The Bollocks - Brash Brewing Company

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This one wasn't even on my radar. A buddy found this 12% bad boy and I really enjoyed it. I was expecting an overwhelming alcohol presence on the nose, but was pleasantly surprised. There are many weaker DIPA's that have a stronger alcohol presence. You knew you were drinking a hard IPA here, as the tongue tingled with that bitter grip. The downer was the price tag, $10 for a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 19:36:21 | More by DenverHopHead

ADZA

Australia

4.21/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Starting to like these guys more not only they brew good styles they keep the ABV up where it seperates the men from the boys and also great artwork on labels and pours a hazed golden orange hue with a frothy three finger head and lacing everywhere,the smell is pineapple mixed with citrus,orange peel and boiled candy,the mouthfeel is full bodied and well carbonated with tastes of pineapple,oranges,grapefruit,bubblegum,boiled candy and finished with a tropical bitterness and overall I love this drop and rate it above item nine,without doubt would buy this again and again cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 12:11:49 | More by ADZA

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Copper pour with minimal white/off white head. Lacing is spotty. Head goes away

Resin aroma. Oily and boozy. Baked caramel. Pine and some citrus. Like lemon Pledge

This is a hop bomb, no doubt about that. The balance peters out midway through and the hops become resin. It's also hot at 12%, no hiding that. Pine and hot caramel come out the most with hints of lemon.
For as big as it is, the bite isn't as strong as I expected. Yes, it's hoppy, but not overly so. With the abv I expected more malt balance, but that's out the window. Lower the abv and this could be a great beer. As it is, it's a one-and-doner. Not that it's bad, but just a chore to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 06:23:33 | More by Mebuzzard

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours golden color with thick white head and lots of sticky lacing along sides of DFH IPA glass.

Smell is initially a wallop of strong pine and tangerine. A sweetness comes in later, with more pineapple and candied character.

Taste is bitter rind and sweet malts. Lots of musty bitterness that lingers well on the palate.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied.

Overall good.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:06:20 | More by TrappistJohnMD

rajendra82

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

The cloudy orange-amber body looked more like a glass of peach or mango juice than a typical beer, except for the two finger thick, foamy, beige colored head. The aroma was sweet an tropical, and continued the impression of a fruit juice being in the glass. There were smells of tangerine, pomegranate, and white grapes that I detected. The taste was odd for a DIPA, as it had a Belgian Tripel like fruity and somewhat funky taste, and the hops were much more subdued than usual for the style. It was also the kind of hops they used, as there was some herbal bitterness and earthy and floral flavor, but there was very little citric taste or any pine. I guess they were going for an English take on the style, but without the clean punch that American hops typically provide, this came out a bit too sweet, and malt forward. The finish initially was like rock candy, followed by a herbal dryness. The body felt medium thick in the mouth. When they say English hops taste like dirt, this beer is a showcase for that.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 04:02:38 | More by rajendra82

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Split the 12% ABV bomber with my brother and thank God 'cause this one packed a hidden punch. Poured amber coppery red with a nice khaki head. Not a lot of lacing. Smell is predominantly citrus and unripe mango with a big dose of sweet malt. Taste is 'east coast IPA' style with early mango, grapefruit and pine resin yielding to a big substantial malt load. The 12% ABV isn't noticeable. Mouthfeel is medium and the body holds together well. Overall when drinking DIPAs I can't help but compare to my gold standard Surly DIPA, which I drink more than my fair share of. Bollocks leans toward the maltier side of DIPAs and..it's not very Abrasive.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 05:53:38 | More by JackieTH

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

appearance: hazy peach amber. messy swath of a slightly off-white head.
smell: biting hops on a lush bed of fruity sweet.
taste: More of the same. Sharp hops up front with a creamy bed. Nice bitter finish.
overall: another fine dipa. The 12% is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 00:34:33 | More by cindyjeffsmith

RingnesExtra

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

This ale pours a thick, copper-colored brew with good retention on the glass. The taste is full bodied with a typical East Coast tendency to be malty instead of citrusy. I think it comes together quite well and was surprised how much I liked it. The 12% abv is noticeable but I think it adds to the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:25:38 | More by RingnesExtra

fank2788

Connecticut

4.04/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle served in a couple of pint glasses
slightly hazy copper in color with an initially thick near white head that settles to a thin layer of bubbles and laces nicely. The smell is of fresh citrus hops mainly grapefruit and a bit of caramel malt as a base, overall the smell is a bit light compared to some other double IPAs. The bitterness is the biggest player in the taste. The hoppiness is so full and almost sticky in the mouth. The malt is in there too providing some base but the hops are the real players in this one. The hop flavor is mainly citrus and pine, carbonation levels are low to medium and the body is rather heavy as a result.. The finish of this is a bit sweet and puckeringly bitter surprisingly the alcohol is well hidden throughout. Overall this is a pretty solid DIPA and it makes me want to give the other Brash Brewing beers a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:15:48 | More by fank2788

Florida9

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

So I guess this beer is contract brewed by Clown Shoes. Or brewed on their system? Don't know for sure, but this place is somehow affiliated with Clown Shoes, which, I will assume, is how this beer found its way to the Illinois market.

A: Mildly hazy apricot-orange in color. Forms a moderate off-white head that reduces down to a thinnish surface coating and a thick collar. Fairly heavy lacing.

S: Aroma is a bit muted. It's mostly citrus with some alcoholic heat. Maybe a slight bit of breadiness.

T: On the sweeter side, with a heavy dose of citrus. Mostly orange, with some tangerine and a slight pithy bitterness. Appreciable, sweet malts. Some caramel, but the hops dominate (and I can appreciate that). There is some alcoholic heat on the finish, but the fusel quality is quite low for a 12% beer.

M: On the heavier side of medium with a moderately slick or oily mouthfeel. Good carbonation. Moderate bitterness

O: Overall, not a bad DIPA. Certainly not the best I've come across, but I've never been much of a fan of the sweeter DIPAs. However, I've got to admit, for a 12% beer, it drinks pretty easily.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 03:02:56 | More by Florida9

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.48/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer was a hazy apricot color. It had a medium-sized white head that left a good deal of lace.

A very aromatic beer. Lots of citrus, grapefruit and tangerine. Sweet caramel.

Grapefruit, tangerine, and orange taste. A tiny bit of resin. Caramel malt. Lots of taste.

A very smooth DIPA. The alcohol is very well hidden, would never have thought it was 12% ABV. Would drink this anytime.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 20:05:38 | More by lordofthewiens

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a 13 oz tulip glass, bottled on 10/04/12. Pours a cloudy orange red with a one inch off white head, that leaves plenty of lace. Smell is citrus, mango, tangerine, pine, cutt grass, and some candy apple. Taste is all of that, a little more potent and a little booze in the finish, but very subtle for 12% ABV. Body is medium large, plenty of life especially for its size, not really dry, and easy drinking for its heft. This is a excellent huge DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:48:28 | More by SawDog505

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The Bollocks opens to a bright, citrusy, hoppy nose, pink grapefruit, grapefruit rind, and sugary rosewater almost leaping out of the bottle. The emphasis is on the sweeter, more citrusy side of hops, but there are still good supporting layers of pine resin, dandelion stem, mint, and eucalyptus to add bite and bitterness. Beneath the hops is a layer of sugars you could float a brick on, with massive apricot, orange, berry, and cherry fruit esters, scads of candi sugar-like sweetness, and brown sugar. Toast crust, baguette, and biscuit float around the rim, adding earthiness. As a whole, the nose is lovely, featuring a hop-forward profile that plays well off of the citrusy notes, but blended well with sugars, the entire mélange presenting varied and extremely potent aromas that perfectly befit an Imperial IPA.

On the tongue, the beer proves even more hoppy than the nose spoke of, but here the hops are well balanced between bitter and citrusy, with pink grapefruit, grapefruit rind, and sugary rosewater joined by huge crests of pine resin, dandelion stem, mint, and eucalyptus, as well as anise. The sheer variety of flavors present in the hops speaks to a well-crafted hop profile, presenting almost every conceivable hop flavor all at once. The sugars are still massive as well, bringing orange, berry, cherry, and apricot fruit esters, as well as brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel. Toast crust and biscuit add further complexity. In subsequent sips the bitter pine resin and dandelion stem notes from the hops emerge in even greater strength, and the beer takes on a lovely nose-tingling bite. The aftertaste is a continuation of these hoppy notes, with even more astringency and punch as the sugars have died off, ending in a long-drawn-out anise and dandelion stem blat that lingers for several minutes. Mouthfeel is a slick medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is an excellent IPA, offering almost everything a hophead could want in a beer, and enough sugars to cause one’s pancreas to reel in drunken delight. It says much of the craft of this brew that the high 12% ABV is hardly noticeable against the hops and sugars, presenting itself mainly in the aftertaste as an alcoholic vapor that creeps into the nasal cavities. Fantastic beer; a must-try.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 00:10:01 | More by jondeelee

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Very cloudy, very hazy. Small head isn't completely uniform. Unless the beer sits for a while,it leaves no lacing after each swig. Looks like a huge beer.

S-Concentrated, sweet citrus. This doesn't smell like my sort of DIPA. Honey, bread, biscuit,caramel and booze. Not loving the hop bouquet. Liqueur-dipped citrus hops. Candied oranges. Balanced. Not a lot of hop complexity and the hops are dull smelling. Not alot of vibrancy here.

T-The flavor isn't my Amorites either. Honey dipped croissant, doughy biscuit with sugared butter. Booze. Then that portly hop profile lumbers in. Seems to be a bit past its prime. Kinda has that, jaded and faded IPA/DIPA flavor.

M-Big, resinous and boozy. A sipper. Booze cuts through.

O/D-Tastes a bit out of date. Either way, I don't love the specific hop flavos here. Wile it is boozy, the 12% is masked decently well. If you're into a balanced DIPA, this may be it for you. It's huge in both bitterness and sweetness. For me, one bomber will forever be enough.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 23:07:51 | More by VelvetExtract

crewfan16

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured into a snifter tonight while watching some tv and chilling out. not familiar with the brewer, but because they are new to the distribution area, i gave the bomber a shot.

a- poured a hazy orange/tangerine/amber color with an inch of fluffy thick head that fell slowly. looks like a DIPA pretty much should.

s- lots of sweetness with tropical fruit, mango maybe. some hop resin. not an extremely complex nose

t- not quite as much sweetness initially as i expected but that tropical fruit sweetness is definately there. the sweet fades quick to a bitter hop resin bite then back to the malty sweetness. Just like the nose, it doesnt seem terribly complex. tasty, but sort of one note

m- nice feel, sort of a sticky resinous feel. definately a bit boozy as the 12% shows its teeth with a touch of burn on the way down. A bit of a sipper

overall, a decent effort. the price was ok at ~$10 a bomber, but i dont know if I woul seek it out again. The twin cities is awash in great beer, so i think the next time I need a DIPA I would look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 05:19:19 | More by crewfan16

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle generously provided by Ben @ Brash. Fresh and kickin'!

Pours a dark opaque orange colour with a tan head leaving nice lace. The aroma is full of pine and citrus, sweet fruits and maltiness. Tastes of sweet tropical fruits, citrus and a start bitter profile. Sweet bready malts for balance. It's full bodied, slick, but a nice carbonation level.

This is a big IPA..it's flavourful, and pretty drinkable considering how big this beer is.

Support awesome IPA's; buy fresh, buy often!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 02:08:50 | More by EgadBananas

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

These guys are close with Clown shoes, FYI, so take that as you will.

Served in a snifter, a hazy amber-orange color with a small white head that retained fairly well and left a bit of lacing on the glass. Aroma is thick with resinous hops, with notes of citrus and sweet malts. Taste is...basically how I don't like an IPA to be, much less a DIPA. Cloying sweetness, almost sickeningly so; there are lots of hops, which is of course expected and necessary, but the malt base is too thick and unctuous, making this beer overall just too chalky and unpleasant. You can't just throw a butt-load of hops and malts together and magically get a good DIPA, and that's what it seems like they did here. It's not entirely bad, but it's just not well-done enough to make it drinkable for me. Full-bodied and oily, a bit harsh with alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 01:51:31 | More by Rifugium

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Aroma has a malty core with a firm hoppy overtone and a hint of fruit. Pours a nice clear dark amber with a fairly thick wheat head that leaves about average lacing. Flavor is quite hoppy and somewhat bitter, with a malty undertone and a hint of fruity/honey sweetness. Texture is full-bodied and quite lively, practically dancing on the tongue. Bollocks, a darn good beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 18:27:08 | More by Cyberkedi

hardy008

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Hazy marmalade orange with a 2 finger off white head with decent retention and nice lacing. I can smell citrus, citrus zest, caramel, and pine, even before I bring the glass close to me.

Tastes a bit sweeter than I like for an IPA. Has tangerine, grapefruit, caramel, and citrus zest. The citrus zest gives a lingering bitterness at the end.

Medium bodied with average carbonation. Feels a bit oily, and finishes somewhat bitter and dry. Not a bad DIPA by any means, but not as good as the best either.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 21:58:55 | More by hardy008

TMoney2591

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

I don't like it when labels antagonize me like that... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear bronze-brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit zest, orange zest, sweet caramel, a hint of booze, and a touch of pine sap. The taste brings in more of the same, though everything is now stronger, save the booze, which has combined with the pine to form a mellow menthol flavor. The sweet malt and the strong hops battle, but they don't clash, creating a very pleasant balance. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a generally smooth feel. Overall, a very nice, well-balanced DIPA, something we can always use more of.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 14:59:29 | More by TMoney2591

MattyG85

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22 oz. bottle into a Surly Darkness Chalice. Bottled 7/2012.

Appearance: Pours a very hazy amber orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. About two fingers of off white head which fade into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Aroma of ripe and sharp citrus esters and lots of booze. Big hop smell up front with hints of citrus grapefruit, orange, pineapple, mango, apricot, tangerine, and lemon. Also lots of grass and earthy hops along with some pine resin spice. The citrus has a sweet and candy or honey like scent to it. Light bready malts in the background with hints of biscuit and caramel. Quite a bit of alcohol is being picked up.

Taste: Like the smell hints, a big in your face taste of citrus hops and booze. Big ripe and bitter taste of citrus hops with notes of grapefruit, orange, mango, tangerine, pineapple, apricot, and lemon. Lots of grass and earthy hops in the mix with a fairly dank presence of pine resin. Decent malt backing with some notes of caramel, toffee, and biscuit. This is on the sweeter side for a double IPA. A little syrupy like sweetness lingers. Alcohol taste is pretty noticeable.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Juicy, sharp, and slightly syrupy. Alcohol heat is felt although it isn't overwhelming.

Overall: A decent take on a imperial IPA. Big on the citrus. Could of been a little more dry and less boozy.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 06:05:30 | More by MattyG85

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Large head that settles with a solid dome. Plentiful webby and layered lace. The broth is amber, but paler than most DIPAs. Very cloudy.

Fresh grapefruit hop. Interestingly, it gets stronger as the head fades. Little malt or alcohol.

Holding the liquid in my mouth, I can tell the liquid has a strong bitterness struggling to come out. The malt is soft up front with typical pale malt flavors. The swallow brings out a biting bitterness. There's only a touch of alcohol warmth. The aftertaste is very long and peppery. The body full with a high carbonation. A very nice DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 22:26:07 | More by smcolw

yamar68

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A new beer to MN!

Pours a hazy burnt honey gold with a finger of dense creamy white head. Perfect lacing.

Thick syrupy hop aromas - citrus, conifer and mango. Great sense of balance that is shaken by the high ABV. Alcohol gets a bit spicy.

Real hot - even hotter than I expected. Grape juice, warming citrus/booze, pine needles, various hints of hop varieties. Just too damn hot though.

Love seeing new brews in the distro, I'll have to try some other stuff from these guys.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 00:25:10 | More by yamar68

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle from Sherlock's (Marietta, GA). 9.99. Bottled 07/2012. Served in a Terrapin snifter.

Pours hazy orange with a frothy two fingers of pale head. Much more lace than I expected given the high abv.

Smells of orangey citrus, pine, grass and spice with a hint of booze. Sweet and inviting.

Flavor is huge! Reinous pine, bittersweet grapefruit, oranges, citrus peel, dank onion/garlic (not in a bad way), wet cut grass, biscuit, pepper and a pleasant alcohol burn. Lots going on, lots to enjoy.

Oily thick medium heavy feel with moderate carbonation. Coats the mouth and tongue with dank hop oils. Long sweet and sour citrus aftertaste.

There's nothing subtle going on here. Big bold flavors, big body and plenty of aroma. All this and it drinks like a beer with two thirds the alcohol content. I'll definately buy more of this and look forward to trying more from Brash when it finally hits shelves here in Georgia. This one is worth a try for any fan of enormous imperial IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 17:19:30 | More by ThickNStout

AdamHart22

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip.

A - nice deep orange color. Held up to the light, the bottom of the glass has a ruby tinge.

S - the smell is exellent. Hints of orange rind, grapefruit, and peaches.

T - I get grapefruit up front, then apricot, ending in pine.

M - the mouthfeel is medium to light with the pine taste lingering in a pleasant bitter.

O - A really nice IPA. It just misses being exceptional. This IPA is brewed at Mercury, where Clown Shoes and Ipswich are brewed and had a clown shoes cap. They must have something in the water over there.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 23:16:00 | More by AdamHart22