Spiral Jetty - Epic Brewing Co.

Natural510

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle, no dating

Pours a pale, cloudy orange-copper color. Minimal head & lacing at the top of the glass.

Scent is a weird, musty combination of grass, tangerine and butter.

Very grassy and buttery in flavor. Quite different from the typical pine/citrus/floral combination in most American IPAs. What fruitiness is there is kept in the background. The sweetness is kept to a minimum, with a tangy, herbal hop finish.

Body is full enough to represent the style and it is carbonated enough to be drinkable.

Very different take on an IPA. Everyone's taste buds are different, but this was all over the place and nothing gelled for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 03:52:28 | More by Natural510

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a clear, bright gold color with very generous amounts of carbonation. The head stays pretty constant across the top.

S - Somewhat weak with faint citrus notes, faint caramel malt, there's not much going on in the nose here. Smells a little earthy.

T - Taste up front is herbally and earthy and the caramel malt blend is somewhat grainy in texture. At the very end of the sip there's a grapefruit bitterness that lends itself to a dry and slightly alcohol effervescent finish.

M - Thin, medium body, gentle carbonation on the tongue.

O - I'd be interested in knowing how fresh the bottle is and then revisit my review. It would be a nice touch if the fruit bitterness were more forward, it's there, but quite buried in the herbal taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 23:41:06 | More by jzeilinger

nrbw23

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours a fairly lighter yellowish orange color with a thin white head. Head has pretty good retention and leaves pretty solid lacing. Just a lot lighter in color than I expected.

S- Fairly light in smell too. Fairly light picking up piney, grapefruit, lemon and floral hops. A bit of caramel malts too.

T- Maybe I'm just flat out spoiled by some of the sick beer that is available to me but this one was a bit of a bummer. Hops are fairly light with a very strong bready malt taste. Not terrible, but not what I really dig.

M- Medium in body and carbonation.

O- Has a pretty solid price on it under $4 so that makes it nice. Again there is a lot better out there.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 07:27:13 | More by nrbw23

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Lizardville in Bedford as part of Epic's Northeast Ohio's release party. The ale was poured in a tall 16 oz flute glass with a short stem. The beer pours a cloudy amber color, with a 1" white that slowly reduces with moderate lacing down the sides. The bar was fairly humid, as a fair amount of condensation collected on the sides.

The beer initially presents with a fruity peach smell, moderate pine hops, and mild citrus. Sweet malt, with a rock candy sugar, slowly presents as it warms.

Initial impression is a mild bitter, mitting mid-tongue with sweet caramel malt, with a piney, dry finish. This is a vinous brew, with oak leaf notes hitting the tongue. The taste begins to get buried beneath the dryness as you get further into the beer.

Medium bodied, with a dry bitter finsh, clean feel. The dryness becomes more pronounced as you get further into the beer, to the point of drowning out the taste.

This is a nice IPA that starts well balanced, with a nicely hopped, easy drinking, full flavored presentation. However, the dryness gets to be a bit much the further you get in to this beer. While I definitely would have this again, I'll give it a wait before doing so.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2011 22:18:09 | More by TheHoppiest

morimech

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Golden color with some chill haze. Two fingers of head forms and then settling to a thick cap. Light lacing is left behind.

Faint hop aromas of citrus and herbs. Bready malts as well.

Malt flavor is dominant with a rather subdued citrus/herbal hop flavor. Nothing wrong but the brewer did not set the bar very high.

Solid body and nicely carbonated.

Lacks the hop presence to be a good American IPA. If they labeled this an APA it would get a solid score. Priced the same as Arrogant Bastard. Guess which beer I will grab next time?

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 21:21:58 | More by morimech

9InchNails

New Jersey

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

Bomber poured into a pint glass.

White, light yellow on the edges and a light orange color center in the cloudy body. White head turns into a film. Not too much lacing on the glass.

Not much of a smell, I get grain, a little grass and some subtle hops in the background.

Interesting taste. It tastes like grain and grass, some lemon citrus, orange peel and grapes, a little bit of alcohol and yeast, some bitter hops, a peppery zing and a sweet aftertaste. It's a weird tasting IPA, not bad and ...not... great. I can't tell if I like it or not. This tastes like if it's directly in the middle of a IPA and a double IPA as alcohol shows it's face.

Light to medium body. Light carbonation. It leaves the mouth feeling dry. Doesn't feel bad at all.

The alcohol content seems a little more than a 6.6 abv.; more like a 8 abv. It's certainly not a bad IPA, it's a little weird tasting but not bad. Would I have it again? Only if I could try it in tap.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 06:20:02 | More by 9InchNails

gatornation

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

from a 22 oz bomber

A- pours a hazy dark yellow color with a small white head,not much lacing

S- is malt and bread,some citrus and floral hops

T- citrus and pine hops with baked bread malts

M- medium carbonation with a sharp hop bite.nothing overwhelms or stands out in this ipa

O- an average ipa.. the cost was great @$3.99..easy to drink,just mediocre

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 03:12:25 | More by gatornation

yemenmocha

Arizona

2.8/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark golden color with slight haze, off-white head. Nose has a candied orangey quality, also some pine prickle. On the palate there's a soft maltiness with hop bitterness coming right in to overtake the show, but not a sufficiently noteworthy range of citrusy flavors from the hops. Missing some complexity there. Rather bland for a craft brewer. Maybe the double IPA will be better.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 03:24:12 | More by yemenmocha

ReelBigwigFish

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had a decent 8-10oz pour from a bomber my buddy got, served in a pint glass.

A: Amber color with small white fluffy head, not much lacing, just bits here and there.

S: Smells nice and hoppy, mostly citrusy and bittering hops on the nose.

T: The taste is citrusy and piney hops that never really seems to develop or finish. It's a one dimensional flavor that tapers off with no malt backbone either.

M: Quite drinkable, but nothing great about it. Finishes a little dry and has a bit of a lingering earthy/dirt flavor.

O: All in all I wasn't very impressed with this beer, it starts out good, but fails to keep me interested. Definitely won't be seeking this beer out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 21:32:13 | More by ReelBigwigFish

ArrogantBastage

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bomber poured into a glass

A: Pours a hazy, rich amber with a one finger rocky head. Head diminishes quickly to thin layer that hangs on for a little while. Slight lacing present as well.

S: Loads of hops in the nose. Picking up some citrus and herbal notes along with some potent malt lingering in the background.

T: Interesting blend of bitterness and malt right away. Bitterness is strong but not too much so giving the malt and some juicy hops a chance to power through and make its presence known. Some carbonation detected picking up the bitterness level a little more to keep the malt from overtaking the middle of the taste. Nice drying finish with some lingering bitterness.

M: Medium bodied beer with a nice carbonation level. Nice dry finish.

D: Definitely a sessionable IPA, easy drinking and very enjoyable beer. Definitely recommended to those looking for an IPA that isn't too heavy in the bitterness but still has the expected punch of an American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 22:32:59 | More by ArrogantBastage

Lunch

Maryland

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Pizzeria Paradiso in a goddamn shaker pint. Fairly cloudy, but I like the light orange color as it looks like caramel was kept to a minimum. Described on the menu as citrusy and spicy and that is exactly how it smelled. No real malt or sweetness other than the citrus from the smell. Taste is very similar to the smell. Good citrus and the spiciness adds some uniqueness. Mild amount of malt, but this is in no way "balanced", which I respect the fuck out of. Mouthfeel and carbonation are solid.

This is by no means the best IPA out there, but it is certainly worthy of drinking. Easy to drink and well done.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 05:32:26 | More by Lunch

jfmorey

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a hazy pale amber, with a thin head but good lacing.

The smell is light, citrus and pine.

Taste is primarily hops, well balance citrus, pine and floral, very refreshing and drinkable.

It is perhaps not typical of the style, but a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 22:30:00 | More by jfmorey

dondeez21

New Jersey

2/5  rDev -40.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I drank this beer in a weyerbacher pint glass poured from
A 22 ounce bottle. Overall I was very unimPressed. The beer poured a nice straw colored beer with minimal head and no lacing.
The initial smell is of yeast and very slight earthy hops. The taste is the same. The body is medium. Not to thin or too heavy. Overall I would not purchase this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 03:49:48 | More by dondeez21

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A light, golden colored IPA that didn't hit me in the face enough that I really understood it was an IPA until looking at the label. Even though hints of amber give it a fairly nice color, the mouthfeel is light and disappoints right away. The alcohol level is fairly high for the lightness--6.6%. A part of the Classic series of Epic's brews, it is understated to say the least. The earthy hops are nice, but not enough to excite the nose. Nice peppery, almost saison like yeast characteristics. Interesting, but compared to their Hopulent IPA, just not the in the same league. And not just because of the hop levels. Just not as strong of a beer. Maybe a nice transition for someone getting used to hops to say he or she is drinking an IPA. Not bad, but not going to seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 02:04:07 | More by FightingEntropy

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark golden orange color with golden yellowish hues when held to a light and a two finger frothy white head that has excellent retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap. Large chunks of soapy lacing are left behind.

Sweet citrus hop aroma with lots of floral notes and resinous oils. Earthy with hints of pine and sticky buds but the nose of this beer is full of sweet tropical and citrus fruit. Lots of grapefruit and pineapple along with some lemon and orange peel. Faint grainy, biscuit malt presence underneath.

Medium bodied with a blast of bitter earthy hops up front but the dryness is quickly countered by sweet citrus notes, pale malt and alcohol heat. Floral and earthy up front with lots of dry, sticky pine flavor that lingers over the sweeter notes into the finish. Lots of sweet fruit notes mid-palate from the hops giving off hints of pineapple, grapefruit, mango and orange peel. Underneath there is a subtle grainy malt presence with biscuit and faint graham cracker notes. Some alcohol heat/boozy sweetness toward the end of the palate. Very well balanced and easy to drink. I'm happy that I found this one. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 06:34:29 | More by corby112

smakawhat

Maryland

2.33/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass.

Pale gold/lemon body, boy that's a first for me for an IPA, this looks more like a Belgian pale ale or tripel. Body is cloudy and dull. A good simple off white head, bubbles seem to be a little un-uniform slow descending falling head, and some spotty lacing. Some good retention but head never stays bigger than a finger. That body color just throws me too, I've never seen an American IPA that light before.

Bouquet is non existent. There's maybe a faint sense of malt grain but that's it, not even a hop presence. Not really feeling this at all. There is really nothing going on here and for an IPA I have to score that below average. If I can't even smell a STRONG hop then what exactly are you doing seriously?

Does taste improve? This is a weird one, I'll give it some unique quality points but man I don't like it. Strange mushy and weak bodied fruit that I can't pinpoint. No hop presence as predicted from the nose in the mid palate. Afterwards then comes out in the swallow some hop but feels stuck and sort of lifeless. Can't even detect profile, pine no, fruit citrus angle no, sweetness no... just.. not even bitter.. nothing stands out it's as if this beer isn't even trying.

Overall this is just a weird one and I am not getting this angle at all. Luckily there are so many other better IPAs out there.. so many... this is not one of them.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 00:36:23 | More by smakawhat

harlanhu28

Arizona

2.6/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was very impressed with a few beers recently from these guys. I bought this at Total wine and poured at 40 degrees.. This beer has a straw color with a slight head that disappears very quickly. The aroma is quite lacking it smells to me of dank heavy first wort hoping, and light on the dry hoping. The taste to me is of bitter dank Chinook with little of a flavor profile. It does leave good lacing so it states to me this is a 90% 2 row and 5% carapils and 5% crystal 10/20! I find some esters that leave this beer off balance, and the heavy bittering hop addition overpowers the layered flavoring hop additions! To me it does get legs as it gets in the 50 degree range, but it still needs some specialty grains to give it a full flavor profile. Right now it is just a dank IPA with limited flavor!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 07:33:12 | More by harlanhu28

trappistlover

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(22oz bomber from Total Wine Desert Ridge). Pours a hazy golden color with 2 finger chunky white head. Carbonation is moderate though. Some nice lacing also is developing as the head dissipates. Aroma has some tart peach, rock candy, mango, and green apple. Quite nice. Taste is semi-sweet malt followed by some bitterness. Thin bodied with a dry, bitter finish. The hops dont overwhelm you and blast your palate. I gotta say, this is one really good IPA. I’ll definitely get more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 03:42:08 | More by trappistlover

Phelps

Arizona

2.83/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Enjoyed poured into a shaker pint at Tops.

A dull, foggy orange topped with minuscule ring of white bubbles. This thing looks still as pondwater.

Some sour grain, orange and lemon peel in the nose. Cracker malt adds its own influence before an odd background muskiness.

More crackers and white bread in the flavor, though hops are still here in the form of pithy orange peel, some grass and pine. They’re subdued, however; this IPA needs more bite. Moderate bitterness and hints of orange linger on the tongue.

The medium-light body is awash in prickly carbonation and tight fizziness. The mouthfeel, at least, makes this refreshing. Goes down easy.

What an un-exciting IPA. This isn’t much better than most homebrewers could produce.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 23:00:50 | More by Phelps

jera1350

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A lovely golden color with a clean white cap of suds. Nice lacing left.

The nose is the same as their pale ale. Earthy, funky spicy hops. Just doesn't do a lot for me, but it is big.

A pleasant taste. Some zesty hops that are balanced out by pale malt. Not real bitter and drinks easily.

Smooth and soft with a medium body.

A nice beer that is a bit lighter on the hop scale for an ipa. A worthy try.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 22:06:34 | More by jera1350

BurpingtonDC

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours hazy golden with slight amber overtone. two finger creamy head that hangs around for a good long while.

S - Good hoppy pine scent, slight yeasty bread and citrus notes.

T - For an IPA this one is maltier than most. Good biter hop flavor with the sweetness of malt.

M - Full-bodied mouth with just a hint of stickiness.

O - Overall, not a great brew but not bad either. Nothing surprising or special, just a decent, drinkable ale. Wouldn't go out of my way to find it, but wouldn't turn it down either. Price point was sensible at $4.99 for a bomber

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 23:45:56 | More by BurpingtonDC

emmasdad

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this one up at the Utah State Liquor Store in St. George, Utah, based on the surprisingly low price (less than 4 bucks for the bomber). Poured a hazy golden color with a nice white head. Aromas of citrus, light malt and pine. On the palate, medium bodied, with flavors of light malt and pine/citrus.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 03:43:46 | More by emmasdad

Pencible

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a hazy gold with a good amount of off-white head.
S: It smelled like grapefruit and lemon zest, with resin.
T: It tasted like grapefruit and resin and lemon zest, with a little waxy and honey. It had a strong and lasting bitter aftertaste that was a bit harsh.
M: It was oily with some carbonation. Very nice.
D: This was a nice IPA with bold hops and great body. The finish was a bit rough, but otherwise it wasn't difficult to drink. An enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 19:13:55 | More by Pencible

beer2day

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear gold with 1.5 finger frothy white head. Decent retention and thick, sparse lace.

Nose is light flowers and citrus. A little too light for an IPA, but not unpleasant at all.

Taste is dry with flowery hops. Finish is lighter than I'd like and there is a biscuit malt quality that doesn't meld as much as it should with the style. Maybe more English than American? Slightly fruity finish with just too light a hop flavor. Drinakable, yes, but needs more pop.

Feel is light for the style as well. Could use more texture and a bit more creaminess.

Overall, a decent choice but not the best.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 00:44:14 | More by beer2day

JayQue

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

22 oz bottle. $3.99 at Grape and Gourmet in Va Beach. Not a bad IPA...good for the price.

Pours a hazy apricot color with a big white head (on a hard pour). Average retention and spotty lacing.

Smell is mild citrus hops. Nothing pronounced.

Taste is ok. Not a lot of flavor....just big, unbalanced hop bitterness without the flavor of the hops. Less harsh as you drink, but certainly not a top IPA.

Mouthfeel is average richness and starts with a dry harshness that softens as you drink. I had the whole bottle myself.

A bit better than average....can't beat the price!!!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 00:10:11 | More by JayQue