Hoptimus Prime - Ruckus Brewing

LarryK

New York

3.69/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Great name and label for a double IPA, though despite a bit of a gimmicky exterior, it's also surprisingly drinkable as well. I went about a year in between having this beer, and enjoyed it substantially more the second time around. Simcoe is the star of the show here; and while it probably won't win any awards, I would say this is probably one of the more enjoyable "New York" DIPAs I've had.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 18:47:02 | More by LarryK

zbellino

Louisiana

3.15/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Just a good beer. IT has a little imbalance to it for a DIPA. There is a decent booze-burn, that doesn't really play well with the natural sweetness of the beer.

It's rusty color and short lived head are actually quite nice, but the nose doesn't match expectations.

The beer tends to lounge in the middle and front of the tongue.

While there are some lemons in this tree, it's mostly maple syrup with some pretty dominant bourbon-esque flavors that are carameled like a mash whiskey.

It's ok, but needs some more bitterness and acidity to brighten it up.

In a word a flabby DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 01:00:52 | More by zbellino

irs

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Taste is what is striking to me about this beer. Its a mouthful of grapefruit flavored beer. In a good way...I really liked that, but after that I was dissapointrd by the cloying aftertaste, and the surprisingly thin nouthfeel.
Overall-not at all unplesant and actually quite drinkable for a DIPA but considering the other choices at the price I will probably not buy again any time soon

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:42:32 | More by irs

AdamPenna

New York

3.4/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An attractive orange color. Looks like a good beer: slightly hazy, not too carbonated, and a fine head which lasts through the drinking. Some lacing. But the taste is timid, citrusy and a little oily. Finally, a drinkable beer and one I might drink again if available in Andoo's Big Beer collection. Drunk from a mason jar.

*I've tried this beer again, and would change the review slightly. I must've gotten an old bottle, but the newest attempt was much better: an exciting beer. And the newest bottle cost me only 6 bucks, and was fresher, livelier, lovelier.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 18:33:46 | More by AdamPenna

jsvt

Vermont

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

Poured from 22oz bottle into New Belgium snifter.

Pours a slight hazy amber with very little head. No head at all really, just a slight ring and some floaties in the center.

I pick up a slight amount of priming sugar on the nose, which may have to do with the lack of carbonation. Pine smell from hop resins follow. Not too complex hop aroma.

On the palate sweetness hits first and then the piney bitterness from hos, although finishes really dry with not much lingering of flavor. Bitterness lingers most.

A decent beer, not a bad example, but not a outstanding one either.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 20:00:17 | More by jsvt

Number967

New York

2.98/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured out of a 22oz bottle into a pint glass. Maybe 1/2 inch white foam on top, golden underneath. Not much smell here which is surprising for a DIPA. Smells almost metallic or herbal? Was expecting an overpowering hops piney smell. Even taste across your palate, nothing really sticks out. IBU tastes pretty high. Bitterness is there but nothing that really bites you at the back of the tongue. Mouthfeel is a bit oily not as much carbonation as I would have liked.
This brewery says they're located on 35th St in NYC. The only thing I can find when i go over there is Ruckus marketing firm. If youre going to claim to be from NYC at least brew beer here. Overall, an average DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 20:53:07 | More by Number967

BrewMaester

New York

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had several encounters with this beer the most recent being at a restaurant in my neighborhood. I noticed that the brewer had changed, (used to be brewed by Legacy), i was suspicious at first but luckily it was the same old beer.

A nice copper colored pour with moderate head, lacy upon dissipating, a very attractive brew. The nose is modest with some malt and hops. However the flavor was substantial consisting primarily of grapefruit and other citrus flavors, definite hops and malt all blend together well and you cant taste the booze (9% abv). Light yet creamy on the finish its a good enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 23:15:07 | More by BrewMaester

spunionring

3.13/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a decent DIPA, but not great. It lacks the bitter hop punch you would expect from a douple ipa with a hop-style name such as this.

Totally drinkable, and a solid, high-quality beer. Not bad. Just not what a hophead is looking for.

There's a persistent presence of carbonation, the glass has a light bubbling that lingers until I've finished. Also a decent ring of head that doesn't disperse. The color is a bit dark of an amber hue, which embodies the flavoring of heavy richness, not citrus/hoppy/crisp.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 00:54:45 | More by spunionring

Chris_Mac

New Hampshire

3.56/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly crimson-amber hue, and looks inviting. Smell is pleasant, but does not promise the amount of hops the name suggests. There is light lacing apparent after a few sips. The taste is more malt than hops, with the alcohol coming in late. A very drinkable double ipa, a good addition to any Wednesday evening.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:31:35 | More by Chris_Mac

Ack9788

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First of all I know we’re all connoisseurs of beer but what more can you ask for then a beer with its own super hero made out of hops? A buddy of mine brought a pint bottle over and poured ourselves a glass

Light amber in color lighter then other DIPAs I’ve had before but pleasing. Perfect amount of bitterness with a light orange citrus hop accent to it. The carbonation really opens up the taste buds. Goes down lighter then one might think, poured cold you simply cannot go wrong.

Buy one for your self and buy one for me.

edit, got another bottle when i was out in NC, i was pumped because i cant find it in NYC. Can some one do something about this?

any way i dont know weather it was the classic hard to get thing but this bottle tasted even better then the last. i really got a ton of aroma, citrus beautiful and it accompanied a burger this time. let me tell you that was a meal.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2011 16:17:02 | More by Ack9788

IPAnderson

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is exceptional in many ways. I'm very surprised that no one has mentioned its Belgian Ale qualities. It has the sweet tropical fruit smell and flavor, along with bubblegum, which I've never tasted in a beer that doesn't use Belgian yeast. I really enjoy the hop flavors: it's an explosion of light, smooth fruitiness without the tongue-numbing Pine-Sol experience of so many DIPA's. It's gotten pretty warm and the bitterness has become much more apparent, but I'm still going back for more sips after each sentence I write. My main complaint is the low head retention, but the scorching heat in my room today may have affected that. Super deal for $6.74.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 02:10:23 | More by IPAnderson

mwbecker

North Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a solid flavor hop. But even has some citrus tones.No after bite. Has a smooth finish. My friends loved it to wash down lots of read meat at a recent BBQ. Couldn't keep the bottles cold fast enough for my discerning beer drinking friends. Not known in these parts( NC) it is becoming a hit with the locals. I hear it will be distributed in these here parts soon.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 18:48:49 | More by mwbecker

kellyz9

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +31.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Ok my friend brought me some of this he knows the guys that bought legacy over, I have to admit i'm no master of beer but this was great. It looked pretty in the glass and smelled nice like oranges. The taste was great, my friend told me it was a double IPA which meant it was very hoppy which he described as a bite the beer would have, either way I enjoyed it. I have to be honest i've never even heard the term mouth feel but it didn't feel bad in my mouth as a drank it, it felt like a rich more flavor packed beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 16:51:33 | More by kellyz9

NYUBeerGenius

New York

4.97/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The ability of the Hoptimus recipe to maintain the citrus while not loosing any of the bite from the hops is excellent. The aroma of the oranges is almost bluemoon-esque but once you take that first gulp bam, theres your DIPA. I enjoy it because it's manageable truthfully an IPA and a half but really excellent, with a half inch of cream colored head and a light nickel coloring this beer really is excellent I loved all 22 OZs of it, and i wasn't struggling feeling full at the end. I live in NYC and I came across it in NJ, I have since called the brewer of this beer Ruckus and it sounds like PA and NJ are as close as I can get to it.

PS the picture on the ruckus brewing site is exactly what my pour looked like, minus their logo of course. same color though same head.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 22:34:41 | More by NYUBeerGenius

BarleyProper

Pennsylvania

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

The first thing that struck me with this beer was the foam. It was creamy and almost felt warm on my lips even though it was perfectly chilled. Nice mouth feel. A swish and chew brought the expected hop bitterness, but it was not overwhelming like some IPAs tend to be. This was not the dry hoppiness that I usually expect, it was more wet, slightly sweet with a very pleasing finish.

I am a hoppy guy for sure and doubles and triples are what I like most. This beer has the potential to come out on top. I see great things ahead for Ruckus. Just you wait, when they find a home and their stride, they will be competing with the big guns.

Barley

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 00:05:02 | More by BarleyProper