Anti-Hero - Revolution Brewing Company - Brewpub

Bernardkowalski

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Most Defiantly one of my go too beers, Especially sense it is year round and if you can't find it on tap anywhere, at least you know someone will have it in cans.

A: Has such a beautiful gold body, almost could not ask for a better gold color. light cream head which tends to linger around it's circumference of the glass even while still. steady liveliness too it, carbonation seems to never stop.

S: Weak sweet citrus smell, does not hurt the nose what so ever.

T: Absolutely fits its character as an IPA, Ingredients seem to be balanced just right to not leave any sort of bitter aftertaste. Can't really say it's not bitter only because you should expect that in all APA's or IPA's. no over dominating characters.

M: Beer is not flat at all, i would have to say its more of a light and bubbly style in its self. Very smooth, has a fitting body for its style, no where close to a heavy body, yet far from light.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 23:18:41 | More by Bernardkowalski

im_allen

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I get a real "gumball head" feeling here (thats a good thing). When poured from the tap it had the color one would expect from this type of beer. I happened to enjoy the smell, reminded me of summer even while enjoying this beer in an air conditioned bar. For my first taste ever of this brew, I would let my friends in on this secret...its good. Drink it. At 6.5% its a great beer to start and/or end your night. Cheers

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2012 04:53:43 | More by im_allen

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.74/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Thanx YogiBeer for another spectacular beer!

In a pint glass:

A: clear light golden color body, a half finger white foamy head appears and lasts for at least a half of the consummation of the beer. Some nice clingy foamy lacing graces the sides of the pint glass.

S: citrus and light hops up front with a decent malt profile backing it up ever so slightly.

T: previously mentioned flavors to combine a nice blended bittersweetness that is awesome

M: light to medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, weird for an American IPA, but I'm not complaining, different I will say, really smooth is perhaps a better way of saying it. I'd say this is very sessionable. It leaves a dry yet sticky aftertaste and finish.

O: I like this one and am eventually looking forward to trying more from Revolution. This is very good for its style and very good to me.

Serving type: can

02-10-2013 16:06:08 | More by kangarooAdam59

Lognar

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a beautiful orange copper with a finger and a half of white foam. Reminds me of Orange Hi-C.

The nose is overall fairly sweet with some pine, and lots of citrus sweetness by way of grapefruit, mango, and orange. A bit of bready malt peeks out from beneath the sweetness and keeps it from being too sweet.

The taste is a perfect blend of pine and citrus. Again, the citrus is grapefruit, mango, and orange. The bitterness builds with the finish, levels out just before it overpowers, high fives the other flavors, they all hang out a bit, and then pick up a nice floral, palate cleansing dryness to close things out.

The mouthfeel is nice and silky, almost oily, with decent carbonation.

Overall this is an amazing IPA. It rivals Zombie Dust as my favorite IPA/APA. The perfectly balanced and blended bitterness of Anti-Hero really makes this brew something wonderful. Like a rug that really ties the room together, it really ties this brew together. This is a definitely a sleeper of an IPA. If it weren't year round it would be highly sought after imo.

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 00:20:20 | More by Lognar

Khazadum

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The lacing is perfect. I love love love it. Great clear body. Amber body, medium retention on lacing.

Smells so citrus, nice light grassy pine background, a little sharp herbal nature. Blended well but always strong. There is so much hops but initially it was more citrus than anything that it was a mild APA

Big citrus burst, orange, grape zest, middle is biscuit, and finishes out grassy hops. Subtle, simple, and dry finish with a light bitter.

Full bodied but smooth, light but bright. It's a fight to be opposites and blended as one. Amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2012 22:50:48 | More by Khazadum

YeastWrangler88

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Sam Adams pint glass from a 12oz can:

Appearence: very nice, pale malt, with a slight amber color, just how a true IPA should be, not amber, but PALE.

Aroma: to put it simple, its amazing, i get a bunch of citrus with a lingering spicy almost black pepper with some pine, but citrus dominated. Simply a beautiful smell, one of the best smelling IPAs ive ever smelled.

Flavor: hops from begining to end, citrus, again, is dominent, i do get a spicy earthy hop flavor as well, perfectly balanced by sweet lightly toasted malt, almost like a sweet bread. Very well balanced beer right here, finishes slightly dry, while still leaving some mouth feel.

Overall: a world class beer, i dont say that very often, but this one truly is. A great example of a west coast american IPA. I would reccomend this if youre in the market for a true IPA that is NOT overwhelmed with crystal and carmal malts that i feel fight with the hops that we all love in a good IPA, instead, this is pale malt dominated, and it works beautifully. Good job Revolution!

Serving type: can

11-18-2012 01:30:18 | More by YeastWrangler88

atomic

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz can poured into Unibroue Tulip

A: All beer is beautiful to me

S: Actually not a lot of aroma to this one. What I do smell is all floral and citrus.

T: Only one way to describe it and thats JUICY. Where it lacks in smell, it makes up for in flavor. Explosion of grapefruit followed by a very slight but noticeable hop bitterness.

M: A little bit thicker than you'd expect it to be. No complaints though.

Overall this is quickly becoming one of my favorite local beers. Its everything you'd want from an IPA, without being too bitter that it ruins your palate. I was shocked when my girlfriend, for whom every other IPA has turned her face inside out, exclaimed "OOOooo" after having some Anti-hero. This is the one folks, if you're still not sold on hops, if you're still sensitive to the bitterness, this is the one to try. I should mention that its deceptively easy drinking; in the time it took to type this out, I've nearly finished my glass.

Serving type: can

02-22-2013 09:18:36 | More by atomic

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz can poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
6.5% ABV, no date.

Thanks for bringing the can up Sweemzander!

A - The crack of the can and subsequent, forceful glug into the pint creates a monsterous off-white head that maintains itself incredibly well above the clear goldenrod beer. Sheet after sheet of thick lace remains plastered to the inside of the pint!

S - Beneath the explosive aroma of freshly cut grapefruit and equally fresh pineapple lies a coating of pine sap resin with bitter implications. Sweet nuances break through with a touch of caramel and cantaloupe while dry pale malts add a bit of graininess. Take a deep whiff of this beer and you'll receive a faint sharpness in your nostrils from the CO2.

T - The first sip gives pause to reflect as the flavor is no where near as strong and potent as the aroma, though it's no discouraging factor. Instead, the flavor carefully balances the powerful hops' pineapple, grapefruit, and pine resin with a taller malt involvement of trace pilsner sweetness, pale grains, and faint Vienna toast.

M - Incredible balance comes from this can, really creating a wonderful drinking experience. Medium-light bodied, there's no feel of heft or that it's filling and the bitter, dry finish doesn't attack the taste buds. It amounts to a quenching brew, really.

O - A hop-head's dream, Anti-Hero IPA carefully applies hops in many different aspects for a full, aromatic presence, delicious flavor, and nicely bitter finish. This is a beer I want another pint of immediately after this one is gone, and it's gone rather quickly.

Serving type: can

11-09-2012 23:58:40 | More by BeerFMAndy

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz can poured into a nonic pint.

A - Light golden in color that has a slight orange tint. Medium sized pillowy white head falls to a small cap. Great clarity and leaving a small bit of lacing.

S - Distinct pine aroma. Tropical with a big peach quality. Bright and floral. About the freshest beer I've smelt.

T - Very early bitterness to this beer which is quite pleasant. Mild toasty malt gives a little bit of sweetness midway. Hop flavor is bright and citrusy then finishes with more pine. Modest bitterness cleans up well.

M - Medium to medium-light body, medium-light carbonation, dry.

O - Very impressed with this brew. Wonderful fresh aroma with a new and unique tropical aroma better than I've seen done yet. Flavor showcases bitterness early and makes for the most drinkable IPA. Body is on the light end but the rest of the feel is perfect. I would love to be able to get more of this and sincerely recommend this beer to all.

Serving type: can

05-01-2013 01:23:55 | More by Jparker37

HawkD

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is the perfect example of an americian ipa. Purchased a six pack of cans. Served in a New Belgium tulip. Appearance is great straw light golden. Pours with a great head with a nice lasting lacing. Smell is citrus, pine, pure heaven. Taste is well balanced. Hops balance malt and vice versa. This is my go-to beer. Great job Revolution. Chicago finally has a brewery to be proud of.

Serving type: can

12-23-2012 00:58:27 | More by HawkD

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ Revolution Brewing Company (Chicago, IL) on 8/7/10. Served in a tulip glass.

Pours a brilliant looking crystal clear copper, topped with a cap of off-white foamy head. This maintains a great foamy richness to it, which leaves sticky rings of lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is floral, spicy, piney, and citric, with more bitter grapefruit notes being balanced out with sweeter tropical ones. Bready smelling caramel character also adds a good deal of sweetness to the nose as well. Man, the hops just have an awesome smelling full feeling brightness to them that I'm really digging.

The taste is biting and aggressive with up front with spice, grapefruit, and citrus peel, while notes of sharp earth and reins stretch out over the tongue. Those fruitier tropical character, grainy bread, and sweet toffee balance things out on the edges of the profile but mostly confine themselves to the background and allow the assertiveness of the hops to really do their thing here. The finish is just lashed by the hops, being deeply dry and biting with pine, spice, and bitter fruit all lingering for a good while. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a great feeling sharp, yet still mellow, presence to the carbonation. Just an awesome amount of slickness to this that when coupled with no alcohol being detected at all, REALLY ramps up the overall drinkibility of this.

Full flavored, tremendously bright feeling, and hugely drinkable, this is probably of the best "house" IPAs that I've had in a while. The hop bill just really delivers here, with a profile that is equal parts sharp, mellow, fruity, and bitter all at once. Fantastic stuff overall and this was a great way to kick off our first visit here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2010 16:37:31 | More by Kegatron

TheLostGringo

Connecticut

4.46/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Received a couple of Cans in a recent trade and was excited to give it a try.

A: Pours a light copper color with a 3 inch billowy head that I had be careful did not overflow the tulip glass I was drinking it out of, solid lacing throughout. 4.00

S: Big fruit aromas, perhaps the strongest tangerine, grapefruit, general fruitiness I have ever smelled in any beer. A slight resin aroma at the very end. 5.00

T: Follows the smell, juicy and fruity in the beginning with a nice hop bitterness to round things out, highly drinkable. 4.25

M: Just right, fills the mouth without being cloying or thin, just a bit sweet, goes down nice and smooth. 4.50

O: Extremely impressed and surprised at how good this was, really wish I could get this on a regular basis. 4.50

Serving type: can

05-15-2013 16:16:12 | More by TheLostGringo

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours orange with a little white head.

Smells of citrus and tropical fruits. Ever so slight sweetness present from the malts.

Tastes very similar to the smell. Bright notes of citrus, grapefruit and tropical fruits are presence. Pretty hoppy throughout the palate.

Mouthfeel and carb are both in the same range as other IPA's.

This is really a great beer. Nothing very unique about it, but loads of good flavors and well crafted with my favorite hops.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2011 13:15:18 | More by jmarsh123

Wolfpack2005

North Carolina

4.44/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Envelops for sending this one to me in a BIF.

A-Poured golden amber very minimal haze. Little head, minimal lacing.

S-A sharp sweetness upfront with citrus armored hops. Smells fresh.

T-Similar to the nose, a light toasty sweetness with a blend of citrus and medicinal tasting hops. Picking up a lot of orange flavor in the sweetness.

M-Medium-heavy body for the style and smooth mouthfeel. Lower carbonation.

O-Excellent brew. I wish I had easier access to this one. I could easily see this being my "go to" IPA. Reminds me a lot of Two Hearted.

Serving type: can

03-02-2013 02:18:49 | More by Wolfpack2005

raznug

Ohio

4.44/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Anti Hero pours a crystal clear deep golden color and is topped with a ¾” of white head that dissipates into a thin layer
Smell: The aroma of this beer is a tasty smelling blend of citrus and pine hops the has me really wanting to like this brew.
Taste: The flavor of this beer follows right in line with the aroma and has a tasty but not over powering blend of pine and citrus hops. I taste grassy hops and malt in the background to put it over the top for a good brew.
Mouthfeel: This is a medium bodied beer that is easy to drink with a good blend of hops and malt.

Serving type: can

03-16-2013 17:29:33 | More by raznug

emerge077

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had two of these tonight with dinner, have to say it's a solid Chicago IPA. We got the rundown from the bartender: Simcoe, Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade varieties in this one.

Bright orange, high clarity, plenty of sticky lace in the tulip glass. The tulip seemed to concentrate the aroma, which was pungent and citrusy, bordering on tropical. Very clean and appealing, also resinous and packing a punch at the same time.

Flavors were dominated by citrus, with a finely balanced malt presence. Very green and resinous hops in the flavor, plenty of IBU's for those who crave bitterness. The name of the game here is balance though. It had a fullness, but was light enough to put back a couple. A growler would be no problem. Glad to see this IPA on the scene, it's a contender...

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2010 04:50:31 | More by emerge077

redjameskidd

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my first visit to Revolution, and I had time to have a few beers, the Eugene porter and this IPA.

Let me first just say that my expectations were not tremendously high, as they usually aren't for any brewpub on the new side.

This thing BLEW ME AWAY.

Appearance: It looks beautiful. There's no other way to say it; in a tulip glass, it's a bright, fiery orange, sort of like the best Octoberfest lagers.

Smell: Bright, extremely citrusy, orangey, with hints of other more tropical fruits. Smells exactly like the color would have you hope it would.

Taste: Unusual and refreshing. Skews away from the exact mold of so many west coast IPAs to which I have become used to. Obviously some of the same hop varieties are there, but there's something refreshingly different here. It's fruitier, strongly flavored and quite distinctive. As to one of the earlier reviewers opinions that it tastes like Goose Island's IPA, I can't say I tasted that at all.

Mouthfeel: Solid bitterness, pretty clean on the palate. Refreshing.

Drinkability: I would have loved to have had another if I didn't have to move on.

Completely unexpectedly, I have to call this beer one of my favorite IPAs. I knew as soon as I tasted it that I would have to get on here and give it some props. Go out and taste it for yourself.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2010 23:44:41 | More by redjameskidd

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

APPEARANCE: Bright, brilliant orange with a bubbly white head resting on top. Some lacing is present as well.

SMELL: Sweet, floral with notes of honey and deliciousness. Very solid nose.

TASTE: Simultaneously sweet and bitter. The hops are very conspicuous, but a sweet, floral and honey flavor is also strong. The Anti-Hero has an extremely strong flavor, even for an IPA. This almost tastes like a Double IPA and to be honest, I enjoyed a lot more than Revolution's DIPA. This is one of the better IPAs I've had.

MOUTHFEEL: Sparkly and light, does not sit too heavy for an IPA.

OVERALL: The Anti-Hero IPA was an unexpected surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the beers I tried at Revolution, but the Anti-Hero was head and shoulders above the rest. This is an exceptional IPA that deserves to be mentioned alongside Lagunitas IPA, Ska's Modus Hoperandi and Bell's Two Hearted.

Serving type: growler

03-26-2011 04:56:17 | More by StoneTSR

pschul4

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Snagged a 6er over my usual 4pack of Daisy cutter cans,better be worth it!

A- Drinking it outta the can bro! (Sweet looking can tho so 4.0)

S- Delicous dank hops with no malt to speak of. Loving this smell

T- Mmmm sweet juicy hops. Mostly citrus with just the right touch of pine, magnificent. Again no malt, but it works well with this beer

M- Pretty smooth but awkward carbonation in the end. Worst part of the beer (thats not saying much cuz this is awesome)

O- This will now alternate with DC for my TNF drink of choice, very good. I recommend highly

Serving type: can

09-21-2012 02:13:02 | More by pschul4

brentk56

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with an inch of foam that leaves dotty lacing behind

Smell: Floral, with citrus fruit (grapefruit and Mandarin orange) tones; cakey, shortbread malts, as well

Taste: Shortbread malt flavors, up front, with the hops following quickly behind, bringing the Ruby Red grapefruit and Mandarin orange tones; after the swallow, the bitterness persists, but the malts return to balance the profile a bit; make no mistake, however, this is a hoppy beer

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A very nice, easy-to-drink, IPA; nicely balanced with all flavors blending together

Serving type: can

02-26-2013 22:06:25 | More by brentk56

matjack85

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this single 12oz can as part of a build-your-own 6 pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL, so $1.67 a can. Much cheaper than the $5 a glass price you pay at the brewpub. No freshness date.

The beer poured a crystal clear golden color with a 2-finger white head that had good retention and left some nice lacing.

Nice citrus and floral hop smell that was heavy with grapefruit rind.

Delicious citrus hops with grapefruit being the dominant flavor, but with enough sweet malt to keep it balanced. Not really heavy on bitterness, but enough to let you know it's an IPA (70 IBU's).

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Goes down nice and smooth.

This is now my favorite grapefruit flavored IPA to date.

Serving type: can

04-04-2013 01:51:03 | More by matjack85

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a very clear orange/amber color with small, one finger head.

S - Good blend of citrus and piney hops, a touch of grapefruit and even a little apple.

T - Very sweet up front, lots of citrus, but even the pine seems a bit sweet. Again, touches of grapefruit and apple. Very good.

M - Crisp and tangy, Smooth, well carbonated.

Overall - A very solid brew here, very tasty IPA.

Serving type: can

10-07-2012 18:44:25 | More by BeerBuckeye

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured out as a nice golden yellow color with a soft white head on top. The retention and lacing look really good here. The smell of the beer is very nice, loaded with hoppy citrus and pine aromas. The taste is much like the nose, very solid tasting brew for sure. The mouthfeel is very good here too, very nice oily feel with a good carbonation to cut it a little. Overall it's a great IPA. I would drink more of this anytime.

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 20:26:19 | More by Knapp85

stangski83

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is my current go-to craft can. Love the artwork on the cans as well (i admit, my eyes are pleased when i look at one of these, and perhaps i am over-rating, but too bad. i like this beer a bunch). anyways, the review: the one thing that has always drawn me to this beer, especially in canned form, is the fresh taste of the hops. this beer has made me a firm believer that craft beer really needs to be canned more often, because i have yet to find an IPA in brown glass that tastes this refreshingly good with very few exceptions. i think that between blocking the light and the air, this canned IPA really lights up my palette with joy! that being said, i have been impressed with the half-acre and two brothers canned pales as well, but this is hands down my favorite of the canned craft pales in the IL/Chicago area.

Serving type: can

03-15-2013 23:15:15 | More by stangski83

dirtylou

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap at the brewpub

appearance: served in a tulip - bright orange body, rather clear, nice bubbly beige head

smell: well hopped - floral and pungent, strong citrus, fresh and green

taste: Simcoe, Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook, and Cascade hops in this one. very floral/pungent with a bright, fresh citrus core. sweet citrus, peach, lightly toasted malt. nice ipa - worth the visit

mouthfeel: fresh and hoppy, moderate-high bitterness

drinkability: good

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2010 01:14:30 | More by dirtylou