Pied Piper IPA - The People's Pint

SteveP

United Kingdom (England)

1.65/5  rDev -51.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Gravity cask, GBBF. Sweet vomit into a plastic bag of hops. This is foul. This is disgusting. This is the pits. This is totally undrinkable. Full of dog biscuits and damp cereal. Cascade hops and a thick damp nasty oily vile malt body. There is nothing pleasant about this.

Serving type: cask

10-10-2004 22:49:01 | More by SteveP

maximum12

Minnesota

2.08/5  rDev -39%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Thanks to gn0sis for a recent exchange of large, crush-proof boxes filled with locals. I've taken a bit of time off from Ahabism to delve more into some unkowns & while the results aren't always breathtaking, I've found some great session beers!

Pours on the amber side of the spectrum, clear, despite the 'sediment warning' on the side. Smell is cowering puppy tame, even after several minutes of warming there's only an air kiss of grassy hops.

Pied pIPA is a clever name, but as an IPA it's right in the average range. After reading the full bottle & realizing it was made with Cascade hops, I hoped it might be the brew to set me right with this particular varietal. Didn't work out that way. The hops are of the 'dirty' variety, they taste earthy, musty, & lack that hop kick that I desire. The malts kick it up a notch, but this tastes almost more like a bock than an IPA - sweet, a bit heavy, & with only enough hops to keep the concoction from getting out of whack. The aftertaste as the beer warms becomes even more cellar-floor-like. And it gets worse. And worse.

Well, I've been on a winning streak. IPAs are my favorite style, but this is far too sweet when cold, & the hops far too subdued, & the mustiness that arrives as it warms is deeply unpleasant. After several ounces, drain pour, my first in many months.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2010 01:28:53 | More by maximum12

waughbrew

Massachusetts

2.1/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Happy to see PP brews in bottles! Found it at Liquor World in Porter Sq. Cambridge, a bomber for 4.45. I am digging the shiny cartoon-like labels. I am not digging, however, the unnotched date code on the side of it. If you've got it, flaunt it, or at least use it. Label says 5.2%alc, which differs significantly from the 6.4 listed here on BA.
The beer pours a very flat, very hazy peach. Miniscule head is kicked up with a vigorous pour and it doesn't stay around for long. That ain't gonna cut it for an IPA. Smells decent - doughy caramel with some peanuts and a thin pinynous protruding. Not enough hop aroma in this, and what is there doesn't smell too fresh. Smells like a Titan IPA that has been open for a week. Flavor isn't bad, but is very bland caramel. Pretty boring, finishes lifelessly.

Overall just not good. Ferment down further, use more hops, especially more dry hops, up the carbonation, and check to see if some oxygen is getting in at bottling time.

Too bad, I have been to PP and enjoyed a few of their offerings. Perhaps they just need some time to get used to bottling. I will drink the brown ale I bought, and no matter what give them another chance in a few months. Good to see another MA brewpub bottling, but you guys can do better than this!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2007 22:13:10 | More by waughbrew

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

2.15/5  rDev -37%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

The intial pour is fairly soapy looking. A somewhat clear (although there are some yeasty chunks floating around) coppery amber with a finger of smooth looking off-white head. Retains with a thin, yet frothy look, leaving back some decent lace that sticks a bit. The aroma is fairly light in the nose for an American IPA, being floral and a bit herbal, with a touch of citrus and some thicker sweet malty accents underneath.

The taste is herbal and dirty feeling in the mouth, with a harsh bitterness to it, and a malt presence that just isn't getting the job done. The finish is just really unpleasant, with a astringent and bitter feel to it. The mouthfeel is lighter bodied, with a watery feel in spots, and an overall flat carbonation that doesn't do the flavors any favors.

I'm not sure what happened here (the reviews for this are just all over the place) but this for me, was definitely one of the poorer Craft IPAs that I've had in a while. An unimpressive nose, a muddled and harsh taste, and a weak body made for a tough time getting through the bottle. Not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2009 16:34:45 | More by Kegatron

breyton490

Massachusetts

2.17/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: Copper color, slight haze, but not cloudy.

S: I smell English hops not sure type, but definitely not an American C hop, nice aroma, fragrant

T: Tea flavor, slightly sweet, not really what I expected from an American brewery IPA. Strong tea flavor lingering

M: Medium body. Not bad, not great

D: Not really impressed. If I were going for an IPA, English or American, this would not be my first choice. Would not have another.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2009 01:03:45 | More by breyton490

portia99

Massachusetts

2.35/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

22oz bottle provided by nonstick. Poured into a Russian River Belgian glass.

A - Pours a deep, dark amber with a half finger of cream colored head that hangs around for a little while, before dropping down to a thin layer of bubbles. Darker in appearance than I expect to see in an IPA.

S - Not much aroma here...a dirt-like earthiness. Minor malty aroma, and a little bit of fruity hops.

T - IPA? Tastes more like an English bitter or mild ale. Hop character is minimal...marginally bitter, fruity and earthy flavors. Caramel malt dominates the flavor profile here.

M - Somewhat thin, lighter carbonation. A dirty bitterness lingers into the aftertaste. Not entirely pleasant.

D - This is a one and done for me. Not at all what I expect in an IPA. If I was expecting an English bitter, it might be ok, but this is the furthest thing from an American IPA that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2009 22:54:33 | More by portia99

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

2.42/5  rDev -29%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Purchased at the Spirit Haus a week ago. If I see this one again I will need to give it a second shot or better yet if it is on-tap at the brewpub. Poured a murkey brown that had a slight orange tint to it. Not much of a head. Very flat in appearance and in feel. Medium body. Nose reminds me of my grandfather's bait bucket but with hops thrown in. Flavor is at first malty followed by the hop but the hops are lifeless. They are there but as if they were put in Alcatraz's hold for six week. No spirit to them. Gonna be tough to make my way through the glass.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2005 23:27:03 | More by MuddyFeet

jlindros

Massachusetts

2.42/5  rDev -29%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Found this on my last beer excursion at Colonial Spirits in Acton.

A: Even forcing a very hard pours yields a small under-carbonated bubbly head. It's a semi clear reddish-orange-brown color.

N: Some light hop aromas, citrus, grapefruit, a little sweet malt, and some fruity qualities. Not much else to it.

T: Hmm, again not much to it. It has some light malts, light hop flavor, some citrus hops, touch of spicy hops, and some fruit flavors. The biggest thing that stands out is that is seems like it was watered down by a lot. It is extremely light and watery. WTF!

M: Very light watery, almost no carbonation.

F: Finishes a little bitter and spicy, some lingering hop flavors and bitterness, but still pretty light on the finish. This beer is almost as if they took a decent recipe, then brewed it with some old hops, forgot to carbonate it, then added more water to get the abv down and lose the taste. Not impressed at all! I hope the other 3 People's Pint beers are better.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2010 02:25:31 | More by jlindros

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.48/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Hazy amber color. Nose is light grapefruit hops. Flavor is grapefruit hops with hints of caramel. Lingering dry, bitter finish. The label has the ABV at 5.7%. $5.45 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 22:48:30 | More by jdhilt

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

2.5/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Purchased the bomber at the Hadley Whole foods. Sorry for the straight 2.5s...below what I would expect in every category, although not a horrible brew. Appearance: no head when poured, slightly murky orange brown hue. Aroma: Some maltiness, some low hoppiness, but more of a musty note than a fresh one. Taste: pretty bland, some wateriness around the edges. It's smooth, but only in the sense of the last sentence. No highs or lows, just one short bland taste. Mouthfeel: slightly syrupy, but thin at the same time. Comes across as undercarbonated, both in appearance and mouthfeel. Drinkability: At first, I thought it was tastier as it warms, but I have the last 1/4 left in my pint glass, and it really hasn't improved by much. Probably won't buy a bottle again.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2006 22:52:00 | More by PatandDavid

goodbyeohio

Oregon

2.73/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

purchased in a bomber from spirit haus

dark reddish orange with large amounts of suspended sediment. practically no froth, almost looks like a cask pour. aroma is very strong with hop bitterness. powerful. very smoky and malty in its hops flavor.. not to refresh but to overwhelm. like a light american barleywine. notes of adjunct sweetness in the finish which disappoints immensely. bitterness lingers though, which helps despite its lack of substance. an incomplete IPA at best, probably better on tap at the place. one of the worst IPAs ive had to date.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2005 22:59:03 | More by goodbyeohio

ckeegan04

Texas

2.88/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Hazy reddish brown color with a ridiculous huge foamy head...way too much carbonation here but it gives good head at least. Big chunks of foam left on the glass as the head slowly recedes.

S - Citrus/tropical aroma. Hints of pineapple and grapefuit primarily. Dont really pick up any malty sweetness underneath. Gloriously unbalanced in the direction I love.

T - Wow...big letdown here. A dirty tasting maltiness up front but not really sweet. The hops come through rather strongly, but it still tastes like there is dirt mixed into this one. Finishes with a very bitter astringency that just isnt enjoyable. The smell gave hints of a juicy hoppy IPA but the taste just does not come through.

M/D - Medium bodied and very lively carbonation, verging on too much. The taste just brings this beer down a lot of notches on the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2008 02:25:43 | More by ckeegan04

fitzy84

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22 ounce bomber. Appearance is a murky dark amber-orange with some lacing on the sides and a thin head. Aromas are somewhat weak but has some decent hops and spices. Taste lacks a solid punch and has a somewhat nagging dull, bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is pretty good for an IPA, allowing it to have a good carbonation. Overall, not too bad but could have been stronger.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2008 00:44:39 | More by fitzy84

LtCracker20

Connecticut

3.13/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pours a slightly hazy brownish/amber body with a thin 1-finger head that doesn't last too long. Some decent lace though.

S- Sweet caramel, biscuity, bready, some black pepper, and a sweet citrusy aroma.

T- Peppery, biscuity, and caramel malts right away. A little spicy flavor as well. Not really too much in the way of hoppy flavors. A little of a candied sugar/Belgian yeast flavor(though I know there's none in there).

MF- A little on the lighter side, but still almost a moderate body, not too bad.

O- Not a bad beer at all, but not very good for the style. Very little hop flavor or aroma and all the maltiness make it almost more of an amber ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 00:25:52 | More by LtCracker20

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Transcribed from undated notes.

I did not get much more than a finger of soapy ecru head with low retention from my pour. Color was a hazy orangish-amber. Nose was very piney and even the label mentioned "... brew[ed] with a wall of fresh Cascade hops". Mouthfeel was medium with a decent hops bite on the tongue. Finish was likewise pleasantly hoppy, but nothing to get wildly excited about.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 21:10:04 | More by woodychandler

neophilus

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Dark gold to light brownish colored beer. Light white head on top with some lacing.

Lots of caramel malt aroma up front with some medicinal/citrus hop aroma underneath. Sugary sweet smell continues, almost like chocolate.

Caramel malt flavors lead the way with the first sip. Medium hop bitterness backs it up. Slick, oily medicinal hop flavors round out the taste.

Medium body, good mouthfeel with a semi-dry finish.

More caramel forward than I prefer in an IPA. This leans a little heavily towards malt and away from hops. The bitterness is nice and the aftertaste is clean. An easy drinker but could use a bigger punch from the hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 20:33:26 | More by neophilus

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a mug glass.

A: The beer is a deep reddish brown color with a very thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a very thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is sweet and hoppy with the sweetness consisting of caramel & citrus and almost over-powering the hops.

T: The flavor starts out with caramelized malt sweetness along with a faint fruity flavor (Hey! Look! I can alliterate.) of citrus. A hops bitterness flavor follows but it's very dull. Although the label of the bottle boasts "For hop lovers out there, this is your beer," I'm really not getting the type of hops presence that would make me think this beer is anything special. The after taste is slightly sweet.

M: Very smooth but not very crisp especially for the style, medium body, very light carbonation which is also uncharacteristic of an American IPA, slightly sticky finish.

D: A little bit tasty, goes down ok, decent kick, not filling at all, but I found it lacking in flavor for a beer of this style. I'd be interested to see how this is on-tap compared to the bottled version, but based on the bottle I just had, I don't think it's a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 00:37:09 | More by TheManiacalOne

callmescraps

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this IPA from a pretty solid brewery.

Appearance - Deep copper. Half an inch of head. Lots of bubbles stick to the glass. Looks fine.

Smell - A little caramel malt. A little sweet. Definitely some hops. Not a whole lot of depth. Sort of a pine, with a hint of grapefruit. Nothing special.

Taste - Follows the smell. Very one-note. Comes sweet and malty, with that hopback. But then it's over. No real lingering, no great taste. Very bitter, but nothing interesting to balance it out.

Mouthfeel -Fine. A touch thin, but pretty decent. A little more carbonation would be good.

Drinkability - Not bad, but kind of forgettable.

This is a beer. Totally fine, but nothing special. I'll probably drink it again by accident, just because it's not at all memorable. So it goes.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 04:58:36 | More by callmescraps

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bomber. Deep coppery orange, slightly hazed, with a short light beige cap. Though not much of a head developed during the pour, what was there stuck around for quite a while. Spotty lacing. Citrusy hop aroma, grapefruit and oranges with a bit of spice, plus some caramel malt. Overall the aroma was a little muddy. Moderate bitterness for an IPA, caramel maltiness, resin and grapefruit. Lingering bitterness and spicy hops. Medium bodied with lowish carbonation. Easy going down, nothing over the top or harsh. Decent, but the hop character didn't really pop in the aroma or flavour.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 00:39:22 | More by DrJay

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this one up in a recent trade. I had been wanting to try some of the different wares from the brewery so this one suited me just fine. Taken straight out of the fridge and served in a pint glass. Consumed on 08/06/2008.

The pour was decent, light golden amber, with a decent amount of haze added into it. A nice head of about two inches came across the top and settled down reluctantly into a nice pillow of white maybe a quarter inch in height. Some nice carbonation coming up from the bottom and rich side glass lace was apparent.

The aroma was rather light. Some light piney hops were a definite influence here, but rather it was the malt that was the dominant force to be honest. Some bready tones, hints of biscuit and wheat all coming through, but it was rather light and unbalanced to be honest. The flavor was more of the same, it actually started out nice with a good touch of pine resin and some decent notes running through the middle of a nice bready malt. As it warmed though the profile turned south. As it warmed most of the hop flavor faded and left behind a rather dull, malt driven flavor that was just a touch off. Nothing really spectacular here at all. Nice body on it, with a good carbonation profile and a decent amount of feel to it. Easily session able, though the overall flavor was a touch off.

Overall about average for me. There was nothing really standing out about this one to make me say it was really good, but it was not really that bad either. A decent effort, but nothing I would care to repeat.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 23:04:09 | More by mikesgroove

albern

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This was a drinkable, but slightly disappointing, IPA from a brewhouse I know very little about, other than they have lots of 750 ml bottles in the cooler to choose from. The beer is bottle conditioned, quite hazy, and has that dirty water brown color. There aren't yeasty bits floating about, but at the bottom of the glass, you will find some fine residue. The nose is better than the taste. There are some bready grains underneath, and some nice sweet malts to welcome you.

The taste is another matter. This beer is quite flat, not much head or retention. This beer is also quite watery. There is some leafy hop, and maybe a touch of the oily and estery characteristics, but not much. I found this to be a pale imitation of anything approaching good for the style. It was too light bodied, too watery, too leafy hopped, and just didn't have enough mid section to entice me to finish the 750 ml bottle. Kind of disappointing in my estimation. The ABV is wrong too, as listed by BA. This beer is closer to 5.2%, and definitely not above 6.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2009 22:44:20 | More by albern

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

slightly hazy amber/copper with a nice sized cloudy white head that quickly recedes while leaving average lacing.

citrus and a bit of pine on top of some buttery crackers, as well as some tea leaves.

Crackery and caramelized malts with some citrus and piney hops behind them. A touch of bitterness, but nothing crazy. a bit of a peppery aftertaste.

pretty smooth medium bodied with prickly yet soft carbonation.

overall, its ok. nothing I haven't had before, and nothing I'd go out of my way to seek out again. good, but not memorable in the least. too bitter for the mainstream, but not bitter or flavorful enough for the hopheads.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 04:54:20 | More by silentjay

tai4ji2x

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured into shaped pint glass

very slightly hazy, with dull brownish amber color. some head, but still not much even though i tried to pour hard. fades quickly and leaves minimal lacing.

some faintly piney hops and maybe some yeast in the aroma. but only a little. even at cellar temp.

flavor is slightly better, with more hops coming through, some faint caramel flavors too. moderate bitterness with semi-dry finish that has hint of resin.

feel is somewhat smooth, not too thin. carbonation is moderately low and not too fizzy.

meh...

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2008 06:49:31 | More by tai4ji2x

davewlfpckfan29

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle found at Table and Vine (West Springfield) in the local section. In that case I would like to think this is fresh.

I drank this in between cold and room temperature
(it sat out for 20-25 minutes)

This beer looks very average light amber. There seemed to be some sediment in mine which settled the bottom of the glass.
smell average, aroma of a slight malt and a typical IPA.

Not too strong bitterness but I can taste the fresh hops for sure.Good IPA, but nothing that special.

Nice local beer, I would recommend it to anyone passing through Western Mass.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 22:39:34 | More by davewlfpckfan29

Sensaray

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Pours a hazy dark orange almost brown color. Didn't get much of a head but it was off white with big bubbles.

Smells hoppy, like pine and citrus. Bit of caramel sweetness.

Nice spice leads into some tropical and citrus flavors which leads to a crisp bitter close. Some grain flavors in there. Grapefruit as well.

Mouthfeel is light bodied and drinkable. The carbonation is iffy here, it kinda throws the whole beer off for me.

Overall, it's a decent ipa.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 18:32:54 | More by Sensaray