Head High - Kane Brewing Company

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap and served in a pint glass at the Cloverleaf Tavern.

Kane's Head High IPA pours a hazy orange, lightening some along the edges when held up to light. The foam sitting on top of the beer isn't even enough to solidly cover the liquid underneath, let alone draw itself up to any height or leave behind any lacing. The nose lets pine take the lead, though there's also a supporting note of juicy grapefruit. The flavor lets just a touch of caramel open up each sip, before a pronounced, yet smooth bitterness rolls through mid palate The hoppy follow through is potent, an follows the pine, then grapefruit outline from the nose. Everything is just about perfectly proportioned though, the sweetness up front provides a modest baseline, and the bitterness briefly grabs attention before the hop flavors come in as the unquestioned star of the show. The body tends toward the drier side of the spectrum, while maintaining a little more heft than some of the west coast versions of the style. The carbonation has subtle bubbly quality to it. One of the absolute best IPAs brewed on the east coast, I look forward to hopefully seeing Head High around the state more often

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2012 20:25:20 | More by axeman9182

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer as part of the PHD program at Cloverleaf bar in Caldwell, NJ. It is a fun program. I recommend it if you are in the area... however, if you are an avid beer drinker in Northern New Jersey; then you have heard of Cloverleaf.

I sampled this beer about a month ago, and it blew me away. This is one of the best beers to come out of New Jersey, and it is easily the best New Jersey IPA.

The smell is really good. You get a lot of pine and citrus. The flavor has a lot of grapefruit in it. It is so good. Even the mouthfeel is very good.

It smells and tastes like a DIPA with this much power to it. I had to double check the ABV on this beer.

I recommend this beer thoroughly. Kane made a hell of a beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2012 00:51:09 | More by ummswimmin

CoinStarChange

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - Nice wheat color, very light

Smell - Piney nose with a touch of grapefruit. Beautiful aroma

Taste - Strong hop flavor, nice grapefruit taste

Mouthfeel - Hoppy bitterness, crisp taste

Overall - One of the best East Coast IPA's I've ever had, if not the best.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2011 17:29:52 | More by CoinStarChange

cbeer88

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from a growler courtesy of NJBeerNerd. Poured into 20oz imperial nonic glass.

Appearance: Darkish golden orange body with a thin half-finger head. Decent dotted lacing in the glass. Body is nice and clear. Solid appearance.

Smell: Nose is a little on the weak side. Some decent earthy and piney hops smell, but a good bit of caramel malt almost overpowers the hops.

Taste: Very nice. Piney hops perfectly balanced with caramel malt on the base of the body. A nice dash of fruity/grapefruit flavor on the initial bite, and some lingering hop resins on the aftertaste. Alcohol is nicely hidden.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and adequately carbed, this is a very dry beer. Gonna need a glass of water after this...

Drinkability: Average. I'll have a second glass of this, but I wouldn't drink it all night.

Overall: This is a nice IPA, and one of the better East Coast IPA's out there. I think I've been a bit spoiled by Hill Farmstead as this guy doesn't quite meet that level, but it's still an excellent beer. Town Hall Masala Mama comes to mind as I drink it down.

Serving type: growler

12-17-2011 01:28:09 | More by cbeer88

9InchNails

New Jersey

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

Kane Wet Hop Ale

On tap at the Cloverleaf.

Excellent looking white head with a hazy murky light copper body. The head slowly fades leaving great lacing on the glass.

Caramel, citrus and pine with the aroma.

Caramel, pine, citrus some metallic tasting hops from the wet hops. Slight dry taste.

Light to almost approaching medium body, light body, dry feeling, easy to drink.

My first beer by Kane Brewery. Tasty, easy drinking and quite a excellent looking beer. The lacing clinging to the glass says a lot about this beer. You know you're enjoying a fresh, tasty brew. I hope to try more by my home state brewery, Kane. Such a great thing that NJ is making such great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 19:59:53 | More by 9InchNails

Naugros

New Jersey

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

Had this on tap at the Cloverleaf Tavern as part of their PhD program. Poured into my PhD tall glass, it shows as a typical IPA, amber orange with a bit of chill haze. It has a really nice head and leaves lacing all the way down. I like it when a beer does that and I strive to always drink from the same side of the glass to only make one streak in the lacing. This was easy to do as the glass had a handle.

The aroma is all Pacific Northwest hops at first. Pine and grapefruit come through very fresh and lively. The malts are there, offering a modicum of balance in the form of slightly sweet caramel.

Massive pine resin and grapefruit citrus are nicely balanced with one another and they allow the malts to show up as a little bready sweetness (not so much caramel here). The resins last a while in your mouth and you would have sworn that you just finished a West Coast IPA.

If you're a hop head or a West Coast transplant who misses the IBU forward beers from your home, then Kane Brewing has dialed up a beer that a San Diegoan?...San Diegoite?...San Diegan? Ah fuck it, someone who hails from San Diego would be proud of.

A New Jersey brewery has FINALLY produced an IPA worth drinking! Rejoice New Jerseyans! Rejoice! If Kane keeps up this impressive displaying of brewing know-how then we might finally be blessed with New Jersey-born brews that people from other states will want to get their hands on.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 01:55:09 | More by Naugros

fuquan

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Fish in downtown Asbury Park.

Appearance: picture perfect, slightly hazy amber body with a 2 finger, slightly off-white head. Left a lots of lacing in the matching Kane Brewing pint glass.

Nose: Fresh hops; floral and piney. It's very much in the vein of West Coast IPAs I've tried.

Taste: follows the nose. Very well balanced and refreshing, with nice amount of citrus in there as well.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, with a nice dry finish.

Overall: Best IPA I've had from the local NJ brewers, and I think it compares favorably to the ones we can get from the West coast. If you're in the area, definitely order this one!

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2011 03:27:16 | More by fuquan

devinoconnor

New Jersey

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

First ever Kane beer, and what an amazing first impression.

Pours a bright and crisp, citrusy yellow with a nice head on it. Immediately notice the hops and citrus from the beer.

Taste is incredibly smooth, yet very hoppy. Flora aromas come through in the taste. As a self-declared hop head, this satisfies my craving for hops. I was surprised (and delighted) to find its ABV is 6.5%. Tastes like it would be more in line with 8-10.

Very smooth, classic IPA. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 21:03:37 | More by devinoconnor

Chas58

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This was at the growler station at Joe Canal's in Iselin/ Woodbridge. Go get it. The initial floral smell upon popping the growler top let's you know you are in for a treat. The beer pours a hazy yellow with a very strong pleasant bouquet of citrus and hop. This is a strong hopped beer but with a very clean mouth feel that makes you go back for another sip. The finish is definetly IPA, but with a very clean crispness. This is one of the finest, well crafted IPAs I have encountered. Support this new brewery and seek out their other beers, Single Fin is also very nice.

Serving type: growler

09-17-2011 23:56:16 | More by Chas58

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

growler poured into tulip - thanks to aviencko and cjo

Pours a hazed burnt orange color with a layer of white head, fades to a bubbly collar with patches of lacing on the glass.

Pungent hop nose, bitter and fruit notes. Grapefruit is strong with sweeter pineapple tones and some touches of caramel. Very enticing.

Nice bite of hops up front, bitter and a little dry. Fruit sweetness with grapefruit and pulp, followed by some floral and herbal notes. Lighter bready malt base with some soft sweetness from caramel. Finishes bitter with residual hops and bud-like tones.

Medium body, solid carbonation, dry and sticky. Really nice West coast style IPA, dry and bitter but tempered from the fruit touches. I'm excited to see more from Kane and hopefully visit the brewery in the near future.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2011 14:13:30 | More by xnicknj

Demer

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at CopperMine

So glad I got to try this beer a few days after the event.

The beer pours a nice hazy orange with a huge citrus nose. Orange lemon ect its all there. It has nice hops to it however they are not over powering. A nice balanced easy drinking ipa. This is dangerously drinkable. I agree with one of the reviews below this is definitely one of the best ipas I have had in awhile and its all the better that its from some local guys. NJ needs more quality brewers like this. If you see this on tap around NJ do yourself a favor and skip your usual and try this instead. You will not be disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2011 21:29:33 | More by Demer

KingJester

New Jersey

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at Buffalo Wild Wings in Eatontown. Tried it on a whim and was very impressed. Stone IPA was on tap as well (my usual go-to) and I ordered these instead of touching a Stone. Very drinkable. Looking forward to seeing more of their brews around!

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2011 01:13:06 | More by KingJester

bonbini26

New Jersey

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

On tap at Barcade at their Jersey Beer night.

These guys are out of Ocean, NJ, great to see some new microbreweries opening up in new. Pours a hazy, dark golden yellow, the nose is a that of a citrusy west coast IPA, mango, lemon, pine...awesome nose! A very well balanced IPA, great hop profile, with enough malt in there to keep everything in check, just how I like em. Overall this one of the best IPA's I've had in a while, really easy drinking too. Seek it out!

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 18:12:08 | More by bonbini26