Squatters IPA - Utah Brewers Cooperative

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

1.9/5  rDev -48.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

The head on this this was a bit light, thanks to my server's gentle pour. However, the head was a light-tan color with lots of CO2 bubbles. The beer was a deep golden-amber color with NE-quality clarity. The nose had a strange gasoline-like quality to it. The mouthfeel was medium with an unusual bitterness for an IPA. I would be curious to know what strain(s) of hops was/were used in its production. The finish had the same unusual bitterness, putting me more in mind of gin than IPA. Oof.

Somehow, I ended up with more of this beer. I am always down for a re-review, especially when my original numbers are low. It is a slow evening here at home and I am passing the time with beer, as is my wont. Today is T, 22 Nov 2011.

An invaluable team member of The CANQuest (TM), Einweizenbitte, sent me a package from his latest foray to China, including two packets of "Hot Green Peas", one of which I just opened and consumed. They were not excessively hot, but suddenly a beer is in order.

My pour created just under two fingers of thick, rocky, tawny head with good retention. Color was an oh-so-slightly hazy golden-yellow. Nose had a minty quality, like spearmint or peppermint. Huh. I was reminded of chewing gum. Mouthfeel was thin-to medium and it was certainly cooling on my heated tongue. It had a definite spearmint-pine taste in the mouth and I began to wonder why my initially low marks. Finish was minty fresh and lingered with hops. I am glad to have had a chance to return to this for a second chance, but I still would not want more than a couple/few. I have definitely had better IPAs, but not as bad as what I said in my initial review.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2008 00:34:32 | More by woodychandler

MaltyGoodness

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12oz. bottle thanks to BigJTrucker

Pours a very light, clear amber with a very small white head that fades. Decent lacing on the glass.

Aroma is slightly malty but largely dominated by a muddled mix of hop aromas. I'm guessing it's a combination of some citrusy and floral hop varities, but not a very complimentary blend.

Tastes almost like it smells, just a bit worse. There is a hint of caramel malt right upfront before it's smothered by a rather harsh (but not huge) bitterness and that muddled hop flavor. It finishes with a lingering slightly metallic flavor.

Medium body, mild carbonation.

Wow, with all of the quality IPAs on the market, they have no reason for wasting time brewing up this stuff. They need to burn this recipe and start over, or just get drop it from their lineup and stick with what they can brew well.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2007 02:51:55 | More by MaltyGoodness

Buebie

Minnesota

2.5/5  rDev -32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Got this in a trade.

Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into my Surly tulip. Off a semi-rigerous pour I get 1 inch of white cola like head. Receeding to a thin colar of retention and a few misc bubble islands.
Nice lace rings all the way down the glass.
This is a pretty light color for an ipa, its fair to call it pilsner like. A pale yellow with slight hints of orange, unfiltered look is all the colors have going for it.

The aroma holds some very mild grapefruit. The rest smells like dusty wood.

The taste is also lacking for an ipa. I wouldnt even call it an epa. There is very very little hop flavor. This is not like any ipa I've ever had and I've had alot of them.
Not digging the lack of hops here.
Starting out with alot of carbonation zing presenting some creamyness off the carbonation. But its pretty watered down.
Any hops that do come through are overtaken by wet cardboard at the swallow.

The finish is prodominatly wet cardboard and some mild hop bittering. I did not enjoy this brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2009 01:41:42 | More by Buebie

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I have no idea if this is the right listing, but I think it might be. The thing throwing me off is that it's listed as "retired." On the label this says "India Pale Ale" with "IPA" below that and "Brewers Reserve" below that. 6.5% ABV. Poured into a pint glass. "Born" on 5/16/12.

4.0 A: Clear light orange color. Two fingers of frothy/creamy white head. Retention is good and plenty of lacing is left.

3.0 S: Light herbal and flowery hop aroma. Light clean neutral maltiness. A bit grainy. Not much going on.

2.5 T: Like the nose, but perhaps even more boring. Light herbal hoppiness. Light grainy neutral maltiness. Low bitterness.

3.5 M: Lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Crisp and clean, but not really creamy at all. Still, good here.

2.5 D: Really boring beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 06:14:19 | More by DavoleBomb

kevinjosephlee

Georgia

2.8/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle poured into a glass

A: A rich and frothy off white head with great lacing and retention. A clear amber appearance.

S: Hops dominating in the nose.

T: Also dominance of bittering hops that lingers. Some maltiness detectable.

M: Crisp with biting bitterness in the finish.

Notes: Not a very balanced or easy-drinking IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2009 04:41:37 | More by kevinjosephlee

KarlHungus

Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer pours a clear orange-gold color. The head is a half an inch in height, and recedes quickly into a small cap of lacing. The aroma is of grapefruit and pine resin. It is a pleasant aroma, but not really interesting. The taste is of grapefruit with a very sharp bitterness in the finish. There is also an unpleasant vegetal character that takes over in the finish, and makes drinking this beer quite unenjoyable. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with lively carbonation, and a smooth texture. Overall, I will pass on this beer next time.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 01:37:49 | More by KarlHungus

djmichaelk

Florida

2.95/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle at the SLC airport brewpub, into a pilsner glass.

A - Pours a nice-looking straw color, with a huge head that takes minutes to fall. Took so long that I got impatient with it and started drinking through it. Great lacing and retention.

S - Definitely a high point, with citrusy hops. Grapefruit, lemon, and even some spice to add another dimension to the aroma.

T - Kind of a letdown after the aroma. Somewhat oxidized, with a flat taste and a touch of cardboard. I can make out a shell of the what hit my nose, and there's an earthiness that I didn't smell. Makes me wonder how long that bottle sat in the cooler. It's okay but there are many better-tasting IPAs out there.

M - About like I expected. Medium bodied, with a somewhat dry finish.

D - If the flavor was something to write home about, this would score much higher. Unfortunately while I *could* drink a lot of this, I just don't care to.

O - I'd love to see a bottled date on these -- the bartender sold this pretty hard to me, and I figured since I hadn't tried it that I might as well. I probably won't again. This is an average beer in a crowded field.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 02:56:43 | More by djmichaelk

largadeer

California

3/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a Stone IPA glass.

A: Light amber, thin head, nothing special.

S: Citrus above all else, with a bit of hops and malt.

T: Orange juice. The first thing that came to mind was alcoholic orange juice. It's not necessarily a bad taste, but it was unexpected. The strong hoppy aftertaste that I'm used to was nowhere to be found. This beer has a very clean finish.

M: Crisp, lean, and light on the palate. Thin-to-medium bodied.

D: Very drinkable, and probably a good session beer.

Overall, one of the less interesting IPAs I've had, although it's certainly not bad.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2006 03:30:39 | More by largadeer

magictrokini

California

3/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear gold pour with a decent white head. Aroma is hoppy but flat. Almost metallic. So is the taste. Some hops, mostly peppery, and some bland pale malt with a metallic finish. This site says its an English IPA. Sadly, I think English IPA's ave more body and spice than this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 17:00:05 | More by magictrokini

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a five finger frothy white head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Clear amber color. Light carbonation and light-medium bodied. Hoppy nose. Starts hoppy with some sweetness, almost balanced midway finishes hoppy with a little bitter after taste. Not as hoppy as some IPAs. $1.50 for a 12oz bottle from Utah DABC Salt Lake City, Ut.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2006 23:45:16 | More by jdhilt

xymyl

Arizona

3.03/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Gold in color with a bright white head and good retention (some lacing).

Aroma is spicy hops with sulfer verging on cat urine (but not really in a bad way).

Spicy and green hop notes are huge as compared to the malt which is barely peeking through, then hops take over again. A soft bitterness lingers long after the last sip.

Body is fairly light, there is not enough backbone to really balance everything out to be very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2007 19:17:58 | More by xymyl

markgugs

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured from 12oz. bottle into a pint glass, extra graciously provided by Fishdawg71

A: Pours a light gold, sparkling & mostly clear. A nice 1-finger white head rises quickly and reduces just as quickly, leaving behind moderate lacing and a thin, wispy head.

S: Smells fresh, like a combination of grass clippings, grapefruit & lemon rind, and earthiness like a forest just after it rains. Hints of malt backbone try to make their presence known but don't really.

T/M: An initial burst of sweetness quickly gives way to a biting pine tree hop character and ample grapefruit citrus. Balanced fairly well with cereal-like grains in the body and a lip-smacking, moderately juicy finish provides all the oily bitterness one could want. Beer is mildly metallic, and a bit chalky, but good carbonation evens things out a bit.

D: Pretty good, not great; I'd drink this again, but wouldn't purchase it myself, not with so many great IPAs available.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2008 02:17:39 | More by markgugs

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The second beer in the six pack is the IPA and I believe it was brewed in the old english traditional sense and not like a west coaster. The color is copper clear with nice white head. The scent is has a subtle hop character, but is missing pine and citrus. The taste is very bitter. Its starts very crisp with hops, but then tapers to sour and bitter aftertaste that clings to pallete. This, for me, would be a tough beer to session, one is enough. Its not a bad beer, but it's not great....worth a try though.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 05:11:30 | More by WoodBrew

beertunes

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Tom for grabbing this one for me. Born on 7/5/11. Poured into straight pint glass. Poured a clean, clear medium gold color with about an inch of white head that had good retention and medium-light lacing.

The aroma was a nice blend of floral, pine and citrus hops and didn't have much of a malt presence. Those nice scents didn't really come across on the tongue. The beer was mildly bitter, none of the floral and pine flavors that the scent led me to expect. There was a dry, bitter and somewhat astringent finish.

The body was a bit too thin for the style, nothing much there to support the hops. Drinkability was OK, I certainly had no problem finishing it. Overall, a bit below average IPA. It shows how far craft beer has evolved when this beer had won 2 Gold (04, 07), 1 Silver (05) & 1 Bronze (03) at GABF and a Gold in 06 at the World Beer Cup. I doubt it will recapture those glories anytime soon. Worth trying if you have the chance, not really worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 07:06:26 | More by beertunes

JordonHoltzman

New York

3.05/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

a pale orange body with a white head that dissipates very quickly.
smells of citrus and pine, but low character of each, very low for an ipa.
the taste matches the smell. I don't always want a huge flavor, but this is kinda weak.
mouthfeel is decent.
I guess this makes for a session ipa

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2012 01:22:34 | More by JordonHoltzman

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very pale gold. Absolutely transparent with a slow but steady stream of carbonation running to the top. This is even thin looking for an English IPA. Consistent layer of bubbles floating. Nose is fairly non-present with just a slight hint of nondescript hops.

Flavor is rather simple. Malts are barely distinguished and shine through as more of a woodiness than a malty base. Hops come through as a mild pine and stick to the tingue just enough to provide some sort of aftertaste. Rather light feel. Very easy to drink. Reminds me more of a hoppy pilsener than an English IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 00:17:14 | More by MuddyFeet

mentor

Colorado

3.08/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to briety for the opportunity. Thin layer of off-white head over a clear oranged-straw liquid. Smells mild overall. Pine, baby asprin, mango esters, a little bit of banana and very light and mild caramel.

Tastes mild sweet, fair hop flavor, and little hop bitter. Hop flavor is pine and oranges with a little bit of pith. A little bit of amarillo hop character (which to me comes across as a bit buttery). Some grassiness as hop bitter, but missing in the other 4 alpha acids. Malt tastes like oone of those light caramel cubes. Esters are mild, but of pear juice. Md body with some dextrins. carb is modest, but forms fine bubbles that sting the papillae and add an acrid in the finish. Better as it warms, but still not ho bitter as much as I'd expect from an American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2008 07:11:22 | More by mentor

jwc215

New Jersey

3.13/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours deep golden with a thin white head that soon becomes patchy.

The smell is light floral/citric with some underlying earthiness.

The taste is of bitter citrus (grapefruit/orange). Sweet grainy malt backs up the hops.. Hints of metal and aspirin peek through. There is an earthy, tea-like leafy spiciness that lies in the back. The caramelish malt has a slightly burnt character. Soft bitterness lingers through the finish.

The body is rather on the thin side for the style. Some chewiness is almost there, but gets washed out. Hop bitterness comes through in the aftertaste.

An interesting brew. Seems like Hallertau, or some continental/German-type hops are in the mix of the Cascade. Not sure there. Whatever it is, it is different. Almost works for me, too, though not what I would really prefer in the style. It's okay.

Thanks to jcwattsrugger for bringing this back for me from his recent trip to the West, and to Wasatch for including it in our trade.

(Originally reviewed 06-13-07 - moved from Squatter's Pub to here after being corrected by Wasatch.)

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2007 16:28:27 | More by jwc215

marc77

California

3.15/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

(This was from a bottle from a store and was thus not subject to the Utah 3.2 ABW draft law) Copper hue w/ a touch of haze. The dense and well retained head leaves attractive lace. Grassy, slightly citric and minty hop nose. Grainy notes in aroma as well. A bit course and not particularly appealing aromawise. The hop bitterness is moderate and manages to dominate the unassertive malt profile. Mild citrusy hop flavors... this tastes like a subpar Anchor Liberty. It's certainly lacking for an IPA and seems better suited as a regular American PA. Although not great, it doesn't have that characteristic, bland, dry finish that draft Utah 3.2 ABW brews typically have.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2002 08:06:48 | More by marc77

wheelinshirt

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle from a trade with wasatch poured into a pint glass. Beer is exceptionally clear. which I actually find a bit unnerving. The two fingers or so of white head fades to a thin covering of big, soapy bubbles. Quite a bit of lacing, but it also looks a bit soapy. Not very appealing, but it could be my glass.

The smell was some piney American hops and some malt. The taste is like the smell, a little sweet, bitterness is balanced, but there is something in there that i can't quite place. Maybe the soapy appearance has fooled me into tasting just a tiny bit of soap in there. Who knows. As the beer warms a bit i think i like it more.

Mouthfeel is pretty on target, maybe a tiny bit thin for me. Drinkability is hampered mostly by the soap factor, but if it wasn't for that i could see enjoying a six pack of this with a friend, though I certainly wouldn't choose it over other IPAs like 60 minute or hopdevil.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2007 01:53:47 | More by wheelinshirt

tonistruth

Nevada

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- thin and tight white foam rests above a bubbly golden straw colored brew. decent retent, thin lacing

S- leafy, floral, bready, herbal, very tame citrus

T- decently balanced start with a hoppy finish. bready, toasted malt, apple/pear, leafy hop flavors

M- medium crisp body, finish and after are coarse and dry

D- nice and tame IPA, very drinkable but nothing I'm pursuing further

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 03:44:53 | More by tonistruth

maximum12

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to wasatch for tossing this into a summertime trade, my first encounter with Utah beer.

Unfortunately, my first impression of the beer is not great, due to the faint metallic smell wafting gently from the bottle.

Unfortunately, the metal lingers in the aftertaste as well. Which is too bad, because the up-front taste on this IPA is pretty darn good. The balance is excellent; I love me some ass-puckering hops, but I also dig when the brewer creates an IPA with a heavy hand on the malts - & gets it right. This is right.

Don't know if that taste is from age, or bad cap, or what. But it definitely detracts from what otherwise would be a very good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 22:49:27 | More by maximum12

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Wasatch for this trade. Pour is a darker golden color with good clarity but some light haziness. A decent pour but not much head. However the foam did last through out the entire tasting.

The nose has a light hoppy aroma. Mostly a orange nose that is close to a grapefruit ester. Not much on malt as the hop is more dominant.

The taste brings more of a balance between hops and malt, but the hops for sure are still the major player. Not much of a bitterness but some spiciness is there. The meat of the beer is a grapefruit finish that leaves a dry bite to the end. Some light malt flavors but finishes dry, which ends up accentuating the hop flavors even more.

The body has a mid feel but the dryer finish leaves it closer to a light feeling beer. Overall one thing that is nice about this beer is the hop flavor. It has a nice staying power.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2007 03:22:32 | More by Oxymoron

IMPERALEVERYTHIN

Utah

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: light copper, very clear, good long lasting carbonation

Smell: citrus, malt, light yeast

Taste: very Bitter up front with some underlying malt, dry finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, long lasting head

Drinkability: Drinkable, bitter slightly cloying hops are dominating here. Nothing memorable but I would drink again if the options were limited.

Born: 2/3/11

Drank at 55f in a burgundy style glass

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 04:18:55 | More by IMPERALEVERYTHIN

azdback

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Spaten Tumbler glass. Dark, caramel colored red. Filtered and bright transparency shows the large carbonation bubbles that lead to a small two finger head that is rocky and bright white. Kind of looks like sea foam.

Smell is pretty candy sweet. Maybe some bright citrus hops. I smell sugar topped yellow grapefruit and some sweetened orange or lime and some pineapple.

Taste is a huge let down. It doesn't hold up to the aroma at all. I get a bit of plastic tasting hop bitterness and a lot of water.

Mouth is as I said in the taste, very watery. The consistency is crisp and the carbonation is light. The body is where this goes to shit, light and the finish is very light and watery.

Overall I didn't expect much out of this so on a disappointment meter I wasn't shocked. This one is pretty good until you have to put it in your mouth. The flavor is pretty one demential and not on my level. Thanks to Bill and Gwen for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 06:58:10 | More by azdback