Hoptologist DIPA - Knee Deep Brewing Company

Mamabrew

5/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I went into the store to grab a couple bottles of Racer 5 IPA when I saw this beer. Admittedly captivated by the Hoppy Character on the label and tne 9% alcohol, I also purchased w bottles of this IPA. The moment I opened the bottle, I was hooked!

The aroma was instantly that of, "Christmas!" It was the perfect amt/type of hops...I'm a fan for life!

We had a bottle of the Racer 5 afterwards--which was still tasty, but, I think I've found a new love...

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 00:04:11 | More by Mamabrew

SgtPayback

4.93/5  rDev +26.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Say hello to the new Pliny killer. If you like hops, this beer is for you! It has that wonderful aroma of citrus and hops and a kick in the pants 9.0 ABV to boot! This is most certainly a beer that will give the elusive Pliny a run for its money. I love Pliny, but Hoptologist is a whole lot easier to find on the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 20:26:09 | More by SgtPayback

Cliffster

California

4.54/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Standard amber color; mostly clear, with a very slight haze.

S: Pure citrus--grapefruit, mango

T: Grapefruit, lemon, and caramel up front, transitioning to cantaloupe, some pine, then finishing with the perfect amount of bready malts. I prefer dry IPAs, and this one has some sweetness, but it's not too sweet.

M: Low-medium carbonation, which really works well for this brew. Medium body and resin.

O: A well-balanced hop bomb. I really think this is a better DIPA than some of the other reviews would indicate. I love the complex fruit flavors Knee Deep has going on! Their other IPAs are excellent, as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 21:45:16 | More by Cliffster

Lledd

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark orange, slightly page, not hazy though. Very little head, with nice lacing. No noticeable yeast chunkys.

S: Very sweet malt up front, typical of a well balanced Dipa. Aromas of caramel are pleasant. The hop aroma is dominated by the sweet caramel malt notes, but what is there is banana, slight pine, and just a wee bit of lime.

T: Awesome. The balance in phenomenal. The hops juuust sneak out in front of the malt, much different from the nose. The hops are mostly bitter with just a hint of citrus. The malt is sweet and bready. Caramel notes still there. I've had more balanced Dipa's, but not much, and it's almost a positive that the hops stick out just a little more than the malt, afterall it IS an IPA right? Finish is sweet and bitter.

M: Small soft carbonation allows the sweetness to shine. It is thick and almost chewy yet very refreshing. Very nice.

O: Outstanding beer, special thanks to Smitty5245 for this spectacular extra.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:32:13 | More by Lledd

patre_tim

China

4.49/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper, filtered, medium carbonation, half finger of slight yellow white foam.

S: Tropical fruit, flowers, pineapple, mangoe, hot pepper, black pepper, pine needles, durian fruit, caramel candy.

T: Caramel, hot peppers, durian.

M: Medium body, balanced, medium carbonation.

O: Very balanced, not overly syrupy like most in this style I’ve had. Love durian, so like it in this drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 02:37:07 | More by patre_tim

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a fairly clear golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a full of grapefruit, tropical, and pine hops with some sweet caramel and biscuit malts.

T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit, orange, tropical, and citrus hops with some bitterness and sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some pine and floral hops come through with more bitterness and some biscuit malts. The finish is a mix of pine and grapefruit hops with some sweet caramel and bready malts and some resiny bitterness.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a bitter and dry finish.

D - Very drinkable. Good strong hop profile with some nice bitterness throughout. Good overall malt and hop balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 06:28:10 | More by ngeunit1

Danny1217

Florida

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - An orange/amber color with a nice one and a half inch white head with good retention

S - Floral and citrusy. Definitely a bit of a pine scent

T - Wow, it's very hoppy, as expected with the 102 IBU. It's also quite malty though, with some sweetness to balance it. It has a strong citrus taste.

M - Smooth for an IPA. Fairly heavy body with lots of carbonation

O - For a beer I picked up rather randomly while in San Francisco, this is surprisingly good. According to BA this has only been brewed once, which is a shame. It would be nice to see Knee Deep Brewing gain a little recognition.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 07:12:30 | More by Danny1217

51mmz0rz

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Duvel Tulip. No bottle date visible.

A: Clear medium amber. Thick white head, fine bubbles, good retention.

S: Mango and citrus aromas dominate. Some pine. Very nice.

T: Certainly a hop driven beer. Not much malty sweetness, yet it doesn't feel unbalanced.

M: Feels slightly under carbed (maybe it was a rough pour). But otherwise the mouthfeel is very good, not too thick

D: I don't usually gravitate toward DIPAs, but this is a really great example. In my case this is a local brewery, so even though there was no bottle date, I'd imagine it's fairly fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 04:18:05 | More by 51mmz0rz

ikantspel

California

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

bomber into a pint glass

pours a translucent bronze color with a barely there head and lacing that covers the glass

citrus, grass, pinewood, and orangetree in the nose. very sweet!

some malty sweetness turns into a hoppy peppery burn that lingers on.

not too shabby at all. dont remember the price but couldnt have been over $6. ridiculously good value. i can see a snobby bum sippin this outta a styrofoam cup

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 05:33:37 | More by ikantspel

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- A nice hazy orange color. A one finger o a light off white head.

S- Big pine in this beer A ton of citrus, lime, papaya and mango. A sweet breaddy backbone too.

T- A Nice big sugary sweetness at first followed by a massive bitterness. A tongue numbing bitter that comes with a nice variety of hop flavors. A ripe pineapple and mango, a bit of lime and lemongrass. A slight spicy and herbal note and a bunch of sharp and fresh pine. The malts are subtly flavored but add a nice caramel sweetness.

M- A full bodied IPA. Tongue numbingly bitter. A sticky mouthfeel.

O- A nice surprise of an IPA, was not expecting much but I am very pleased.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 23:28:37 | More by TwelveOunces

mschind

California

4.3/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured from a bomber into a snifter. Brilliant clear reddish orange color with a thin head and not much retention or lacing.

S- Powerful hop blast, grapefruit and pine tar. Hard to pull anything else out of this.

T- Very bitter with just enough malt sweetness to keep it fresh and drinkable. The finish is clean and dry. For 9% ABV, the alcohol is well hidden.

M- Medium body, carbonation a bit on the low side but it is smooth and not at all flat.

O- Another great West Coast hop bomb DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 21:42:28 | More by mschind

largadeer

California

4.26/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Ale Arsenal. Brilliantly clear amber with a finger of sticky froth that leaves sheets of lacing. Huge dank hops on the nose, very weed-like and resinous. Somewhat herbal and grassy, with lesser notes of orange pith. Similarly hoppy on the palate, intensely bitter and surprisingly dry for a 9%er. Marijuana and pine flavors up front, with more of an orange peel and fresh herb bitterness toward the finish. Malt is barely present. This is great stuff on the whole, very drinkable despite the sharp bitterness and high alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2013 01:24:05 | More by largadeer

notchucknorris

California

4.19/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a clear golden color with a big, soapy looking white head. Leaves tons of foamy lace down the glass.

S: Huge tropical hop aroma upfront. Tons of mango, pine, caramel and some thick bready malts. Smell pretty good.

T: A prickly pine hop bite upfront, followed by a huge wave of malt. Caramel, angel food cake and some cracked pepper. A thick dose of citrus hops carries through the flavor and leaves a smack of resin on the finish. A really solid DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 21:08:26 | More by notchucknorris

Zorro

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear amber colored ale with a tall off-white head. This could be called IPA Orange.

Strong scent of C Type hops and malt. Strong tropical fruit aroma. Pineapple, pine, grapefruit orange, and melon scents. Honeysuckle malt scent.

Starts out sweet and malty with a strong bitter aftertaste. Tropical fruit flavors, pineapple and mango with some melon. That is about it for taste some tea and wood flavors.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall far better than expected. Boost the malt slightly to let the fruit taste a little stronger and this would be world class.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 03:35:08 | More by Zorro

nickfl

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of white foam on a head on a deep copper colored body. The head settles rapidly but leaves a very attractive film of lace clinging to the walls of the glass.

S - A nice, strong hop aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine. Some toffee and toasted bread in the background.

T - Sweet malt and pine hops up front. Some more toasted malt in the middle with a sweaty, onion like hop note. Finishes with sweet, thick malt and moderate bitterness.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - The aroma is really nice and while the flavor doesn't live up to that promise, it is still pretty nice. I would probably prefer it to be just a touch lighter in malt character than it is, but still a nice surprise from a random brewery I have never heard from before.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 04:19:25 | More by nickfl

pmarlowe

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tulip glass

A: Brownish copper, half finger of bright white head. Pretty good retention, some sheets of lacing which recede immediately.

S: Lots of citrus (orange), sweet, delicious caramel, and a good dose of spice. Smells great.

T: Similar, plus honey, but with moderate-high bitterness which is well above ideal for me.

M: Full bodied and lightish, smooth carbonation.

O: Quite good, drinkability limited only by the bitterness. Without a bottling date it's hard to know how fresh this is, so that could be a factor. If they toned that down, this would be superb.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 04:13:09 | More by pmarlowe

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

4.09/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dull orange, slightly hazed. Only a half inch of head appears with a pretty vigorous pour, minimal lacing.

Smells fantastic! Brown sugar and grapefruit up front, blood orange, grass and caramel at the end. No boozy heat stench. Very robust.

The taste is more subdued than the smell. The citrus and sweet malt are overwhelmed by fresh cut grass pretty quick. No booze, very dry and heavily carbonated.

A bit too easy to drink at 9%. Not complaining, I enjoyed every sip, but this is a big beer. Not as fun or complex as Simtra or Hop Shortage, but still a very solid DIPA. I've had it several times and will keep it in my lineup for as long as they produce it.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:15:20 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours an orange/amber color with about an inch off-white head. The head sticks around a while, and there's also a lot of lacing. Aroma is nice and hoppy, it mostly smells like pine and citrusy (grapefruit, tropical fruit) hops, along with some caramel malt. Taste is similar to the aroma, the hop flavor is nice and bitter. There's also a bit of herbal hops noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick with moderate carbonation. I think it's a good overall brew. Definitely worth a try at $6.99 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 22:23:44 | More by bluejacket74

Beerswag

California

4.06/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured out of a bomber into a snifter. A nice clear/dark copper color with a 1 finger head, Mosty medium to large bubbles, that rapidly diminishes. Immediately the aroma is apparent on the hops and piney scent, with a fruity strawberry nose and sweet smell. Lacing is spotty and lacks the rings I am use to seeing in a quality brew. Taste is smooth upfront with a not much bite for a DIPA. I get a little smokeyness in the middle of the taste profile. The mouthfeel has moderate bite from the hops, well balanced semi-sweet carmel tones. Carbonation is light and the finish is smooth and definately on the dry side. Overall, been wanting to try this one since it beat over Pliny(e)in the SF beer taste competition 2012. It has potential for sticking around after the ipa" hopcraze" due to its drinkability and balance at 9.0%.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 04:04:09 | More by Beerswag

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Knee Deep Brewing Co.
Hoptologist

LOOK: pours a clear orange color with a off white head and rings of lacework.

SMELL: Intense grapefruit notes and a bit of sappy caramel. Earthy hop signature.

TASTE: Strong resinous bitterness, citrus rind and boozy alcohol. Finishes bitter with a sticky hop flavor. Fairly dank and herbal, with hemp oil and pine notes. Caramel note from the malt.

FEEL: Full bodied, strong flavored, and well carbonated. Has a drying hop bite that adds to the enjoyment of this beer.

OVERALL: This is a good Double IpA because the malt body balances well and the hops taste good. Any lover of hops can appreciate this beer when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:39:04 | More by Stinkypuss

DovaliHops

California

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very clear, golden-orange color with a small-medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is quite inviting with some dank hoppiness and lovely pine aroma. Some nice citrus notes as well. Taste is initially citrusy with some grass-like flavors. A pretty good malt profile as well...which I tend to like less of in my DIPAs. Nice, clean bitterness on the back of the tongue. Sweet citrus in the front. Mouthfeel is crisp and medium bodied. ABV very well-hidden. Drinkability is very high. Overall, this here is a solid DIPA from a brewery that I don't know too much about. Had the pale last night and enjoyed it. Someone told me this beer beat PtE in the Hayward DIPA festival...I was there (I didn't vote), and I do not remember this beer. I don't see how it could have beat Pliny though.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 06:09:42 | More by DovaliHops

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Source/Serving: 22oz bottle

S: Intense pineapple/guava, hints of mango and light pine. Brown sugar maltiness is there, but not sweet. Alcohol is hidden.

T: Sweet, clean brown sugar maltiness up front which becomes neutral, rather than bitter when the hops hit. Hop flavor is medium intense with orange, grapefruit, guava, and pine in equal measure. A bit too clean and restrained for me. Bitterness is gentle at most and alcohol dryness only comes through a bit. Finish is a little astringent, a bit more bitter, and doesn't have much hop flavor.

Notes: Average NorCal DIPA, but there's stiff competition around here. Drinkable and focused on new hop varietals. Not sure how this won the Bistro's DIPA festival...

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 03:09:54 | More by 4000qtrap

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer looks nice. (As does the label. Lol. Funny.) The beer is good. It has some interesting woody malty tones to it. But the hop tones are very vibrant and firm and working well. There is an earthy and salty tone that really works nicely. Floral tones really kick in on the end. It's nice. It won't win style points, but I certainly think it gets the job done (well). I can suggest this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 05:25:20 | More by RblWthACoz

Brenden

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Note: some reviews seem to indicate that certain batches of this beer suffer from flaws in the brewing process (bacterial infection, phenols, diacetyl, etc.) For the bottle I review, no particular of these flaws is present.

The color is a clear, deep gold-orange, maybe just a bit beyond amber. It grows an off-white head that reaches between one and two fingers in height, and retention is more in the lasting of the foam that remains rather than how long the it stays that tall. Some really good patchy lacing sticks to the glass well.
The aroma is strong, and I get lots of wood, pith, flower herb, and pine. It seems to have good enough balance from malts, having such high IBU without being chokingly bitter.
On first sip, the bitterness lingers into the faintest hint of vinegar. That effect fades, though the wood, pith, herb, flower and pine never do. There is some sweetness to it as well, malts adding some caramel and toffee and something brighter and, balancing well. The woody pith comes back to finish it out.
The body is big enough to support the base without being too heavy. It reaches moderate levels of both crispness and smoothness with a likewise moderate and consistent carbonation.

I don't think it's the Pliny Killer, so to speak, but this is a good DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 09:24:00 | More by Brenden

ElSid

California

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#43

Bottled Date: None

A: Golden copper orange with faint sediment and a bone white finger of head which fades to minimal bubble leftovers.

S: Fresh spring, grass, sunshine, and pine needles. There is citrus fruit, pineapple, honey, and cane sugar. The background is caramel and bread. Some spice also, but the fresh hops singe the nose.

T: Big and spicy hop wallop which fades to a glimmer of sugary, bready maltiness. The citrus, pine, and grass come through between the spice. The pineapple and honey notes are faint but present. The finish is warm and with a peppercorn spice which never gives way throughout the whole palate.

M: Oily linger with good feel and matching carbonation. Full and smooth with good drinkability.

O: A great DIPA which sports 102 IBU's and keeps some fruit complexity. Knee Deep is a young brewery that is making some wonderful ales. I was able to pick up a couple of there offerings from a Northern California BevMo and hope to continue to experience new and exciting Knee Deep brews.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 05:12:29 | More by ElSid