Lucky U IPA - Breckenridge Brewery

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

2.18/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Thought I'd experiment with a 6-pack I'd never had while visiting Imperial Nebraska for a wedding. I picked up this beer at a liquor store in Sterling. What a dissapointment to say the least.

No real flavor or smell to note except bready and earthy bitterness. Seriously, as if a Budweiser was given more hops to the recipe. No pine, No hop resin finish making you smack your lips with a smile, NO citrus period and No dankness. Just bitterness... which is fine but you need something...ANYTHING to go with it.

I did pick up some Pale 31 that was on the shelf next to it (which I've had plenty of before) and thank god I did..

Waste of $10

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 20:46:33 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

HomebrewNurse

New Hampshire

2.2/5  rDev -36.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a copper color with a thin head that dissipates quickly.

Barely any hop aroma perceptible, mostly earthy/sweet malts in the nose.

Sweet caramel malts on the initial, then moving into a harsh bittering hop flavor midway through to the end. Aftertaste is all bitter.

With the poor head retention I was surprised to have as much carbonation in the mouth.

Below average drinkability, this beer lingers far too long on the pallate with astringent bitterness that is just not all that pleasant.

Overall, I don't see myself buying this beer again. Too bed I shelled out ten bucks for a sixer. Doh!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 02:15:11 | More by HomebrewNurse

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

2.3/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This one goes out to Birradr14 and her future trip abroad. Have fun in Belgium. 12oz single bottle into a 2008 Phillies world series champions pint glass.

Lucky U brings a pumpkin orange color to the glass with some lighter spots towards the edges. A little muddled as I cant quite see through the glass. A heavy handed pour only yielded a 1/4 inch of off white loose foam with no stickage on the sides.

Smells like a lot of pale ales i've come across recently with a floral aroma that leads the pack, it's not in IPA territory that's for sure. Under that some burnt/old vegetable smells with pale malt. The malt is quite big but not pleasant and there is no sign of living hops. The 1st bottle reviews on this were two months ago so I believe this to be fairly fresh.

Digging in there is some minimal flavor initially with a faint trace of hopping with floral taste. Some pale malts and then boom, it happens... something rancid invades in the aftertaste with some metallic/steel and then some old vegetal matter that sticks around forever. This does not taste like a IPA at all, more like a stale Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

The feel is medium with a smoothness up front turned wrong by the worst aftertaste i've had all year. Not bitter in any way, the hops are non existent, or just plain dead. Carbonation is no problem though.

Well I was not so lucky when picking up Lucky U IPA in the store. What I got was not what was advertised and this recipe should be buried. If I find it on tap i'll give it a whirl just to make sure im not being unfair here. Birradr14, sorry, i'll dedicate a good beer for you next time you leave. Be safe.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 02:49:49 | More by onix1agr

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a bottle into a Victory tulip

A- pours a very cloudy shade of orange with a one finger white head. Boring

S- aroma is essentially nonexistent. Getting a slight bit of pine, but that's it

T- some citrus, some pine, and a whole lot of nothing in between. Finish is abrasively bitter

M- this is actually pretty syrupy...which is weird for a 6% IPA. Not a fan

O- no thanks....very bland. Tons of better options out there

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:56:09 | More by bigfnjoe

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.38/5  rDev -31.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

What an underwhelming beer. Breckenridge makes some good stuff like their oatmeal stout, but this one just doesn't hold up.

Looks impressive enough, standard orange and brown hue you would expect in an ipa. Maybe a little darker in appearance than standard.

Nothing comes across aroma wise. Taste is massively disappointing. They say on the label it is a hoppy homage to something, but there is no discernable hop profile.

It at least isn't thin and punishing throughout the bottle. Disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 01:38:39 | More by Beerandraiderfan

jimbus

Ohio

2.4/5  rDev -31%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip.

Nice three finger head, decent clear orangish color and a ridiculous amount of lacing. Smell...what smell? I really had to fight to find some slight candied caramel in the nose, maybe a tinge of citrus, but no where near the floral hop aroma that i expect out of an IPA. Taste wise, this beer just didn't do anything for me...bitterness and hops almost nonexistent by IPA standards and too much sweet malt to balance. Mouthfeel was super light and watery. I suppose this could easily be drank as a session beer, but wouldn't be worth it to me.

I don't know if this bottle was far beyond its prime or what, but I would not suggest this as an IPA example. Disappointing, especially considering Breckenridge makes a phenomenal DIPA, the Small Batch 471.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

06-30-2010 03:24:20 | More by jimbus

hardy008

Minnesota

2.46/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Cloudy amber with a one finger off white head with decent retention and spotty lacing. The aroma has caramel malt, and light citrus hops.

Tastes more caramel malt forward than citrus hop forward. There is also a bit of earthiness, and bread malt. There's nothing which really stands out.

Light to medium bodied with average carbonation. Not worth seeking out again.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

03-13-2013 02:19:24 | More by hardy008

GoldHorde

Minnesota

2.46/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I've had a Breckenridge beer before - I don't recall exactly what it was - but I know it wasn't this one. I think Brekenridge's Lucky-U-IPA is a nice ale-ish beer and I'd be content to have it over many other ales EXCEPT that it says that it is an IPA - and I am forced to review it in the IPA style. And in my book, IPA's have a couple of high notes that need to be approached or hit but NEVER MISSED.

1. AROMA is for me the #1 keynote - it ANNOUNCES the IPA - you should be able to say while blindfolded - "prob'lee an IPA". This beer had a hint of something light & grassy but was essentially vaporless.

2. FLAVOR must ring of herbal, floral or spicy hop accents and aftertastes. Lucky-U-IPA approaches here. It has a hop sting with grassy aftertaste - nice summery edge to it. I'd place it much higher in the Pale Ale category than I can in the IPA category - only because there are so many excellent IPA's readily available.

In other notes:

APPEARANCE = Hazy amber
HEAD = One finger fading fast, some open lace
MOUTHFEEL = right up the middle where it ought to be with a hop sting

If you are looking for an unoffensive Pale Ale - here you go. If you really need an IPA, keep shopping.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

04-12-2013 05:24:01 | More by GoldHorde

Beaver13

Colorado

2.48/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle. Pours a hazy golden orange with a smallish frothy white head that goes to a thin collar that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is sweet melon with some grassy, fruity, spicy floral hops.

The flavor is vegetal malts with some charry bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and watery. As it warms, it's not as bad, but any decent hop flavors (fruits, spicy florals) trying to peek through get washed out by the watery body.

Overall, after an interesting pour, a bit of a disappointment. It's very watery and not very appealing flavor-wise.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

02-20-2010 00:56:24 | More by Beaver13

kojevergas

California

2.48/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a nonical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average given the brewery.

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

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a one finger beige colour head of decent cream, pretty decent thickness, and above average retention. Colour is a semitransparent vibrant copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Piney hops and a really bad off-note - a bit putrefaction-esque. Really unappealing. Pretty strong.

T: Piney hops and clean malts alongside pleasant cream. A bit sappy on the backend, evoking pine twigs and oily character. A strangely built IPA. Not particularly balanced, and certainly not complex or subtle. Meh.

Mf: Oily, smooth, and wet. A bit overcarbonated. Too thick as well. The oily quality doesn't work for it, and even evokes a vague medicinal character. Watery - the kiss of death.

Dr: A mundane IPA. I wouldn't bother with it again. Drinkable but bland and unremarkable, even a bit off-putting.

D+

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

07-27-2012 00:45:50 | More by kojevergas

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz can, no date.

IT pours a hazy copper color with a frothy off-white head that leaves some decent lacing.

The smell has a bit of frosting and an indistinguishable mishmash of hop scents. Orange is the only real standout.

The flavor is initially very harsh and herbal and vegetal. Like biting into a plant or something. The malt is there as well and it is pretty bland. It is like sugar and some herbs. Not that great.

Serving type: can
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

09-08-2011 20:19:45 | More by crossovert

HopHeadRyan

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Lucky U -

A - Quickly fading head…dark hazy amber carmel color

S - Upon first cracking the bottle…nice citrus/pine aroma…quickly dissipated when poured. Aroma from glass is lacking. Smells a little off. Possibly an old bottle.

T - Carmel malts and bitterness. No real hop complexity or flavor. Pretty uninspiring. Again this may haver been an old bottle. Can't tell as I bought as part of mix-a-six

M - Good carbonation and weight. Mouth feel is good. Not too heavy.

O - Not a very good AIPA. This one tastes more like an English IPA if anything. Its not balanced and tastes a bit off. I don't think I'll bother with this one again.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

11-29-2011 17:34:54 | More by HopHeadRyan

tjd112

New Jersey

2.55/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Presentation - Poured into Sam Smith nonic

Appearance - cloudy red orange with off-white head fastly dissipating, leaving little lacing on the glass

Smell - grassy hops, mixture of floral and ganja

Taste - BITTER AS HELL, very unbalanced, caramel and burnt sugar sweetness of other IPAs is muted here

Mouthfeel - Medium to heavy with ultra-dry finish

Drinkability - Not impressive

Overall - If you are one of those people who like hop pissing contests, then this beer is for you, but if you like balanced hoppiness, then avoid.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

01-11-2010 17:59:05 | More by tjd112

BeTheBall

Massachusetts

2.58/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Looks copper on color with a minimalhead, some slight lacing down the glass. Smells of citrus, but sort of muted compared to most IPA's. Taste starts as bitter and hoppy, with grass notes, but smacks you with malt in the back, something I don't want when I see IPA on the bottle. Sorry, I would not buy this again. Mouthfeel is average. This needs some work, and some more hops!

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

06-12-2011 21:33:57 | More by BeTheBall

drinkslinger028

Maryland

2.6/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer is not what I came to become accustomed to from this brewery it might be a bad bottle but this should be a drain pour, the only reason I'm going to finish this is a buddy gave it to me

A- slightly cloudy orange with slight head retention
S- almost non existent
T- very mild tones of resin
D - tolerable but nothing I would purchase again

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

07-04-2011 05:47:16 | More by drinkslinger028

kangarooAdam59

Maine

2.6/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Thanx Aaron:

Into a pint glass:

A: cloudy orange body, one finger white foamy head rises and falls leaving some clingy spider web lacing

S: faded hops and malts somewhat bitter yet combined

T: bland bittersweet through previously mentioned flavors, dry sweet aftertaste, dry finish

M: light to medium, sessionable

O: well, I`m not sure how fresh this is, something seems off, so until then only seek again fresher

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

04-13-2013 19:35:19 | More by kangarooAdam59

OldSchoolGamer

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A new beer from Breckenridge. I have never had a Breckenridge beer I would buy again, so lets see if this one is any different.

A: Pours a semi-hazy amber color. Lots of carbonation. Head is almost not there, and lacing is minimal at best.

S/T: The aroma is there, but thats the best thing I can say. I get lots of metal, grain, and a touch of hops on the nose. There is also a rotten smell in there. Almost like spoiled milk. The taste is a little better than the aroma, but thats it. Its got a very grainy taste. Hops give off a slight tea-like quality. Its bitter, but bitter in the way a typical macro lager is. A strong candidate for one of the worst tasting IPAs I have had.

M/D: Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied. Slightly bitter. Not dry in the finish. Drinks pretty well, and that is the only redeeming quality about this beer. The flavors fade rather quickly, so you go for another sip quicker than you would like.

Add this one to the list of Breckenridge beers that I will never drink again. Just very bland and somewhat offensive. This would probably be a good beer for macro lager drinkers looking to change the pace a little bit. Other than that, I highly recommend passing on this one.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

11-18-2009 19:37:26 | More by OldSchoolGamer

silentjay

Massachusetts

2.73/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

pretty translucent and plain copper with a fluffy almost white head that quickly recedes to 1cm and leaves little lacing.

slightly metallic aroma with caramel and toasty malts followed by earthy, spicy, and a touch piney hops.

very herbal flavoring with a grainy finish. tea-like with light rye toast and some caramel. not digging it.

medium bodied with decent carbonation and a grainy, yet bitter finish that does not leave me looking forward to the next sip.

not quite what I look for in an IPA. a weird mix of flavors that don't come together well, and grainy (almost chewy) throughout.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

02-17-2011 04:43:39 | More by silentjay

beveritt

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into am Imperial pint glass. Label is red and gold, sowing a horseshoe and describing the beer as "A hoppy homage to a Denver landmark the Tivoli brewery." There is some type of ink stamp on the neck, but no clear freshness dating.

Appearance: Pours with just shy of one finger of very light tan head. This settles quickly to just a thin yet complete cap of foam, leaving behind nice lacing. The beer itself is amber with the slightest chill haze. Some well compacted sediment remains in the bottle.

Smell: An equal mix of light floral hops and buttery diacetyls.

Taste: Slight caramel malt flavor upfront quickly overpowered by a mild hop bitterness with unpleasant vegetal undertones.

Mouthfeel: Slightly lower than average carbonation. Body is thin.

Drinkability: Palatable, but just barely. Finished the six pack, but won't ever buy this again.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

08-27-2011 00:19:35 | More by beveritt

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle

A - Hazy golden orange with bits of particulate floating around in the glass. Thin white head, retention settles to edges, very sticky lacing

S - Nose is a lot of caramel malt and less hop forward then I would suspect. A deeper sniff brings on a bit of floral hop aroma and bits of citrus.

T&M - Medium to fuller bodied and rather thick feeling. Very rich with a lot of roasted and caramel malt presence. Floral hops seem like almost an afterthought and are felt mostly in the finish with hints of lavender up front. Bitterness level not very high at all, which is fine, but not what I would expect from an American IPA.

D - Lacks depth in the flavor department, although it is one of the more floral beers I've ever had. Not sure what to make of this one, but I know I really don't care for another.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

12-15-2010 05:36:53 | More by ZeroSignal

GallowsThief

Florida

2.8/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice looking deep golden color with almost no head to speak of and no lacing.

S - Came across a yeasty. I get the fruit and earthy smells as well.

T - Well it seems pretty bitter right off but it does not stay. Earthy tastes.

M - Decent. Medium carbonation.

D - Nothing to stop you from having a few if you like the taste. Its not for me.

Generally I am a fan of Breckenridge but this is not their best brew in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

09-05-2010 01:12:38 | More by GallowsThief

GeezLynn

Minnesota

2.8/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Full white head over a cloudy bronze body.

S: Caramel, sugar, and a little citrus. Aroma is pretty light bordering on weak.

T: Lots of initial grassy bitterness followed by caramel and biscuit flavors. Sweet and lacking much in the way of dryness. The hop bill really doesn’t agree with me as there is plenty of bitterness, but distinctive hop flavors like fruit, pine, etc are not very apparent.

M: Slick mouthfeel with soft, fine carbonation. Smooth, bordering on dead.

Not what I would consider a good IPA and yet another unimpressive beer from Breckenridge.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

04-27-2011 05:06:24 | More by GeezLynn

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

2.85/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Lucky U poured a copper bronze color with an off white head that left a lace on the glass as it was consumed. The beer was very clear with nice rising bubbles.

The aroma was Floral and Piney but was very muted.

The taste was mostly of a malt backbone with hints of toffee and caramel. There was little hop flavor and a very minimal aftertaste.

The body of the beer was somewhat watery.

I was not very impressed by this beer and could think of many IPAs that are more to style and more enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

07-03-2011 20:47:16 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

musicforairports

New York

2.95/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy orange, pretty thick head that recedes quickly and leaves little lacing.

Smells like cascade hops and some sweetness. Smelled better out of the bottle than it did in the glass.

Tastes like mild citrus--quite bit of orange flavor--and a less desirable soapy flavor. Some sweetness underneath, but little defined malt flavor. Tastes linger bitter in not a good way. A metallic, soapy taste sticks around a long time.

Mouthfeel is ordinary. Not too thick, not too thin.

This beer is drinkable in terms of lightness, body and mouthfeel, but the flavor to me is very lacking.

Serving type: bottle
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

01-11-2011 03:00:31 | More by musicforairports

Seanibus

California

3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Surprisingly undistinguished. Pours clear copper with modest head with scattered lacing. Aroma is tight, pinched and laced with banana. Flavor is overripe, heavy banana ester with floral hops in the back. Caramel malt, very slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is weak, bitterness is late to the party.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 South Main Street, Breckenridge

01-17-2010 00:54:20 | More by Seanibus