolina

2.78/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slightly hazy copper color. Small head. Dissappeared quickly. Hints of vanilla, carmel, floral. Kinda medicine scent. Took a while to come through, little stronger as it warmed up. Wicked bitter, green hops and honey. Clean crisp in mouth. Drinkable, though very one dimensional. Would hardly call it "Complex" as the label does. I like bitter, but I would bring up the malts some.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2003 02:28:17 | More by oldgrowth

roan22

New Jersey

2.8/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

This beer looks and smells pretty decent, and even tastes good when you first you swallow a sip. But, wait a second, then it hits you...the disgusting aftertaste of this beer's caramel malts. I was told that's what they were, but to me the aftertaste tastes like a cross between gasoline and caramelized onions that have been sauteed too long, gross! I even tried two additional bottles out of the same case to make sure it wasn't just that one bottle, but they all tasted this way. This is a misstep for Anderson Valley but their Poleeko Gold Pale Ale is awesome, 1000 times better so give that a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2005 21:04:29 | More by roan22

DanielDavis421

California

2.85/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A decsent brew with little to offer, I did not get the hoppy sensation I was looking for, and for an IPA the flavour was pretty blaned! not a bad beer but from what everyone was telling me about it I found it to be very over rated!

Poured from a 22oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 21:38:50 | More by DanielDavis421

dedrinker

Kansas

2.85/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Dude, loved that amber color and nice creamy head.

Smells like a craft brewery tour - tons of malt steeping, mashing, boiling etc. Actually really a lot.

And it tastes that way too - way too much sweet wort-y flavor and not enough hops.

I heard they got bought out by somebody, but I guess they don't care to make a better beer any more than the previous owners did.

OK, so I'm picking up some hop bitterness on the finish. Sigh.

Serving type: can

08-18-2011 01:24:32 | More by dedrinker

Onenote81

North Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Pours a deep amber/orange with a decent white head on top. This retained well as it hung around almost the entire time. Decent spotty lacing. No prominent rings sticking though. Smelled of tart citrus and floral hops. Some malt in the background as well.

This is an incredibly spicy and bitter IPA. Balance is non-existent. I crave bitterness in my IPA's, but I also appreciate balance. This is peppery and bitter. I can't place any citrus or piney backbone, just harsh scalding bitterness. Mouthfeel is crisp and firm. Decent. I really couldn't drink more than one of these as my palate is torched. There's definitely better, more balanced West Coast IPA's out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2009 22:13:45 | More by Onenote81

mactrail

California

2.88/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Attractive golden amber color and nice carbonation. Hops are just overwhelming on the thin body. Harsh and medicinal aftertaste. Nose of perfumey hops is the only outstanding feature. Quite flowery aroma.

There are so many interesting and complex IPAs that are full of the many flavors of hops. This one is just one dimensional. Utterly bitter. Stick the long neck in your mouth and pull the trigger.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 06:16:27 | More by mactrail

MisterClean

California

2.9/5  rDev -28%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Sampled at homebrew club meeting

A - Poured golden with a 1-fingered, white head. Dissipated moderately slow and left little lacing.

S - Toffee and caramel. Hmm, no hops. Is this an IPA?

T - Toffee, caramel, and bittering hops.

M - Dominated by bittering hops, and thin. The malts and hops do not mesh in the mouthfeel. Almost as if they are completely separate!

D - This is less than what I expect from AV. No aroma or flavor hops were apparent in this example.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2009 05:52:36 | More by MisterClean

hoppytobehere

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -28%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured some a 12 oz can into a standard pint glass.

A: Amber body with generous 2 finger head. Great looking beer.

S: Oof. Smells like rotting fruit in a gym sock. Wasn't doing anything for me.

T: Luckily it tastes better than it smells. But this is way too fruity for my tastes.

M: Pretty balanced overall. Not too sticky like some IPAs.

O: Wasn't really impressed with this one, and I doubt I'll seek it out again. So many other better Californian IPAs, IMHO.

Serving type: can

09-22-2012 13:58:27 | More by hoppytobehere

budsboy

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours the typical medium amber orange with a fairly large white head that leave some lacing.

Hop nose is understated for an IPA and sweet malt is apparent. A faint spicy scent as well.

Taste is bitter from the onset, hops are again understated. An unpleasant sourness is present, but fleeting. Bitterness hangs on well after this one passes the gullett.

It has a stingin, biting mouthfeel and fairly light.

I'll pass on this for a better IPA. This might be a good starter IPA for those who aren't ready for a hop-o-rific beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2004 00:13:02 | More by budsboy

shivtim

Georgia

2.93/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Solar powered beer? Isn't everything solar powered when you get down to it? Except for geothermal vents. Anyways.

Nice bottle. Looks nature-y. Poured into a pint glass. Ruddy dark tang, some vibrant orange hints, and a dense tan head that floats and gradually fades to nice lacing.

Nose is strong west coast hops. One-note but nice.

Taste is bitter hops that are musty and grainy. Kind of a big clash of hops and malts, with no clear winner and a lot of confusion. Not subtle. Slight paint thinner / alcohol dry aftertaste. Not a good thing, but not horrific. Decent mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 03:30:48 | More by shivtim

kojevergas

California

2.94/5  rDev -27%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Self-identifies as an India Pale Ale. 7% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz purple aluminum can with no visible best before date served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Acquired earlier tonight. Expectations are very high given its current ratings and the brewery - whose oatmeal stout I quite like.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with chili pepper spinach.

A: Pours a five finger light khaki colour head of nice cream and thickness, decent frothiness, decent looking texture (not horribly soft, but not off-putting), and good (~5+ minute) retention for the relatively high ABV. No lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. Body colour is a fairly vibrant palish copper; translucent and transparent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Exactly what you'd expect an IPA to look like, but the head retention is a highlight. I don't notice any overt flaws. Standard fare, but right on the money for the style. Looking forward to trying it. Not real creamy looking.

Sm: Pleasant and diverse floral hop character is prominent, resting on a pale malt base. Lilac and other distinct flowery notes. It's a mild strength aroma. Clean and fragrant. Otherwise, I don't get other types of hop character; maybe some light grapefruit citrus esters. Some caramalt in the base. Light tropical hop notes; pineapple may be the only distinct one I can identify. An appealing aroma for the style with some interesting hop choices. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. It's not coming off exceptional, so my expectations are for it to be good but not great at this point. I'm hoping it proves me wrong...

T: Hm. It's not your typical IPA build - especially for the emergent "West Coast IPA" style trend. Perfumey floral hop notes with plenty of tropical notes - pinapple and perhaps passionfruit among them - and a palpable half-hidden hop bitterness on the climax accompanied by a light twinge of grapefruit esters. Foundation is pale malts and a surprisingly high caramel (malt) bill. Very vague light pine buried in there, too. Sweet up front giving in to a bitter metallic taste in the third act which stays with you on the finish; that's its only major flaw. Consequently, the balance - both structurally and in terms of flavour - is far from ideal. I do find the build interesting and - dareisay - unique, but this requires serious tuning to be a truly great brew. I do like it in a general sense. No yeast character or alcohol comes through.

Mf: I'd like it more oily to accompany the noncommital pine. Smooth and wet for the majority of the structure - except for some dryness and coarseness in the third act. Okay thickness; it thins way too much in the late second act. On the harder end of water hardness. Certainly not soft on the palate. A biteen overcarbonated, but not biting or sharp. A bit rubbery and inconsistent; it's not an even texture by any means. Not as creamy as I'd like, except right on the climax - but the hop bitterness is too distracting at that point for it to be pleasant. A messy mouthfeel that doesn't suit the flavour profile except incidentally.

Dr: A bit boggled by the high ratings for this beer currently. As much as I like a lot of the brewery's other work, this just isn't an impressive IPA - especially for those of us who value balance in an IPA. I like and respect that it tries to do something different in the style; its choices in terms of hops and flavour is pretty unique. It just doesn't come off like it should. Drinkable but not worth picking up again. I'd like to revisit this on-draught; the metallic off-flavour really kills this one for me.

C

Serving type: can

05-11-2013 04:42:56 | More by kojevergas

far333

Connecticut

2.95/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Amber color with a huge orangey, frothy head that leaves crusty peaks like meringue as it dissipates. Aroma is of hop, citrus, and pine. The taste is a quick hops kick, plus a sharp lemon flavor, reminiscent of Pledge. Crisp and creamy mouthfeel, and here comes that Pledge again. Sharp lemon flavor stabs at the back of the throat. The hops is overpowered by the lemon. Better for polishing furniture than for drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2003 21:01:47 | More by far333

jaluria

Connecticut

2.95/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a soft amber color with an off-white head that leaves behind very nice, extensive lacing. Aromas of hops, citrus, and grapefruit come out. The taste is rather astringent with poorly mixed flavors. The hop bitterness is clearly present, but it seems to fight the sweetness also present. A very uncomfortable aftertaste develops that leaves my mouth overly dry and soap-like. I didn't want to finish my pint, nor would I want another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2005 15:55:18 | More by jaluria