Thomas Creek Class Five IPA - Thomas Creek Brewery

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this at the buttonwood last night. It replaced thier dopplebock which as of 10/26 they were still serving so the class five should be fairly fresh. And this was a new brewey to me I was looking forward to trying it out.
This beer came to me with a nice looking amber color and a dense 1/2 inch head.
Ididn't notice the carbonation. the aroma was light and leaned toward sweet malts. I couls pick up traces of citrus hops.
It tasted pretty good considering my environment with a more pronounced malt taste. This beer seems to be more towards the tradional as apposed to a west coast IPA.
Drinks smooth and clean and not really all that bitter,
Very drinkable and quite flavorfull.
The buttonwood is in a touristy area of Bucks co with probably no requlars to help roatate the taps so you get what you get.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 14:31:41 | More by micromaniac129

jabergess

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had on draft at Taco Mac in a 20 oz mug.

Great deep copper color with small tight bubbles. Some lacing.

Smell is spicy resiny hops. There is some sweetness also detectable.

First taste and the hops are right there. Cascade maybe? There is an underlying spicyness as well. Noble hops? Then there is the sweet, thick malt taste that coats the tongue after the hops have faded. I sense very little finish hop bitterness, at least for my palate.

I think it is a decent IPA. I've had several better but many more, worse than this one.

I could drink it all day.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 01:34:53 | More by jabergess

Jon

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Fairly standard IPA poured a pale copper with a small head. Notes of faint hops and fruit lingered in the nose. A fairly bitter hoppiness prevailed in the taste department, and was backed up by a light malt character. Mouthfeel was bit too thin and watery for the style. Easy drinking, but missing some of the qualities I look for in a solid IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2002 13:19:30 | More by Jon

horshack7

Massachusetts

3.06/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: On top is a thick rocky head off white in color beneath that is a clear amber colored beer with brown hues.

Aroma: Tropical fruit, simple syrup, peach, pear, grapefruit, piney, light breadiness.

Taste: Dry in the front. Tropical fruit sweetness with light rye notes. Piney, bready, grapefruit. The mouthfeel is smooth but it has a bready dry finish.

Notes: A decent beer not too bad for a warm day and decently drinkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:04:39 | More by horshack7

Sipchue

Pennsylvania

2.6/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Nice clean pour, beautiful color, nice carbonation and attractive lacing.
Smelled fragrant with a nice citrus aroma.
Taste was unbalanced. Malt flavors were masked by the bittering hops. Those added for flavor were low key for the style, IMHO.

So you have a pretty pour, with a beer that smells great but doesn't deliver on the palate because it was too bitter. If this beer tasted a little more like it smelled and was balanced, I would have rated it higher.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 03:33:07 | More by Sipchue

yankeepride

New Jersey

2.45/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25

Pours out nicely and looks really good, but this one is all hops with no real malt presence to balance it out. This is exactly what I don't like in an IPA - one that is so bitter that it isn't refreshing to me at all. Has a lingering aftertaste that just won't go away.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 22:58:37 | More by yankeepride

StJamesGate

New York

3.51/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clean amber with off white head that has trailers.
Orange blossom, resin and honey on the nose but some stewy grain, too.
Nutty granola with stewed orange and pine sap.
Skunky finish and oily linger.
Medium, clingy, sticky.

Big toasty Victory malts and Fuggles hops character make this heavier (and more English) than it should be, especially at 5.5%. No citrus or fruit to lighten the dank. Just a bit of hard work.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:35:39 | More by StJamesGate

Gu3mom

Georgia

3.36/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

At our house, we use a 10-point scale. For this particular beer our ratings are as follows:

Her - 7.5 Warm. Heady. Carbonated. A little "brown" but good!
Him - ?

(Not sure why He didn't make any comments/notes about this brew. With no mention of piney-hoppiness from her, chances are he didn't hate it.) Cheers!

Serving type: growler

02-07-2013 19:53:05 | More by Gu3mom

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

bottle poured into mug.
A-Golden color with 1 inch head, some lacing.
S-Floral, some banana,caramel and bread
T-Citrus,caramel, malts, light pine
M-Medium body, good carbonation, nice hoppy finish.
O-A easy drinking beer. Not bad at all. Not the best of the style, also has a bit more malt than some other IPAs. Would still get again. Nice S.C. beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 23:19:33 | More by Damian74Shensky

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Picked this up at Buy Rite in Jersey City recently, having never tried any of the Thomas Creek beers before. I thought this might pack a punch since this had "Class Five" written on it but as it turned out, this was a poor man's Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Not a lot of alcohol to speak of here but that accompanied a mouthfeel and taste that was underwhelming as well. This may pass for an IPA in Dixie but for most other parts of America, this would leave a lot to be desired.

This poured a light copper with a minimal amount of head that didn't last long. The same could be said for the lacing that slide down the sides of my pint glass after every sip. The aroma was that of citrus and mango hops and the taste repeated those, without any warming effect or feelings of booze. Some resin here too like the beer that I mentioned above but without the buttery texture or lingering bitterness in the end. This never felt like an IPA from start to finish and there needed to be more earthiness or a metallic tinge to this for me to even consider this as one.

Even tough this was an IPA categorically, this felt like a session beer. I could have had a few in a sitting if there wasn't anything else lying around but as it turned out, I only bought one of these. While this wasn't watered down or not crafted well, this didn't hold up well in a very competitive style. It's only worth a go if you love IPA's and just can't get enough - not that this would satisfy the cravings of a hophead.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 09:08:22 | More by JerzDevl2000

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've rafted on three class five rapids in my life. Each one is an unbelievable experience. To name a beer after the second highest rapid rating is a pretty lofty expectation.

I poured this beer into a tulip glass and immediately had about a finger of foam. The foam dies down pretty quickly into a ring around the outside. The coloring on the Class Five is a brownish-orange.

Off the top I get a little bit of orange from the hops. There is also a little bit of flowery presence to this one. I would expect a much higher hop forward presence than I am getting on this one.

The flavor is surprisingly unbalanced. The malt and hops are not playing off each other very well.

I was not really happy with this one. I was hoping for something more than this. I don't think I will buy another bottle/draft of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 20:20:22 | More by ummswimmin

tkelley

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought a six pack while in SC for the holidays. Im trying to keep my beers in my basement (about 60 degrees F) now as opposed to my fridge in the hopes that more of the flavors will be exposed. 12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint.

A -- very light copper color with a very fluffy white head that went over the top of the glass without spilling over the side, which was very cool. It is very, very clear. No haze to speak of.

S -- I thought the smell was pretty hoppy, leaning away from citrus and towards a kind of woody/resiny scent. Big malt nose too, for an IPA anyway.

T -- Pretty good. Again, it's hoppy, but not so bitter with hops to make you go "Wow! That's super hoppy." And again, more of a piney/resiny hop taste than a fruity/citrusy one. Probably more like an east coast version of a British IPA. Nice biscuity notes too.

M -- Good mouthfeel, nice carbonation. Feels soft and a little thick.

O -- I would say very drinkable. A quality ale on the hoppy side.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 00:51:03 | More by tkelley

PorterLambic

Florida

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours the color of weak iced tea. A finger wide, light tan head sits on top. Really good retention. Amazing amount of lace.
Smell is flowery hops, resin, faint malt and grapes.
Taste is hoppy, very faint malt and nought else to be found.
Nearly full bodied, effervescence is bold up front but fades soon enough. Finish is dry and quite clean, leaving just some herbal notes to remind you of what you drank.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 00:04:30 | More by PorterLambic

Mora2000

Texas

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours an orange color with a white head. The aroma has a lot of tropical fruit in it, with some papaya and mango notes, as well as some biscuit malt. The flavor is more of the same, with the papaya notes balanced out by the toffee malt to keep the bitterness low. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 19:37:48 | More by Mora2000

tdm168

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - amber with a thin lacing of white head that has decent retention

S - bread, sugar, caramel

T - burnt toast, bread, sugar, caramel, earthy, spicy, piny

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a great beer. It has an odd toasted malt character that was unexpected and off putting but on the whole it was delicious. It's well worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 23:29:32 | More by tdm168

FosterJM

California

3.25/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1143rd Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12 oz

Purchased from Total Wine Tampa for $1.79

App- A very curiously dark orange with some gold notes on e bottom. Spotty head but some nice slow moving bubbles flood upward. Good cling on this.

Smell- A ton of caramel and sweet malts. Smells decidedly like a old ale or a brown ale.

Taste- For an IPA this is one big malt bomb. Tiny amounts of bitter on the flavor, with the caramel and sweetness for days.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonation with more caramel and more malty brown ale notes.

Drink- It's just okay. Probably won't come back to this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 17:31:02 | More by FosterJM

shand

Florida

3.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into an imperial pint.

Judging from the ABV, I'm expecting something closer to an American Pale branded with the ever-trendy IPA label. The second "IPA" I've had from them that actually isn't an IPA at all? Let's see.

The pour is right, an amber color with a smaller head and plenty of visible carbonation. The aroma consists of bready malts as well as citrus and pine hops. The taste, as expected, skews closer to an APA. The hops are very restrained and kept in check by caramel malt. There is a dry, piney finish that'll remind you of an IPA, but that's about it. The mouthfeel is highly carbonated and fairly drying, and the drinkability is pretty good. Overall it's a pretty good beer, don't come here looking for a hop fix. Maybe one day these guys will actually brew an IPA, instead of Barleywines and APAs they call IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 00:04:38 | More by shand

chinchill

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

undated 12 oz bottle served in a pint glass.

Pours a golden-amber. It has a light haze but is clear enough to see rising carbonation bubbles. The head is large, creamy and thick for the style. Plenty of sticky lacing is left on the glass.

Smell: Aromatic, with a surprising amount of bread dough mixed in with the spicy/earthy hops and toasted malt. Rather malt forward for an IPA.

T: The taste is rather malty, like the smell, but the spicy/earthy hops come through more. Not well integrated, and slighty musty and too earthy for my taste.

M: Medium bodied; nicely smooth; slightly dry finish.

O: This IPA is a bit disappointing coming from this usually reliable brewer and contract brewerv. Certainly not a bad beer, just not up with the better examples of this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:56:47 | More by chinchill

titosupertramp

Tennessee

3.05/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Pours a darker amber with two fingers of frothy, white head. Lots of sticky lacing and foamy cap.

S: Pretty malt forward which is always a bit disappointing for an IPA. Toasted, biscuity malt with grassy, slightly citrus hops.

T: Taste is a good bit better than the smell. Still malty, but hops do shine through a little more. Grassy and citrus hops with toasted and caramel malts. Mildly bitter finish.

M: Medium bodied, slightly dry and bitter.

O: This probably isn't what most folks are looking for in an IPA these days, but this isn't a bad beer. I certainly don't regret buying this, but won't seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 01:00:58 | More by titosupertramp

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-light amber color with an off-white head and decent lacing

S-bread and citrus notes with a hint of bitterness

T-citrus and pine with some yeasty bread and decent hop bitterness

F-medium body with moderate carbonation

O-a decent IPA, very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 00:25:27 | More by MDDMD

ChrisSimpson1968

North Carolina

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

Purchased a bottle and poured into a pint glass. Pours amber with some initial but diminishing head. Aroma of citrus and pine with a strong malt nose. Robust malt caramel flavor on top of the citrusy hops. Overall, the hops doesn’t shine at all and it is just an average IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 17:33:19 | More by ChrisSimpson1968

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent amber with 2+ fingers of cream colored head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Doughy & piney, plus orange peels, all fade once warm

T: Caramel, piney & woody hops, atouch of mineral dryness & biscuitty malt up front. Leafy hops mix with slight pear fruittyness as this warms, some grapefruit on the edges. Finishes with dry woody hop flourish that doesn't really wow me, plus just a touch of toffee & orange peel

MF: Medium bodied, firm carbonation, nice balance

A nice, not great AIPA, drinkable enough though

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 03:19:04 | More by russpowell

MammothBrew

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured into my trusty tulip. Bottle date unknown.

A: Pours a somewhat cloudy deep copper and has a faint tan head that measures one finger. Decent retention.

S: Caramal malt is the most distinguishable in this one. There's citrus and faint hop aroma somewhere in there. Some piney aroma shines through as it warms.

T: Again, primarily malt and caramel. Some faint grassy and citrus notes.

M: Medium body with crisp carbonation. Pretty clean finish.

O: Very one dimensional that screams malt. I wasn't expecting a hop bomb or anything but it's pretty faint all around in this one. I will not seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 06:18:58 | More by MammothBrew

BeerBeatnik

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle tasting into a pint glass. Poured amber with a thin but decent looking white head, surprisingly has good retention. Aroma was a mix of caramel malts and a decent citrusy hop presence. Flavors were similar minus the sweetness and finished with some bitterness. This doesn’t stand out among other IPAs but is drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 20:11:53 | More by BeerBeatnik

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mixed feelings. Balanced IPA, loved the dark caramel malt mixed with the hops. But, it could have used some more hop presence. Although, I rated this beer higher than others, its not my favorite. Solids IPA and I would suggest trying, but this is not a hop head beer by any means.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 02:42:40 | More by CampusCrew