Head High - Kane Brewing Company

metter98

New York

4.21/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Little Town NJ, Hoboken, NJ

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and does not have any visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that died down, leaving delicate lacing covering the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderately strong aromas of pine resin and citrus hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell but also has initial flavors of tropical fruits. The pine resin hops seem to be a little more prominent and linger through the finish. A moderate amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is packed with lots of aromas and flavors of hops but isn't overly bitter. I really enjoyed the combination of hops because the three different types (citrus, pine resin and tropical fruits) made it rather complex.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 00:07:41 | More by metter98

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.84/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On Tap at The Office. Pours orange with a long lasting white head and nice lacing. Aroma is of piney hops, orange marmalade, caramel and bready malt. Body is full and very crisp. Taste is very similar to aroma. Finish is long, bitter, grapefruity. Very nice IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 19:36:24 | More by mikeg67

Ysgard

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Hazy Orange, on the lighter side. A perfectly persistent pearl white blanket of head, trailing delicate lace all the way down the pint. Not grapefruit, but honeysuckle, mango and pine. Randomly found this gem on tap at the attached restaurant at the Courtyard Marriott.
The aroma is great but not amazingly difficult to find. The rare thing about this beer is the perfectly balanced body. No caramel thank god, just the slightest toastiness, with a balanced quaffable thickness. It is as if it was designed to drink at the optimum speed to enjoy these beautiful hops.

Can not wait till this is distributed in bottles and I can bring some home.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 00:06:29 | More by Ysgard

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

growler filled 3/9/13 at the source. served in a nonic pint.

A: a hazy orange body. very hazed. bubbly off-white head has good retention. thick lace left on the way down.

S: citrus, melon, a little bit of grapefruit. a little bit of vanilla. this thing is mostly hop forward. a lot of hop resins.

T: bitter, orange juice. lots of melon. enough grain to provide a backbone, but the hops are the forefront on this brew. a lot of citrus, but enough earthiness that it is not overwhelmingly hoppy.

M: average carb on a medium/full body. this thing is meaty.

D: a really good ipa from NJ. hoppy, yet balanced. awesome and worth trying.

Serving type: growler

03-11-2013 03:15:40 | More by Jimmys

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.46/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: sunny, light orange, lots of clarity, off white finger of fluffy head.

Aroma: tropical fruit, manga, peach, nectarine, pine needles, grass, pungent citrus.

Taste: medium bitterness, tropical fruits and citrus, light toasted white bread, light pale malt sweetness, grassy, piny, soft linger.

***Just wonderful. Carbonation was fervent, and the body was medium and oily, clean and crisp. The growler was enough for a several hour session. Delicious!

Serving type: growler

03-02-2013 17:27:05 | More by EgadBananas

neighborhoodguy

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

What a great IPA. Like a 60 or 90 minute, with a sharp, crisp hop front. I'd say that the citrus was more of a back taste than front, but that would make me sound like an ass. I also liked the aroma and texture. It was slightly creamy, but felt unfiltered at the same time- go figure.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2013 18:31:23 | More by neighborhoodguy

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Growler poured into a tulip

An orange hued body with a fluffy off white cap. The cap rose one finger and left some big sip marks inside the glass.

The nose is of big tropical fruits and pine. Grapefruit, pine needles, mango, tangerines, and apricots over a bed of light biscuit malt with a touch of caramel. The balance definitely leans towards the hops, but the malts are definitely present.

Grapefruit, tangerines, and mangoes rush onto the palate. Juicy fruit before malt carries through the middle. The finish is a good dose of citrus and pine bitterness. A nice balance within the hopping of juicy, sweet fruits and bitterness.

Medium body with a dry, bitter finish. Smooth with just a little bit of an oily/resiny feel.

My third offering from Kane behind Rye Head High and Overhead. They definitely know how to use their hops over there. This is a damn fine IPA that could easily dance in some of the elite circles.

Serving type: growler

02-24-2013 17:57:15 | More by ColForbinBC

beagle826

New York

4.63/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Nice rich copper color, 2 finger tanish head

S-Upfront citrus with a little bit of a floral kick to it. Really great aroma.

T-The citrus hops that I smell come through initially. But, theres a great balance of malt leading towards a malty finish. Really well balanced.

M-Great body, great finish, really great IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 01:15:00 | More by beagle826

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Cork City Pub in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a lightly cloudy deep golden orange in color with some copper highlights and moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dense foamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering about half of the surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of tropical fruit/pineapple/mango and citrus/grapefruit hops with just a touch of pine hops as well. There are hints of caramel malt sweetness.

T: Upfront there is a light amount of caramel malt sweetness that is quickly overtaken by the strong hop flavors - tropical fruit/pineapple/mango and citrus/grapefruit. After that, there is a light amount of pine hop flavors as well. Gentle but moderate amounts of bitterness that linger but not for too long.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly crisp with a very light amount of dryness in the finish.

O: This is a really enjoyable IPA and a great example for the style - solid hop flavors with out overly aggressive bitterness. I would gladly have this one regularly if I found it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 02:12:15 | More by dbrauneis

evanforbeer

California

4.55/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Witherspoon Grill in Princeton.

Tropical fruits and citrus on the nose with some bread

Mouthfeel is great- full, crisp, slightly creamy, but not heavy

On taste, first hits pungent grapefruit. Bitter and sweet. With other citrus, orange an tangerine. Then turns tropical fruits, mango and papaya, rich fruitiness, so much flavor. A nice, subtle smooth raspberry note comes in. Malt comes through with some sweet bread and grain, finishing with a pleasantly bitter piney lacing, again with a little more citrus.

Something you would expect out of San Diego county, reminds me of Port Mongo (if not a little cleaner..). Very very good

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2013 01:07:25 | More by evanforbeer

mdfb79

New York

4.2/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 10/13/12 notes. Big thanks to whoever brought this one to the Top Hops tasting in NYC. Been a big Want of mine for a few months; a highly rated Jersey IPA close to my hometown.

a - Pours a deep orange-amber color with once inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of dank, pine hops, grapefruit, citrus hops, earthy notes, biscuit and bready malts, tropical fruits, and fruity malts. Tons of pine up front and smells very hoppy; really nice nose.

t - Tastes of pine hops, grapefruit, citrus, floral hops, earthy notes, fruity malts, some bready malts. Again, a lot of pine and more grapefruit here; a decent bitter bite to it. I think the nose was a little hoppier, but the taste is still great.

m - Medium body and low to mdoerate carbonation, with a medium bite to it thanks to the hops. Pretty easy to drink and would definitely want a few glasses of it.

o - Overall a really nice east coast IPA done in the style of a lot of west coast IPAs. A ton of pine to it, as well as grapefruit. Some bitterness from the hops, but not difficult to drink; well worth checking out. Glad I can get this pretty easy in NJ.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2012 20:55:30 | More by mdfb79

brentk56

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives with a perky cap sitting above the cloudy amber liquid; the head fades quickly, leaving only a few strand behind

Smell: Really fresh hop aromatics, with grapefruit and pine galore; a bit of biscuit and toffee underneath

Taste: Biscuity, up front, with a hint of toffee; the hops arrive quickly to dominate, however, bringing grapefruit, pine and a touch of tropical fruit; sweet tropical hop elements are balanced by the bitterness and continue through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: While I might have preferred just a touch lighter mouthfeel, this is a first rate West Coast style IPA - from Jersey, no less

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 21:40:40 | More by brentk56

BeerLover99

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: orange/shiny body, finger head, solid lacing

S: grapefruit, mango, pine, malt nose

T: grapefruit/citrus, pine, malt, grain, long oily
bitty finish

M: med/heavy body, oily/sticky mouth

O: WOW! Great to see a mighty fine NJ beer.
I will get this again and highly recommend this
to any hop head.

VERY GOOD, TRY SOME!

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 17:27:17 | More by BeerLover99

toweringpoo

Japan

4.7/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

One of the best beers I've had in quite a while.

A- big fluffy white head. Lots of lacing all the way down. Pale orange slightly cloudy color.
S- big aromas in this one! Usually I prefer the citrus heavy IPAs rather than the super piney ones, however this beer perfectly balances citrus and pine with a bit of tropical fruit and grassy hops mixed in. Fantastic aromas.
T- hops glorious hooops! IPAs live or die based on freshness and being this close to the brewery pretty much guarantees unbeatable freshness. That said, without a proper malt backbone the beer will be one note and not enjoyable...and that is NOT the case with this beer. In my opinion, it is perfectly balanced, not to mention delicious.
M- Light, not overly carbonated, soft but supremely refreshing.
This growler isn't gonna last the night. Don't miss this one.

Serving type: growler

08-13-2012 22:55:22 | More by toweringpoo

FickleBeast

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ale House in sayreville

Arrives in a pint glass with a half finger of foam. Clear pale amber in color. Foam leaves nice lacing. Smells great... full of citrus hop aroma .

First sip doesn't disappoint. Great hop flavor explodes on your palate. Malt backbone is subtle but present. Bitterness is mellow and blends well with the tropical fruity hop flavors.

Hands down the best new Jersey made IPA that I've tasted. Artfully balanced yet bursting with flavor .

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 22:54:03 | More by FickleBeast

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear copper color with a thin white lacing ring, carbonation is light.

S - Nice citrus orange, grapefruit, pine, and light biscuit caramels malt.

T - Lots of floral character w/rose hips, piney hops, grapefruit bitterness, and very light biscuity malt in the background but the hops definitely shine in this hop forward single IPA.

M - Full medium body with semi-dry finish.

O - Never heard of this brewery before and Millerbuffoon was generous enough to share a growler with us tonight, it's a solid IPA that's well worth trying.

Serving type: growler

05-20-2012 22:31:45 | More by jzeilinger

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt.

The beer appears light orange with a mild haze and a white head that leaves a bit of lacing on the glass. The aroma brings malt, dank hops - a seemingly balanced example of the style. Notes of pine and earth along with some resin and malt tones. Lingering bitterness with a slight astringency. Overall, this was pretty drinkable and sessionable. I would have it again.

Serving type: growler

05-13-2012 04:22:23 | More by Huhzubendah

NiceTaps

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the growler staion at my local shop into a room-temp pint glass.

A- a great looking golden-orange color, bright with a bit of haze together. A one-plus finger head, fluffy, good lacing. Well carbonated.

S- strong citrus, grapefruit aroma. Some pine as well. No alcohol nose.

T- citrus and pine from the dominant hops. The malts are hiding in there.

M- tangy hop and carbonation, a bit of oil residue, good body. Qiute sharp.

O- a very pleasant surprise. I've had this more than once and will get more. Drinks easy @ 6.5 as well.

Serving type: growler

05-08-2012 00:23:13 | More by NiceTaps

kennylopez

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler at Cloverleaf and poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: a golden color with thick white head that lasts and leaves rings on lacing.

Smells: a big citrus hop note like zesty oranges and grapefruit.

Tastes: this is a super flavorful IPA. Like the nose insists, there is a huge citrus flavor from the generous hop note that blends with the bitterness beautifully.

Mouthfeel: this is a well carbonated brew with a sweet bitter aftertaste that allows no presence of 6.5% to come through.

Overall: I never tried anything from Kane Brewing Co. but boy am I happy I got to taste this one. I am going to search this one out again and look forward to trying their other offering as well.

Serving type: growler

03-28-2012 22:35:23 | More by kennylopez

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from Free Bridge liquors.

Slightly hazy golden amber body, topped by three fingers of snow white froth. Excellent lacing.

Beautiful inviting citrus aroma of oranges, apricots, grapefruit.

A solid caramel base coats the tongue even as the first wave of juicy fruits ride on top of it. Bitterness doesn't so much bite as it crashes like a wave and rides throughout the afterglow.

Firm medium mouthfeel.

A delightful IPA from this new New Jersey brewery, and a beer I will visit frequently. How good is this? The plan was half the growler tonight, half tomorrow, but I just poured out the last of it. I'll sleep well tonight.

Serving type: growler

03-25-2012 04:33:32 | More by RonfromJersey

claspada

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright, light orange color with a solid white fluffy head and a bit of spotty lacing as the head recedes.

Aromas begin with solid dose of citrus rind and pine. Nice potent hop character, though nothing quite over the top. Light biscuity malt emerges as it warms a little.

The tastes begin with a nice bite of hops up front, citrus fruits with grapefruit and blood orange pulp, followed by some floral, herbal and lesser pine notes. Lighter bready malt base with some soft sweetness in the background.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is dry, sticky and pretty bitter, but not overly so.

Overall this is a great locally made IPA that I would gladly stock in my fridge if it was readily available (or bottled for that matter). Glad NJ brewers can produce an above average IPA and I look forward to trying more from this newly launched local brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2012 13:45:03 | More by claspada

stimulus

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Sample at the brewery, have had it from a growler before.

A: Pours a clear orange with a one finger white head.
S: Very strong citrus notes (mango is most noticeable) with some hoppiness on the tail end.
T: The citrus notes are more pervasive in the taste, specifically orange, mango, and peach. The centennial hops play a role here as well, with very little bitterness and residual sweetness on the finish.
M: This beer is well carbonated, medium bodied, and refreshing.
O: A great take on the style. It isn't over the top with the bitterness, but the aroma and flavor are out of this world. It reminds me a lot of CC Jai Alai, my favorite IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2012 02:45:00 | More by stimulus

drabmuh

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler received through a trade, I forgot my tasters so this was poured into a cervoise. Beer is amber, reddish, with a nice off white head, almost tan, some retention, some lacing, some carbonation, looks fine, slight haze.

Aroma is biscuity but not too much, mostly piny hops, earthiness too. Smells like a good IPA.

Beer is medium in body, earthy / piny hoppiness, a fair amount of bitterness on the backend, a strong tasting beer. It is good overall and a very enjoyable beer. A little heavy on the malt but not distracting or overly so. I would have this again for sure.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2012 18:58:53 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

Thanks to drabmuh for bringing this growler to our most-recent tasting. I certainly never complain about a growler of a hoppy brew at a tasting. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a nice orange color with a good white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. Some spots around. The nose brings forward a good dose of citrus rind and pine. Nice hop character, though nothing quite over the top.

The flavor follows the same theme with citrus and pine competing for the top spot. Nice mix and quite interesting. Good body and a nice finish. Good bitterness level. Solid brew, for sure. Thanks again, Matt.

Serving type: growler

03-07-2012 01:22:24 | More by Thorpe429

bogus564

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16 fl. oz., from a growler purchased at Kane Brewing, into a pint glass.

Two weekends ago, two friends and I went on a beer tour of Central New Jersey. One of the breweries we visited was Kane Brewing Company, makers of Head High IPA. I tried a small sample there, and purchased a growler, the better from which to judge and review this beer. And away we go…

A: I like how the growler pops as I open it. The pour is reasonably aggressive; with that, I get a 2 cm orange rind-colored head, that holds for roughly a minute. The beer itself is exactly what you’d expect from an IPA – beautiful golden amber, slightly bubbly. It really looks nice.

S: There’s a strong hop smell to this beer; which there should be, given that it’s an IPA. I’m getting a citrus hop aroma, AND a pine hop aroma. Not only that, but the balance is good. I’m picking up grapefruit, pine, but can’t discern anything from the malt. I’m sure it’ll be there in the tasting.

T: Me likey! There’s a very enjoyable hop taste, for you hop heads out there; I’m getting grapefruit, pine, and some roasted malt. There’s also some nice oomph to this beer, thanks to the 6.5% ABV. This is a very tasty beer.

M: You have to be a hop head to really like the mouthfeel of this beer; fortunately for me, I am. It’s medium-bodied, well-carbonated, washes over the palate well, and leaves a dry, hoppy finish. Good one.

O: New Jersey is capable of producing really good beer – who knew? For a brewery that’s been in existence for a year and a half, they’ve come right out of the gate with a winner. This is a darn good beer, excellent with salty snacks. Cheers.

Serving type: growler

03-03-2012 02:57:36 | More by bogus564