Four In Hand IPA - World Brews

kojevergas

California

2.21/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

4 pack of pint-volume aluminum cans acquired at a nearby Whole Foods for a scant $5.99 USD plus tax. 6.3% ABV confirmed. "Four in Hand I.P.A." Expectations are quite low given the brewery; I'm quite acquainted with their other offerings and picked this up knowing what I was getting into because Every Beer Gets A Chance. Brewed by World Brews, Rochester, NY. Self identifies as an IPA, so that's what I'm reviewing it as.

Served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated. No freshness date is visible, but the Whole Foods I got it at has a pretty high customer influx so I'm not worried about the turnover.

A: Pours almost entirely foam in the glass. Quickly recedes to a still seemingly overcarbonated six finger thick head of beige colour. Something of a soft complexion. Light weak lacing. Fairly frothy. Decent thickness. Some creaminess. Fluffy and appealing in a general sense. No bubble show.

Body colour is a clear yellow-gold of average vibrance. No yeast particles are visible. Translucent. Bubble quantity seems right; aside from the head I don't suspect overcarbonation. It's a bit pale and more gold-hued than most beers in the style, but for the most part it's en pointe. Generally appealing.

Sm: Pleasant if mild floral hop character. Pale malts. Some tropical fruit notes and light bubblegum - both hop notes despise. A bit buttery. Maybe some diacetyl. Cane sugar. A sticky and wet aroma. Not unappealing, but I'm a bit turned off by the hop choices. It does come off too sweet for the style.

It's rather mild in terms of strength. Certainly not a powerful aroma.

The diacetyl is a definite off-flavour, but it's not outrageous or particularly overt.

I can't say I'm looking forward to trying it, but it's an inoffensive aroma that might be appealing to fans of the style. A bit below average perhaps. I'm not understanding the low ratings for this so far. No yeast or alcohol is detectable.

T/Mf: Tropical fruit and cane sugar with some heavily sweet candied notes. Diacetyl butterscotch. Caramel (also dicatetyl-esque [if you'll excuse the pretension inherent in that phrasing]). Way too sweet; one could call it cloying. Not enough hop bitterness (and you'll rarely see me say this in my reviews); it needs more hop character to balance out the hoppy sweetness with some much needed bitterness. Any hop character that's there is just the crappy tropical fruit and bubblegum that I hate along with some overly restrained unevocative floral hops. Some bready malts. Strangely limey and thereby reminiscent of a crappy Mexican/Spanish adjunct lager. Staggering amounts of caramalt; why not pale malt for the body?

Ugh. I find more and more wrong with it as I go along. Yes, the balance is horrid, it's simple, and there's no subtlety at all. But overall I think it's largely inoffensive in spite of its poor execution. It's a failure as an IPA, but style aside it's not awful.

Off flavours: Diacetyl, cloying sweetness, maybe even a bit of a metallic note - but this last note isn't really that noticeable.

No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Flavour intensity is mild/average. Flavour duration is average.

Sticky. Smooth and wet. A bit oily. Maybe a bit buttery; the diacetyl comes through here as well. Artificial. Thin and weak. Doesn't help facilitate the flavours all that well. Carbonation is off. Doesn't suit the flavour profile well. Poorly executed for the style.

Dr: A strange thought occurred to me while drinking this: I bet if I blended this half and half with Palate Wrecker, it'd make a pretty decent IPA - at least better than either of the constituents.

Honestly, it's not terrible - but it's pretty bad, and certainly unremarkable. Price doesn't affect my reviews, but there are better IPAs at this pricepoint available in this market. And frankly I'd sooner have other budget beers in more simple styles that are harder to screw up before I'd have this again. I appreciate the market sector World Brews is trying to fill, and if they're able to bring this to market to satisfy some IPA fans while keeping costs low, then more power to them.

It's not an egregiously offensive brew, nor is it undrinkable. Could I chug a can if I wanted/had to? Absolutely. But for those who are after a flavorful or balanced brew - or a passable IPA - will be disappointed. I definitely wouldn't get this again, but I'll also definitely finish the three remaining cans from my four pack. Stop drain-pouring, and start appreciating that there are sober kids in India, you posh pretentious bastards.

It should offer more bang for its buck in terms of ABV given the low quality and budget price.

High D-

Serving type: can

06-19-2013 04:04:43 | More by kojevergas

EgadBananas

Louisiana

2.14/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2

Appearance: Pours a clear, sunny, medium yellowish color, with a white finger of head.

Aroma: faint citrus, sweet malts, sugarcane. Though muddled, its okay.

Taste: this is where things start falling apart. First off, it must have the IBUs of an American Pale Lager because there's no bitterness at all, missing a major IPA component. Secondly, its sweet...thanks to no bitterness, the sweetness just comes of as completely lacking any balance or definition. Some of the sweetness is citrusy, but its not enough to really pass it as an IpA.

Mouthfeel: its a little sticky and medium bodied, overall feeling decent, but lacks character.

Overall: looks good, smells okay, tastes bad, feels decent. It's a mess that only a its mother could love.

Serving type: can

06-17-2013 00:43:07 | More by EgadBananas

Dave1999

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a transparent amber with a big fluffy white head.

The smell is citrus hops, quite subtle.

Taste is light and a little bitter, not much to it. There's a tiny but of citrus flavour.

Mouthfeel is light with quite high carbonation.

Overall an easy drinking lighter ipa,good value for the price 1.50 a 16oz can.

Serving type: can

05-06-2013 03:41:55 | More by Dave1999

KUmitch

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bought this at Whole Foods because I was looking for a nice beer for the NFL Draft and it was just $6.99. Was thoroughly unimpressed. It's labelled an IPA but despite being from northern California is decidedly unhoppy and pretty flavorless. It's a good beer for the price if you're looking for a cheap beer, but if you want a good IPA look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 05:45:26 | More by KUmitch

Jaynuze

District of Columbia

2.2/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Bought a four pack of 16 oz cans. My interests were piqued with the interesting label and the attractive price; ~$5 for a four pack at Whole Foods. Majorly disappointed. It pours very clear, akin to a light lager. The nose and taste were pretty much on par with the appearance: metallic nose with no floral notes and a wet, stale finish. It reminded me of a macro beer = great idea/intentions, but poor finish overall. I have three more of these in the fridge, so I will give it another try to see if it was just a one off. Pretty bummed as this had appeared to be a great buy.

Serving type: can

03-27-2013 14:19:30 | More by Jaynuze

droomyster

Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

This was not undrinkable but it definitely defied my expectations of an IPA in ways that I can't forgive. The appearance and aroma are neither here nor there, but what I'm looking for in an IPA is a hop blend that is 1) more assertive than the malts 2) mult-dimensional in its flavor character and 3) pleasurable. This failed in all three regards so badly that I'm thinking it was simply a bad batch or possibly expired. I'll buy it again in a few months from a different store in order to give this beer the fairest review possible.

Serving type: can

02-26-2013 03:44:24 | More by droomyster

barczar

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Puts a hazy orange colter color with a dense half inch cream head that leaves sheets of lacing.

Apricot, tangerine, resin, and lime dominate a light caramel malt, bready backbone.
Alcohol emerges as it warms, along with diacetyl and floral hops.

Flavor reveals notes of orange, grapefruit, and lemon, ending slightly bitter. The bready malt character is a bit stale, which detracts from the finish. The off flavor is akin to rancid butter.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation.

Overall, impressed, given the source. The stale character is offputting, but hop flavor is decent. Aroma is nice.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 21:58:06 | More by barczar

chinchill

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a true amber color with a well-proportioned, relatively thick, and surprisingly durable bone-colored head. A good-looking and relatively low-priced IPA. More English style (earthy; limited hop aroma and flavor) than American IPA despite Calif. origin. Enough caramel malt to be clearly discernible. Very limited hop note in the aroma.

O: So much malt that this improves with warming. Would probably get better ratings as a (malty) APA.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 21:40:04 | More by chinchill

LXIXME

New Mexico

3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Big off white head settles into a pretty decent lacing above a clear rich honey colored beer with a light copper hue.

A light coppery caramel malt aroma with just a hint of citrus hops sneaking in.

Light caramel malts with even lighter slightly bitter hops trying to come through in the taste.

A light almost dryish aftertaste on this medium bodied beer.

Not as much of a hop taste or aroma as I like in IPA's but I'm not the boss, so oh well.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 21:16:48 | More by LXIXME

scootny

New York

3.53/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Decent IPA for the money. Looks good with a healthy head of off white foam and goodly lacing. Slightly hazy dark amber/orange with no carbonation visible. Smell has all the requisite stuff. Malt with a sweet caramel base and a nice hop compliment of pine and citrus. Taste is solid but certainly not earth shattering . Slightly light malt core nonetheless has enough caramel to support the earthy and lightly grapefruited hops. Feel is good with enough carbonation to make my tongue feel alive and happy and the weight is nice. Dry and quenching this is a great low priced alternative to BMC and there is enough quality to buy a case or two for a party and not look like a rube to your BA friends. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:33:43 | More by scootny

AnalogReigns

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +46.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful appearance of a nice light crystal amber with a big frothy head, atypical of IPAs, more like that of German beers.

Nice west coast IPA hop aroma.

Very smooth well balanced classic (moderate) IPA taste. So smooth almost seems like a double IPA, and at 6.3% ABV, it's almost there too. NICE!!!

Great thick mouthfeel adds to the smooth sensation--allowing you to enjoy the hops, not be embittered by them...

Overall a really delicious IPA! SO MANY make IPAs now (I bet 90% of US craft-brewers do) I'm sure there are better, but this is a great one! I'm NOT a huge hop-head (I go for German styles)but this is a great beer, and an especially great price ($6.99 a 6er at Whole Foods). All in all a terrific go-to IPA.

The old fashioned 2 color label is cool too--in this era of way to fancy beer labels....

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 21:26:02 | More by AnalogReigns

viverlee

Ohio

1.85/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Years ago I played poker. A lot. Paid for a good chunk of law school with it and nearly made it a career. This artwork appeals to the leather-ass grinder still in me. The beer itself, not so much.

STYLE: American IPA

ABV: 6.3%

LOOK: Not exactly Bobby’s Room, it’s as light as the judges’ game. Candied orange and red, the color is nice … but that’s about it. Usually with a brew this light you can expect a half-assed head or a wee pop of carbonation. Not here.

NOSE: Rubbery glue, dirty gutters, cat litter (clean at least). It was a struggle to dig deep in the misplaced hope there was something pleasant to be found.

MOUTH: It’s … tolerable. Even inoffensive. I get some globby maltiness but no hint of hops, no floral spring, no nothing really. The nose, it just clings and moves right in. Quick, someone cheer me up…

You know what cheers me up when I’m feelin’ shitty?

What?

Rolled-up aces over kings.

Is that right?

Yeah … check-raising stupid tourists and taking huge pots off ‘em. Stacks and towers of checks I can’t even see over. Playin’ all-night, high-limit hold’em at the Taj, “where the sand turns to gold.”

Fuck it, let’s go.

Don’t tease me.

Let’s play some fucking cards.

Beeradvocate Rating: 76

Hayward Abbey Rating: 62

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 03:19:39 | More by viverlee

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Aroma is strongly hoppy, the way a good IPA should be. It pours a clear amber with a thick, fluffy, and rather persistent ivory head. Hoppy flavor has an undertone of grapefruit, and a fair amount of bitterness. Texture has firm body and a good amount of fizz. If not an outstanding IPA, still a decent one.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 03:46:06 | More by Cyberkedi

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Way too many malts and not enough hops. Blah. Totally missing the mark and totally lame. I don't even want to go on with this, but I will, and will try to keep it quick. Glad I didn't buy more than a single of this. Whole Foods should quit carrying this crap. Waste of my time.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 03:44:53 | More by RblWthACoz

legalpete19340

Virginia

2.88/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a mostly clear dull orange with maybe a millimeter of white head that evaporated immediately.

S: Not picking up much here. A faint floral hop note. Some apple juice. Maybe a hint of biscuit.

T: Starts with some sweetness then mild and delicate floral hops and back to apple juice. Malt dominates after that with some biscuit and as it finishes some grain a mild bitterness.

M: A fizzy and fluffy thinnish medium.

O: Mild hop and malt flavors across the board. Whats going on isnt terrible it just needs more of it.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 23:52:16 | More by legalpete19340

Luigi

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a hazy orange with a healthy looking white head that settles down to a thick lace around the glass. Retention is good because the lace last till end of IPA.

The aroma is very malty. Not a whole lot of hops to go around as this style calls for. I understand balance, but if you are going to label this as an AIPA than it must live up to those hops.

The taste is about the same. Bread malt, some sweet alcohol, and there is a hint of the hop that does balance the sweetness.

Medium bodied, lightly carbonated, and is easy to drink.

Overall if this were an English IPA is would grade it higher. Maybe that was the point. But, for an American IPA the hop is too weak. Otherwise, it is a good ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 01:55:22 | More by Luigi

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.25/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Thanks to Whole Foods for having the 20% off on beer thing on Friday, and thanks for keeping me from having to waste my money on this beer by offering samples. Poured a cloudy light copper with way too much haze in it for no apparent reason. Aroma was just pure bitter, not a delicate or powerful hop presence, just bitterness, super high alpha acid long bitter boil no dry hopping type of territory I suspect.

Taste, you know the story by now, its real bitter and brings nothing else to the table. Yeah, there might be some serious ibus in this one, but there's just no taste beyond the acrid bitterness. If there is a flavor, you'd describe it as like stomach acid and soap combined.

Same price as SNPA? Yeah, uh, no thanks, won't be buying a sixer of this, ever.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 23:56:35 | More by Beerandraiderfan

beck2008

California

3.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not the worst IPA in the world but by no means the best. The price was right = $6.97 at Whole Pay Check Market

A - clear copper - very little lacing, 1/2" head

S - Citrus-ish, light hops

T - Not bad, a slight bitter hop finish (for some reason I think of Simple Times Lager when I drink this). Easy drinking ale. I would say it's barely an IPA. I'd call this a Pale Ale and hesitate on calling this a classic IPA.

M - Light body

O - Not bad, not great - if you can get it for under $7 then I'd say give it a go.

Props for a cool label

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 03:25:49 | More by beck2008

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A clear golden color, not much head or sticky lace.

S - Bread and citrus hops. Not as hoppy as most IPAs

T - Citrus hops mostly. A slight bitter, alchoholic aftertaste.

M - Light bodied, but decently balanced.

O - A decent beer. Its not nearly as bad as some of the reviews. However, nothing really stand out about it.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 02:31:15 | More by BeerDawgs

rcfunk

Texas

1.88/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

What this beer lacks in quality and taste, it makes up for in oxidation and diacetyl. Really not so great. I am sorry I bought a six pack of it. At least it was on special. Never again. I hate it when this kind of thing makes it to market. I don't know what is supposed to make this an IPA. I would say this beer is a result of either bad equipment, operator error poor recipe design or a mix of all three.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:32:48 | More by rcfunk

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Four in Hand IPA has a rather thin, off white head and a hazy, yet brilliant, amber appearance. There is some lacing present. The aroma is of barley and some citrus, but overall, it’s very subdued. Taste is hop forward, but there is a decent malt backbone. Mouthfeel is light to medium and soft, and Four in Hand I.P.A. finishes refreshing and easy drinking. Overall, for a cheap, store-brand beer, this is not bad, and I suppose it’s worth a try.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 20:41:57 | More by RonaldTheriot

nickfl

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours with one finger of white foam on top of a slightly hazy, copper colored body. The head fades away quickly and leaves little lace.

S - Bready malt with a hint of toffee and some musty hops in the background.

T - Sweet malt up front with a little bit of red apple yeast character. Some light, musty hop flavor in the middle and more bread and caramel in the finish.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Bland and unimpressive. The hop character is minimal and the malt is muddy. Not much of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 02:06:20 | More by nickfl

travipa

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

have had before. either my palate needed cleansing or inconsistent brew. pours with medium
head. puts off aroma of quality ipa. mouth of ipa. taste of malted ipa. finish of weak ipa.
at one time this ipa had a more balance of hoppiness and malt. might be a compromise.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 05:38:59 | More by travipa

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.18/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a clear, orangey-toned body with a frothy, near white head that steadily deflates.

Smell: Spicy-scented hops and some zesty lemongrass notes, along with a bit of grain and caramel.

Taste: Pale malts with some toasted grains and a thin sliver of sweetish caramel. Small hints of husky astringency crop up before you hit the spicy, earthy hops with minute traces of dried citrus and pine. Sufficiently bitter. The flavors fall away past mid-palate, leaving just a light bitterness/grainy taste that slowly drags out past the soft-feeling finish.

Mouthfeel: Falls just shy of medium-bodied. Medium carbonation with a soft, suds-like character.

Overall: It's got some unrefined elements to it that, while not leaving it harsh exactly, does leave the beer a bit off-key. I'd recommend just plunking a couple extra ratty-looking bucks on the counter and getting something (potentially far more) better.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 23:05:04 | More by ChainGangGuy

mralphabet

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Pours light copper color... good 2 fingers worth of head that settles to a nice ring with good lacing from start to finish.

S: Very piney, with loads of citrus hops.

T: The hops hit right up front and follow thru to the end... there is a very thin malt in here but not enough to kill the hops... The flavors run from piney to grapefruit. Finish is bitter and dry... with a touch of alcohol burn.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp carbonation yet smooth on the tongue.. Puts a little coats on the tongue.

O: This is a strongly hopped IPA... If you like the hops give this one a try. The ABV is good for the style, but feels warmer than I was expecting. Good mix of flavors that I like and I'm not a big IPA guy.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 04:06:22 | More by mralphabet