Hoponius Union - Jack's Abby Brewing

tectactoe

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to portia99 for this one (it was an extra!), really looking forward to it. Pours a light copper color with very high clarity - only a very, very mild haze that forms dead center. Foamy white head begins to form some chunking lacing and legging right off the bat. The nose is heavily hoppy with a solid malt backbone - if the first whiff is any indication, this beer will be balanced very well. Some lemon zest, pineapple, and bitter citrus peel couple nicely with light and leafy pines and wet hops. A touch of cracker-like sweetness from the malt brings the aroma together nicely.

The first thing that hits the palate when taking a sip is a helping of wet, juicy, pine-like hops; grassy, floral, and slightly pungent. Light resin starts to come out as the sweet malts work their way into the mix, helping to balance and offset. Some mild fruitiness extracts itself from the hop bill; pineapple, grapefruit peels, herbal lemon zest. The hoppy flavors mostly fade by the time the beers has left your mouth and all that's left is the aftertaste, but a light, assertive bitterness remains along with some sweet bread, butter, and cracker malt flavors that give the excellent balance I was expecting from the aroma. As the brew goes on and gets warmer, I'm tasting some light white pepper spices come out from the hops, and maybe even some faint onion flavors. The body is medium and slick with a surprisingly dry finish.

Wow! Very solid brew here. Who knew pale lagers could be this good? This one shows exceptional balance and great execution for a very drinkable, hoppy-ass brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 17:52:06 | More by tectactoe

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -8.5%

05-23-2013 00:31:02 | More by oldp0rt

ellswrth

Oregon

4/5  rDev -8.5%

05-23-2013 00:19:38 | More by ellswrth

idioteque

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-22-2013 20:39:06 | More by idioteque

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Big thanks to celticfutbclub for this bottle...

A: Pours a nice translucent orange/yellow gold with one and a half fingers of pure white head. The foam settles fairly quickly, leaving a frothy ring along the edges of the glass. Good lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is light malt, yeast, pine and orange citrus hops.

T: It starts out light, sweet, and refreshing with a good bit of light malt and mild citrus hops. As it moves to the middle I get more citrus, some pine, and a helping of yeasty. The finish is hoppy bitters and yeast.

M: Light bodied beer. It's super refreshing to start, get really flavorful in the middle, and finishes bitter and wet. Smooth from start to finish, with some lingering hops on the back end.

O: Very nice beer. This is something that I would drink more of if it was available in my area. A great summer beer, but also something that you'd want all year round. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 20:32:23 | More by trxxpaxxs

BumpkinBrewer

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-22-2013 18:53:13 | More by BumpkinBrewer

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-22-2013 13:37:54 | More by MarkIntihar

bstyle

Indiana

4/5  rDev -8.5%

05-22-2013 05:51:03 | More by bstyle

notchucknorris

California

4.49/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Went to Boston over the weekend and got to try this at The Publick House.

A: Light copper color with a thin white head.

S: Lots of grapefruit with some soft bready malt, lemon peel, sage and some mango. Smells pretty fantastic.

T: Lots of grapefruit and pine upfront with a light but sturdy biscuity malt backbone. Finish brings a touch of pine resin, but finishes very smooth and clean. This beer is fantastic. Why can't we get this in San Diego? Why???

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2013 02:28:38 | More by notchucknorris

JMS1512

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -8.5%

05-21-2013 14:21:57 | More by JMS1512

dbc5

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-21-2013 01:30:19 | More by dbc5

scotv

New York

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-20-2013 20:59:37 | More by scotv

st9647v3

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-20-2013 18:29:05 | More by st9647v3

Apathetiq

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-20-2013 16:00:43 | More by Apathetiq

zekeman17

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%

05-20-2013 15:35:19 | More by zekeman17

CB_Crowe

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +3%

05-19-2013 23:07:16 | More by CB_Crowe

gdub

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-19-2013 00:24:33 | More by gdub

BRYeleJR

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%

05-18-2013 22:05:38 | More by BRYeleJR

cburns48

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-18-2013 12:53:11 | More by cburns48

vtbeerandbud

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-18-2013 09:46:40 | More by vtbeerandbud

Hendry

Vermont

4.36/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16.9 oz bottle into a pilsner glass. Looks like a lager, yellowish and crystal clear. Lively carbonation.

Aroma: lager? Well, just a bit of breadiness in there. Nose similar to a moderately hopped IPA, light lemon-grapefruit citrus aroma, and I emphasize LIGHT. The aromas are subtle and faint, not jumping out at you.

Flavors start out light and subtly citrus, and quickly fade to a yeasty fresh lager vibe, crackery.
The bitter aftertaste from the hops is long lasting and pleasant..

Mouthfeel is on the light side of medium, flavors coat the middle of the palate mostly,not much on the tip or back.

Lines are blurred when it comes to traditional styles these days, and crossover beers seem to be emerging all the time. Somehow this lager bridges the gap to hopville, and is an enjoyable change of pace, but I'm not completely floored either. Worthy of trying for both IPA fans and lager fans, I'm not getting the world class ratings on this one: good but not incredible.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 05:21:46 | More by Hendry

Marcelozicker

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-17-2013 19:26:50 | More by Marcelozicker

Rainblows

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%

05-16-2013 14:33:06 | More by Rainblows

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.61/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Very clear orange/golden color with a nice big white head.
S: Smells super hoppy. Floral, tangerine, tropical fruits, slight grassiness; lots of peach and mango. Light toasted sweetness from the malts.
T: This beer is very juicy and tropical. Floral, orange, mango, tangerine, peaches. A bit of honey and a slight sweetness from the malts to balance it out. Finishes bitter and a bit piney. The difference between this and an IPA is that the finish here is drier and more crisp, which leaves you wanting more! The bitter aftertaste does not linger as long either.
M: Light bodied with medium carbonation. Mouthfeel is crazy good, so smooth, crisp and refreshing. I could drink this all day.
O: Another home-run from Jack's Abby. I would take this beer over most IPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 07:28:29 | More by standardcherry

inanity

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +8.7%

05-15-2013 23:24:26 | More by inanity