Battlefield IPA - Avondale Brewing Company

Reaper16

Alabama

3.28/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

served on-tap @Bottletree Cafe, Birmingham, AL, into a pint glass

Pours a pretty typical IPA orange color. It looks a lot like Sweetwater IPA does in terms of shading and viscosity. A nice 1.5 finger-sized cap of white foam sits all pretty like on top of the body.

Battlefield's hop aromas were making their way to my nose as the glass was being presented to me. This has a delightfully assertive hop bouquet. It's focused -- grapefruit dominant with some orange, some grass-meets-lemon, some Pine-Sol -- but it is also quite intense.

The hop flavors are pretty intense on the palate too. It's fresh and vibrant as far as its hop flavors go. So why such a low score? Because there's no malt here to back it up. Now, it's true that I prefer a very unassertive malt bill in my IPAs. But this beer tastes hollow to me, like a bunch of hop flavor that dances around a circle but the circle is filled with nothing. This isn't hop juice, it's hop water.

There's a bit of that waterness on the mouthfeel, but Battlefield is mostly quite strong in this field. It has a nice, thin body that isn't too thin. Active carbonation helps things, too.

Overall, this beer tastes like my own homebrewed IPAs. The hop flavors are totally on-point, but there's a depth of flavor and of malt character that renders this beer hollow.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 08:02:35 | More by Reaper16

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

05-01-2013 13:29:21 | More by WoodBrew

Ajbradsher

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

04-22-2013 01:16:31 | More by Ajbradsher

cheefdaddy1

Mississippi

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%

02-28-2013 06:06:14 | More by cheefdaddy1

joshbrink

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

02-19-2013 03:18:27 | More by joshbrink

JayS2629

Alabama

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

02-17-2013 05:51:12 | More by JayS2629

bonSreeB

Alabama

3/5  rDev -21.9%

01-24-2013 22:45:40 | More by bonSreeB

Linus4AU

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

01-22-2013 18:50:48 | More by Linus4AU

James47

4/5  rDev +4.2%

12-27-2012 23:37:01 | More by James47

pvo

Virginia

2.6/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A fairly bland IPA. Dominated by hops, but with little depth behind them. Appearance was fine, smell pretty good, mouthfeel unremarkable, and overall just fine, but nothing to go back for. However, I would happily drink it again if offered. There wasn't anything bad about it, but it seems to have been made as a basic beer to offer people year-round, and it does that. I guess I might consider it an IPA made for a city of Bud drinkers. Perhaps appropriate, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2012 22:57:19 | More by pvo

jczn

Alabama

1.75/5  rDev -54.4%

12-27-2012 00:03:20 | More by jczn

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +23.7%

11-26-2012 09:03:55 | More by grahamboudreaux

WillyOsler

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

11-13-2012 05:04:30 | More by WillyOsler

BhamBeerLover

4.98/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - This beer is a rich golden hue with a healthy finger or two of head that stays.

S - The smell is citrusy and makes me think of cascade and columbus hops. The clean hop aroma is very pleasing to a hophead like myself and gets my saliva flowing prior to tasting this IPA.

T - The taste follows the smell. The hop flavor on the front end is fresh and clean and, while prevalent, not overwhelming. Caramel notes are present and pair with the hop blend extremely well. The finish on this beer is clean and does not leave a bitter taste unlike many IPAs.

M - The feel is best described as rich and creamy without being heavy at all.

O - This is definitely my favorite beer of Avondale's and my go to IPA when out and about, or in their tasting room. A good session IPA in my book and also a good choice for the citrus hop lover or the hoppy pale ale fan.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 19:55:40 | More by BhamBeerLover

Sedriskell

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

10-10-2012 05:10:37 | More by Sedriskell

Gatordaddy

Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.2%

10-06-2012 20:48:08 | More by Gatordaddy

slowdaddy

Alabama

3/5  rDev -21.9%

08-19-2012 16:18:48 | More by slowdaddy

elspaniard

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

08-02-2012 03:27:40 | More by elspaniard

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a golden yellow color with a small white cap, minimal bubbles and no lacing to speak of

S: Light citrsus and some breadiness

T: There is a nice breadiness upfront with citrus and very light pine resin emerging as I swallow. The ber has a nice, balanced feel and taste with a light to moderate bite on the end. Rather clean and enjoyable

M: Medium bodied, perhaps a tad bit undercarbonated and a light slickness

O: A pretty drinkable IPA

Serving type: growler

08-01-2012 20:19:49 | More by barleywinefiend

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.2%

07-11-2012 00:48:31 | More by rolltide8425

mlhenson

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%

06-25-2012 23:45:58 | More by mlhenson

wmc0005

Alabama

4/5  rDev +4.2%

06-21-2012 19:17:19 | More by wmc0005

Riverared

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

06-03-2012 03:43:40 | More by Riverared

The22Lou

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +10.7%

04-29-2012 02:07:29 | More by The22Lou

bnole

4/5  rDev +4.2%

04-26-2012 20:46:49 | More by bnole