Hop Manna - Shmaltz Brewing Company

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into an oversized wine glass.

Look – light amber color, clear, with about two fingers’ worth of light khaki-colored foam that dissipates quickly.

Smell – typical hoppy smell of an IPA, with a fruity edge to it.

Taste – much like the smell. Hoppy taste at first, which blends into a bitter bite toward the late middle. A slight floral essence is also in the middle. Aftertaste is bitter, but not too strong.

Mouthfeel – pretty well-balanced, not leaning too far toward the creamy or watery sides.

Overall – not a bad brew at all, but not terribly complex.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 05:50:30 | More by Nerudamann

CHickman

New York

4.35/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear orange amber color with a foamy 2 finger tan head that faded very slowly and left a creamy layer on top and good spotty lacing.

Wow, the hops hit my nose from 6 inches away and smelt of pungent floral hops, juicy citrus hops, orange peel, grapefruit, sweet malt, caramel and pineapple; sweet hoppy IPA nose that had just enough grains to almost make it perfect. The hops smell fresh and it was really nice to inhale.

Tastes follows suit of the nose, with fresh hops up front, then a nice blast of citrus hops, orange peel, grapefruit, lemon, mango or papaya, caramel, brown sugar, piney hops/pine cone, floral hops, flowers, herbs or tea leaf, sweet malt, tobacco leaf, lightly roasted grains, biscuit, wet bread and light spices like pepper; very nice balance, the hops were strong and sweet but not over the top for a very easy drinking IPA.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, with mild to average carbonation, a medium body and slightly bitter finish. Flavor completely hides the ABV.

To me this is a session beer as the price point at $5.50 for a 22 oz bomber was a steal, and combine that with the fact that it was very tasty and we have a real winner on our hands. The Chosen Beer indeed.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 03:12:01 | More by CHickman

mactrail

California

3.3/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Amber orange in the big goblet. Nice head and a full mouthfeel with plenty of carbonation and some maltiness. Interesting aroma like hay or cut alfalfa. Plus a touch of seaweed.

Quite refreshing for a couple of big gulps. The malt is modest but contributes some browned biscuit flavors. The hops are not excessively bitter, but quite forward. A peculiar vegetable and herbal flavor is the main impression. Earthy and mushroomy. Ends on an acidic note with the long funky nose.

From the 22 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 05:58:31 | More by mactrail

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice full complex hop aroma with sweet, citrus, fruit and a little grass. Also a streak of hop oil. Firm grain malt foundation.
Very attractive. Big full fluffy head. Clear classic amber color.
Pretty well balanced flavors. Again with a streak of hop oil, that at first doesn't get to excess most drinks -but later it does :0( .
Bitterness is prominent but not abrasive or excessive.
Body is moderate with same for carbonation.
Decent drinker, but the hop oil is too distracting and eventually dominates.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 02:22:40 | More by garymuchow

RickS95

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A bit dark for a 'pale' ale, but I like it. A light shade of brownish orange, like the color of a dark nectarine. The head is a finger and a half of white multi-sized bubbles. Someone IPA bubbles look different and these fit the bill, leaving a nice stick lace as they die.

Not sure a beer could smell better. Just a hint of malt and then citrus hop city. Grapefruit and pineapple. A little pine.

Taste is similar, though not quite as spectacular. Citrus fruits are there, as it the pine, but it's very crackerlike.

Feel is dominated by the hops and they overshadow everything else. There is a slight citric cleanliness, but then the bitter steps in and never really lets go of your palate. The alcohol is well-hidden. Medium body with a sticky finish.

A good beer, despite not being the easiest drinker. I'd like a bit more than just bitter and that's where this comes up short. That said, it's still a good beer for the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 02:59:28 | More by RickS95

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours lightly hazy golden orange color with a very nice 2 finger dense off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, orange rind, pine, mango, herbal, floral, grass, earth, caramel, and spiciness. Pretty nice aromas with good balance and strength. Quite dank and resinous feeling. Taste of grapefruit, pine, herbal, grass, orange rind, floral, lemon zest, earth, mango, caramel, wheat, and piny spiciness. Good amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, pine, caramel, mango, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a while. Malt balance is a little weak, as this leans much more towards a pretty astringent lasting bitterness. Some pretty good flavor balance; but a little high on the spicy pine resin in my opinion. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a good IPA. A little too piny and spicy; but has some good hop flavor complexity and balance. Smooth and enjoyable to sip on with some intense hop flavor.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:53:12 | More by superspak

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Light copper with excellent clarity and a fluffy bone white head. Typical IPA, it looks nice.

S: Melon rind, herbal, pronounced but not overpowering caramely malt.

T: Caramel/bready malt dominates, accented by herbal/spicy hop notes. Some tropical fruitiness is lurking but its fairly restrained. The hop aftertaste is quite nice.

M: Wet and juicy throughout. Not an especially refreshing IPA, but nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 02:15:24 | More by mattsander

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-dark cloudy amber with a nice light tan head

S-herbal hops, slightly faint scent. 

T-comes in with a bitter and oddly spicy/herbal taste of hops. It's not a lasting flavor and there's an understated after-taste. The bitter is strong in the beginning but dulls quickly. 

M-bitter, medium creamy carbonation with a crisp finish

O-not a terrible ipa. It's a bit boring though. It's just an easy drinking beer with out much excitement. It's just there. 

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 04:17:39 | More by AdamBear

david131

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours a clear copper liquid with a few streams of carbonation making their way to the surface. The white head leaves some nice lacing as it works its way down the glass.

S- Pine and caramel dominate while the pineapple, grass, and mango follow up. Aromatic and intriguing.

T- Sweet caramel with pine and grass. The fruity hop flavors balance nicely with the more old-school pine and grass flavors.

M- A bit oily with some definite lingering bitterness. About right.

O- The citra hops really add something new to an otherwise old school IPA. Not all that interesting, but it is well made for this style of IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:58:55 | More by david131

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've enjoyed one of Hop Manna's test runs on tap before, so I didn't hesitate to pick up a bomber of the final draft (pun not intended) once I saw it hit the shelves.

Very bright orange-golden color with a sturdy single finger of eggshell colored froth for a head. Smells of biscuit malt, chrysanthemum tea, other grassy herbals, and a nice blend of citrus peel that actually plays well with the other aromas, rather than dominating over them. The flavor follows suit, with the same blends of citrus, grassy, herbals, and biscuit malt. It kind of seems balanced more like an English IPA with its semi-drier feel to my palate. Medium body and carbonation levels. A solidly constructed brew if not particularly gimmicky or exciting. The best criticism I can muster is that I cannot find any of the Citra dry-hopping that they advertise on the label.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 20:00:35 | More by WastingFreetime

Vec2267

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - clear, amber, nice white foam, nice lacing

S - subdued, grass, lemon, hops

T - piney hops, with a nice malt balance, not brash and assertive

M - medium in body, some heft but not syrupy

O - a subdued take on the style, the hops are in the forefront, but not aggressive

Drinking this beer I get the idea the brewer was just making good beer without trying to push the limits of the style. I appreciate that they don't feel the need to make every beer BIG.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 01:50:47 | More by Vec2267

augustgarage

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

A burnt orange body shines with amber highlights when held to the light. A dense creamy half finger of beige foam rests on top. Thick sticky lacing coats the sides. Good retention.

Caramel and ginger in the nose - sweet with a touch of herbaceous/spicy hops and a faint citrus element as well.

Dank herbal palate entry reveals a low but lasting bitterness offset by a substantial dose of malt. Flavor profile is a bit murky and the finish is somewhat lackluster and sweet. No off notes. Somewhat soapy/perfume-like.

Creamy, moderately carbonated, not-quite-oily mouthfeel.

Not a bad beer, but "above average" doesn't really cut it for me any more given the number of truly exceptional IPAs readily available in nearly every area of the country these days.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 19:52:12 | More by augustgarage

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by Steve, 650ml bottle into a tulip.

Clear orange-y brown, with a white head. No real retention. Light malt in the nose and bright citrus. Some grapefruit and clementine, a touch of pine. Bitterness is pronounced on the palate, pine, clementine and a bit of citrus floor/wood cleaner. Medium body, piney bitterness into the finish. Light carbonation. An OK beer, but I wasn't terribly impressed.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 19:51:26 | More by liamt07

Florida9

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear light amber. Forms a moderate sized white head. Leaves very light lacing.

S: A light blend of pale malts, a bit of caramel, and some light citrusy hops. Maybe a hint of pine, but it is faint.

T: Starts off with a rather hoppy sweetness. Citrus, orange, and lightly floral sweetness, though the sweetness continues with some light malts. Finish is rather spicy with a noticeable bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation and a moderate bitterness.

O: An overall decent, drinkable, everyday IPA. A bit too sweet for my tastes. Not the best IPA I've come across, but at $5/bomber, I can't complain.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:23:52 | More by Florida9

MQ4188

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber purchased at Total Wine

Poured in 20 ounce wide mouth - fluted glass. Poured a beautiful dark copper hue with a creamy 2 inch head.

Starts like a big APA then gets complex and hoppy in the finish.

I like this .abv range between 6-8% and this one is a winner.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 20:57:17 | More by MQ4188

acevenom

Louisiana

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a large brandy snifter. Pours clear copper with a tall, white head that dissipates slowly. A few tiny bubbles can be seen rising from the bottom of the glass. Some lacing is left behind on the glass. The aroma is dominated by citrus and piney hops. The citrus is more like a sweet orange and the resinous smell from the piney hops comes along with the malt adds bready sweetness. Resinous piney hops, citrus, spiciness, and malt hit the mouth on the first sip. The hop flavors are big enough to stand against the malty sweetness. The body is full with adequate carbonation. The finish is dry and the drinkability is high. This is an excellent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 00:05:58 | More by acevenom

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.08/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bomber purchased from Whole Foods in Los Altos, CA.

Pours pleasantly thick and rich, a deep golden colour, with hints of amber in the deeper parts of the glass. Head forms as a frothy slick, sitting in large-bubbled islands in parts, and a fine film elsewhere. Body is really bold and weighty, and carbonation is fine. Good looking beer.

Nose is fresh, crisp and bright, with plenty of citric notes and a clean green true hop aroma through the centre. It's exceptionally fragrant, and really nicely done. There's not much else but the fragrance from the obviously heavy dry-hopping done, but it's big, and it works. And that's fine by me.

Taste is a little more subdued, and far less bitter than I expected for any description of IPA, but there's still plenty of hop flavour, giving a vegetative bite through the middle of the palate, and a fresh, fragrant fruity citrus on the front. There's a touch of neutral malt character going further back, giving a sweetness that it probably needs—even though I feel like it doesn't have the bitterness that needs balancing. Feel is lovely and smooth, with a touch of zest.

In some ways, it's a bit like a really big APA. There's heaps of late hops in this: it is just so fresh, boisterous and fragrant in hop character. But it's something of a curiosity as well. Whatever it happens to ultimately be, I really, really enjoyed it. So damn fragrant and delicious, and so delectably drinkable.

I was a little confused by it, but it won me over in spite of this.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 22:36:50 | More by lacqueredmouse

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Props to joemcgrath27 for including this in our most recent trade!

A - Pours a hazy copper golden color, thumb of head with solid retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Loads citrus and pine hops, a nice dark caramel backbone, hint of cotto candy and a spicy finish.

T - The sweet citrus notes dominate, but the caramel backbone comes through just as strong to balance it out. Nice earthy cedar and pine notes linger with a solid bitterness.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and a touch of dryness.

O - A solid IPA and super stoked to get a chance to try it. Delicious hop bomb that would please the palette of any hop head. I could drink this stuff all day!

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 23:04:45 | More by andrenaline

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hop Manna has four different versions in BA, described as “Test Batches;” and the great part is, there’s a clear progression of the scores as the recipe matures.

A: This IPA pours a translucent amberish-orange, looking more thin than shimmering, but with a noticeable enough shine to it. The head is thick and chunky, even from a timid pour, leaving a ridiculous amount of lacing in its wake. Loads of soft retention.

S: Tons of hoppy goodness – aromas of thick citrus, pine needles, cherry, and dark resin give this a full and mildly juicy character. The malt backbone is huge, though, blanketing every whiff with syrupy toffee and a caramel thickness. This nose is mostly malt, but the hops are quite strong.

T: Big bitterness for such a low-alcohol IPA: orange rind, flower petals, and a strawberry-lemonade tartness pop out over a bed of heavy resins. Smooth and full grains enrich the palate with a malty syrupiness – thickly caramel-heavy – with tastes of toffee, soft white bread, and sweet wheat germ. It’s a very likeable palate, but a little one-dimensional. Finishes with a light, flowery bitterness, with tastes of bright citrus lingering for a quick moment.

M: Thin and easy-to-drink, showing its low ABV with every sip. Not too much, though – there’s a good fullness to it.

O: Your standard IPA, but with a twist – it’s Kosher! I don’t think I’ll get it again, but it left a good impression on my taste buds. Tasty, but not life-saving-manna good.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 03:43:32 | More by BarryMFBurton

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Here's a brewery that I wish would start distributing to VT. Hopefully they will.

Great dark golden color with a huge head in my glass. Have yet to see an actual "pale" pale ale/IPA.

Hell of a hop kick in the nose. Lots of malt too to back it up tight.

"Hey you, hopbreath! Surrender to the lupulin rage! Rawrrrr! Double-tap, cardio and a strong malt backbone will take care of that."

Burrrp. Tastes like hops. I love it.

High marks for Shmaltz here.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 00:44:45 | More by Brad007

minnesotaryan

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: orange gold with an ample cream head.

S: big hops up front, citrus and pine.

T: resinous hops, nice and bitter, pine, grape fruit, orange peel, candied citrus. not much malt, but thoroughly enjoyable hop assault.

M: sticky medium body, easy to drink, adequate carbonation, dry finish.

O: this is great, highly hopped and it shows.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 03:21:45 | More by minnesotaryan

morimech

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clear, light bronze color with an attractive two finger head that had good retention before settling to a thick cap. Light lacing is left down the glass.

Aroma of sweet malt and citrus with faint wisps of pine. Almost smells like slightly turned orange juice.

When I saw CaraMunich 40 malt as an ingredient, I knew I might have a problem with this beer. The malt base in this beer is so sweet, it is almost cloying. Not a feature I like in my IPAs, or any beer for that matter. Nice amount of hop flavor and bitterness, but it does not do enough to distract from the sweetness. Dry hopped with the latest fad hop, Citra, but I do not get a whole lot from that hop. I get a lot of Cascade and Amarillo.

The malt does give this beer a substantial body. Nicely carbonated as well.

It is an alright beer, not really to my tastes. It does deliver plenty of hop flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 18:17:43 | More by morimech

Nugganooch

California

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hop Manna
22oz with pint

A: Hop Manna pours a dull and hazed over amber color. Its barely even translucent when held to the light. Thick topping of taupe colored creamy head. Decent stay and spots of clingy crystals form down the glass.

S: Opens with a burst of deep forest pine that transitions into an overall spiced grapefruit aroma. Lesser notes of lychee fruit and gooseberry. Some sweet pale roast malt accompanied with a bit of caramel.

T: Flavors assert a nice grapefruit and tropical twist rather than the big pine nose. With a peculiar perk of lychee and gooseberry that I think would otherwise be nice here. Just seems a bit out of place in conjunction with the pronounced spiced bready malts used. Contrasting a little too much for me. Has a caramel sweet tow overall. Still a good moderate bitter charge with some nice fruity notes. Perfumed florals as well. Alcohol well incorporated and barely detectable. Not bad just a little too heavy with the specialty malts for me. Doesn’t quite accompany the hop selection.

M: Somewhat of a mixed bag here with a moderate standing overall. This one had a dry chalky finish at times and left the palate rather wet at others. Some residual hop resins and sugary deposits do linger about.

D: A nice IPA with juicy hop moments. Bright, fruity, and tropical but a in the end the Specialty malts kind of muck things up for me.
Okay but not gonna be a fav.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 06:02:04 | More by Nugganooch

Billolick

New York

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

$5.99 for the bomber, w/o any freshness info to be had.

Pours clear almond amber, under a fluffy off white head, leave ungodly sheets of fine lacing. Nice

Faint nose of mild hops.

Easy drinking, moderatly hopped India pale ale. With some lite grapefruit notes. Doesn't live up to the hop spiel on the label. Decent brew, nothing special, or worth seeking out

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 01:31:22 | More by Billolick

obywan59

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear golden-orange with a 3 1/2 finger off-white head that recedes rather quickly, but leaves copious lacing.

Over-ripe citrus is the most prominent aroma, but there is pine as well, and a hint of sweet malt.

Taste of light sweet malts upfront, but the hops prevail here as well. The bitter and floral/piney/spicey hops assert themselves, completmenting, if not almost overpowering the sweetness.

Moderate bodied, lightly syrupy, with a light burn of alcohol.

A great summertime brew. Full-flavored and easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 02:59:12 | More by obywan59