Thomas Creek Chocolate Orange IPA - Thomas Creek Brewery

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clouded, rich mahogany-hued body with a thin, sputtering, white head.

Smell: Hewn grasses and a heavy-handed lemon scent -- the juice, pith, and peel. The modest toasted malt base and chocolate powder struggles to be noticed underneath the fragrant hops.

Taste: Only a light, fleeting sweetness in the fore along with tastes of toast, (faint) roast, and a little milk chocolate, assumably from the utilized malts as well as the added chocolate powder. Tang of lemon and palpably grassy with a moderate bitterness. One last nibble of toast. Dry, still firmly grassy, and still quite bitter on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-low carbonation.

Overall: You know, it's okay. Some of those "hey, look at all the IBUs" beers can be fairly harsh and, well, a bit distasteful overall. I want to thank and attribute this to the chocolate powder trying to smooth over the jagged hoppiness.

Serving type: cask

02-01-2012 15:49:04 | More by ChainGangGuy

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

i was pretty interested to try a chocolate orange ipa. i dont think that i have ever came across such a thing. it pours a very interesting orange/black- with a thick head. smells hoppy with hints of dark malt. the taste is pretty hoppy with a dark bitter finish, the orange flavor is faint- probably more orange peel flavor than sweet citrus. but thats ok- there is a marrige of 3 bitters here the dark chocolate, hops and orange peel that go pretty good together. this isnt a bad beer. a very interesting blend for fans of bitter.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 16:24:42 | More by mattkoon

csparace

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Here we go again. Every time I have something from Thomas Creek, albeit only a couple times now, I feel like I'm walking into some sort of weird experiment. This one looks from the first second to live up to par.

Appearance – Poured from a 12oz bottle to a Matilda glass. Pours a thin but very dark reddish amber. Its almost as if someone has diluted a darker beer – but looks pretty attractive. Huge creamy head that measures up to almost 3 fingers. I had to stop pouring and wait for it to come down.

Smell – hmm. Smells like a cross between a stout and an IPA. There's the tell tale sign of hops, maybe simcoe or something pretty earthy. However, there's some dark stuff going on. Some vanilla is pretty obvious. Orange is quite faint

Taste – not doing much for me here. The hoppy flavor that you'd expect in an IPA is changed significantly. Its got a much darker complex – but not in that roasted/caramelized way you'd think. Its more like they've just been far beyond their prime. The hop taste really lingers quite nicely though. There's not a lot of dark flavors going on at all. Chocolate and orange are there only if you really search for them – not nearly as present as I'd like for a beer like this.

Mouthfeel – this is a little boozy. Leaves me with a warm feeling in the back. The carbonation levels are actually pretty good. Kinda sour.

Overall – The more I have of this beer the less I like it. There are a lot of odd things going on and I don't think they work well. The chocolate and orange are not something that come out nearly enough, and even if they did, I don't know if they would work well in this style.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 03:41:25 | More by csparace

Bung

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Tap at Grapevine. A very dark brown/red. Nice frothy white head, laced the glass just a bit.

Aroma, quite a bit of citrus. Lighter herbal, pine and toasted malt.

Taste, Toasted malt an some herbal hops. There is a good chocolate presence after, especially as it warms. Some citrus but it is pretty mild. Kind of a bitter cocoa finish. It is different, probably better classified as a black ale.

The mouthfeel is nearly creamy. A finer carbonation than most, it is nice drinking with little alcohol presence. This was the best part for me.
Really a nice attempt at something different.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 21:56:36 | More by Bung

xShoWTeKx

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +24%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from bottle to pint glass with a two finger white head that dissipates quickly and leaves minimal lacing. Color is a darker brown with a slight redish/orange tint.

S: Strong smell of orange and slight smell chocolate sweetness, strong citrus hop smell light earthy undertone.

T: Similar to smell with a strong citrus/orange taste with very light chocolate, nice earthy and citrus hop back.

M: Medium bodied, good carbonation, and a dry finish.

O: A very good beer, something a little different for an IPA but good. Had this a lot already and will keep enjoying and definitely recommend others to try it.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 07:45:46 | More by xShoWTeKx

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The curiosity is killing me...

A-dark brown with a sticky tan head.

S-orange creamy hops with just a hint of cocoa in the background. Pretty good strength.

T-comes in with a creamy taste of some cocoa but mostly orange. It has a good amount of bitterness more so than any hop flavor. It's a good unique drinkable flavor.

M-dry medium carbonation with a nice dry finish

O-a very drinkable beer. Definitely a black IPA more so than IPA. Sounds more interesting than it really is.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 22:48:09 | More by AdamBear

unskinnyhop09

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

if i could make this at home, i would never leave the house.

this beer tastes like a perfect homebrewed beer.
all of the flavors are up front and noticable.
the mouthfeel is crisp yet viscous.
a bit of roasted coffee and dark chocolate (hence the name).
sooo much straight citrus hop aroma and flavor (the rest of the name).

up the creek should smell/taste more like coipa.
i can't wait for them to make the next batch.
this limited brew is great...not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2012 22:44:00 | More by unskinnyhop09

welldigger888

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep amber garnett hue, with a frothy white head that laces the glass very well leaving LONG legs.

Very interesting orange citrus piney chocolate like aromas dominate a sweet caramel backbone.

Piney citrus goodness backed up by an orange chocolaty goodness that has a wonderful caramel sweet balance with just a touch of roasted grain .

medium body that dry's to the right point on an ipa.

Well done brew, that i know will be consumed regular.

Serving type: growler

12-08-2012 00:53:21 | More by welldigger888

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

20oz pour. Chestnut red/brown. Sudsy head with nice stick.

Citrus hops and a twangy malt backbone that conjures some toast and chocolate tones. Grapefruit, orange, pine, and roasted nuts.

Acidic hops at first, with a recognizable dark chocolate-covered orange finish. Definitive pine and citrus pith. The chocolate shows up late. So does a touch of booze.

Somewhat mellow, in that it's simple to drink. Everything is even keel. Feels good.

Strange, but a neat brew. I'm enjoying this one.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 01:47:59 | More by thecheapies

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16oz Growler from Beverage World. Served at around 45F.

Pours dark brown with red highlights and a one finger beige head that recedes to a light cap and leaves some globs of lacing behind.

Aroma is big on the orange, the most prominent factor, other citrus such as grapefruit, somewhat floral and herbal, if you sniff it long enough you’ll start to pick up some hints of cocoa powder, but its subtle. Good strength overall.

Flavor is orange and grapefruit citrus up front, caramel, roasted malt and chocolate in the middle offering a hint of sweetness, finishes with strong citrusy bitterness and very mild alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with somewhat sharp carbonation.

A unique brew no doubt, and it’s actually pretty good stuff. Wasn’t sure going in but I thought it came together nicely. The chocolate is a bit subdued but is coming out more as it warms. Should be classified in the Black IPA category IMO, as this is quite dark, darker than any other regular IPA I’ve seen.

Serving type: growler

10-24-2012 23:50:45 | More by elgiacomo

ThePopper

3.88/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A lovely, dark mahogany, much darker than a typical IPA, likely due to the cocoa powder.

S: Muted hop aroma, tempered with a hint of chocolate. No noticeable orange present.

T: Plenty of hop bitterness, but more malt depth than might be expected, with very little of the citrusy high notes that characterize some IPAs. Moderate complexity, with just the slightest hint of cocoa but little orange.

M: Nicely balanced, but a bit flat and bland. Some of this could simply be the tap from which it was poured.

O: The promised chocolate and orange are very much in the background here (in my mind, a good thing). Overall, a nice change of pace from a classic IPA, a bit like a hoppy amber ale. That said, it is somewhat lacking in complexity and doesn’t live up to the taste profile of the best IPAs (or, for that matter, the richest ambers).

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 01:40:25 | More by ThePopper

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Woo only 3 reviews (now 4) Curious to get at this local brew.

A: Pours a bold brownish red. Head is a fun corn color which i believe is made darker on account of the chocolate. A unique looking IPA.

S: Fruity but also some subtle chocolate notes.

T: What a strange taste! Definitely the first chocolate beer that actually tastes like chocolate rather than bitter grossness. The chocolate hits first then some bitter hops. I can dig it. The hops are a little dull which is not what I like in an IPA but a pretty good beer.

M: Sits perfect. The thickest IPA I have ever had with a perfect amount of carbonation.

Overall a very nice beer. The flavors sit very well together in the beer and are well defined. Unique but stays true to the style. A must try.

Serving type: growler

06-29-2012 23:26:43 | More by Jamesthebrit

jpro

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

32oz growler from CBX. Poured into a DFH shaped pint glass...

A: Dark ruby / copper; light beige, one-finger head; nice retention, but not much lace; really dark.

S: Piney hops and citrus peel; not much else.

T: A little cocoa dances on the tongue, followed by some citrus hoppiness; finishes with some wet cardboard blandness.

M: Medium-full with high carbonation; pretty good feel.

O: Pretty good except for the blah (cardboard / paper / dirt) finish; not too much “chocolate” really.

*from notes (4/30/12)

Serving type: growler

06-25-2012 01:05:21 | More by jpro

Daktah

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Updated my prior 'had' after buying a four pack this week. Poured a deep amber with a frothy off white head; good lacing left behind. Not as much in the nose or taste as I remember from the tap pour at Hickory Hops a year ago, but still pleasant. Roasted malt, subtle hops and definite chocolate powder. Taste is consistent as it warms and is overall solid. Nothing too sweet or chocolatey. A good beer, but not something I'll seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 19:04:59 | More by Daktah

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served from growler into a Samuel Smith imperial pint. Poured a deep ruby red-orange (sort of a brown hue) with a half finger off-white (touch of tan) head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, citrus, milk chocolate, powdered chocolate, citrus hop, grass, and earth. The flavor was of sweet malt, powdered chocolate, spices, citrus hop, citrus, grass, earth hop, orange peel, and subtle earth. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. They really did a good job incorporating the orange and chocolate flavors and aromas on this one. The citrus touch on this one was really quite nice as it helped to balance out the sweetness that the chocolate added. Probably one of the better IPAs to come out of Thomas Creek and definitely one of the most experimental. Looking forward to trying new things in the future.

Serving type: growler

06-07-2012 11:34:16 | More by thagr81us