Oak Aged Mad Hatter India Pale Ale - New Holland Brewing Company

beer2day

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reddish gold pour with 1/2 finger medium cream head. No retention and zero lace.

Strong boubon nose. Fruity, piney, and woody all come togehter here.

Big bourbon flavor as well. Maybe too much so for some, but pretty tasty to me. Lots of hop and alcohol burn in the finish. Very dry finish with a piney hop bite.

Medium body despite the bif flavors.

Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 18:17:57 | More by beer2day

sidetracked

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clear, orange-ish amber with a thin deep cream head that doesn't last long.

Smell is mostly wood--kind of damp and dank. Some caramel sweetness. Faint aroma of pine and floral hops.

Slightly sweet caramel, pine, and floral hops upfront. Flavors follow through to the finish where some wood and toffee are added. Finish is kind of earthy with damp wood. At times a little alcohol is present at the finish as it warms.

Medium body with medium carbonation and a clean finish.

Pretty good--reminds me of Hopivore a bit. Seems very different than regular Mad Hatter. Decent hop presence in the taste, but still more sweet than bitter. Wood flavor is kind of nice, but sometimes comes across as damp, rotting wood.

7/10/2011

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 18:22:42 | More by sidetracked

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle a slightly hazy amber-orange tone with a thin, wet beige head. A creamy veil of lacing coated the glass.

Aroma of caramel malts, pineapple, grapefruit, biscuit and a whiff of oak.

The taste was oak and caramel malts upfront followed by a grapefruit bite and biscuit and vanilla to the finish.

Medium bodied and dry with a moderate carbonation.

An interesting and tasty take on Mad Hatter from New Holland.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 20:31:33 | More by Monkeyknife

mdvatab

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage
Poured from 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

Aroma: Apricot, lemon, grass, graham cracker, and (inhales, exhales) vanilla.

Appearance: A hard pour creates a one finger, persistent off-white head. Body of the beer is hazy orange-amber. Leaves less lacing expected for an IPA.

Flavor: Wow!!! Very nice oak right up front, vanilla, piney hop, a light honey sweetness, and a relatively subdued bitterness lingers through the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, and medium full body. Less-drying/tannic than I'd expect for an IPA.

Overall: A very interesting and enjoyable take on the IPA. The vanilla/oak flavor shows up front-and-center, but I also love how it complements the hop flavor that one would expect in an IPA. This is certainly one that I'd buy again, and I suggest you give it a try as well!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 02:18:40 | More by mdvatab

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an amber color. Clarity is a bit hazy.
Has a smallish head leaving some spotty lacing.
A caramel malt nose with hints of hops and church pews.
Taste is sharp and sour or tart to start with. Its around mid point that the whiskey barrels come into play totally overwelming everything else. Tasting very much like a shot of bourbon.
Not half bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 14:55:29 | More by micromaniac129

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Champagne Cellars. Initially a very sour and then the woodiness takes over. Very Good drinkability, the barreling was effective. Lacey on a lighter yellow body. Hoppiness was well integrated and about right. A wood, whiskey and hop aroma.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 21:32:37 | More by northyorksammy

rmcnealy

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a traditional pint glass.

Poured a medium/dark amber that is very translucent with a small ivory colored head that fleeted quite quickly. First aromas are very woodsy with smells of a freshly opened whiskey bottle. I assume the Kentucky barrels this beer was aged in were used for such in their previous lifetime. In addition, there are hints of pine and malt. The mouthfeel is not very robust and the tastes fade quick ending with just a slight bitterness and the alpha-taste of oak totally non-existent. Overall, a decent beer. I reviewed New Holland's Farmhouse IPA yesterday and found it to be astounding! This beer did not have the hoppiness I look for in an IPA. Nonetheless, it is one of a very unique taste and is worth trying.

Found at Cardinal Liqs, Niles IL

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:16:31 | More by rmcnealy

tsauce2

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

P: 22 fl oz bottle in to a tulip glass

A: SRM is light amber hue with orange tinge. .5 in tan head dissipates to cling the rim. Medium carbonation.

S: Hoppy and fruity notes along with smooth oak notes and caramel.

T: Hops are initially matched by oak and carmel notes, but hop presence manifests on the back and middle of the palate and again upon ingestion. Aftertaste is slight wood char and robust hoppiness.

M: Oak adds a creamy texture. Hops give a balanced flavor. Dry aftertaste leaves oak and carmel tones, giving a complex mf. Dry finish

O: Excellent beer for barrel aged fans; wish I had more of this. Very rounded and complimentary flavors. Highly successful version of the Mad Hatter. Probably the best beer I have had from this brewery (this is a compliment).

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 08:29:51 | More by tsauce2

Badbobx

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - This poured a pale copper with a small persistent head and a bit of lacing.
S - The smell was not overwhelming. It was a mild hoppy smell.
T - The taste was close to style, a strong hop flavor with a bit of a bite on the finish.
M - The mouthfeel was a bit thin. The carbonation was not strong.
O - This is a good beer that I would drink again. This was vintage 2011, but there was no bottle date.

Served in a pint glass.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 03:12:02 | More by Badbobx

warnerry

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours clear copper/orange with one finger of tan head. Head has decent retention and leaves a nice amount of lacing.

S - Oak is quite prominent in the smell, moreso than any hop character. Not sure how much of that is due to this bottle being a few months old. I had this on tap in July and remember it being more hoppy. Seems to be some bourbon notes, but I'm not sure if this was actually aged in bourbon barrels. Some faint citrus hops and decentmalt presence.

T - As with the smell, hops are subdued in re taste, but comprise grapefeuit and line. Oak is again very prominent, with faint bourbon notes. Quite a bit of biscuity malt. Finishes quite dry and oaky.

M - Disappointingly thin mouthfeel. Big tannin presence on the finish.

O - I remember enjoyng this more on tap, should have reviewed it earlier. The oak presence and subtle bourbon notes are nice. More assertive hops and a but more body would have improved this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 00:05:44 | More by warnerry

doughanson78

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Thanks to bobpack for this one.

A: Beautiful, perfectly clear, orange. Big one finger, off white, rocky head. Great retention and sticky lacing.

S: Huge wood characters, beautiful. Like being locked in a freshly built cedar or oak closet. I can't get much of anything else. Maybe some light malts or hops, but it's so well blended into the wood characters that you can't really place it.

T: Light sweet caramel upfront, then nothing but wood throughout the rest of the mouth with a very light piney bitterness. A slightly muted flavor but there's no mistaking it. The wood lingers in the aftertaste and nose for a while. Great taste but I would've enjoyed a little hoppiness.

M: Medium to full bodied. Very creamy and velvety. A buttery like feeling. Medium carbonation. Great aftertaste.

O: This beer blew my mind. The hugest wood characters I've ever had in a beer. It should have it's own category as it really don't have any characteristics of an IPA. Should be called a WOOD beer. A must try if you like woodiness in your beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 05:15:40 | More by doughanson78

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

I missed out on the tap versions of the Hatter series, so I was glad to see the bottles show up a few months later. This one pours a clear copper topped by a finger of dirty cream-white foam. The nose comprises caramel, buttery biscuits, pine, and light orange rind. I'm reminded of a good rendition of a slightly aged IPA. The taste holds notes of buttery caramel, light leek, light dank oak, and pine. Things do not sit on my tongue too well, frankly. The body is a light medium, with a light mdoerate carbonation and a kinda dry finish. Overall, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would: The flavor combination just didn't pan out very well.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 05:03:31 | More by TMoney2591

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Auburn to copper in color, lots of nice rising bubbles, clear, one finger head with some staying power and not bad on the lacing.

Smell is somewhat oaky with a touch of bourbon piled right on top of the usual IPA aromas, pine and grapefruit, floral hops, and a touch of malt base.

Taste is pretty good, although I'm going to say it's a tad on the odd side. The oak and bourbon almost seem to make it slick, definitely noticeable. IPA flavors are there, hops, pine, citrus rind, and a nice maltiness.

The feel is slick and just a bit oily from the hops, along with a bit of alcohol, noticeable from the bourbon.

It's pretty good, I'd certainly be happy to drink it again. Odd, but very interesting, and I dare say "good job" on this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 22:00:34 | More by AlCaponeJunior

gc4hokies

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is different. Caveat: I haven't had the regular Mad Hatter for comparison.

Pours a golden copper color with nice white head. Aroma is a combination of grapefruit and orange with bourbon.

The oak aging is definitely the dominant aroma and taste. It's almost as if a shot of bourbon was poured into a decent IPA.

Flavor is good, but once the bourbon notes hit the palate, that's all I'm tasting now.

Interesting experience but I wouldn't buy again. I respect it and many may like it a lot. Try it for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 02:24:19 | More by gc4hokies

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

3.08/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a very clear light amber with no head or lacing.

The smell is mainly of oak with a slight bit of alcohol.

The taste is not very IPA like. Very little bitterness and just a touch of caramel malts. Lots of woody oak and a touch of vanilla coming through as well.

If it wasn't for the oak this beer would be terrible. Maybe I got an older bottle but I don't pick up on much IPA qualities at all. Also it was under $5 for the bomber which isn't a bad deal.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 22:58:21 | More by Eriktheipaman

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours nearly copper - dark for an IPA. Did it take on color somewhere in the aging, or is this a different recipe from their normal one? Small head, one finger, goes quickly and leaves a nice lacing.

S: oak and IPA smells dominate as expected - this one tends to be slightly malty, but it has a big bitter and floral hop presence. Ahhh....

T: very full of oak, then the hops hit with bitterness, and finally the finish is a beautiful malt flavor left on the tongue. It sticks around for a while, very pleasant.

M: excellent an aged beer, but this is an IPA. It still contains the great parts of the normal Hatter, but it's more smooth than crisp. I like this - it mellowed the mouthfeel through aging.

O: excellent beer - I'm always partial to oak aged beers. This was an awesome IPA, and it just got more awesome. For $4 for a bomber, I'd do it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 00:53:19 | More by Holland

claspada

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bright copper color with hues of straw and amber. A couple inches of white fluffy head formation and retention is present, nice lacing.

Aromas begin with wood and hops. Earthiness, slight floral and citrus with a nice underlying oakiness. As it warms you can detect the slight caramel malts and more predominant pale and bready malts.

The tastes begin conversely with caramel and pale sweet maltiness soon greated by the wood flavors. The sharp hop flavors which are present in the original Hatter are subdued here thanks to the oak aging which is nice and a chance of pace. The candied hop flavors of grapefruit, orange peel and pine resins control the beer but in a slightly reserved manner.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Oak adds a nice drying quality which leaves this crisp in the finish, where the traditional Hatter is more sticky and resinous on the palate.

Overall this is definately an improved version of the original Mad Hatter and the Imperial Hatter in my opinion. As far as Oak-aged IPAs go though this one is behing better offereings from Great Divide (their Anniversary beer) and definitely behind the Humidor Jai Alai from Cigar City. That being said it costs half as much, so basically it comes down to quality vs. price. I would not refuse this going forward but I think I may rather splurge on the quality.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 15:24:43 | More by claspada

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint from a 22. Pours a watery amber with a half inch head, minimal, but nice looking lace.

Caramel, vanilla and oak start the nose. Fresh soil and grapefruit make up the rest of the stink.

I'll mark up the taste because it's pretty interesting. Caramel and vanilla mix with grapefruit right up front. Grapefruit and lemon rind follow. The mouth is a pretty thin. Obviously a drawback.

A cool brew to check out. I wouldn't grab another (mostly because I have to pay for shipping from five states away... five large states) but was very happy to try it. Never had an oak aged IPA before.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 00:18:22 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

Pencible

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: This poured clear gold with some white head.
S: It smelled like strong grapefruit and honey, with some orange and mango and a bit of fresh oak and bread.
T: It tasted like bright grapefruit and orange hops, with sweet honey malt and fresh oak, and a bit of mango and resin. It had a strong but clean bitter aftertaste.
M: It was watery with lots of carbonation. Light body.
D: This was a top oaked IPA that was significantly better than I remember the standard Hatter being, with tons of tropical hops. The oak is incorporated perfectly, so the scent and taste were great. Body was weak, but it was easy to drink. Probably my favorite of the Hatter series, and definitely recommended (fresh).

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 20:50:19 | More by Pencible

MetalHopHead6

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

New Holland Oak Aged Hatter is flavorful, weak, and passive.

It poured light copper, like a new penny, with no head and it left only a spattering of lace. The smell was weak, but the flavor was strong, with an initial hit of vanilla followed by wood and a slightly metallic aftertaste. The feel was weak and thin.

As IPAs go, Oak Aged Hatter is passive with a finish that's way too clean.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 18:30:56 | More by MetalHopHead6

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Excellent coppery glow with a finger high cap of firm beige foam on top. Keeps a thin skim and some bubbles always present and coats the glass with a ton of sheeted lace.

Aroma is made mostly of some orange and peach tones along with leafy portions to its hop load. A nice bold addition to oaky sweetness mixing with deep breadyness and caramel builds as it sits.

Wondeful taster with a very well-rounded oaky sweetness wrapped in a caramel soaked breadyness tanged with orangey/peachy tropical hoppyness. Nice balance and boldness as its not overly heavy on the body allowing its sweet-sided nature and girth flow freely among the hoppy stuff.

Boldly set medium body with a low ended carbonation that sits well and drinks down thusly. Nice feathery bittered finish of leafy orange tea tinted hoppyness and coating of oaky bourbony sweet warmth.

Very solid stuff and blurring the lines, if not all together crossing them, of reaching Imp. IPA standards in my book.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 00:17:05 | More by tavernjef

cagocubs

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bomber into pint glass.

A: Pours a light copper color with a thin white head that dissipates and splotches .

S: Hops, roasted malts, barley, some faint citrus smells, spice - clove, a toasty scent (oak), and some metallic.

T: Hop bite comes through at first, followed by some sweet tastes, and finishes bitter with hops. You can taste the roasted malts, hops, and a smokey flavor.

M: Light bodied. Crisp with excellent mouth coating and aftertaste.

O: So far this is my preferred Mad Hatter series run.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 03:33:41 | More by cagocubs

divineaudio

Michigan

3.13/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

split a bomber with my girlfriend. poured into a pint glass

a - pours copper and gives me a thin cap of creamy tan head. retention is pretty good and leaves a few rings of lace in my glass.

s - vanilla and light pine resin.

t - piney bitterness with a toasty malt backbone. notes of vanilla, slightly phenolic, lingering bitter finish. kind of a weird combination.

m - a firm medium with just the right amount of carbonation.

o - my first experience with a barrel aged ipa. not a bad one, but not good enough to revisit this particular beer. if it weren't for the medicinal quality to the flavor i might actually seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2011 01:53:58 | More by divineaudio

raznug

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: It pours a nice deep golden color with a half inch of head that dissipates quickly.
Smell: Hatter smells of oak aged alcohol with wisps of hops. It has a bourbon hints that make my mouth water even though I don’t really drink whiskey.
Taste: The oak flavor really comes out well in the taste just as I was expecting it to taste. The oak aging hides the hops more than I would like being an IPA but I think it tastes the way that the brewer wanted.
Mouthfeel: It isn’t thick but it is watery there seems to be a nice balance of easy drinking but thick enough to let flavor stick around.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 18:02:05 | More by raznug

TheHoppiest

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had with Chris H, one of the true IPA-heads I know. Poured into a tulip glass. This is a beautiful beer, pouring almost the same color as the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban sitting next to it. The head starts 3 fingers deep, reducing to 1/8", with decent lacing down the sides.

Has a very pine forward hop profile, more than I'd expect from a cask aged beer. Buttery resin, hints of vanilla, and toffee, surely from the malt backbone, fill out the aroma.

Taste starts caramel toffee malt, a sweet buttery star, with a mild hop finish. Like so many oak aged beers, the hops have been mellowed out. Still, very dry finish.

This is my first of the series, and will likely hit the black IPA next. I like the regular Mad Hatter better than this, still, a decent brew that i would have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 03:51:21 | More by TheHoppiest