Hoponius Union - Jack's Abby Brewing

flagmantho

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I had this beer on-tap in a pint glass at Stone's Public House in Ashland, MA.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a bit of haze and a moderate effervescence. Head is a finger of creamy eggshell foam with a nice chunky lace. Good!

Smell: lightly malty with a big grapefruit aroma. Not over the top but very enticing.

Taste: the hops are definitely the story here with a big grapefruit/pine/tropical character. Malt and sweetness are just enough to balance the surprisingly smooth, moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a great and well integrated carbonation and delightful creaminess. Wonderful!

Overall: tasty, refreshing and wonderfully creamy. Bam!

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2013 00:47:13 | More by flagmantho

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

vonnegut21

New York

3.43/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Armsby Abbey.

A: Pours a clear-golden straw color with a finger and a half of white, fuzzy head. A very nice looking beer.

S: Hops. Pine and resin are present up front. There are some citrus notes as well, but this is all pine with some grassy, floral aroma.

T: Lots of up front hops on the first taste. Lots of hop bitterness. A bit unbalanced compared to the flavoring hops. Lots of pine and grassy notes, with a bit of grapefruit and perhaps a touch of mango on the back end. This being a lager, the malt backbone is really muted, too much so really. It's really a bit of a bland-bodied beer, with a nice hop profile that just overwhelms the backbone.

M: Kind of thin and watery, but with a really nice crisp, clean finish. With some more body to this, it would be truly excellent as I really enjoy the lager finish.

O: I was really excited to try this beer as I've heard a lot of good things about it. I have to say I was pretty underwhelmed by it. I'll definitely give it another try in a bottle, but it was a bit too thin-bodied and dry for my tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 18:40:05 | More by vonnegut21

Cugabuh

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

My, oh my have Jack's Abby gone ahead and revolutionized the craft beer world or what? Okay, okay maybe I'm giving them a little too much credit, but one must admit, they have crafted an excellent beer that offers a nice, unique blend between two popular types of beer - an IPA and a Lager. Ladies and gentleman, my I announce to you on behalf of Jack's Abby, the IPL.

Imagine the citrusy hoppiness of an IPA, but with the crispness of a lager. The smell alone will make you think your drinking an IPA, yet the aftertaste will reward you with the refreshing, crisp wetness that comes along with a lager.

The flavor is certainly citrusy, slightly piney, and even a bit grapefruitey from time to time. With what tastes like centennial hops, or something similar to it (perhaps cascade), one will feel they are drinking a light-bodied IPA.

Even the color bears similar resemblance, giving a nice hazy yellow-amber color with a small, creamy head at top.

I’ll be blunt and open with the end of this review - Hoponius Union is exceptional. Jack’s Abby has certainly taken a step in the right direction with this beer, and other breweries could certainly learn from their ideas.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 21:58:40 | More by Cugabuh

argock

Virginia

4/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a Shaker pint at Sunset Grill (Boston, MA).

A: Straw yellow with creamy 1-2 finger off-white tightly bubbled head with good retention and copious lacing.

S: AMazing hops aroma of pineapple, mango, lemon, and pine resin with a lightly bready malt component. Reminds me a little bit of sweeter lemon shortbread but with the lemon and herbal hoppiness and fruitness magnified.

T: I liked the flavor with the blast of lemon and pineapple hoppiness carrying this beer. The malting is well done -- this is a beer brewed with care. The hops, while intense, do not overwhelm and match well with the lightly sweet and bready maltiness.

M: I didn't really enjoy the mouthfeel at all, and I think it detracts a lot from the enjoyment of this beer. I am not sure if it just an unhappy marriage of lighter body, high carbonation, and intense bitter hoppiness but this has an astringent rather than crisp quality.

O: Despite the disappointment of the mouthfeel, this is a fun beer to drink with big time hoppiness in a leaner package.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 16:57:05 | More by argock

wingman14

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark yellow with a frothy white head that sticks around for awhile. The smell is dominated by the hops, subtle citrus in there as well. The flavor starts slightly bitter up front with huge hops following. The flavor finishes bitter and sticks around through the aftertaste. A solid flavor that doesn't have many complexities and doesn't change much. A nice medium mouthfeel, almost heavy, like chewing on hops. This is a solid IPA, definitely like sucking on some hops. There isn't much more to this beer than that, but that is ok because it is done well.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 22:58:07 | More by wingman14

mdfb79

New York

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 08/17/12 notes. Had this on tap at a bar right outside of Boston. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a clear amber color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks pretty good.

s - Smells of citrus hops, pine hops, fruity malts, floral hops, and light biscuit. Very nice and hoppy, almost like an IPA. Very nice nose.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, resin, pine hops, tropical fruits, grapefruit, fruity malts, floral hops, and light herbal notes. Even more fruit and hops than the nose; outstanding taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Light bitterness but not much at all. Very easy to drink; feel like I could definitely have a few of these.

o - Overall I thought this was a fantastic hoppy lager. I've been pretty impressed with their beers and this might be the best one I've had so far. Tons of hops and fruit in the nose and taste, and pretty easy to drink for 6.7% ABV. Would love to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2012 15:22:19 | More by mdfb79

brentk56

North Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: The clear golden liquid arrives capped by a fluffy head that leaves copious amounts of lace behind

Smell: Citrusy and floral

Taste: The malt bill of this beer provides a base for the floral and citrusy hops to strut their stuff; grapefruit and tangerine flavors abound with just a slight oniony character; a bit of a lagery twang in the finish reminds you that this is not just another IPA, though I am not sure I would have picked up on it had I not known this was a lager

Mouthfeel: Medium body with the crisp carbonation often found in lagers of this genre

Overall: Just when I thought I had tried just about anything, along comes this twist on a lager that is just a superb drinker - lives up to the hype

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2012 15:37:30 | More by brentk56

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, steadily carbonated, copper-golden coloring with a low profile, thin, off-white filmy coating. Aromas of resiny hops, with basil and hemp characteristics, as well as a slight peppering. Flavors are hop forward, with that heavy pepper/basil combo blasting the tastebuds. Light toasted backbone supports the hops presence, and the beer is light bodied and smooth in mouth. Great cling along the glass as you go. The aftertaste is light and bitter, with a slight floral highlight. Resiny, bitter finish, with the clean feel typical of a lager. Very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2012 16:06:03 | More by GarthDanielson

stevensd19

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow. At the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, MA. My favorite pub to enjoy a fine draft. I usually have an IPA or a Pale Ale but this brew knocked my socks off. A good buddy visiting from NJ agreed that this is one of the finest tasting brews that we have tasted. Very very nice brew! Well done Jack's Abby! Can't wait to stock my beer fridge with this most excellent local brew! Thank you!

Follow up, a very good friend brings me a 4 pack of this delicious brew as a birthday gift! I'm a fortunate man! Just as good as the draft!

You gotta try this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2012 00:21:36 | More by stevensd19

tzieser

Arizona

4.73/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

enjoyed on-tap at the pour farm tavern in new bedford.

a: clear golden color with a fluffy white head that sticks to the sides of the glass for a long time

s: strong hop aroma...notes of citrus and pine. the nose very similar to a west coast IPA

t: loads of hop flavor, with notes of citrus and tropical fruits with a light pine bitterness. finishes dry and clean. very drinkable. the lager yeast makes this more drinkable than any hop bomb i've ever had.

m: smooth mouthfeel.

so glad to see a lager with that citrusy west coast hop flavor. huge marks for creativity. well worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2012 21:11:46 | More by tzieser

mdaschaf

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Picco in Boston. Review from notes.

A: Served in a pint glass, the beer was orange in color with a small white head that formed a nice cap on top. Moderate lacing, but very sticky.

S: Nice and citrusy! Some orange, orange rind, a little bit of pine, and some floral hops.

T: Again, more citrus with more pine than in the aroma. Some grapefruit, orange, and orange rind with a bit of grassy hops as well. A little bit of pale lager malt

M: Medium bodied, extremely crisp and drinks very smooth like a lager. No sign of the abv whatsoever, could drink this beer all day long.

O: Loved it, very impressed. Had been hoping to try this beer for sometime and jumped at the chance when I saw it on tap and was not disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 17:08:47 | More by mdaschaf

Sailracer

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pale yellow in color. Has a hint of hop/citrus aroma. This beer has a nice balance of maltiness, bitterness and aroma hops. The citrus hop flavor is fairly prominent relative to typical IPAs, which I like very much. The light carbonation made this smooth and easy to drink. Very good, overall.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2012 14:11:22 | More by Sailracer

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at New World Tavern--Plymouth
Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: 1/2 inch head, low carbonation, gold in color, clear

Smell: piney hops and light citrus hops

Taste: sweet caramel start followed by pine and citrus hops

Mouthfeel: sweetish start with big bitter middle and less bitter finish, moderate carbonation, light bodied

Overall: A nice and smooth lager. This one is a lot hoppier than others in the style. Better as a beer than for the style. A sipper that I will get again but one per sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 15:04:43 | More by tigg924

Damian

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank on tap at the The Publick House & Monk's Cell, Brookline, MA
Served in a pint glass

Nearly clear, golden-amber appearance. The liquid was topped by a small, flimsy white head. A thin blanket of streaky lacing coated the top inch of the glass.

The aroma was exceptional. Peach, apricot and nectarine notes dominated the nose. Tropical fruits came through strong as well. Mango and pineapple were most noticeable. Touch of citrus. Some caramel malt sweetness trailed in the background.

The flavor profile was remarkably hoppy and complex. Similar to the nose in many ways except perhaps more crisp and bitter. Caramel malts came through on the front end before the hops took over. Lots of candied citrus peel. Hints of mango. Spicy in the center with notes of peaches. The finish was piney and resiny. Quite dry and bitter. Overall, the beer was well balanced and drinkable.

The mouthfeel was medium bodied and pillowy soft. Super smooth and creamy with a fine bubbled, moderate effervescence.

The boys at Jack's Abby have redefined what a lager can be. This beer competes with (and beats) many of the best IPAs in the country. I cannot wait to see what these guys come up with next.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2012 02:24:46 | More by Damian

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Stone's Public House in Ashland. Served in a standard pint glass. Bright yellow color. Nice white head. Good amount of carbonation. Great hop aroma for a lager. Taste was surprisingly good. Well balanced hop flavor, but not overboard. Amazing they can pack that much hop taste into a lager. Mouthfeel was smooth but crisp. This is a really great beer, and it's easily their best offering I have had to date.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 04:32:01 | More by morebeergood

amphion1065

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Meadhall, served in a branded pint glass. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a hazy, rich shade of caramel. A nice, tight one-finger head of white foam forms.

Pretty serious pine resin in the aroma. The hop presense is very robust, and that piney character is quite evident. A little bit of underlying sweetness in the nose, but it's mostly about that hop stickiness.

The taste isn't quite the aroma's equal. I was quite surprised by the sweetness throughout the taste - there's a very strong malt backbone, but unfortunately with the hop profile it comes off as a little faded. I was left wondering just how old this keg was.

The mouthfeel only bolstered my suspicions about the age of this beer. Undercarbonated, almost to the point of feeling dead, this seemed a little thin and watery.

Jack's Abby is doing some great things, but this beer - and more specifically, this pint - was just OK. I hope to try a growler of this soon, and with any luck drink a more representative sample.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 19:56:54 | More by amphion1065

seanwhite

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Every once in a while you pick a beer off a list with no idea what to expect. This was one of those times and boy did it pay off well. I had never heard of or tried an India Pale Lager, but I was intrigued.

A: Pours a clear gold with soft pillowy head.
S: Huge hop aromas - citrus, tropical fruits, apricot, resin running the show.

T: Stiff malt backbone. Beautifully balanced, crisp, drinkable. Very similar to an IPA in taste but actually a lager. Flavor follows- solid hop profile showing lots of citrus and pine notes.

M: Mild bitterness throughout. Body has enough weight to carry the hops without lending too much sweetness.

Very good beer, an entirely worthwhile east-cost hoppy brew.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 19:43:39 | More by seanwhite

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Really enjoyed this one. Had it on tap at The Gaff in Waltham.

The bartender's pour gave me a very tiny head. Not sure if that's representative of a typical pour of this beer. Nice lacing.

Wonderful hoppy aroma of stinky hops. Stink in a good way, the way you'd enjoy stinky cheese (at least I do). Kinda smelled like feet, but still floral. I love it.

It definitely has a hoppy flavor that matches the aroma. It didn't give me a citrus-hop profile. What I felt like I was tasting were the actual leafs of the hops, and their oils. The malt profile is biscuit like and really takes second stage to the hops.

Mouthfeel was just fine, not flat or too carbonated. The hop oils make it a little sticky.

Overall I loved it. Clean, refreshing, yet totally flavorful. Full of hops but doesn't overwhelm either. Went great with fried pickle chips.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 22:34:35 | More by jbertsch

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Had this beer on tap at the brewery in Framingham. Served in a 4oz tasting glass, cool.

A-white head and a gold pale body.

S-nice and profound citrus and pine scent. Very clean.

T-wonderful flavor. pine resin and fruity citrus. Just enough malt. Lager yeast provides the clean medium for the hops.

M-medium to light

D-Just an awesome beer. So clean and yet so flavorful. I would not only drink this again but I would seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 01:38:47 | More by jneiswender

SunDevilBeer

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been looking forward to trying beer from this new brewery - happened upon it at the Union Brewhouse recently.

Looks like a lager should, then the smell hits you with the hops. Really fresh scent. Great balance, finishes a bit dry. Each sip makes you want to have the next. I could drink this beer all the time.

This beer runs rings around Prima Pils IMO. Seek it out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2011 15:52:55 | More by SunDevilBeer

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

Enjoyed a couple of pints at “The Other Side” before the Sox game. Never heard of the brewery or beer before an d figured it was worth a try. Really enjoyed it quite a bit. It was described as a highly hopped lager to me and frankly, that was correct.
The beer was a bright and the color of brass. Single strands of carbonation streamed to the surface. A finger of delicate fluffy head sat atop the beer and settled fairly quickly to a ring of foam. A touch of lace.
Bright hoppy aroma which was very nice. Citrus and grass led the charge here.
Really nice flavor and feel. Bright/fresh and refreshing. Light toasted malt, some light grape and a mix of light citrus and some green grass notes.
Light body with a little extra punch from the aggressive hopping. Refreshing and sessionable.
I like this beer quite a bit. Additionally, I know learn the brewery is in Framingham. Since this is the next town to where I live, I am quite excited. I’ll be looking to try more of their beers. Definitely seek this out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 09:55:24 | More by Reagan1984

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tap at Armsby Abbey

Big creamy 1 finger head, lots of lacing, crystal clear pale yellow golden color.

Nose had fresh hops, resins, hops oils, bit musty, some fresh citrus fruit and grapefruit, almost no lager or malts.

Taste explodes with fresh citrus hops, grapefruit and tropical fruits, light hop resins and musty fresh hop oils, a bit oily, then some light lager fruits and light pale malts, some sweet toasty malts. Light sweet honey like flavor. The it gets very bitter and slightly astringent, the hops way overpower the lager flavors and gets a bit overly on the finish, dry and very bitter finish with lingering fresh hops and citrus, light pine as well, and has a weird sticky almost creamy feel.

Moth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall good, great hop flavors but overpowers the nice lager underneath, and a weird finish as well as a bit astringent.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 03:21:03 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the armsby abbey.

A - Poured into a standard pint glass a crystal clear golden hue with a seamy one finger head that recedes to leave nice side lacing.

S - Nice hop notes up front. Definitely resembles a nice ipa with hop bitterness and a light malt sweetness.

T - Very nice lightly sweet bitter hops with a smooth malt finish. Quite bitter throughout.

M - Fairly nice mouthfeel. Bitter and dry but crisp and refreshing.

O - Overall I Enjoyed this beer. A very nice hoppy beer with a good crisp bitter finish.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 21:02:46 | More by rudzud

Skwalk47

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours translucent copper with a large white head that dissipates quickly.

Hops, pine, almost soapy aroma.

Taste is similar with lots of hops but not much on the fruity or citrus spectrum.

Really nice mouthfeel with moderate to high carbonation and a slightly resiny texture.

Overall, pretty good. The bottle was about 5 weeks old so perhaps that reduced some of the haziness/fruity notes that others have mentioned.

Surprised that they would dissipate so quickly.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 15:56:29 | More by Skwalk47