Heelch O'Hops - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.46/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Served in a snifter at Durty Nellie's.

If nothing else, this whole Boontling thing can at least provide some interesting beer names. This one pours a clear amber topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises mixed greens, light pine resin, and sweet biscuit. The taste brings in more of the same, with more greens and a caramel character taking over for the biscuit. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, an okay DIPA, one that actually provides a decent sense of balance, but one that's a bit too restrained for its own good.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 23:57:07 | More by TMoney2591

McStagger

California

3.71/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: hazy orange. Beaten copper in color. Moderate to lively carbonation. Minimal head. One finger classic khaki foam. Excellent retention.

S: Apricot, roasted sugar. Stone fruit dominant hops. Trace of diacetyl though, which makes me wary.

T: tawny, almost oxidized notes in the front. Toffee, dried fruit. Old keg most likely. Malt sweetness is pretty big before being nuked by the hops. Seriously, lot of oily hop bitterness in the end. damn bitter. And cloying. Gets a big plus for that.

M: medium bodied considering the high above. Not refreshing, but still fairly light on its feet.

O: good. Definitely damn bitter, which I alwDays enjoy. Goes from malt sugar to bitter bomb without much in between.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2013 06:11:18 | More by McStagger

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Anderson Valley brings sobriety... (well, sorta) to the IPA world. As the strength and flavor exceeds the 8% threshold, the beer retains the balance of malt to hops that gives credence to the standard pale ale family of beers, just all scaled up.

The beer pours with a deep orange-copper color that takes on appearances of clover honey. A fluid and creamy head dances at the top of the snifter with semi-firm retention and light lacing patterns to the glass. Mostly clear, the residual yeast and hops give the beer a slightly diffused glow when back lit. It's a handsome little beer.

Where the nose expects hop-forward notes, the scent of caramel reaches first. Those malty notes draw in complementary aromas of cashews, butterscotch, and light biscuity bread crust. Not to be outdone, the hoppy balance extends into the malty scent with tangerine, grapefruit, apricot, and herbal grassy elements. The overall aroma complex is very much of a pale ale, it just registers stronger to the olfactory senses.

Flavors are a very consistent carryover from the nose. The front of the palate is met with a light coat of caramel, nuts, biscuit and butterscotch. It has a way of preparing the mouth, and preventing the brunt of the sharper hop flavors. The middle palate is a melange of candied fruit notes of citrus and tropical fruits that weave together in a very marmalade kind of way. As the beer draws close, the mild pithy and resinous bitterness of hops rise and the malt sweetness fades and gives the beer a mild malty-dry taste to finish.

Medium full, at least to start. The combination of residual caramelized sweetness and embedded creamy carbonation gives the beer a semi-full effect. But the beer slowly traverses across the palate and lightens subtly with the fleeting malt textures and the rise of hop dryness and alcohol warmth to end the session.

Where hop-dominance is the usual name of the game, it's obvious that the brewers favor a more even-keel balance that keeps the beer drinkable. And at a sensible 8% alcohol, any interference from alcohol or unnecessary bite is kept at bay.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 17:12:56 | More by BEERchitect

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.21/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Dark amber and copper color produced a good 1/2" head on it, average retention, almost no lace. Aroma was very bitter, but one dimensional hop aroma conveying bitterness more than anything else, some caramel along the way.

Taste and mouthfeel came through with a substantial amount of syrupy, thick, caramel bittersweetness. I wouldn't drink too many ipa's you've never had after this beer, your palate will be fatigued or compromised regarding bitterness. The malt beer is rather heavy, so the bitterness standing out so much is a tad bit of a surprise. Seems like they're still using the old school hops. Very resiny, I'm guessing Cascade, Centennial & Chinook.

This one was kind of middle of the roadish for a double ipa. Anderson Valley was a great brewery back in the 90s, but everything they have been releasing lately tells me they are like an aging prize fighter, never to recapture their past glory.

This one just lacks flavor, its mostly bitterness and some malt heft, which somehow doesn't really absorb the alcohol or bitterness all that well.

Single IPA way better. At this strength, some flavors would be cool beyond bitterness. Pretty much your average, or slightly better than average dipa.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 23:47:21 | More by Beerandraiderfan

beagle75

Iowa

2.98/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a shaker pint glass.

A: Slightly hazy, brassy golden color with one finger of white foam head. Heavy lacing remains on the glass.

S: Classic grapefruit juice and pine foliage are noteworthy, although carbon dioxide and a chemical plastic thread tend to be disruptive. Malt goes relatively unnoticed, maybe some weak and ambiguous honey-like quality. No alcohol is detected.

T: Begins off-dry, with chewy malts that are heavy on the crystal, and pungent hops aromatics that come across initially as very one-note of pine. Acidity contributes brightness into the middle where hops flavors turn more spicy-herbaceous as bitterness begins to take hold. Honey from the smell is more well-established in the finish, and bitterness is moderate and long-lasting. Some alcohol vapors seem to linger on the palate, amidst the bitterness.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, sticky and slightly acidic on the palate, with brisk carbonation.

D/O: This strong IPA appears to place a heavy reliance upon Columbus-style hops, resulting in a questionable outcome. Its hops qualities come across as brash and heavy-handed for the style; focused, but in a misguided sort of way.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 23:24:38 | More by beagle75

PhilDaBrewer

Indiana

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light copper color with thin white head. Aroma is grassy and citrus hops, but not as aromatic as the top tier DIPAs. Tastes of caramel, bready malts, and grassy hops. Medium bodied with nice carbonation. Overall, this is a pleasant beer, above average, but definitely not top tier. With the huge variety of DIPAs around, you can most certainly find better.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 02:28:49 | More by PhilDaBrewer

woemad

Washington

3.99/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $2.59. No freshness date on the label.

Poured a somewhat hazy, golden color with a sudsy white head that hung around for a while. Said head left lots of lace.

Big citrusy and piney hop notes, as one would expect.

Like the aroma, this one tastes like a blend of citrusy and piney hops, with a bready malt backbone that provides a decent backbone and keeps the hops in balance. So many DIPAs have really amped up malt bills to increase the alcohol content so that the beer winds up a booze bomb, but this one is just right. There’s very little sign of an alcohol content that is near 9%, so it would not be the greatest choice for a session beer, but, dammit, it tastes like one!

Medium bodied, with a slightly oily mouthfeel.

A tasty DIPA that isn’t hugely malty, like some. I thoroughly enjoyed drinking this, and would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 01:03:50 | More by woemad

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Hazy burnished orange color. A thin white head sits on top and lightly carb'd. Plain jane.
In the aroma I note some citrus hops against bready malts.
Tastes freh and hoppy. The hops are more dank and wet then in the nose but one can taste some grapefruit and pine. The malts are bready with underliying caramel.
The beer is powerfully bitter with a dry clean finish.
I like the fact that the alcohol is lower for a DIPA. It's more in my drinking range.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 13:27:17 | More by micromaniac129

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.16/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a orange cloudy body with a big white head with good rentention.

S: Passion fruit and another citric fruits as orange, a great citric bouquet as commom in the style.

S:Follows the nose with a begginning citric with passion fruit, orange and other citric fruits, then came the bitterness strong enough for an IPA, but too soft for a DIPA.

M: Here we have the bitterness expected from a DIPA in the aftertaste, before we have an acid citric feel in a good equilibrium.

O: A very consistent beer, but not a unique beer, Anderson Valley is a common IPA/DIPA without nothing special to remember, still a good beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 16:05:20 | More by RaphaelSC

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Orange glow, slightly loudy, sticky 2 fingers off white head. Sweet fruits on the nose, almost like candy sugar.

Sweet caramel malts, up front and burnt sugar. Citrus fruits and earthy hops along the mid-palate with a dusting of tobacco flavor. The beer finishes with a grapefruit burst with faint notes of berries and the smallest touch of alcohol. Medium bodied with an expected amount of carbonation. Extremely smooth and drinkable. Hops balance the malts extremely well. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 03:22:09 | More by jtierney89

Gatch

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear golden yellow with a white head. Some hops in there but its mostly booze and malt. Same with the flavor. Very sweet and malty. Slight hop presence but not much. Fairly disappointing. This just probably isn't fresh judging by the place I bought it at. Still a pretty good beer and enjoyable drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:30:40 | More by Gatch

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle.

Pours hazy copper with a tight, white head of an inch-plus. Plenty of tattered lacing and a partial skim coat for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with classic PacNW stylings of pine and grapefruit. Resinous and hoppy with light biscuit malt in the back.

Medium bodied with a crisp, dry mouthfeel.

Pine-rubbed grapefruit with citrus zest starts the palate. Bone-dryingly bitter with extremely light malt character following through. Warming alcohol.

Finishes with lingering pine and grapefruit.

Tasty enough, but the hopping is a bit old-school. The nose could certainly be more pungent and the palate could use some tropical fruit.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:56:39 | More by brewandbbq

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.04/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Anderson Valley Heelch O'Hops Double IPA, 12 fluid ounces, 8.7% ABV. Boonville, CA.

Totally hazed, deep amber/crimson coloring. Long-lasting creamy head.

Aroma: sharp pine, blistering citrus. Orange rind, lemon peel. Slightly fruity, ending dry.

Taste: More of that and then some. Big bitterness meets juicy malt. Good balance, with alcohol staying fairly docile, not intruding too much. Consistent hoppitude. Fairly good stuff. Not quite what I'm looking for in a DIPA, but close enough. I'd rather have an Abrasive or a Myrcenary.

Let's look at what the label tells us: "A color of polished brass with copper tints and a wavy, dense tan head. Aromas of California citrus and aromatic biscuits, with hints of fresh redwood needles greet your nose. An assertive hop bitterness is delivered to your palate, and balanced beautifully with a malty richness and long, warm and hoppy finish."

Tasty, hoppy, bitter, nice and dry. Like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 02:25:04 | More by feloniousmonk

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked a bottle of Anderson Valley's Heelch O'Hops last week for $3.09 at The Lager Mill. This beer caught my eye and I thought I would give it a try since Anderson Valley is a pretty solid brewery, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date, but it just showed up so I think it's fairly fresh. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a snifter.

A- The label looks real nice, the bright colors caught my eye and I like the design. It poured a nice golden orange color that took on more of an orange hue when held to the light with two and half fingers worth of white head that died down to a thin layer that stayed till the end and left lots of nice lacing behind. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a higher amount of sweetness followed by loads of hops with the citrus hops sticking out the most and imparting a heavy citrus rind aroma with some grapefruit and pineapple showing up with some piney and slightly floral hops aromas in the background. I also get a lighter biscuit like malt aroma towards the end. This beer had a nice aroma, it was very hoppy and heavy on the citrus rind aromas, I liked it.

T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts of with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness followed by lots of hops that impart a lot of citrus zest flavors with a little bit of grapefruit in the background along with some lighter piney and floral hops, Towards the end I get a light amount of malts that had a biscuit like flavor along with a slight stale malt flavor. On the finish there's was higher amount of medium bitterness followed by citrus rind like aftertaste. This beer tasted nice, but it was a little one dimensional and it could use some more complexity to it.

M- Fairly smooth, a little creamy, a little rich, on the fuller side of being medium bodied, with a lower amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel was nice, but I wish it had a little more carbonation to it.

Overall I thought this was a solid beer and slightly above average example of a DIPA, it had some nice citrus rind like flavors and aromas, but they were a little too heavy handed with nothing else bold enough to balance it out so it seemed to be a little rough around the edges. This beer had ok drinkability, it was fairly smooth, a little filling, and the flavors just barely held my attention, I think one would be enough for me, I don't have the urge to drink another one. What I liked the most about this beer was the appearance and the aroma, they were both good and fairly true to style. What I liked the least about this beer was the lack of complexity, I wish there were some other flavors bold enough to balance out the heavy citrus rind flavors. I don't know if I would buy this beer again, it was solid, but it isn't hard to find a DIPA that I enjoy more than this one, if I did buy it again it wouldn't be often. I would recommend this to anyone who likes DIPA's but I can't see it being an instant favorite. All in all I thought this was a solid DIPA, it wasn't great, but it sure wasn't bad, I just wish it had a little more complexity to it. Nice job guys, another solid beer from a solid brewing company.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:45:49 | More by StoutHunter

rringler

California

4.26/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Medium+ hazy dark amber/light copper color. Pours with about a half finger of off-white head, with medium size bubbles that dissolve down to that thin film/edge bubbles. Seems like decent lacing, but I'm drinking this out of plastic, so take this with a heavy grain of salt.

S: Heavy grapefruit zest and malty sweets. Very fruity, zesty, citrusy.

T: Lots going on here. The taste is dominated by the citrus/grapefruit zest start (though it tastes a bit less than it smells) followed by a very biscuity malt backbone, and finished by medium to medium+ hops. I can't really put my finger on the hops; they aren't piney, earthy, or spicy. Maybe they're citrusy and just blending into the grapefruit start? No boozy taste, even with 8.7% abv.

M: Sticky and full like an IPA, but a little bit lighter and quicker than other DIPAs.

O: Nice brew. I could see this beer being a good summer choice for IPA drinkers (it's not that fruity, but most IPAs taste a bit shaded, woodsy, damp, piney, shadowy to me; this one is grapefruit sweet with a bit of hops.)

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 03:09:14 | More by rringler

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

3.74/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

appearance: very nice almost peach hue. Hazy. fat frothy off white head. Looks delectable.
smell: Full malty with a bitter grapefruit edge.
taste: Very much like the nose. surprisingly refreshing on a hot day after long run.
overall: Had so many great IPA's and DIPA's, it's hard to find standouts. A very nice beer but honestly won't be seeking it out simply due to such stiff competition.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 23:25:08 | More by cindyjeffsmith

Beaver13

Colorado

2.43/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle. Pours clear copper gold with a huge meringue off white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet sugary crystal malts and tropical fruits with some resiny hops.

The flavor is sweet crystal like malts with tropical fruits and a decent bitterness. The mouthfeel is light bodied and very watery.

Overall, I like the fruits and hops but the flavors don't combine well and it was overly sweet. It's really washed out and watery too.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 05:25:26 | More by Beaver13

Mitchster

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$2.99 for a 12 oz bottle @ BevCo. Pours out to a slightly hazy burnt orange, forming a nice tall whipped and creamy white head with superior retention and gorgeous lacing. really nice looking beer. Brewed with Pale Two-Row and Victory malts. Hopped with Columbus, Chinook, and Cascade. 8.7% ABV per the bottle, 100 IBU per the website.

The aroma is nice and hoppy. i get some tropical fruit like mango, apricot and grapefruit with that distinctly beautiful Chinook (arrogant bastard) nose. Cleanly fermented. The taste is excellent as well...It's got a nice big malt body and the slightly toasty victory malt adds a nice layer of complexity. The chinook is here in droves as well and it's firmly bitter. Nice notes of grapefruit pith and bitterness linger in the aftertaste. If you like Stone's stuff, you'll like this. The mouthfeel is soft and smooth with a medium dense body. Alcohol is well hidden and this is an easy drinker. No perceptible off flavors or aromas. Finishes dry and moderately hop astringent. Clean neutral American ale yeast.

This is really nice stuff. It reminds me a bit of Stone's IPA. I love the Chinook hops in this. I would definitely buy it again. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 23:59:08 | More by Mitchster

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Number 3 of the 2013 Spring Break Tour

Good looking amber, excellent clarity, topped by two fingers of off-white foam.

As billed, inviting aroma of citrus, biscuit, and pine.

Taste follows nose. Sturdy semi-sweet foundation. Juicy citrus fruit. Some pine accents. Big bitter bite at the swallow. Nice mellowing finish.

Big creamy mouthfeel.

A favorite brewery has impressed again. This one needs more love around here. Surprised to find this in Florida when I haven't seen it near home, but I'm going to look harder.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 04:04:15 | More by RonfromJersey

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

3.79/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours honey golden color in DFH IPA glass. Huge creamy white head that lingers forever.

Smell is honey, malts, and subdued pine.

Taste biscuity malt up front with orange rind and pine coming in. Bitterness late and lingers well on the palate.

Mouthfeel is creamy and medium bodied. Average carbonation feel despite the massive head following initial pour.

Overall good. Not just Wow, but enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:49:17 | More by TrappistJohnMD

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Red-orange amber with an off-white head that loves to lace already. Looks approachable.

Pine and citrusy hops. Picking up grapefruit and spruce. A simple aroma with its own punch. Malt backbone isn't quiet, pouring out with cereal and lightly caramelized sugars.

Pithy grapefruit upfront. Notes of pine and balsam in a woody way. A great big smack of bitterness is here, along with copious amounts of alcohol heat. Some late biting malt that offers relief in the form of kilned sugar and toast. Something astringently bitter and floral in the mix, as well. Hard to relax with this flavor profile.

Hot and hefty. Truly, a sipper. Body is blended down to something easier, but the alcohol just takes over from there. Aggressively carbonated.

Not a bad DIPA. Can't speak eloquently about the high marks. I'll take it for what if offers; little in complexity, but a lot on hoppy bursts and pine/citrus tango.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 03:42:38 | More by thecheapies

Halcyondays

California

3.89/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours orange with a medium white head, some stickly lace, pretty standard look for the style.

S: Definite notes of citrus with some earthy character, nice.

T: Loads of lemon upfront which leads to a nice bready malt component, some sourdough and ends with notes of grass and bitter melon.

M: Crisp and clean for the style, medium/full-bodied, nice resiny feel, slick.

O: This is a good Double IPA. The bomber price sucks, but the 12 oz. single price is quite competitive and worth a pickup for fans of a more balanced 2IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 07:18:02 | More by Halcyondays

JayQue

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Not what I usually expect in a DIPA. It is hard to imagine a balanced IPA at this octane level...They are either great hop bombs or bland beers lacking in hops. This beer features robust caramel and biscuity malts with a big bitter hop finish. All without a hint of alcohol presence.

Pours a hazy coppery color into a pint glass. medium size white head with good retention and bands of lacing.

Aroma is caramel malts with only a little hoppiness.

Flavor starts of with bready, biscuity malts and winds up with a somewhat citrusy bitter hops presence. ALl the flavors are robust and the balance is just right.

Mouthfel is what you would expect in an IPA crisp, rich and a good bitterness in the finish.

Not my first choice for a DIPA, but a pretty solid offering anyway. A flavorful high octane beer that goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:26:39 | More by JayQue

UCLABrewN84

California

3.51/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, herbal hops, and some onion and garlic aromas. Taste is much the same with a pine-like flavor on the finish. There is a high amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but borders on vegetal aromas and flavors with the hop profile present.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 03:55:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that is still mostly there with some lacing on the snifter. It is a pale orange color with some clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Super awesome lacing on the glass too.

Smell: Pungent citrus hops, caramel and bready malts

Taste: Hops are the major influence in this beer. Pineapple, mango, tangerine, and citrus goodness. There is some lingering tingly bitterness that mellows out with the caramel and bready malts.

Mouthfeel: Tingling bitterness, smooth, a little chewy, full bodied, and medium carbonation.

Overall: This is a nice Double IPA that gets better as it warmed up to room temperature. Pretty solid beer and the alcohol is hidden well too.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 06:04:54 | More by Flounder57