Hop Knot - Four Peaks Brewing Company

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a pint at the Four Peaks - Tempe on 3/28.

A: A very pretty copper-orange, crowned with a thick white one-finger head of suds. Not a ton of carbonation, just a few random bubbles. Very clear with a healthy lacing, glued on in sticky bands.

S: Sweet caramel, pine and grapefruit aromas intermingling.

T: Pithy orange/grapefruit bitterness. A caramel maltiness flows in waves. Quite tasty, great balance.

M: Silky smooth, the epitome of 'creamy'.

D: A fine IPA. Flavor is nothing too creative, but is a well-balanced and flavorful brew nonetheless. A pleasure to drink, one I'd have again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2009 02:34:37 | More by msubulldog25

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at the brewery.

Pours a clear copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a thin pancake on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells hoppy. Lots of citrus and pine aromas with hints of tropical fruit - very nice.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though the malt is a bit more pronounced than the smell led me to believe. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors are backed up by pale malts. Hints of pine flavors come in right before a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with solid carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I had no problem with one glass and could (and did) have a few more.

Overall this was a very solid IPA. If the flavors were a bit cleaner this could rival some of the world-class IPA's.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2009 17:59:27 | More by glid02

seaoflament

California

3.08/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Joey for opening up this bottle at La Bella Pizza tonight. I have heard quite a bit about this beer and wanted to try it for a while.

This beer poured a bit too pale for an IPA in my opinion, almost a straw yellow but with a decent amount of head, good lacing too.

Huh? Hardly any hops detectable on the nose, what I first pick up is a weird dirty grain aroma. Maybe a little citrus after the beer warms up, some grassy tones, light caramel, but there really isn't all that much in there.

Tastes grainy, and the grain bill does not seem to be in harmony in this beer. Hardly any hops in the flavor as well, just a little earthy at times. Some lemon flavor later on. Very thin body. Faint caramel in the finish.

Decent carbonation but a bit too thin for an ipa, seems more like a pale ale.

Quite disappointed in this one, not sure if we had an old bottle but it doesn't seem like it...the malt was also very thin.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 07:48:34 | More by seaoflament

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to sholland119 for sharing a bottle of this one.

A-Brilliant orange kissed golden yellow with a thin white head and a little bit of lacing.

S-Tart citrus of grapefruit, tangerine and orange. Low amount of malt sweetness detected.

T-Potent citric acid punch with a boat load of citrus fruit flavour. Most of it a bland of grapefruit and orange. Notes of softer fruit flavours in the background such as apple and peach. A complimenting malt sweetness in the finish.

M-Medium body with a pleasant, long lasting bitterness.

D-A totally solid and nearly sessionable west coast IPA. All the citrus hoppy goodness that I crave with a minimal amount of malt sweetness....YUMMY!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 16:27:41 | More by Deuane

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this in Secret Santa '08. Thanks, Tayner.

A-Clear golden apricot with a thin white head and a little bit of lacing.

S-Lots and lots of grapefruit. Yummy!

T-Nicely citric with a bit of honey sweetness in the finish.

M-Nice lingering bitterness, a bit dry.

D-A quite drinkable West Coast IPA.

HV

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 02:52:48 | More by sholland119

sonicdescent

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Received this one as an extra, I wish I took better notes so that I could thank whoever it was, but you're out there and Cheers to trading anyway!

Pours a very nice golden hue with a nice bubbly head that dissipates into a reasonably thick crown. Carbonation is very active in my Samuel Adams sensory glass.

Smell is actually very close to DIPA territory, pretty potent stuff. Hop sweetness is prevalent, mostly of the citrus and pine resin variety.

Taste, while more potent than most IPAs is still weak for my DIPA battered palate, but what is there is quite tasty and even refreshing for IPA standards. For specifics, see the smell, but this is sweeter and more drinkable than a lot of other IPAs that I find too puckeringly bitter.

Mouth is thin to medium in body and reasonably heavy on the carbonation. Works well here.

A very drinkable IPA and I'm pretty sad that I will probably not have the opportunity to try this one again, but glad I had this one chance. Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 22:15:59 | More by sonicdescent

LittleDon

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A pint draft pour.

Clear golden with no noticeable carbonation or head. It has a noticeable aldehyde/hopped aroma. You get a definite hop punch in the first sip, but not so much so that it overwhelms the senses. Medium body with a bitter finish. Overall, a very drinkable beer. A nice balance between the hops and alcohol. Not over the top hoppy, but hopped enough to satisfy hop-heads such as myself.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2009 01:03:26 | More by LittleDon

MasterSki

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks for tayner for throwing me a couple of these. Served in the usual Surly pint glass.

A - A half finger of cream-white foam that dissipates quickly - nice lacing though! Murky golden-yellow color. Not all that interesting.

S - Very balanced - some sweet citrus hoppiness with loads of tangerine, orange, grapefruit, and a hint of pine, and some sweet caramel malts with maybe a touch of honey and biscuit.

T - Tastes a lot like it smells, which is a good thing. Again - very balanced, with hoppy tropical flavors, a hint of pine, sweet caramel malt, honey, and bread. Not particularly unique, but well crafted. Aftertaste is neutral.

M - Smooth, with a little prickly carbonation at the tip of the tongue. Good viscosity and nice residual oily resin.

D - It's got all the things I like for sessions - low alcohol, not overcarbonated, no strong aftertaste, and a nice flavor. If I lived in Phoenix I'd keep a sixer of this in the fridge.

Don't let the B+ fool you - this is a sold session IPA option that has a score skewed by its lackluster appearance. If it looked a little better it'd compare to Stone IPA and Two-Hearted.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2009 21:18:29 | More by MasterSki

darleys

Arkansas

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma smells strongly of citrus. Grapefruit is the dominating taste coming from the copious amounts of flavor hops. Bitterness is bellow average for an IPA. Mouthfeel is light to medium. I enjoyed the beer immensely and see this as being interchangeable with Hopslam.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 02:01:55 | More by darleys

grub

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

got this bottle from tayner. thanks dana!

pours crystal clear golden yellow with a thin layer of dense white head. the head drops fairly quick and leaves spotty lace behind.

aroma is good. orange, tangerine, grapefruit. pine. honey and caramel. biscuit and white bread. light alcohol. touch of toasty character too.

taste is good. medium bitterness level. pine and grapefruit. orange peel. orange and tangerine pulp. lightly toasted white bread. touch of biscuit. the alcohol is almost completely hidden, until a touch of warmth starts in my stomach. there's a bit of a metallic or mineraly character too.

mouthfeel is good. medium-light body. medium-light carbonation level.

drinkability is good. nicely balanced, hiding its alcohol well. the metallic component is a little odd. i didn't mind it overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 23:03:30 | More by grub

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to grub for splitting this bottle.

Pours a clear light amber/golden yellow, thin white head forms, drops to a thin ring pretty quick, but holds there, some lace spots on the glass. Smell is pretty hoppy, lots of grapefruit and pineapple, some floral, caramel, really neat orange peel and vanilla aroma, like a creamsicle, smells great. Taste is nice, quite dry and bready at first, sweet malt, some pine and grapefruit, iron/metallic, almost bloody like, bitter orange peel, bread crust finish, balanced finish. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with medium carbonation, but it has a real blood flavour, and kind of feels like swallowing blood in the back of your throat, its weird. Smells real nice though, thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 22:57:08 | More by Viggo

flexabull

California

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of Tayner, thanks again!

Pours a bright gold color with a faint white head.

Aromas are very nice. Great smelling IPA, really fresh hops, bright citrus, oranges, and a little hard candy sweetness.

Taste is quite dry, a little prickly on the mouthfeel. Really hop forward, grassy, resin like, with some citrus orange flavors. A touch of malt sweetness is hidden in the background, it's there, but it takes a back seat to the big hop flavors. Finish is crisp, with a short snappy finish.

Mouthfeel is pretty good, a little prickly at first, but smooths out nicely.

Drinkability is quite good. This is a very tasty IPA. Lots of fresh hop flavors, but not too overpowering. Very drinkable, I'd be happy to drink another. Good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 02:55:44 | More by flexabull

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to nvsblman for including this in my secret santa package. Poured into my Hop Knot shaker glass (also courtesy of santa). Appears a clear golden yellow color with barely half an inch of thin foam that quickly vanishes to a thin layer. Smells and tastes of caramel malt, lemon, pine needles and grapefruit. Smells and tastes much better than it's appearance leads on (kind of like Sunshine Pils does). Medium body and carbonation. A nicely done IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 17:42:02 | More by ClockworkOrange

Pamola

Vermont

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to stubone for the trade. never tried an az beer before this one.

A: Poured a fairly yellow color with a small, white head measuring less than a finger. Dissipates quickly.

S: Damn! Heavy citrus hops, loaded in grapefruit aroma. Stuff smells like it would cure scurvy in a heartbeat. Aroma is a little one-dimensional but it's incredibly intense and rather mouth-watering.

T: Wow. Sweet and fruity and as said before, intensely hoppy. It's not brutally bitter though, which is nice. It doesn't dry out your mouth and allows that sweetness and citrus to come through more.

M: Maybe a little on the watery side but the hops dance on the palate wonderfully.

D: Could certainly drink plenty of this, even though it's nearly a grapefruit beer. It's very very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 05:59:17 | More by Pamola

HopHead84

California

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pale straw-colored golden with a very large head, nearly 3 fingers. The color is nice, but the white head, its retention, and its lacing are pretty amazing. Thick, even, soapy lacing coats the glass in an unbelievably even manner. Head doesn't normally recede in such a logical fashion. Watching this beer I begin to think this is the only way for such a recession to occur.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the aroma. Seldom do I trade for an IPA (actually, this was an extra from BOLTZ7555) that keeps a strong, pungent IPA aroma. Something about shipment seems to substantially diminish the essence of the hop aroma. Anyway, on to the aroma. Smells very citrusy. Orange pith, grapefruit rind, and other citrus. Very pungent. Pine resin and floral hops as well.

The flavor is hop dominated, with practically no sweetness and a tiny malt backbone. In other words, the profile of a perfect West Coast IPA. Primarily grapefruit and orange. Bitterness is on the upper medium end of the style, which makes for a very drinkable representation of the style. The finish is dry, bitter, and citrusy; it leaves a certain lingering stickiness in my mouth.

Before Hop Knot, I couldn't have named a beer from Arizona. Now you'll hear me speak the name of Hop Knot loudly and often. This is a very good offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 06:29:26 | More by HopHead84

hoppymeal

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a straw gold in color, very clear, a nice sized bright white head rests atop before slowly descending, lacing nicely in the process. Aroma is a nice mix of some citrus and a hint of sweetness from the malts. The strongest singular scent is of apricots which comes thru quite well in this bottle. Also some peaches, some tangelo, and grapefruit too, but like a nice sweet tree-ripened fruit. Taste follows with a good citrus hop up front, apricot comes thru in the taste as well, mid-taste. Some peppery flavor kicks in in the finish before a good sized drying and slightly puckery bitterness. Light to medium in body, the carbonation is light, and on the medium to soft side, feel wise. The pepperiness in the taste is present but light in the feel, and the bitterness pulls the moisture from the palate in the finish. Very good ipa, great aroma and nice bitterness, very drinkable. Thanks Dana for the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 02:02:11 | More by hoppymeal

bigbelcher

Arizona

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've enjoyed many a pint of this beer but this review is of my first bottle of it. Got a case at the brewery in Tempe. It is a light golden almost straw like yellow. Unlike the many pints I've had the head was rather small, probably due to having a lower co2 content than the draft. Other than that though the taste was the same as draft. Some malt but mostly plenty of hop flavor and a nice easy drinking bitterness. Some citrus and grassy hop flavor. Aroma is like that of a fresh cut lawn, grassy. A well balanced easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2008 20:33:29 | More by bigbelcher

leftmindedrighty

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Two 12oz bottles courtesy of the Arizona legend Tayner.

One of those bottles poured into a Four Peaks pint glass. Man I love branded glassware.

Smell, Wow. Big citrus hops with piney hops thrown into the mix.

Taste, is there malt in this brew? Big citrus and piney hops dominate. A firm malt backbone though keeps this beer in check. Aromatic and Crystal malt keeps this beer balanced and lends mucho complexity. Very forthright hop presence keeps smacking my taste buds around, while the sweet malt tries in vain to reign them in.

Overall, I don't know how to sum this up. Big citrus hops combined with a firm malt backbone. Pliny? Dreadnaught? Leatherlips? I'm sorry, but for the ABV you don't stand a chance. I'm adding this as a permanent "Wants". Wow is all I can say. Kudos to the brewers for masking such awesome hop presence.

I have a new favorite IPA. Sorry Leatherlips and Finest Kind IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 02:26:04 | More by leftmindedrighty

PhxHorn

Arizona

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I just bought my first case of the newly-bottled stuff, and I wasn't planning on reviewing it again, but this is worthy. It's even better out of the bottle than the on-tap serving I had in Tempe last month. The color is a deep, rich yellow, quarter inch of white head. Smells intensely of piney hops. One of the greatest aromas I've ever experienced from a beer. Tastes of citrus, with some grapefruit and maybe a bit of orange in there, but not the overwhelming bitterness you get sometimes. Carbonation is right on the money. One of the most drinakble IPA's I've had. I had Pliney the Elder on tap in San Diego this past summer, and for my money, this is actually a tad better when it's this fresh. Nice job, Four Peaks!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 22:56:28 | More by PhxHorn

tayner

Arizona

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a golden honey color with a white head that dissipates pretty quick but remains an oily film across the top. Smells of HUGE hops, green, bitter, fresh, pine-y hops. I felt like i just laid down face first in a barrel of hop flowers. Taste is well, HOPS. It is loaded with pine-y, green hops that are oily and mouthcoating, but surprisingly not as bitter I as expected. It seems you can add a TON of hops without getting too much bitterness!

These are now being bottled, only available at the brewery for now, and at only 36.50 a case it is, by far, the best bottled beer made in arizona. I am happy this is FINALLY in the bottle. I plan on keeping a steady supply in my fridge. IMHO this can compete with the "big boys" around the country and at around 1.50 a bottle I suddenly dont feel the need to seek out other stuff from around the country.. this is my new "go to" IPA!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 01:09:48 | More by tayner

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this beer at Pizza Bianco's sister bar while we waited an hour and 45 minutes for a table. I am very happy that we had the long wait and that I had the opportunity to have a couple of pints.

Just an excellent beer.

The head on each glass was rather diminutive and measured less than a finger in thickness. The head was fairly and while small did show nice retention. Some decent lacing formed and there was no visible carbonation.

Color was at the line between golden amber and orange amber.

Aroma was fantastic. Very strong floral/perfume aroma with strong citrus notes and a spicy/peppery tone. I also smelled and later tasted a slight hint of mint.

Taste was really fantastic and exceedingly fresh. Nice burst of bright hop bitterness up front. Grapefruit and peppery notes. Again I got the sense of mint. I am not saying it tasted like a mint beer, but I think this was a part of the spicy notes. In the background was a nice bread like flavor that balanced the assertive hop flavor. This was an assertive APA and in some ways could be considered an IPA. Just a wonderful beer.

Mouth feel was fairly light in body and the carbonation kept the sensation very bright.

Very very drinkable. Quaffable dare I say.

I look forward to waiting for a table at Pizza Bianco again. I'll BE BACK!

Excellent Beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2008 09:28:49 | More by Reagan1984

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.58/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this at Magpies Pizza in 4th Street in Tucson

Poured golden/bronze with 1 finger of pearl white head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Nice citrus & pine hops with some breadyness once warm

T: Grapefruitty, peppery & pine hops plus a kiss of honey malt up front. Breadyness mingles with nice piney hops as this warms. Finishes crisp & moreish, almost pulled a 5.0

MF: Medium bodied with lively carbonation that makes the hops pop. Great balance as well

Probably the best beer I had in AZ, one to quaff, despite the ABV

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2008 02:24:14 | More by russpowell

Stoneman78

California

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft at the Tempe brewery
A- Clear golden hue, big thick white head, thick lacing on the glass
S- Moderate pine resin balanced with sweet grapefruit and bubblegum
T- Sweet citrus and grapefruit dominate initially, opens up to subtle pine and floral hops, finishes with a touch of sweet and bitter hops
M- Medium-bodied, watery texture, moderate carbonation
D- Deliciously sweet IPA, easy drinking and well-balanced, this is a very delicious beer that was one of my favorites while living in Phoenix

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2007 02:18:01 | More by Stoneman78

buffettfan

Arizona

4.58/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one surprised me! They put the glass in front of me, and I saw a pretty average, golden, slightly cloudy beer, with just a bit of head, but it did hold a while, and had some pretty nice lacing. Then I put it to my nose, and got punched in face! The hops dominated!! The taste was pretty much what you would expect from the aroma! This was like chewying on hops! Loved it!!! I would swim in this stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2007 17:57:22 | More by buffettfan

wcdoyle

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Head was low and died quickly, but there was good lacing. Clear gold with a touch of copper. S: The hops come through with sweet citrus--like orange or tangerine--and there was also a bit of malty sweetness. T: Wow. The sharpness was there, but in a good way, the flavors danced through various citrus and florals, but there weren't crazy and there was enough malt--both up front and then underneath the hops to keep things in balance. M: Moderate, and not too drying. D: I actually puled back on tis rating to be fair. First, it was a wicked hot Tempe summer day, so the beeriness along made it drinkable. Don't get me wrong, though. If I lived in Tempe, I'd be drinking a lot of these.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2007 23:50:07 | More by wcdoyle