Leather Lips IPA - The Tap Brewing Company

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks for the extra, BigBalls!

Appearance -- Pours a pleasant medium amber, faint haze, some sediment, and a slim white head. Woeful head retention.

Smell -- Whoa! Bright citrusy hops, apricots and peaches, orange marmalade, and buttered bread. Very buttery.

Taste -- Again, lots of bright citrus from the hopping along with ripe peaches and pineapple. Pine resin also becomes prominent mid-palate as the hop bitterness crescendos. Caramel malt backing with a good deal of buttery diacetyl. Finish is bready malt and resin.

Mouthfeel -- Light-bodied, a bit thin, with somewhat mild carbonation. .

Drinkability -- Talk about sleepers, this beer was surprisingly good, and at only 5% abv, it's hard to believe there can be so much flavor. Needs a boost in the body, plus some better head retention. Would gladly have again.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 00:23:59 | More by yeahnatenelson

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another huge thanks to ShadesOfGray for yet another great extra. Cheers!

Appearance - Pours a hazy dark golden color into my SA Perfect Pint with almost no head and little lacing.

Smell - Bitter hops, hops, and more hops. Slight maltiness.

Taste - Okay, I'm not going to lie. I normally do not like overly bitter IPA's. This one, at a first sip, threw me into bias mode because of the initial bitterness. That and the beer was [relatively] flat. However, no joke, it oddly tasted a hell of a lot better the more I sat outside in this hot 90 degree night. The beer became less bitter, the hops more enjoyable, and the slight malty backbone just enough to take the edge off. I also get a hint of leather and tobacco flavor the more I sip this.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, low, low carbonation (yet no joke, it somehow works).

Drinkability - This is a great session beer. Packed with flavor, lower ABV, and overall quite quaffable. The irony is looked at this beer and saw it was "only" 5% for an IPA and was almost taken aback since I'm so used to higher ABV IPA/DIPA's. But this one turned out to be pretty tasty. Not something I'd seek out if it was available in CA since I do have so many other "go-to" beers, but good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 02:08:37 | More by SpdKilz

drabmuh

Maryland

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into an imperial pint glass. First thing is first, no head. I poured violently when nothing was happening. I got a minimal head of big bubbles with no lacing. beer is amber in color and has VERY LITTLE CARBONATION. Wrong.

Aroma is quite sweet with some pininess. This is probably going to be a malt bomb IPA.

Beer is medium body and really bitter. There is a lot of pine flavors in this thing but it leads off with a strong malt syrup flavor that is pretty off putting. I had this beer on draft in Boston and didn't write a review but this was not my experience. I would cautiously try it again on draft but not again in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 03:42:29 | More by drabmuh

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.68/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: As I begin to pour this beer straight into the tulip, I notice that there doesn't appear to be any carbonation. I pour from higher up. Nothing. Higher still. Nada. I dumb the last ounce of beer in with some force behind it, and finally get about half an inch of huge white bubbles to show up, but they don't stay long. This one looks to be completely uncarbonated, and to make matters worse the medium-amber body is absolutely awash with huge chunks of swirling particulate. I'm sure I dislodged some with my rough pour, but this amount is seriously unnerving. This makes even the most unfiltered of IPAs look crystal clear. Definitely one of the least appealing brews I've ever seen, but I'll bump it up a half-point for being a nice color for the style.

S: The smell is more what I'd expect, being a fairly nondescript mixture of piney hops and caramel malt. Not bad at all, actually.

T: Follows the nose, with extremely bitter piney hops far outweighing the moderately sweet malt backbone. This one doesn't seem to have the strength or body to stand up to the alphas, and the result is just an overwhelmingly bitter beer. I'd be loving the hop dominance if the hop varieties used showed a bit more complexity, but all I'm getting is pine and bitterness. Disappointing.

M: Flat, sticky, and medium bodied, with the occasional chunky floaty that gets caught between my teeth. Pretty terrible, I'm sorry to say.

D: This is about as close to a drainpour as I've ever had from a non-infected beer. I'll finish it since it really doesn't taste too offensive, but I'm not really enjoying it.

Notes: Wow, what a letdown. I had really high hopes for this one, but it really didn't deliver. It's been in my fridge since I bought it at Julio's a couple weeks ago, so I don't think anything terrible has happened to the bottle. I'll be happy to rereview if it ever crosses my path again, but this is most definitely a beer that I won't be seeking out in the future.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2010 01:22:30 | More by woosterbill

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Leatherlips IPA

A-Pours a light amber which looks almost golden when held up to the light. Minute floating particles sway within the liquid. The head is smaller and a fairly pure white hue. The head does retain well. Strings of lacing form in a camouflage pattern. Looks as if it were a %5 alcohol IPA. Most of the style are higher in ABV and perhaps the nose and taste may show me that this beer just isn't big enough to have any true greatness within it.

S-Strong smell of bitter hops. This one literally smells like a freshly squeezed glass of grapefruit juice. %5 ABV and only 50 IBU, how is this possible? The malt lingers in the background and displays some caramel tones but the hops are the muscle here.

T-This beer is why I completely disregard the use of IBU as a measurement of bitterness on my palate. At only 50 IBU, this IPA is more bitter and hoppy than most DIPAs I have tried. This brew is not meant to be balanced, and it isn't. The bitter grapefruit and pine yield nearly no ground to the sweetness of the malt. The aftertaste is long and dry. This is one of those beers that scorches the palate for the rest of the night, any other beer drank after this may actually taste as if there were no hops used in the brewing process. Blown away by the flavor.

M-Dry and sharp yet pretty light bodied. The bitter flavors cling to the tongue. The carbonation is mild. Still, a pretty light brew especially because if the low ABV.

D-How did they pack so much flavor into this ABV? This one is one of my favorites. So drinkable but has a very noticeable and surprising kick. Much more powerful than expected. Sessionable ABV and merely 50IBU...how is this so bitter? Great time here, will forever be one of my go-to brews. Cannot wait to have a fresh glass on-tap in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 22:34:58 | More by VelvetExtract

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle shared by Shawn - huge thanks for pulling out something that was on my top 100 session list!

Pours a clear rich orange with a couple fingers of white head that had good retention and lace. Clean aroma has slightly more malt and less hops than I would have thought, but is nicely balanced nonetheless. Mostly there's pine resin with hints of grapefruit, with a strong backing of biscuit. Much the same can be said of the flavour, which displays a fine balance without blowing you away with bitterness or hops. There's certainly a nice pine character that adds to the citrus, and quite a large biscuit presence. Medium-light body and medium carbonation.

Certainly an easy drinker, and its nice to have an IPA at this weight, though in many respects it seems closer to an APA or ESB.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 15:12:58 | More by bobsy

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

Thanks to Hophead101 for this bottle!

Reviewed blind as part of the Blind Beers BIF. It pours a clear copper amber topped by a finger or so creamy ecru froth. Quite a bit o' particulate matter, which I've allowed to settle to the bottom (I'm a benevolent landlord, like the elightened absolutists of yore). Not much in the nose here. A bit o' florals, some greens, a hint of what may or may not be toffee. Hmmm. The taste is similar to the nose, only more present. Definite tobacco-malty flavor, along with some floral bitterness. Quite a bit o' earth in there as well. The body is medium, with a light carbonation and a smooth and dry feel. Not bad, overall, but I didn't see an IPA as I drank it. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 00:39:24 | More by TMoney2591

Overlord

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden orange. Two or three inches of white foam head.

Smells of crisp, earthy pine, a hint of grapefruit and ... a bit of an interesting, almost toasted, ESB character.

Tastes strangely earthy/piney/crispy. Really kind of an ESB/IPA meld. The grapefruit and citrus component is a muted, pithy sort of rind flavoring. Mild.

Interesting. Not my fave, but nice to try.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 09:54:58 | More by Overlord

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle served in my SA Perfect Pint. No freshness dating indicated on the bottle. Poured a pale, translucent, orange-gold with a frothy, half inch off-white head that dissipates into a bubbly band and a skim of foam. Nose reveals some citrus hops on a light, malty background. Taste follows nose, with a slightly resinous bitterness that lingers between quaffs. There's also a bit of staleness to the flavor profile that causes me to question the freshness. Mouthfeel is medium-light in consistency. There's some carbonation, but it feels like it is a little flat. Some astringency stimulates the salivary glands in the cheeks. A decent IPA, but I wasn't overly impressed. As I mentioned, I question the freshness of the beer, so I may need to re-visit this again when I have the opportunity to try it on draft.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 22:17:16 | More by Jwale73

berkey

California

3.05/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a tulip glass. No freshness date listed. From notes 05/20/10.

I really had to pour roughly to get any sort of head to form and it faded quickly. While it lasted the head was small, white, and soapy.

Smell is relatively subdued but what's there isn't bad. Bitter with some citric fruitiness and a little pungent pine aroma.

Flavor is about as bland on the entry as any I've ever tasted in the style. The uninteresting and thin malt profile is followed by some fairly strong lingering green, leafy, bitterness on the aftertaste. Almost reminds me of over steeped tea.

Carbonation is somewhat low and the finish is dry. Not sure what they were going for or if I got a bad bottle but I can't help think something has gone awry here. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 19:07:18 | More by berkey

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a hazy orange with tons of "floaties" but with barely any head.

smells of hops! grapefruit, citrus, grass, a bit of pine. very aromatic.

taste is bitter, but refreshing of grapefruit primarily. plenty of flowers and acidic citrus and piney hops overpower any semblance of malt. definitely a hophead's beer.

a bit thin on the tongue with a bit of resin left behind and plenty of bitterness lingers and seems to last until tomorrow.

drinks well. you have to enjoy bitter hops to enjoy this beer. I do, and I do. very strong flavors for a beer with an ABV of "only" 5%. shows you do not have to imperialize everything to have a full-flavored beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 04:09:18 | More by silentjay

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wish there was some sort of bottling date to go off of with this one.

Pours golden color with hues of orange, fair amount of sediment floating around in the glass, not much of a head though with only a few spots of lacing.

Smell is surprisingly unhoppy, I'm actually picking up much more malt than anything else, although there is a trace amount of citrus.

Taste is also dominated by the malt and a biscuity presence, slight bitterness in the aftertaste though, citrus only makes a slight appearance and goes away fast.

Awesome label for only an average IPA, been wanting to try this one for awhile just because of the label actually, hard to go wrong with red heads.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 22:52:44 | More by deltatauhobbit

oregonskibum

Oregon

3.35/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a small wine glass.

A: Pours a burnt orange color, just a little on the cloudy side. Very thing slightly off-white head. Almost immediately dies down to just a thin ring around the edge of the glass.

S: Huge grapefruit and citrus hops are evident right up front. Some piney hop smells as well, but they are second to the citrus. There is some mineral spiciness there as well. Very faint nutty aromas, similar to a pale ale.

T: Citrus hops definitely dominate up front, but the citrus flavor gradually subsides mid-taste, just leaving some bitterness on the back sides of the tongue that stays around well after the taste is done. Mid-taste, the malts really start to show up with some biscuit or toast like flavors.

M: Light to medium body (basically in-style) with moderate to slightly lower than expected carbonation. A little on the chewy side on the finish.

D: There's nothing wrong with this IPA, but it struggles to break past "average". I would almost classify this as a pale ale based on its grain bill, that got a ton of hops added to hit the 50 IBU mark. Overly bitter on the finish with a nice hop flavor to carry it, I kind of wonder if maybe this is a little past its prime. Or perhaps not.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 20:42:49 | More by oregonskibum

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine March 2007.

First created and made popular by Dann Paquette back in 2004, Leatherlips IPA is a great example of a brewer packing hops into a highly drinkable beer without feel- ing the need to make it 10 percent ABV. The recipe lives on at this brewpub, and its new brewer, Steve Bernard, has taken it to the next level by bottling and distribut- ing it.

Deep and vibrant golden color shows a really good clarity; we opted to leave the sediment at the bottom of the bottle for this
purpose. A good two fingers of head pillows up from a hard pour. Soon after, the scent of hops permeates our nostrils. An old-school aroma of high-alpha hops shows that this is an IPA before the first sip: pungent, citric and floral all over the place. Hint of lightly toasted grain in the nose as well. Smooth mouthfeel and a moderate body give points to drinkablity. Mild biscuity malt and some yeast upfront. This all gets wiped away from a wall of hops--first the sting of bitterness and then a long, lingering herbal and citric finish.

For hopheads looking for a fix that's also a session beer, here it is--a brew that we'll be frequenting often. Try pairing it with a hot pot of green curry.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 19:53:24 | More by BeerAdvocate

urwithdave

Florida

3.4/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Gtreid shared this one with me. Poured into my cigar city snifter.

A- golden in color like apple juice. Small white head that quickly fades. Little lacing left.

S- pine, hops,hops,and some more hops. There is some citrus in the background. if the taste follows the nose, this is gonna be one bitter brew.

T- yup this sucker is bitter. No presence of any malts or sweetness. I love hops but I prefer a more balanced approach. The citrus is also not very big. There are hints of grapefruit and maybe pineapple, but again, they are overshadowed by the bitterness of the hops.

M- like my mouth has been vaccumed. Very dry. Not in a refreshing way either. Its just not my fav style of an ipa.

D- 6 oz was enough. I don't think I could drink to much of this. It's just too unbalanced for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 16:11:59 | More by urwithdave

kirkpjr

Alabama

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Poured into a Duvel tulip

A: Pours an amber orange color. One finger head.

S: Citrus and a hint of pine hops. A nice sweet malty backbone here too.

T: One of the more unbalanced IPA's I've had. Reminds me of the Smuttynose Findest Kind. Floral and pine hops are favored here. A touch of citrus hops is the only faint sweetness here.

M: Moderate carbonation with a hop presence that lingers.

D: Love this beer. Wish we had it down South. This would be close to a regular in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 01:37:14 | More by kirkpjr

Gtreid

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle thanks to joepais, as part of the Great Beanie BIF. Poured into a standard pint glass.

A: Bright copper orange color. An aggressive pour forced a small white head that quickly vanished and left no evidence of it's existence.

A: Hoppy all the way. I get a small sweetness from the malts, but let's not kid ourselves, this is a West coast IPA brewed in Mass. This one is all about the hops.

T: The Chinook and Centennial hops take center stage. Citrusy and dry. This has to be the driest beer I have ever had. The hops take all the saliva out of my mouth, and actually make me want a glass of water.

M: A little thin here. Decent carbonation levels, but could use a bit more malt to balance out the extreme bitterness from the hops, and give this a little more body.

D and overall impression: Drinkability is just ok. This one's a palate wrecker for sure, so couldn't have too many of these. Overall, I like what Haverhill was trying to do here, it just didn't get executed to it's fullest. The bottle says 50 IBU's. Yeah right, and Miller Lite is my favorite beer. Probably won't seek this out again, but glad I got to try. Skal.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2010 15:09:43 | More by Gtreid

sophisticated

Michigan

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

Mmm this was a pleasant surprise!

A) Caramel/Amber/Honey colored with fluffy white sturdy head with good retention

S) Strong nose; citrus hops, a little pine, and some subtle caramel

T) Very hoppy! Strong citrus, pineapple, and bitter pines. Slight soap.

MF) Nice medium body, smooth and soft feeling

D) Excellent! Super bitter hop-blast, pleasantly surprised at the relatively low ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2010 01:14:19 | More by sophisticated

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Received as an extra from jmu500...thanks man! Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Lindeman's champaigne flute(haha, had to find a reason to use this glass...IPA's work). Pours a frosty clear golden color, with a nice size white frothy head...about a finger and a half. Head dissapates semi-slow, but remains a creamy thin surface of froth. Leaves nice sticky white frothy lacing.

Aroma is fantastic. Best smelling IPA ever(believe it or not)! Very fruit-up-front, citrus, pear. Very slight bitter piny-hop in the back. Aroma overall is sweet and inviting.

Flavor is a tad of a let down. Hoppy up front, slight fruit...dry, high carbonation(fridge temp...40'ish degrees). The huge hop bite controls most of the flavor and mouthfeel of this beer. The slight sweet fruit taste is in the aftertaste. Light, smooth, and crisp mouthfeel. Overall, a decent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 02:19:13 | More by ShadesOfGray

beertunes

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Received in a trade with BA johnmichaelsen, thanks John! The beer poured a clean, clear, pale golden straw color with no head or lacing.

The aroma had a nice hop aroma, but was a little on the subdued side. I didn't find much piney flavor, but did get citrus and the beer had a bitter finish.

The body was on the thin side and drinkability was decent, but I probably wouldn't drink more than a couple in a row. Overall, a decent IPA that I would drink semi-regularly if it were local for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 22:24:03 | More by beertunes

GregPearson33

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The color was a light rusty orange. Smells of strong citrusy orange peel over sweet malts. Tasted was much sweeter than the smell alluded to though. A burnt nuttiness was close behind or even equal to the hop presence. In the end I also tasted a lingering strong bitterness, a piney aftertaste similar to the APA. Great drinkability with a mid-range body but (yes, this is an attribute) a pretty low ABV (5%). I'd say this is one to try, but not I'd choose for a go-to IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 04:21:27 | More by GregPearson33

nelnutter

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured 12 oz. bottle into Sam Adams pint glass.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden copper color with 2-finger off-white head that leaves behind a lot of nice lacy foam.

S: Mostly citrusy and piney with a hint of apricot and some sweet maltiness.

T: Nice grapefruit/orange bitterness punch up front but very balanced with some sweet biscuity malt. Leaves some resinous pine behind and finishes mostly dry.

M: Medium-bodied, carbonated just right, very crisp.

D: I'd been recommended this beer by a number of people and it 100% lived up to the bar that was set for it. Probably one of the most sessionable IPA's I've ever had. Glad I bought a 6-pack, but next time I'll have to find some room for more in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 01:04:54 | More by nelnutter

xerotime

Massachusetts

2.48/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Opened with barely a sound and poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

A - Deep golden color with a bit of a haze and no head to speak of (even with an aggressive pour) due to the lack of carbonation

S - Very faint hops and toasted malt

T - All bitter with very little hop flavor or aroma. Slight toasty malt.

M - Very thin with almost no carbonation

D - Total drain pour. I wouldn't mind trying it fresh on tap to give it another shot but I don't see myself bothering with another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 02:13:56 | More by xerotime

gamanley

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a nice golden orange with lots of carbonation bubbles. About a fingers worth of head that clings nicely to the sides of the glass.

S - Nice citrus grapefruit smell with a bready malt smell.

T - Starts with a nice subtle malt taste and then lots of bitterness that overwhelms kicks in. Grapefruity hop flavor with some pine.

M - Dry finish with a light body.

D - Fairly good IPA. I would like to get it fresh on tap sometime.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 01:31:59 | More by gamanley

Mora2000

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to hophead101 for sending me this beer as an extra.

Pours murky yellow with a white head. The aroma is orange and pine. The flavor is strong citrus with hardly any bitterness. Slightly thin, watery mouthfeel with low-medium carbonation. Glad I got to try this one and it didn't disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 17:50:42 | More by Mora2000