Saint Of Circumstance India Pale Ale - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

BeefyMee

Connecticut

3.3/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber

A: A lot of suspended particulates make the color a dull orange. Maybe it's unfiltered and supposed to be this way, but it doesn't make it look all that appealing. Nice head and lacing.

S: Has a funky malt nose similar to a maibock. Slightly floral hops are faint overall.

T: Definitely a traditional IPA as opposed to the hop catastrophes we're used to. My only problem is not with the lack of hops, I can appreciate that, it's with the weird malt flavor. Started off as grainy and bready, which wasn't bad, but worked its way to tangy and somewhat offputting.

M: The unfiltered quality makes it pretty good in this department.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 18:27:11 | More by BeefyMee

ComRock12

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

10-09-2012 20:06:31 | More by ComRock12

wraine14

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An interesting take on an IPA. Appearance is what you'd expect from an IPA, but the smell is most definitely not. Lot's of whiskey and not a whole lot of hops from this one. Taste is sour with some of the whiskey coming through, not a ton of bitterness. I have to say this is a bit strange for me. Never had a beer like this one and as I am half way through the bottle I can say I am a bit ambivalent about it. A nice change of pace from the typical hoppy IPA, but not sure I would seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 22:28:45 | More by wraine14

yossarian14

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -20.2%

09-12-2012 12:05:05 | More by yossarian14

mclynch

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A surprising beer - aged in sour mash casks from Tennessee... hmmm, sort of begs the question! But wherever they got them, the sour is certainly present. Probably one of the best aftertastes I've ever had from a beer. Light and crisp, nicely tart, smooth finish. I absolutely love this beer and wish they would make more!

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 22:12:13 | More by mclynch

ms11781

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -26.9%

06-24-2012 00:57:59 | More by ms11781

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in a standard shaker pint.

body is a slightly cloudy, dull amber shade; fairly aggressive pour yields a big 2" off-white head which demonstrates great retention and a lot of lacing. nose isn't as aromatic as i typically look for in my IPAs, but there is a distinct floral hoppiness to it. for the style i'd put the nose as about average, maybe slightly above.

flavor is interesting. definitely a unique take on the style, the question is 'good unique' or 'bad unique'... seems like i vacillate with each sip. very earthy and florally with some caramel and i do get a hint of smoke. ok, i guess i can dig this. medium bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall, i guess you could call this one a nice change of pace, a departure from the citric, piney IPAs i tend to gravitate toward. not something i'd seek out on a regular basis but i will be definitely open to more in the future.

(originally reviewed: 05-29-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 21:16:16 | More by BostonHops

DoctorB2B

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13%

05-27-2012 04:06:09 | More by DoctorB2B

beer4colin

Massachusetts

2.65/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Local Ma. guy who loves what BBC does, full disclosure. I was very excited to see a new barrel offering....

A- A nice tawny oak, hazy, good pour into a pint glass. A good finger of faom and clingly lace.
A - This is what I am talking about!!! Whiskey barrels! As it should be...
T - Now we're talking about the elephant in the room. This is a barrel IPA but something went a tad askew. This is closer to a sour or a bad barleywine. Big disappointment.
MF - Doesnt matter at this point...
OA - This was a special offering to me from my fave packie (you know where I shop!) . Appreciated but, for once, finding BBC missing the mark.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 21:59:00 | More by beer4colin

40451

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

05-19-2012 00:49:42 | More by 40451

smutty33

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-14-2012 16:25:41 | More by smutty33

beer2day

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

COudy orange-to-red pour. One finger of light cream head. No retention and no lace.

Weak biscuit malt nose. Just the slightest hint of hops. Light tart fruit sneaks in underneath.

Hint of caramel malt and light strawberries come to mind on first taste. Tart, sour finish. Reminds me more of a mild than an IPA.

Very light body.

If you like your IPA's more malty and fruity, then this is the beer for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 16:07:32 | More by beer2day

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-05-2012 18:06:59 | More by JAHMUR

mctizzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

03-05-2012 04:27:21 | More by mctizzz

billybrew21

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%

03-02-2012 05:40:03 | More by billybrew21

chrispoint

Connecticut

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%

02-03-2012 19:12:43 | More by chrispoint

livewire05

Georgia

4/5  rDev +6.4%

01-04-2012 02:17:51 | More by livewire05

alamode

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-15-2011 00:29:57 | More by alamode

rab53

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

11-25-2011 03:59:20 | More by rab53

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass, the rest split with my wife. Orange in color, very hazy, clearly unfiltered. Lemon popsicle colored head with REALLY good lacing too it. Good looking beer overall.

Smell is pretty good. Yeast is actually a big part here, more than any other IPA I've had before. Kinda bready, but like orange bread. Citrus and floral hops, good pretty good overall.

Taste is good. Again I find it very bready in comparison most IPAs I've had before. A little more malt here, toasted caramel. Citrus, zesty, and earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is pretty good is alright. Not very clean, sort of earthy and thick, because of the yeast. I like it though, pretty drinkable, I'm almost running out of beer to review here.

Overall I like it, an interesting take on an IPA, I guess this one was a pretty happy accident overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 01:17:05 | More by AndyAvalanche

Ezone024

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The long awaited arrival of a s.o.c in my hand has finally happened as i stumbled into a beer store i havent been in a while to find the last one of these fine brews..

it pours out a clear copper with an orange/red hue. nice 2 inch had gives off aromas of slight pine smoke and butter.

the taste is mostly smoke but it's not overbearing, has a low profile whiskey barrel flavor. butter/toffee back end goin on here.
not much in the hops dept so i really dont get how it's an ipa but it's very tasty and has the signature "berkshire taste" which must be the water up there in deerfield.
nice special beer. wouldn't mind it if they made it all the time

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 23:28:26 | More by Ezone024

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. bottle served at 49 degrees in my BBC Pint. No dating evident on the bottle. Pours a translucent amber with a rocky, two inch, cream-colored head. Head eventually settles into a creamy, 1/8th inch skim. A thick, textured band of lacing encircles the glass. Nose expresses faint citrus esters, a trace of grass and perhaps a hint of rind. Taste is a bit maltier than I anticipated - not overly prominent by any means, but there's definitely a light, toasted malt presence along the backbone with a bit of sweetness. The light citrus and grassy character present in the nose intermingles nicely with the malt and there's a slight mineral quality at the finish. Mouthfeel is light-medium with a slightly oily texture and a lively, almost prickly carbonation. Overall, a really nice brew - not your typical English IPA in my opinion in that I don't get a lot of the biscuit or noble hops flavors I've come to associate with the style, but I did quite enjoy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 23:22:35 | More by Jwale73

Aberration

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass

Nice hazy appearance, amber/golden color with a head that lasts a little bit and leaves a slight lace on the glass.

Smells like a malty IPA, very inviting!

Tastes great, even with a little age on it!
The hops have faded a bit, but the smokiness of the malt comes in and gives it a unique taste.

Mouthfeel is good, a solid beer, good amount of substance to it especially for an IPA

Overall: Very good offering from BBC, I enjoy their beers and have never been disappointed by their offerings...especially at the price point! A very interesting take on the English IPA that I will certainly buy again if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 23:28:26 | More by Aberration

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saint of Circumstance IPA pours a hazy copper color with a big, rocky head on top. The foam dissolves slowly to a thick sheet on the surface leaving behind clumps of lace on the glass.

The aroma is malty with notes of toasted pale malt and some flowery (rose) hop aroma mixed in. Hints of grass and citrus are also detected.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth, creamy with a mild carbonated fizz. The flavor is sweet with a nice balance of bitterness. Notes of caramel, toffee, a touch of smoke and toasted malt are followed by a mild bitterness with flavors of grass and flowers. The malt carries through each sip and lingers once the beer is gone.

This is a very tasty, easy drinking beer. Not your typical IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 20:42:02 | More by WanderingFool

erosier

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Pours a nice copper-orange color with a medium sized and thick off-white colored head that laces the glass a lot as it fades slowly.
S: Smells of big earthy, floral, and citrus hops with some sweet malt aromas and some caramelized malt aromas mixed in.
T: Tastes of sweet caramelized malts mixed with a large amount of citrus, floral, and earthy hops for a very nice tasting IPA. Slightly grassy tasting at the end, but overall a nice mix of flavors.
M: Crisp, fresh, refreshing, perfect amount of carbonation, medium bodied.
D: Overall a good take on the style and all the flavors mixed well for a pretty drinkable IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 10:36:06 | More by erosier