Four In Hand IPA - World Brews

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.18/5  rDev +1.3%
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

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Four In Hand I.P.A.
12 oz. bottle; ink jet code on bottle neck: 1311 10:37 7E
"World Brews, Rochester, NY"... obviously contracted through High Falls Brewing.
$1.99 @ Whole Foods, Union Square, NY

Appearance: Clear, amber colored body beneath an average-sized head of off-white. The head retention and lacing are average.

Smell: Floral and leafy hops gather together with yeasty fruitiness (berries, juicy sweet apple) over a gently sweet and lightly-bready/caramelish malt base.

Taste: The flavor delivers a solid bitterness and more spicy, leafy, grassy, and almost piney hops. It's not as sweet as the nose suggests it will be. The maltiness is gently toasty, and it's fairly well-rounded and balanced with the yeasty fruitiness atop that, and the spicy hops floating above. It finishes dry with long lingering notes of spicy, grassy, and lightly piney hops that eventually fade to residual caramelish malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and gently crisp, becoming surprisingly creamy as it warms across the palate.

Overall: Pleasant. An interesting IPA. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 15:11:46 | More by NeroFiddled

metter98

New York

3.68/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear copper in color and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense beige head that died down rather quickly but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface as well as lacy patterns running down the edges of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of pine resin and spicy hops in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the hops stand out in the taste, which has a light to moderate amount of bitterness. There are some spicy flavors of hops (which particularly stand out in the finish) but there’s also a substantial amount of underlying malts that help to balance out the overall taste.
M: It feels medium-bodied, crisp and smooth on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation. The hops contribute dryness to the finish.
O: The good balance in the taste of this beer makes it very drinkable, which can even be considered as sessionable. I would have no problem drinking several of these in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 13:49:18 | More by metter98

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -18.8%
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

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.25/5  rDev -28.3%
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

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +16.2%
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

nickfl

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -6.7%
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

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours a pale amber with moderate head with good retention. Nose offers floral, piney hops with a slight hint of fruit. The hops are mellow in this one but noticeable. Malt character is nicely blended with the hops. There's even a slight hint of fruit in the taste, maybe apples(?). Mouthfeel is crisp and dry, not overly carbonated. Not a bad offering considering I found it floating around on it's own at Whole Foods in Raleigh.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 00:58:33 | More by tdm168

Offa

California

3.35/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Deep gold, big off-white head slowly shrinks to foamy, thin but rocky top, a little decent lace.

Aroma is pretty nice, being caramelly citrus (grapefruit & orange), spicy-peppery herb, caramelized light sweet toast, hint of raisininess.

Taste is slightly astringent, medicinal herbal-peppery-vaguely citrusy bitterness, drying to the mouth, with light caramelly sweetness underneath. It is fairly good, and holds up well, but it is definitely a bit too much on the bitter side, a bit sharp, and dries out the mouth. In the end it is somewhat one-dimensional and lacks balance, without enough character or sweetness to carry what bitterness and hoppiness it has.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 05:05:22 | More by Offa

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.63/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass. Stamped '1311 08:19 7E'.

A: The label is excellently appealing, one of the main reasons I bought the beer. The other is that it's labelled 'crafty ale'. Pours with significant head that has moderate retention, leaving behind excellent lacing. The beer is clear, pale copper. Nice.

S: Very good. A nice combination of sweet, fruity malts and dry hops.

T: Interesting IPA. Initially it's really nice, excellent even. Biscuity-dry malts, moderate hops, a tad of fruit? But it's downhill from there. The maintaste is so brief as to be almost nonexistent, and the aftertaste, while nice, is rather plain, vaguely hopped, and grainy-beery-mehish.

M: Carbonated, foamy, pretty substantial, and rather dry.

O: Not bad, but not exceptional. Highly drinkable, especially for the price ($6.99/six-pack) and gorgeous label-art. I wouldn't recommend it, per se, but I'd have another or buy it for parties.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 04:21:13 | More by AgentMunky

chinchill

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +9.2%
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

popery

California

2.15/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bottle. Rated with style in mind. This is among the worst IPAs that I’ve ever had. There’s little hop presence, besides a touch of bland bitterness in the finish and a hint of pine/citrus in the aroma. Otherwise, the aroma is old grain, simple sugar and a funny vegetal note, and it’s all quite weak. The taste is sweet and musty with a finish that’s kinda cloying with a slight bitter edge. Mouthfeel is sudsy and fine. Likewise, appearance is a standard orange-amber, transparent, with a white head. It just tastes cheap and crappy. It’s certainly not the worst beer in the world, but I would recommend spending a couple extra bucks on a good six pack and definitely don’t expect an IPA, if you do buy it.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 02:48:16 | More by popery

shand

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

This is a Whole Foods exclusive label, and available fairly cheaply (I think the single was a buck fidy). This one sure looks like an IPA, pouring a nice copper color with a huge head that leaves nice sheets of sticky lacing on the side of the glass. Aroma is a bit muted, but otherwise a solid citrus and pine deal, with some caramel malts. The IPA basics, if you will. The taste also basically follows the IPA basics, there's some nice citrus up front followed by big piney hops and big caramel malts. there's a little bit of an off flavor here too unfortunately, which is a shame because this'd actually be great otherwise. But, it's still solid enough, especially considering the price.

The mouthfeel is a bit too thin, and a bit too smooth to really give me that iPA feeling. The drinkability is fairly good. Overall, this is a perfectly passable IPA that's really bordering on good, but doesn't quite make it. Either way, it'd probably be a decent choice for a budget brew at seven bucks a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 22:36:12 | More by shand

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%
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

secondtooth

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased for a value-price at Whole Foods Louisville for under $7/6 pack. Didn't expect world-class, per se, but this one's not bad.

Pours a clear copper, with a nice, thick white head. Superb lace.

Nose is citrus and pine. Solid and appealing.

Taste veers more to the bitter side, but the malts are there to back it up. Hints of pine and sour grapefruit here.

Overall, not too complex or memorable, but a good value nonetheless for sessioning.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 13:46:26 | More by secondtooth

barczar

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev +10.8%
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

scootny

New York

3.53/5  rDev +12.4%
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

droomyster

Virginia

2.83/5  rDev -9.9%
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

LXIXME

New Mexico

3/5  rDev -4.5%
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

mralphabet

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev +14%
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

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

3.1/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz into brew festival mug.

A: body is slightly clear, with a good level of carbonation. Off white head retreats quickly and leaves a thin layered head. Layered pattern on the lacing.

S: Bright and amber aroma, with subtle earthy notes of hops. Medium to weak aroma for style.

T/m: Mouthfeel is nice and light, with good noble flavors, the malt takes the front seat, maybe a bit of a faded hop profile. Medium intensity of flavors.

O: This is a good and drinkable beer, one that I have been enjoying the six pack and for a good price, it makes a solid session IPA. I would not see this as a winner to recommend someone to the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 18:01:27 | More by GDBEERMAN

ferrari29

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer poured from bottle into a nonic shaped pint glass

A - Beer poured with a nice looking one finger sized head; white in color; formed plenty of lacing; body has a nice copper color; very well carbonated and is clear

S - Orange; pine; citrus; hop grass scents finish off with a even keeled caramel malt back-end; slight biscuit note; very floral

T - Very heavy pine and hop taste; grass; caramel and buttered biscuit back-end; slight citrus rinse and colorful tangy feel

M - Thin but bitter; lingering bitter aftertaste; stays for a while; tangy feeling on the tongue; little too rinse and soapy for my palate; extremely effervescent

D - Overall good drink; too strong on the pine and grass flavor; could be a little less aggressive on that piece; seemed like overkill for a beer that could be very enjoyable at a great price; could be a bit less bubbly

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 04:54:34 | More by ferrari29

Luigi

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev +1.3%
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

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev +8.3%
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

litheum94

California

3.13/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. No dates on the label. Reviewed 7/24/11.

P: Bright and clear amber body. A rocky, off-white head that settles slowly, leaving a nice looking covering. Decent lacing.

A: Aromas of citrus (tangerine), pine and pineapple. Caramel malts and some brown sugar. Herbal, black tea aromas.

T: Very herbal at first, with flavors of black tea. Biscuit malts build the backbone. Slightly bitter citric twinge. A little bit of pine bitterness. Nice balance.

There's not too much depth here, but it is a slightly above average IPA, and for the price, it's one I'll pick up occasionally.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 03:51:51 | More by litheum94