Beacon IPA - Lighthouse Brewing Company

atigerlife

Hawaii

3.73/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours orange/golden with a big fluffy white head. Great lacing. Good amounts of carbonation rising.

Aroma has light hops, sweetness, hay,and citrus.

Taste is just like the aroma: hops, sweetness, hay, citrus and some floral notes thrown in there.

Mouthfeel is dry and medium bodied

Overall, it is very drinkable. Worth a try.

Serving type: can

05-27-2012 21:33:04 | More by atigerlife

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.7%

05-07-2013 04:20:11 | More by ericj551

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

04-09-2013 08:50:12 | More by schnarr84

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.59/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

355ml near-stubbie bottle, 5.3% ABV, a fortuitous find at my new favorite down-market liquor store.

This beer pours a clear, medium golden amber hue, with one finger of foamy, bubbly dirty white head, which leaves a low broken headland of painted lace around the glass as it quickly wafts off.

It smells of biscuity caramel malt, a bit of citrus pith, earthy field honey, and grassy, hay-like hops. The taste is grainy, crackery pale malt, a rather leveled-off caramel malt essence, some almost plastic-like esters, which fade thankfully soon enough as the wet straw, leafy, and earthy hops take a more or less stern hold.

The carbonation is on the low, innocuous side, maybe throwing out a slight frothy edge at times, the body an adequate medium weight, and actually quite smooth, the hops not really possessing the chutzpah to interfere at this junction. It finishes pretty much dry, the grainy, dry bready malt and inconspicuous grassy, weedy hops playing well enough together.

A so-so IPA, even for the normally underwhelming British ilk. More of a bitter, but with weakly sassy noble hops - the unpleasant flavours are fleeting, at least. Not really worth seeking out for the style, but generally and acceptably drinkable for those times when substance dictates the next round.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:36:17 | More by biboergosum

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.1%

11-29-2012 02:30:19 | More by KalanM

ChuckGnarly

British Columbia (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -30.6%

10-13-2012 03:21:17 | More by ChuckGnarly

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

07-07-2012 04:55:41 | More by schopenhauerale

rodrigueZflyingf0x

British Columbia (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

07-02-2012 05:06:02 | More by rodrigueZflyingf0x

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.7%

02-17-2012 22:16:07 | More by LampertLand

pudoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.1%

12-31-2011 00:58:12 | More by pudoo

EskimoDave

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.1%

11-21-2011 03:19:26 | More by EskimoDave

lumikuuro

British Columbia (Canada)

1.73/5  rDev -51.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

2x355ml cans poured into large glass similar to hefeweizen glass.

Appearance: Brown amber, clear, moderate white head with some lacing. Not bad so far.

Aroma: Metallic hop when the head remains, but when it recedes, it's replaced by an unbalanced vomitous sweetness that also reminds the drinker of wet dog. Really unappealing.

Taste: Like the aroma. After a brief burst of metallic hop, the flavours go all over the place, tasting like vomit and ending diacetyl. Nasty.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Nothing exceptional but functional.

Drinkability: This is horrible. The only pacific northwest IPA I've had to pour down the sink. There are some slightly unbalanced ones out there, but this is dreadful. Avoid.

Serving type: can

05-26-2010 01:29:50 | More by lumikuuro

pugdogbeer

British Columbia (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lighthouse Beacon IPA is a great introduction to the wonderful workd of IPA beer.

Dark amber in colour. Decent head.

Taste was a solid IPA with good hop taste with subtle hints of grapefruit, orange. Slight hint of a floral bouquet but hard to detect with the alchohol.

Tastewise, a pint is fine but after that the alchohol (low ABV though) got in the way.

A good IPA beer but not outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2010 18:13:17 | More by pugdogbeer

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

At one point, it was considered poor form to thank someone publicly for a beer as it created a deluge for the person who could lay hands on said beer if it were coveted by others. The previous review seems to counter-indicate that, or at least that the provider does not mind public thanks. That said, Thanks, BigBry! He and I are CAN phreeks, each with our own agenda. He sent me a massive batch recently and I have returned the favor. Once we get caught up, many more CANs will be be exchanged in support of the cANQuest.

My CANadian beer was apparently anxious to be consumed here in the States. I cracked the top and immediately got a bunch of foam coming out through the opening. The pour resulted in a JacktheRipper-like head: two fingers' worth of dense eggshell-white foam with excellent retention that created beautiful lacing as it settled. Color was a slightly hazy orangish-amber. Nose had a slight lemony scent along with a woody odor underlain by a bready characteristic. Mouthfeel was medium with a slightly bitter biscuitiness. Definitely an English-style IPA. Frankly, even as a self-avowed hophead, I am finding that it does not take as much hops to keep me happy as it once did. This was very satisfying. Finish had a pleasant lemon-pine interplay that lingered. A very nice beer with a relatively low ABV that could certainly go into my cooler!

Serving type: can

04-02-2010 16:56:36 | More by woodychandler

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to BigBry for this one.

The beer color is copper and slightly veiled. The head looks very good and is soapy looking. The aroma is earthy with some woods. In the taste, I get again this woody taste with some caramel malts. I don't get citrus or any grapefruit hops that some have mentioned. After more sniffing, I get the caramel too in the smell. The body is medium. The bitterness is present in the after taste. One good thing is that it lingers for quite some time too. Not a bad IPA and I think it is well balanced.

Serving type: can

03-28-2010 19:33:42 | More by ZorPrime

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

6 pack of cans, brought back from last Vancouver trip, as pictured above, 5.3% alc.
Pours copper colored with a bubbly white head. Foam shrinks slowly leaving some thin lacy strings down my pint glass.
Smell is light, grapefruit-like hops are present but not overly strong.
Taste has some hoppy bitterness, balanced out by the sweet, caramel malts. Piney, resinous hops aftertaste. OK body, could be a bit thicker, good carbonation. Dry mouthfeel to finish.
Not a super bitter NW hop bomb, a solid flavor filled, sessional IPA.

Serving type: can

05-14-2009 14:44:56 | More by BigBry

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can from Ritzkiss poured into a Wild Rose glass courtesy of Wildone.

This is a nice looking IPA - a radiant light bronze body, and a long lasting white head, that gives a little lace. The aroma s fairly subdued, but there some toast and honey, along with floral and citrus notes. Orange pith bitterness combines with earthy, fruity and toasty malts to produce a solid North Western take on this English style. The hops seem very delicate upfront, but become more assertive in the finish, though this is by no means a hop bomb. Body and carbonation are par for the style.

This is a nice canned beer, and I'm glad that Eric sent this my way. For the English style it shows exceptional balance and great drinkability... a few of its American cousins could learn a lesson from that. A good everyday drinker that would be welcome in my fridge as a counterpoint to more assertive brews.

Serving type: can

02-27-2009 01:58:12 | More by bobsy

ritzkiss

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a medium copper with 2 fingers of head that very quickly dissipates. Light, watery lacing down the glass.

Smell is light, almost lager-ish. Hints of pear, oranges, grapefruit, even slighter hints of hops.

Taste is bitter but not the lovely, quality hops bitter - it seems like it's missing the body. Light caramel notes, oranges, light grapefruit. Hops builds a little as the glass warms. Carbonation leaning to the heavy side. Dry mouthfeel, slightly metallic.

Overall, pretty solid for the style. If you're needing something in a can for camping - this could be it. Lighter ABV means you could be drinking the one for the evening and be alright the next morning. You could do a lot worse.

Serving type: can

02-21-2009 19:39:01 | More by ritzkiss

GrimmReaper

British Columbia (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lite copper orange color with an off whiteish head about 2 fingers high and leaves some mild lacing.Nose is of pine and floral some wet grass,that's about all i get.Taste if of pine with a tangy edge to it,got a sharp bitterness to it with each sip,mild floral comes thru,quite hoppy and thin and kinda watery as it goes down,finish's off flat,not a bad brew,did'nt mind it at all,but i think theres a lot of better ones out there,well worth a try though.

Serving type: can

10-04-2008 02:11:45 | More by GrimmReaper

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Looks like a pale ale. Little head, no lacing.

Smell: Oily and citrusy. A slight tinge of alcohol in the aroma.

Taste: Great stuff. It has a great tangy flavour. Bitterness in the aftertaste. Piney and a bit floral. Tangerine is the dominant cirtus flavour

Mouthfeel: As with the smell, the oiliness translates a bit to the mouthfeel. Not as much carbonation as I was expecting.

Drinkability: Nice moderate alcohol(5.3%) and a crisp flavour could make this a good hockey beer.

Overall: I really like this. Great hoppy flavour and nice low-ish ABV. This is even better on draft if you can find it.

Serving type: can

03-01-2008 21:11:27 | More by Hornet2003

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fresh 344ml can, Thanks Mark.

Brisk pour puts a clear orange-amber ale in the glass with a decent sticky/creamy 2 finger cap which lasts well and laces the glass as it's drained.

Aromas are toasty malts, woody-earthy resinous British hops (Fuggles) very traditional english IPA aroma.

Profile: wonderful toasty-bready malt in the front is balanced with piney resinous hopping....mid palate succulent fruit tones from yeast esters mingle with the now bittering pine-citrus hops and more earthy-woody falvors as some complexity is detected...finishes lightly drying and clean with intensifying resinous bittering leaving a metalic aftertaste.

Balanced, full bodied, creamy mouth feel, drinkable and satisfying.

A very decent hybrid IPA...done in the english style with mostly english variety hops and a few Pacific warriors in the boil just to throw some light citirus in the taste.

Overal character is unique...very earthy-woody hop presence against toasted maris malts...very balanced but hoppy...not a Pacific NW styled IPA but a good Pacific NW take on the English style IPA

Serving type: can

06-01-2007 23:21:51 | More by pootz

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This can was 5.3% abv.

A: Bronze with an off-white head; some retention and lace.

S: Orange-citrus, candied fruit, candy floss-like fruity esters.

T: Citrus/orange-rind, candied fruit, moderate bitterness, slight earthy-metallic flavour. Light caramel. Even though it's an "English" style, I expected more hop flavour & bitterness from this Pacific Northwest brew (and a little more alcohol in an IPA too)!

M: Moderate body and carbonation; slight acidity.

D: Good.

Serving type: can

09-13-2006 03:05:33 | More by Derek

bodybyadam

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I got this one at Irish Times on a visit. Served in a pint glass.
A: The liquid was light red-brown in color with no head.

S: The nose is a mild hint of hop not the strong citrus hops that pops out at you with most IPAs I'm acustom to.

T: I now notice right away in the taste, no carbonation left in my glass. I taste a bare hop and almost fizziless beer taste.

M: without the carbonation my beer was now in a different style, not the IPA I ordered.

D: I'm wondering if the keg was with a bad seal or something happened. I've had a number of great beers at this place, but the staff was overwhelmed with the Stennis in town andwithout asking for my money back, I marked this one down as giving another chance at another time. Please take this review very lightly.

Elbows Up,
Adam

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2006 03:45:13 | More by bodybyadam

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hmm. Got this as a single from the BC Liquor store. Pours a clear dark yellow with a weak head. Aromas is fresh hops, but light in magnitude. Bitterness is solid with a good medium body, but a touch lacking in hoppy flavour. I'd consider this one a bit of a "light" IPA - easy drinking, but not the most flavourful.

Serving type: can

08-31-2006 17:32:59 | More by allergictomacros

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Literally cannot remember the last time I had beer out of a can. I know it was long before I truly appreciated beer, and I'm sure it was some swill like Old Style or Pabst. This alone made the Beacon IPA experience one to remember.

Nice big bubbly head retains quite well. A nice pale golden color with orange/ruby tint, not quite as reddish as many IPAs. Very few bubbles.

Fruity aroma (mostly oranges) mixes with mellow hop and malt aromas. Fresh and light in the nose.

Good grapefruit tanginess is the highlight of the flavor...they definitely hopped this well. Malts come through well, especially as this warms slightly, offering plenty of balance. The mouthfeel is very nice, prickly and bubbly while delivering a cool creaminess.

There's not a whole lot you can say about this if you've had a lot of different IPAs, as it's similar to many others. But it certainly isn't poor either. Simply an enjoyable, very drinkable, well-done IPA without any insanely remarkable characteristics.

Serving type: can

07-09-2006 22:22:45 | More by Metalmonk