Ground Wolf IPA - DC Brau Brewing Co.

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery. A session IPA brewed for Meridian Pint by the Brau guys. Fun. Beer is yellowish with a haze. Soft white head low retention, some lacing, nice moderate carbonation. Looks good.

Aroma is all hops. You can smell how bitter this is going to be.

There is a lot of variability in the IPA world these days. There are a lot of popular IPAs out there that avoid hop bitterness. All late addition hops. This beer is not one of those. I don't want to guess the IBUs on this beer but I would wager it would top 100-110. At times noticing against the limits of taste. Sooo bitter. Light in malt though. The hop bitterness is like a shadow that starts at the back of my palate creeping forward until the entire sense of taste is gone. Would I have it again? Yes but I like my meat spicy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 01:12:01 | More by drabmuh

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Good IPA, light in its backbone but generously hopped for a complex finish...

Presentation: Growler from DC Brau's NE headquarters. Small dry board with general growler offering notes. Served in a DC Brau tulip glass.

A - Pale to medium amber pour, nice creamy head, good retention, surface memory with rich touches of lacing.

S - Bright and zesty nose, rather hoppy and fresh, citric notes, grapefruit.. floral hint.

T - Hoppy throughout, the bitterness is a bit sharp at first, it unfolds with nice grapefruit, and grassy notes, light grainy caramel in the distance.

M - Medium to medium-light body, medium carbonation but more so the assertive bitterness holds it up. A bit brash as it lingers in the palate.

O - Session maybe but for the hop lover...

Notes: …and that with the right mood. I dig what they were trying here, but the body still feels a bit uninspiring to me, and on occasion the taste is a bit monochord, luckily that is not a lasting impression and the brew is a nice experience. Worth the try but I'd probably go back to their regular line up and other special releases.

Serving type: growler

05-26-2012 01:40:24 | More by Daniellobo

smakawhat

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on tap at Pizza Paradiso in Old Town Alexandria VA into a shaker pint glass.

A pale amber body, somewhat dull gold with a nice white head. Keeps a small collar and a thin puck while drinking, no lacing at all while finishing.

Nose is quite faint. A mild pithy like grapefruit that's about all I get, not much else. Not very aromatic.

Palate hits with a good solid mix of sweet malt tastes and hoppiness. Hinting grapefruit from the nose doesn't seem to come out, quite buried. Chewy malt backbone with a faint biscuit like drying quality at the end. Nice light bodied character with a hint of crispness but keep a good malt backbone.

Reminds me of a sessionable English bitter a little bit, and Wolf will do a session good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 16:04:20 | More by smakawhat

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Pizzeria Paradiso in Old Town. Served in a shaker pint glass. Pours a clear light orange color with a nice white head and some good lacing on the way down Thin collar throughout. The nose caries a light bit of citrus and accompanying rind and a faint touch of pine in the background. Flavor hits with an initial moderate bitterness plus some orange rind and faint pine through the finish. Body is light with a moderate bitterness. Very nice and sessionable. This is something I’d certainly have again, and wouldn’t mind having a sixtel of this at home.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 16:31:42 | More by Thorpe429