Hop Syndrome Lager - Epic Brewing Co.

Beaver13

Colorado

2/5  rDev -43%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

22oz bottle, release #1 bottled on 5/4/11 and 4.5% ABV. Pours a slightly hazy straw yellow with a smallish white head that quickly goes down to a thin collar that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is sweet corny malts with some slightly metallic noble hops.

The flavor is sweet vegetal malts with a decent noble hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with sharp carbonation.

Overall, very similar to an above average euro lager with a little more hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 04:41:11 | More by Beaver13

nrbw23

Ohio

2.28/5  rDev -35%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A- Pours a hazy gold color with a thin white head. Head has pretty solid retention and leaves a bit of layer lacing.

S- A bit of a grassy hop, tons of grains, and lemons. Not really anything strong here and nothing to write home about. All pretty mellow and blah.

T- Is a lot like the nose. A bit of Earthy and grassy hops, touch of lemon sourness and that about sums it up. Pretty boring and really nothing going on.

M- Lighter side of medium in body and carbonation was about right on.

O- I struggled with this one and was glad it was finally gone. Pretty one dimensional and boring. I'll pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 08:27:14 | More by nrbw23

bsp77

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Frankfurter glass.

Appearance: Clear, light straw with thick stark white head and some nice lacing.

Smell: Very grainy, with straw, grass, pepper and light citrus.

Taste: Straw, grain, and lemon predominately. Some pepper on the finish, and very bitter as the malts are wafer thin.

Feel: Moderately high carbonation with a very light body. Very dry.

Overall: This is a very hoppy, bitter lager. Too bitter for the low abv and light malts IMO. Quite simply there is not enough oomph or taste to back up the bitterness. Just as a point of comparison, Victory Prima Pils is also very bitter, but has the necessary taste to make it a world class beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 22:03:00 | More by bsp77

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a mug. Pours a pale, straw yellow with a one-finger white head that reduces to a soapy skim, with decent white lacing down the sides.

Has an earthy, grassy aroma, with a bit of that Heineken skunk smell. Bitter malt and dandelion green smells are also present.

Starts with a bitter grass taste, with oak leaves and mild malt, giving way to a slightly creamy middle, before finishing dry and hoppy.

Light bodied, this is a dry beer, with a lingering tackiness on the tongue.

A decent beer, to be sure, but not one of Epic's better efforts. Dry, slightly skunky, and light bodied, there's not a lot going on here, and what is happening is something I could take or leave. Better to grab a Smoked and Oaked if you're looking for something Epic.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 21:38:14 | More by TheHoppiest

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a very light golden yellow with just a ring of bubbles around the glass
S - light grain aroma, very earthy grassy smell with some hints of lemon as well
T - grassy earthy taste, some grain and lemon as well. not alot there but a slightly bitter finish
M - crisp light-medium bodied, good carbonation
D - not the best flavor but fairly easy to drink, I probably wouldn't pick up another, but then again, i'm not the biggest lager fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 03:27:35 | More by mikereaser

mdfb79

New York

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From 11/22/11 notes. Had on tap at FireWorks in Arlington, VA. Served in a weizen glass.

a - Pours a hazy pale yellow color with two inches of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident. No real retention or lacing on the glass.

s - Smells grassy, earthy malts, dirt, and some wheat. Overall pretty bland, though not bad. Pretty average.

t - Tastes of earthy notes, lemon, citrus, grass, hay, and wheat. Definite step up from the nose, some nice citrus hops.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

o - Overall a pretty average pale ale. Easy to drink but the nose is very muted, though the taste is a bit better. Not something I'd probably seek out again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 22:06:14 | More by mdfb79

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

bomber into flying dog chalice.

A: a little bit of haze on this straw yellow body. head is white and bubbly with great retention and lacing.

S: herbal nose, a little soapy, a little minty. i cant seem to shake the soapyness in the aroma and it is a bit off-putting.

T: mild floralness and herbalness start things off. bitterness follows, not striking, but enough for the amount of grain here. the bitterness also dries things out on the finish.

M: average carb on a pretty light, almost medium, body.

D: some flaws that i cant really overlook. any lager shouldnt have this much haze and i cant really get over the soap on the nose. if they can clean a few things up this would be pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:18:35 | More by Jimmys

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids & Solids, Longmont, CO

Poured straw-yellow, slightly hazed, with a thin white head that receded to a thin ringlet. Noticeable carbonation. Clean, light aroma, decent balance of sweet malts and citrusy hops. Basic taste of grains and sweet malts, lightly hopped for a good balance and a mostly dry finish. A little bitter. Light body, crisp, and pretty drinkable. Not bad for a lager.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 15:15:57 | More by Rifugium

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

$7.99 bomber from Bourbon Street, Greenwich.

Good clarity. Yellow body. Three fingers of rocky white foam.

Pleasant grassy aroma.

Soft sweet malt beginning. Good bitter bite at the swallow. Clean finish.

Good fri light/medium mouthfeel.

Overall, a nice lager, though not as big and hoppy as I expected from the name and packaging. I was thinking something along the lines of an imperial pilsner. Not bad, but somewhat overpriced.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 04:43:35 | More by RonfromJersey

dannydetox

California

3.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

interesting hybrid brew from epic. what struck me first was the greenish tinge when poured into my epic logo pint. frothy white head with larger bubbles rising from the bottom, but it didn't stick around. herbal, almost medicinal aromas wafting out of this one; increased in intensity as the beer warmed up a few degrees. something grassy, too. light body as expected with a dry, dry finish. not as thirst quenching as i would have expected; those american hops really dry this beer out. taste is like a german pilsner that received an extra dose of u.s. hops. i suppose that's what they were going for in this one. certainly ok, but i wouldn't rush out to find another.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 00:22:45 | More by dannydetox

jamesDaExMoBeerGuy

Utah

3.4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very light pour with a big thick head that lasted for several minutes. Smell was slighter than I expected, but hop was evident. Taste is immediate on the hop but the finish is light and fleeting, just no staying power but for a few spicy hop notes that are nice but underwhelming.

Would buy again, but the finish leaves a bit to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 03:18:22 | More by jamesDaExMoBeerGuy

yemenmocha

Arizona

3.41/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy golden color with plenty of white head that laces nicely as the pint goes down. Nose is on the lighter & cleaner side for me with some hints of grass, herbs, and citrus. Mouthfeel is pleasingly smooth with good carbonation, light bready flavors, lemony citrus hops to balance, and more of the herbal components mixed in. Finishes with some hoppy aftertaste that is nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 03:38:14 | More by yemenmocha

JMWEB2

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: I liked the straw yellow color with small head and significant lacing.

S: Earthy like but de German influence pilsner hops, I like it.

T: Nice lager love the pils influence and the earthy/ grassy finish.

M: Light body, easy drinking "lager".

O: Def drinkable, my first Epic from CO experience , and I enjoyed it

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 06:55:13 | More by JMWEB2

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Clear, pale yellow color. White head holds for a minute, then fades to a thin layer. There are some nice patches of lace on the glass.

Pale, grainy malt aroma. A citrus zest note, with some herbal and grassy notes.

Pale, cracker-like malt up front, with just a hint of sweetness. Herbal and grassy hop flavors. Enough bitterness to balance things. Finishes a bit more on the dry end.

Light body, but not too thin. Carbonation is good. If it was hot outside, this may hit the spot. Not very interesting, but not terribly flawed.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 22:25:10 | More by Bierguy5

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Release #7.

Pours a cloudy pale golden yellow color with a two finger, frothy white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Really good retention with chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Floral aroma with spicy, earthy hops, pale malt and light fruit notes. Grassy with some straw and pine followed by hints of apple, pear, alcohol, bread and biscuit. The nose reminds me of a lightly hopped pilsner.

Medium bodied with a crisp, spicy hop bite up front that provides some dry bitterness which lingers over the sweeter notes into a dry finish. Earthy and slightly resinous with some grassy pine flavor followed by some light fruit and pilsner malt. Hints of hay, biscuit and grainy cracker give this beer a nice pale malt backbone that counters the other flavors. Not overly complex but well balanced, flavorful and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 08:30:52 | More by corby112

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at The Surly Goat in West Hollywood, CA.

Pours a clear light yellow with a foamy white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is the same with a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but somewhat light in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 06:52:02 | More by UCLABrewN84

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a pale pale straw yellow with a great clairity.

S- lots of german pilsner malt aromas with a cracker like characteristic. Earthy tones mingle in with a leafy grassy hop profile. Finishes with a clean dry aroma.

T- dry cracker biscuity malt up front. Bright leafy hop flavors in the middle. Finishes with an earthy note that transitions into a dry clean crispness that lasts into the aftertaste.

MF- slick mouthfeel with a medium body and average soft carbonation.

D- very very drinkable and bright. Perfect summer quencher.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 21:04:30 | More by Viciousknishs

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Yep, looks like a lager...straw yellow in color, a thick, white creamy head, sticky lacing, mild carbonation.

S - Pungent earthy, grassy, grainy, with a little bit of dankness and light lemons dominate the nose.

T - Earthy, grassy, and mild lemons with a mild to moderate citrus bitterness are the main attraction on the palette, not much more. Leaves a slight citrus aftertaste.

M - Light side of medium body, crisp, and leaves a coating of citric grassy aftertaste in the mouth. The grassy citrus bitterness lingers for several minutes after the sip.

O - This particular beer in the Exponential series doesn't do it for me. It's hoppier than the average lager but compared to the other beers I've tried in the Exponential Series from Epic, it seems out of place. Yeah, it's hoppier, but it's only 5.1%, I don't see how this would be classified in the same category as some of their bigger beers...maybe I'm missing something?

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 02:45:40 | More by jzeilinger

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Release #1; tasted 3/25/12

Appearance: Loads of foam spew out of the bottle and perch atop the goldenstraw colored liquid, leaving a dense coating of lace

Smell: Surprisingly sweet and lemony

Taste: Tastes like a lemon Life Saver - sweet and lemony from start to finish

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and overcarbonated

Overall: Clearly not a beer that I should have been sitting on for this length of time, but it is not undrinkable - just has become a bit of an alcopop; surprising, as I have not tasted a beer that has aged like this before

Thanks, Douglass88, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 17:44:34 | More by brentk56

Gavage

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a pale yellow color with a short 1" head that breaks apart to a thick surface foam. Nice lacing develops.

Smell: loads of lemons, grass, and a hop bitterness is easily detectable.

Taste: grass, lemon zest, tart green grapes, and a bit of spiciness. Bitterness is nicely balancing.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp from start to finish with a bit of dryness late.

Overall: easy to quaff lager that is mildly refreshing too. Pretty good beer after doing some yard work and you need to quench the thirst.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 22:34:43 | More by Gavage

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bomber poured into a DFH snifter.

Pours a cloudy light yellow color with a healthy head of soapy foam on top. Aroma is crisp, with lemon and lime the predominant aromas.

First sip is a bit grainy, with a kick of hop flavor, and finishing sweet with a tiny metallic/minerally aftertaste. Certainly a lot more hop flavor than a typical pale lager beer. Drinks pretty nice.

Overall, this is a decent brew, if a bit simple compared to other beers sold in the 22oz format. When I think of words to describe, I just kind of shrug my shoulders and say "meh, pretty good".

I got this as a gift - I won't be seeking out another bottle, but have no real criticisms other than it just doesn't excite my palate.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 02:07:51 | More by FickleBeast

jtd1969

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Golden, good carbonation with good lacing

S - Tart and herbal

T - Crisp earthy hops with the sweetness of a lager

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated, clean finish

O - Very refreshing lager. I really enjoyed the added hops to this beer

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:53:37 | More by jtd1969

argock

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a Shaker pint at Mellow Mushroom (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Nearly clear golden with a shrot cap of off-white head with no lacing.

S: Grassy, earthy herbal aromas capped with some floral and citrus components. The maltiness is lightly bready but a bit lost.

T: The flavor is above-average, but not more than that. I am not sure if I have the hops syndrome but I must not because this drinks like a slightly hoppy lager with some floral, herbal flavors and a light citrus kiss.

M: Fairly crisp but nothing special with a light body and medium carbonation.

O: It's a mildly above average lager with a little bigger hops presence.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 02:05:01 | More by argock

stimulus

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Release #2.
Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours straw yellow with a one finger white head. (as expected for the style)
S: Pilsner malt with a lightly hoppy background.
T: Reminds me of your run of the mill light lager while cold, but after warming up a bit, the hops start to show through with a fruity presence.
M: Crisp, clean, light bodied, and well carbonated.
O: Once I let this warm up to about 45-50 degrees rather than the colder temperatures lagers are traditionally enjoyed at, the beer became more than just your average pale lager, yet not as hoppy as advertised. So good for the style, but falls short of expectations of a hoppy lager, and probably my least favorite Epic offering as of yet.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 19:46:26 | More by stimulus

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle into pilsener glass; Release 7, bottled 5/24/2012. Pours hazy golden straw color with a 1 finger dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing on the glass; with a nice amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, pear, apple, pepper, grass, floral, cracker, bready grain, and earthy hop spiciness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity. Taste of lemon, pear, apple, orange zest, floral, grass, cracker, bread, pepper, pine, and herbal hop spiciness. Fair amount of lemony pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, light fruits, floral, grass, pepper, cracker, bread, pine, and herbal hop spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice flavor balance with good complexity; good hop/malt balance; and almost zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a crisp, prickly, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with nearly zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good hoppy pale lager. Nice hop/malt flavor balance with solid complexity; and extremely smooth and crisp to drink. I enjoyed this quite a bit, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:35:19 | More by superspak