Golden IPA - Squam Brewing

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: Clear light gold color with a thin white head that faded quickly.

Smell: Sweet citrus and hops.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth, medium to light bodied. Taste hit you up front with an assult of bitter hops flavor, which gives way to a sweeter body of citrus and hops.

Overall: This is an OK IPA. It seems that the up front hit of hops is not smooth or balanced, making it a hard beer to sit down and drink. But it was not a horrible beer by any means.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 22:47:19 | More by Cavanaghty

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy light golden color with a decent sized white head that slowly dissipates to a cap. Smells of earthy and citrusy hops with a touch of sulfur and a solid shot of light caramel. The flavor is malty with some hops and a bunch of ethanol. Earthy citrus hop bite countered with bready caramel and a present enough shot of alcohol and astringency. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet bitter mouthfeel. Mediocre IPA, nothing really wrong here, but nothing too exciting either.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:51:04 | More by johnnnniee

metapod

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

12-15-2012 02:23:20 | More by metapod

2dogbrew

Virginia

3/5  rDev -22.7%

07-21-2012 22:00:30 | More by 2dogbrew

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.6/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was a hazy dark amber color with a small off-white head.

Pleasant aroma. Outdoors, perfumey. Some citrus. A good deal of malt.

The taste didn't quite live up the aroma. Grassy and citrus hops, but on the mild side. Strong malt presence.

This was an understated beer. Not bad, just not what it could be.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 23:18:17 | More by lordofthewiens

homebrewjdva

4.5/5  rDev +16%

05-10-2012 21:10:18 | More by homebrewjdva

11millsown113

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-09-2012 02:14:45 | More by 11millsown113

TheMonkfish

Chad

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

04-12-2012 01:07:15 | More by TheMonkfish

tpauer

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +28.9%

11-20-2011 01:56:42 | More by tpauer

djura

Serbia

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A-Light amber,hefe,with creamy foam on top,lasting few minutes.Appearance is big plus for this beer.
S-Extremely hopy i guess,also some grains and fruits.
T/M-Most extremely bitterness,you could taste some herbs also.Very low bitterness.
O-I think that this is very good micro IPA,but also i think that i decidedly do not like IPA style.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 17:00:41 | More by djura

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: This beer is quite hazy. It is a dark straw color, not quite honey, with an off-white sort of eggshell head.

S: Not much of a nose for an IPA either. I get tangerine and orange citrus. It's faint, and thats about all.

T: Well, so this is where the beer shines through. The taste is great compared to the smell! It is heavy, but not overly so, on citrus hops (tangerine). There is a very strong malt backbone to this beer. It is actually sweet despite how many hops were obviously used. The beer is balanced quite nicely for me to be able to discern this.

M: The beer has low carbonation, and a medium-heavy mouthfeel. It isn't flat, but it could use a tad more bubbles.

D: Not a session beer by a long-shot.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 23:20:24 | More by tlazaroff

gestyr

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a weisen glass.

A: Pours a light copper color. The head starts out thick and fluffy and subsides to a 1/8th inch coating with lacing.

S: Fruit, lots of fruit, hops, bread dough, some caramel sweetness

T: Fruity with a malty, bready flavor followed by HOPS and more hops and caramel.

M: A solid medium body with light carbonation.

O: I liked this very much. Very drinkable. I have tried some of the other offerings from Squam and have yet to be disappointed. They may be new but they are doing things right. I think this would pair very well with grilled chicken or pork chops.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 22:58:37 | More by gestyr

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a slightly dark golden amber with a white 2 finger head. Head dwindled to a 1/4 in layer of larger bubbles with several very rapid streams of carbonation rising from the bottom to replenish. Aroma was strongly of citrus and hops. Citrus could be picked up immediately upon removing the cap, hops shortly thereafter. Given time, the aroma diminished, but still smelled of orange under the hops. Flavor was subtle, but seemed to have layers. Hoppy bitter was the strongest flavor, but at times a lactosey vanilla was picked up along with small hints of orange. Mouthfeel was a strange one. Coated very well and was nicely carbonated, but left a strange feeling in the mouth afterwards. Overall a decent beer with the only detraction being the strange mouth feel.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 23:19:50 | More by mountdew1

rinhaak

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22 oz bomber purchased at Squam Brewing, served in a Sam Adams glass.

It pours a beautiful hazy, creamy amber-gold with lazy carbonation. A very small head with nice lace, the color really draws you in.

The nose hits you right away with full bodied hops. There are also oranges, lemons, bread dough, and plums. There is actually a sweetness to the nose, and as it sits, I start to smell donuts.

The taste of this beer is exceptional. Just a hair sweet (I taste jelly donut dough), this IPA is full of perfectly balanced hops. There's lots of citrus fruit: orange juice with a hint of lemon. Plums and rose petals round out the fruitiness. The hops have a little bit of an earthiness to them, leaving a long darkened malt/bitter hop aftertaste.

This is one of the best pure IPAs I've tasted to date. It's crafted by an artist, and even a short conversation with the brewer (John Glidden) reveals his passion for his work. If you find yourself in New England, I encourage everyone to visit this amazing brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 17:33:51 | More by rinhaak

FrankLloydMike

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is my second Squam beer, and based on the reviews and my previous experience (Asquam Amber) I approached this one with high hopes, and I was not let down.

A: Pours a hazy golden, almost the color and transparency of a light honey with a wonderful, fluffy, white head that lasts quite awhile. This is a near-perfect look for an IPA.

S: Very unusual smell for an IPA--despite what I had read, I was still expecting either a floral hop burst or a dense malt smell. Instead, the smell is ripe fruits: pear, I want to say strawberry but that's not it, maybe tropical melon or something, with a malty undertone. I still prefer the floral hop smell of a fresh IPA, but this is so unexpected and interesting; I really enjoy it.

T: I purchased this beer a few weeks ago and didn't put it into the fridge until yesterday, so I'm missing the strong hop notes others have mentioned. Next time, I'll try to drink it fresher, and see if the hops are more assertive, which would likely bump this up a bit. Still, it's very nice: alcohol sweetness is definitely present, and despite being more faded than others have mentioned, the juicy hop quality is definitely there. This is a nice, not very bitter hoppiness that balances more of an English-style IPA maltiness. You can definitely taste the pear/melon mid-sip, then a quick bitter smack before finishing with a very pleasant, round juiciness. Right now--and maybe it's because it's not as fresh as others--this beer seems to be an interesting straddle between English and American IPA; very nice.

M: Excellent, full body with a slightly dry sweetness and very smooth texture.

D: The alcohol is a bit more present here than I would like, but again I wonder if this would be the case if I had stored this better and served it earlier. That dents it a bit, but the sweetness and only slight dryness make it very drinkable, as do the unique flavors. Even without some of the fresh, powerful hop notes others have mentioned, I find myself wanting another pour at the end of the glass. It seems like fewer new breweries, especially ones doing hand-bottling, are doing six-packs; if this was ever in a six-pack, though, I could see this making its way into my normal fridge rotation.

Very nice overall; I look forward to trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2011 01:15:25 | More by FrankLloydMike

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle.

Pours clear gold with a half inch head of off-white. Sparkling clarity at 50 degrees from the cellar. A solid skim coat with cut ropes of lacing throughout the glass.

Aromatics are not your standard IPA fare. Bannanas, pears, apples, pine, and melon. High fermentation temperature? Tropical with a nice pine backbone. Floral and balanced. For an IPA the hops could certainly be ramped up in the nose though.

Medium bodied with a slight chew and a bit tacky. A resinous edge is a nice surprise.

Pine sap, pear pulp, bannana skins, and a bit of kiwi lead off the palate. Malt to balance and mildly sweet. Bitterness just takes the edge off the residuals and is right on.

Finishes crisp and tropical, with lingering bannana and a mild bitterness.

A tasty and unique beer. I have no problem with the phenols, but more hops please on the palate and nose.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 01:36:14 | More by brewandbbq

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.58/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What's this? A NH brewery I have not heard of? Many thanks to eggplantwiz for this one! Poured 22oz bottle into my wide tulip. I'm pretty sure this is a very very fresh bottle.

A- Hazy dark mustard/copper color. Interesting. half-finger head laces nicely and settles moderately quickly. Second pour produces a much thicker, creamier head. Perhaps this was a bit cold when poured.

S- Really fruity nose- like fruit salad. Watermelon/cantaloupe, pineapple, and a wisp of mint.

T- Fruity wave with a solid hop bite. Hops are powerful- wow. The fruit weaves in and out through the sip, finishing nicely once the bitterness subsides. melon, green grapes, and apples... Not the usual IPA fruity flavors. Bitterness is sharp and cutting. As the beer warms the fruit comes out more and more, which in my opinion is great.

M- Nice body, good fruit sweetness that finishes surprisingly dry. Carbonation is spot-on, keeping the beer from being too heavy.

D- High. ABV is hidden, and the flavors in this one are unique. What I really like about it is that the unique flavors are tasty, and not just out there for the sake of being different. This is a beer I have never heard of... if this starts showing up in the greater new england area this brewery is going to go places. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 22:19:35 | More by ShogoKawada

rpstevens

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a pleasant surprise! I found this at a bottle shop I don't often go to, and had never heard of it so I picked it. Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head shaped pint with no expectations. The beer pours a murky, hazy orange with pale golden edges. There is a thick frothy bone white head that quickly fades to a tight cap, leaving oily sticky lacing on the walls of the glass.

The smell is awesome. Wow, wasn't expecting this at all. A blast of pineapple, lemon zest and sticky sweet oranges with very little malt presence. I really had to do a double take on this one, couldn't believe I found something brewed in NH that smelled like this that I didn't know about. Awesome.

The taste follows the smell with more citrusy juicy hoppy characteristics. Lots of pineapple up front, with a sharp zesty lemon/lime and orange peel . There is a quick hint of sugary malt and alcohol sweetness, but it is quickly ushered away by a blast of bitter hops that linger well into the finish. The aftertaste of this beer is a sweet juicy hop that lingers and makes me want to reach for the glass quickly.

The beer is perfectly carbonated and has a nice medium body. The alcohol is well integrated and the beer has a nice bitter juicy hop finish that invites drinking. This will become a go-to beer for me, and I can't wait to try other offerings from Squam.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 01:37:54 | More by rpstevens

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This comes from the second batch. Sampled on November 6, 2010. It pours a murky golden-amber with maybe a quarter-to-half inch of fizzy head that slowly dissolves. As for the aroma, check out the fruity esters on this one along the lines of banana and pear. Certainly the hops are evident but the fruitiness pops up first. Little in the way of malts. The medium body leads to a well-hopped taste but not to the point of being overdone or too sour. Way in the background I get a sweet maltiness but the hops rule the day. The fruity esters of the aroma are not as obvious in the taste. Overall, a nicely balanced IPA that is not too bitter.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 21:04:53 | More by puboflyons

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a two finger white head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Hazy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Grapefruit hop nose. Flavor is grapefruit hops that are almost balanced by the malts. Light bitter aftertaste. $7.50 for a 22oz bottle from Chase Street Market & Deli Plymouth, NH.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 19:32:21 | More by jdhilt