New Albanian Hoptimus IPA - New Albanian Brewing Company - Pizzeria and Public House

Jishguy

Indiana

4.22/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at New Albanian.

A- This brew was a bit darker than expected. A deep amber with a never-ending two finger head.

S- Wonderful array of citrus hops and floral notes. Definitely a strong presence of pine. Definitely excites the taste buds for what's about to come.

T- Sweet citrus up front, followed by a pine-like hop flavor. This beer is known for it's intense, bitter aftertaste.

M- Slightly creamy, with perfect carbonation. These guys know what they're doing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 04:18:41 | More by Jishguy

bluejacket74

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a hazy orange/copper color with a frothy inch and a half off-white head. Head retention is very good, and there's a decent amount of lacing left on the glass. The aroma is interesting, the brew smells like earthy and pine hops, bubblegum and some herbs and cloves. The taste is similar to the aroma, it tastes like citrusy (grapefruit) and pine hops, caramel malt, herbs, and some cloves. There's also a very long lasting bitter hoppy finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and is well carbonated. I liked this brew, it wasn't exactly quite what I was expecting in an IIPA but in this case it was a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 21:32:34 | More by bluejacket74

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes to Naptown25rs for the bottle! Thanks Josh!

I'm really digging the appearance. Pours a hazy grapefruit/orangy yellow color, with a slightly off white, pillowing 4 fingers of head. (I was admittedly a bit aggressive with the pour) Lace was great; splotchy, webby, sticky, and plentiful.

Aroma was fairly ho-hum. Slightly spicy, herbal hop notes, and a tinge of grapefruit and slight maltiness. Aroma was fairly subdued as a whole.

Taste had some nice citrus notes, some tart citrus, herbal hops, and a fairly intense bitterness. Linger was minimal. Slight breadiness.

Feel was fairly light, crisp, slightly bubbly...maybe a hair effervescent. Finish was pretty clean and smooth.

One of the more unique IIPA's I've had, but in the end, It was rather nice. I'll finish the bomber easy, but a 12oz would be keen.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 02:18:24 | More by EgadBananas

Cresant

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this 22 oz. brown bottle into a large Sam Adams glass. No date but consumed only days after the bottle release party - fresh! The head was light tan and left only smudges of lace. The body was clear, golden copper.

The smell was tobacco like. Organic matter dank. Citrus.

The taste was spicy with an oily bitterness. Pine needles and candied grapefruit. The flavors deepen as it warms - sweet and intensely bitter without sharpness. There is a lip coating hops oily-ness that lingers a long time. The alcohol is noticeable but not overshadowing. The label indicates the malts used are Special Pale and the hops include, "four additions of high alpha hops". The 100 IBUs are pretty palate shattering.

The mouthfeel was medium to full with plenty of carbonation. This is one of my favorite locals.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 13:10:59 | More by Cresant

salvo

Indiana

3.1/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hoptimus by New Albanian arrives in a half pint pilsner glass at the Black Swan with half an inch of bright white head that sticks around, leaving laced etching in the glass. It is a beautiful straw color with chestnut highlights. A beautiful beer.

The nose is a little sudsy: not soapy, but a little foamy. Smells a bit roasty and malt is evident, but the forward smells are earthy, almost woody hops. Pine and grass fill out the scent.

Taste is a bit muddy. Hops are forward; bitter and earthy . But the malts are muddy and don't quite match the hops somehow. There's a dirty, untidiness to the flavor indicating lack of balance and conflict somewhere with flavors. Alcohol pepperiness: the 10% alcohol isn't disguised at all.

New Albanian has plenty of fans. I'm not one of them.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2011 19:39:27 | More by salvo

KYBrewgrass

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at the Mozz bar downtown Louisville.

A- 4.5 Hazy golden orange color with a thick white head that is as sticky as I've ever seen; it leaves spotty lacing all over the pint glass. Looks very appealing.

S- 4 Bubble gum and hops but mild; wish I got more out of the aroma.

T- 4.5 This tastes of bubble gum after an initial hit of hops. I'm guessing this to be a combination of clove spice and Belgian yeast. It is hoppy, malty, and sweet (but not overly sweet). It is quite different from IIPAs that I've had in this regard, and while some may consider that a fault, I actually really enjoyed this. It may not be the most "true" to the style, but I don't mind because it tastes great! That said, I could go for just a bit more hops.

M- 5 Hoptimus is smooth, creamy, and crisp. It has a just-right carbonation, and leaves a bit of dryness. It is medium in body.

D- 4.5 Very good. I want more of this... I have to find it in a bottle! This is an eerily good brew that goes down easily for its high ABV that is very well masked.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2011 17:03:19 | More by KYBrewgrass

dmfrench

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Belgian/American hybrid DIPA with a slightly weak malt backbone.
___

A: Somewhat hazy honey/cider yellow body with a half finger persistent white head.

S: Unexpected Belgian cloviness... hops are lighter and piney/earthy. Malt exhibits general sweetness. Not much diacetyl.

T: Again, Belgian yeast cloviness with fairly strong drying, resinous hops. Quite buttery malt, but still not all that big.

M: Creamy and substantial with a drying finish

O: Interesting Belgian influence, but I'd much rather have a big purely American DIPA like Dreadnaught any day.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2011 15:34:08 | More by dmfrench

aasher

Indiana

2.3/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

When I heard that New Albanian was bottling their DIPA I had to snag a bottle. It pours a rich copper in color with a one finger beige colored head. This beer is very fresh (it came in maybe a week ago) yet it doesn't smell like a traditional DIPA. It smells caramel malt and some light piny hops but the scent I get most in the nose is B.O...as in body odor. I don't quite know what to think of that. It's just strange. The flavor is pretty sweet for a DIPA and there is virtually no hoppy bitterness. In fact, the hops aren't very present at all for the style. What happened here? It's very malty. I just don't get it. I don't see a brewery intentionally brewing a beer like this. It drinks light to medium in body and leaves an interesting almost slight citrus, slightly bitter malt aftertaste behind. This beer was just a big disappointment. I ended up drain pouring the last half of the bottle because it just wasn't worth it.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 05:06:05 | More by aasher

JamesS

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice mid-copper color with decent head and some nice lacing. Very nice deep malty scent with a wonderful and huge pine hop aroma. Same with the flavor, a great deep malt backbone with some quite nice pine hop flavors that last on the tongue. Goes down well, if thick, and with a fair bit of alcohol heat. Nice IPA, but a little less alcohol heat would be nice. (On tap at Tomlinson Tap Room)

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 01:00:49 | More by JamesS

Morey

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This potent double ipa pours orange in color with pretty good clarity. The head fades rather quickly on this one, and very little lace is left on the side of the glass.

Smell is fruity and slightly hoppy with a big alcohol presence.

Taste is hoppier than i anticipated and the alcohol is large and in charge. Malt backbone is there, but hides behind the hops and alcohol.

Mouthfeel is medium with a moderate carbonation.

I could (and have) drank a couple of glasses, but it's time to switch gears before I run into trouble.

Morey's Bottom Line: Once you get used to the alcohol, this beer is actually quite enjoyable. Reminds me of Stoudt's Double Ipa.

Serving type: growler

Originally Reviewed on: 07-11-2010 00:41:13...but it placed it under New Albanian's retired Saison, so I cut and pasted my review, and put it where it belongs.

Serving type: growler

02-22-2011 22:45:58 | More by Morey

kylehayworth

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have had this beer numerous times. It was at a couple beer fest I had gone to, and also grabbed a pint at grant line. I never got a chance to sit down and actually "drink" this beer.

A: It has a nice amber color, which is accented with orange and red tones. The head is bright of white.

S: Citrus and floral hops dominate the nose. Grapefruit and oranges with a nice pine smell.

T: The balance of hops and malts play along side each other nicely. Maybe leaning a little more towards the malty side. Alcohol is well hidden I thought, maybe a bit of hop resin, but not over powering.

M/D: I really enjoy this beer. Mouthfeel is crisp and ends with a slight bitter oily taste, which is nice. I think this is highly drinkable. It would be my first choice when in New Albany.

Serving type: growler

12-19-2010 16:37:19 | More by kylehayworth

Lukafer

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

17 ounce snifter

Hazy golden amber color, thin off white head with good lacing. Smells malty, some citrus hops. Malty at the front then the hops kick in, slight citrus taste, then a bitter finish. Mouthfeel is very good, sticky and slightly chewy. Drinkability is good for a beer of this abv. I like this beer a lot, good balance for a DIPA, but I wouldn't recommend it to people with an aversion to hops, because this has them, a lot of them!

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2010 22:15:07 | More by Lukafer

ColoradoBobs

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the brew-pub.

Hazy amber body under a solid off-white head that leaves nice rings as the beer is consumed.

Smell is bright citrus and floral over cracker malt.

Taste is overtly, insanely hopped. Bittering hops, citrus, pine, all over a slurpaliciously syrupy malt foundation.

Mouthfeel is almost oily with hops, and thick with malt. Best feature of this beer.

Drinkability is way diminished for me by the intensely bitter hoppiness. Hop loves should love this.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2008 00:16:10 | More by ColoradoBobs

tmitch75

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at Gravity Head 2008 at the Brewery on 3/3/08. I was craving mad hops and this was the bartender's recommendation.

Slightly cloudy orange color with thin but fluffy head. Served in a cool 16 oz nonic glass.

Very hoppy taste with enough malt to keep it decently balanced. Hops are earthy and quite tasty.

Medium-bodied, if not a little more. Mouthfeel was very good.

Awesome beer. I haven't had much IPA lately (hop shortage) but this one really quenched my jones. It lives up to its very cool name.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2008 21:40:43 | More by tmitch75

blakesell

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Enjoyed at Gravity Head '08 straight from the source in New Albany, IN. Poured into a 20oz pint glass.

Appearance- Creamy and orange with an even head that does not cling to the sides of the glass. Legs are not present and according to my notes, the head forms the litter "R" over the top.

Smell- Cascade dominates, malt is present as well. The hops are not too big on the beer than citrus is present with not too much strength from the malt. There is also the scent of freshly mowed grass.

Taste- Burning. The 9% shows itself and makes itself known. Fruity and creamy. The malt is more noticeable than the hops. Not quite as "hoptimus" as they say. Sourness from the yeast used. Hoppy, but the beer is only an IPA, not a Double IPA.

Mouthfeel- Creamy, thick bodied and well carbonated. Warming but not overly so.

Drinkability- The 9% is balanced but not greatly drinkable. An average drinkability for a nice balanced pale.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2008 01:39:31 | More by blakesell

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This poured with little to no head. It was a virtually crystal-clear, bright amber-colored beer. The nose was very grassy, leafy-green. The mouthfeel was thin, but full of pine, hops, and freshly-mowed grass on the palate. The finish was utterly dry with a lingering aftertaste of evergreen. This is like camping, in a beer.

Serving type: growler

02-01-2008 09:14:17 | More by woodychandler

cameraman

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A deep golden color, that is slightly cloudy, with a small white head at the top. A strong grassy aroma, with pine and wood aromas in there as well. The taste starts with a strong malt flavor, then the hops come out and jump right on the palate with grapefruit and grassy flavors. A thin to medium body, it has nice dry finish. A very good double IPA, strong flavor and aroma make this a must try at New Albanian.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2006 00:59:54 | More by cameraman

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler received from oracle as part of the NoBS BIF. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" off-white head over the slightly cloudy orangey golden brew. Head sedately falls to a layer of uneven bubbles. Aroma is fruity hops, and that about covers it. Taste starts with a big shot of piney hops bitterness, then the fruitiness starts to come out to play. As one-sided as it is, it is not repulsive about it. Mouthfeel and drinkability are what would expect for an aggressive IPA, takes a bit getting used to, but once you're there, it's great. Alcohol warming starts to show, explaining why some may feel this could be a DIPA. Nice one here.

Serving type: growler

07-12-2006 22:44:53 | More by ppoitras

GreenWBush

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at proper temperature at wonderful Rich O's/New Albanian Brewing Company in Southern Indiana in a snifter, no less.

This one comes to me an attractive, dingy bronze with some floatiness. No significant head production, but a respectable lace trail.

Nose is a brilliant actualization between twangy, high-alpha acid hops and earthy, woody old-world hops and a great 'english bitter on steroids' malt bill.

The taste is something akin to hop iced-tea! I couldn't believe the amount of green flavors in here as well as the intense duality of old and new world hoppiness. Has a bit of a twangy, herbal or chlorrophyl thing going on that detracts a bit from the overall package.

The mouthfeel is quite silky and the hop burps make this a very addictive tipple. The spice/herbal thing dissapates by the end thankfully. Very good...and man do these guys have some balls putting this directly up against some of the world's finest draft beers.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2006 21:01:52 | More by GreenWBush

karst

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First let me say that paying $10.50 for a growler of this DIPA is a steal! However, I wish that I had brought my swing top two Liter growler. The Ball Jar doesn't hold carbonation very well and I would suggest a 12 hour max for the travel time. Cutting it close with my needing to drive across Indiana, Illinois and half of Missouri.

With a lower carbonation the malts emerge and the Northern Brewer bitterness starts more toward the middle. I never sensed much alcohol in the nose or flavor but by the reaction it is having on my brewbuddy I think it is in the high eights! Not quite as drinkable as the tap (but I'll attribute that to the 48 hr delay and the jar lid which is designed to seal with heated gasket and a vacumn instead of cold and positive pressure) Aroma is outstanding and as I rinsed the growler I was amazed to find my rinse water had that awesome fresh Cascade/Fuggles aromas.

A must try for the hop lovers and folks looking for an outstanding DIPA.

Serving type: growler

03-28-2006 01:21:41 | More by karst

Sephiroth

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Has moderate quickly receding head, with some lacing. Has a slightly resinous, and citrusy aroma, which I admit is affected by the smoke.

Taste has a sharp, clean bitterness. Grapefruit rind comes to mind. Mouthfeel is nice for IIPA, juicy. The 20oz. is going down fast.

Reviewed verbatim from notes taken several weeks ago.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2006 04:02:17 | More by Sephiroth

WHOLEBEER

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

well i certainly not a hop head but thos is still nice
i tryed it side by side with a stone 9th anniversary

supper hoppy, with a real poppy/zesty mouthfeel
lots of citrusy notes thoughout and a big fat nose to boot

hop heads should head to the NABC, certainly worth a try

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2005 03:59:21 | More by WHOLEBEER

mentor

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler provided by my new best friend, cerevisiaephilus. Thanks so much for the wonderful opportunity. Pours a half-finger yellow-tan head over a nearly clear sharp copper liquid. There is some tiny sediment bits suspended in the liquid, but it's an attractive brew. Perhaps it's has such an attractive appearance because the smell during the pour was incredibly enticing. To the nose, it's sugary sweet smelling with robust and rich orange oils complemented by some grapefruit pith. A little bit piney and a hint of cotton-in-the-field. Intoxicating smell, I'm aching to dive in. The grapefruit pith is less than the sweet and orange oil, but it has a peak that piercs through, I think because it's partnered very well with an alcohol sting. Okay, now for the taste. Sticky sweet, mild alcohol sting and tart hop finish. The sweet is sugary and persists from start to finish. It keeps the alcohol and hops from going overboard. For the whomping hop flavor, the bitter is less than I was expecting. Noticable and not overbearing. Fruity esters are present at decent levels, but are so far below the sweet and hops I had to concentrate to pick them out. Peaches and kumquat. Into the second glass now and the hop bitter hangs around as a flat aftertaste back by the tonsils. The sugar sweet, which had been a bit too much, is now settled. I think I'm just accustomed to the syrupy goop hanging on my tongue after the swallow. Thick chewing gum mouthfeel and mildly carbonated. This is a great smelling beer and a good tasting beer.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2005 06:12:52 | More by mentor