HopFish IPA - Flying Fish Brewing Company

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A hazy light coloured amber with little head or lacing. An odd "soda" mouthfeel with much small bubble carbonation in the mouth.

Muted aroma of caramelized malts with a hint of pineapple in the background. Flavours of malts and fruits as expected from the style. Lingering bitterness is pleasant, but lacking the hop finish for which I'd hoped.

Perhaps I've been unlucky with this bottle and will become enamoured with my remaining 5 - in which case I will change this review accordingly!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:28:45 | More by hopsolutely

bigdeuce

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was very nice and tasty! Good looking beer with an outstanding white cap that left a bit of foam on my glass. Classic micro brew scent. Some pine scents on the nose, but also very malty. Not overly hoppy, but you must classify this as an IPA! Cannot see through the glass, much like a great hefeweizen. Nice tasting, buscuit base. Very pleased with the finish! Very fine brew!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 06:00:49 | More by bigdeuce

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: unfiltered almost amber. Small slight off white head.

S: slight citrus. Fruit rollups.

T: almost fruity, sweet, malty not bready. Easy drinker.

M: thin and dry. Easy finish. No lingering bitterness.

O: easy drinking local ipa. Will drink on special. Good session ipa.

*Note had at the brewery and it was a completely different beer. Sooo much better. Notes of rose and flower. So good fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 00:21:20 | More by JerseyKirk

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at The Office. Pours golden with a thick white head. Aroma is of citrusy hops, some pale and caramel malt. Medium, crisp body. Citrucy hops, biscuit malt and hints of caramel fill the mouth. Finish is medium and hoppy. Light, easy drinking IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 16:39:35 | More by mikeg67

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Decent though not outstanding IPA. Nugget hops and lots of malt to make it bittersweet and the malting contributes to drinkability, as does the understated carbonation. Light orange body. Orange taste and slight orange aroma. Middling mouthfeel.Guessing IBU 55-60.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 01:42:38 | More by northyorksammy

mdfb79

New York

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From 12/03/11 notes. Had on tap at some restaurant out by Desales University in PA while visiting my sister.

a - Pours a hazy deep orange color with one inch of fluffy white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of earthy notes, very light citrus hops, and light bready malts. Very bland, with only a hint of hops. Not great, pretty average.

t - Tastes of earthy notes, light floral notes, bready malts, grains. Again, very bland, and not much in the way of hops.

m - Light to medium body and low to moderate carbonatioin. Easy to drink.

o - Overall a pretty average IPA. Nose had the faintest smell of hops to it, while the taste had none really at all. Not one of Flying Fish's finest and not one I'd seek out again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2011 20:28:51 | More by mdfb79

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap at Thunder Burger DC. Poured into an English style pint glass.

A: Golden/orange with a one finger foamy head that hangs around for a bit. Some lacing.

S: A nice mix of orange and grapefruit. Some light hop notes, but citrus scents are more prominent.

T: Good, but bit boring to be honest. Some bitter hops and notes of grapefruit. The malt base is definitely there (and boring), reminding you that it is an English IPA.

M: Fairly light with good carbonation.

O: Good, but standard. Neither exciting, nor a letdown.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 03:17:35 | More by Hophead717

azdback

Arizona

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Spaten Tumbler glass. A very hazy yellow orange color. There are quite a few tiny carbonation bubbles but they are just floating there. They look like sediment floating but they are bubbles. Weird. Head was a small one finger and an off white to tan color. Lace sticks minimally.

Smell is a bit on the musty side and really smells like overripe to rotten citrus. The house I grew up in was built in a grapefruit orchard and I remember this smell as a small boy. There is also some earth and bread or biscuit smells.

Taste is really close to the smell. The first thing is bright citrus but muted by the musty malt and yeast. It is a bit sweet but earthy.

Mouth is bright and a bit spritzy. Feel is a bit thin with a medium body and a short, dry finish.

Overall I didn't really like this, but that is because I really don't like English Style anything. The choice of malts and hops are spot on for the style but really not my choice to enjoy. I will score this with the style in mind though and if English IPA's are your thing, this might be worth searching out.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 05:08:43 | More by azdback

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazed, brilliant deep gold with a head that has good retention and lacing.

S/T - Grapefruit flesh, earthy pine hops, finishing with a rich caramel sweetness and not quite bitter enough, but shows balance, considering the style.

M - Hefty, full body, perfect carbonation, nice and smooth across the palate.

O - Good rep of the style with rich caramel malts and tropical fruit hop aromas. If it finished more bitter, rather than sweet, this would be great.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 11:26:40 | More by garuda

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: deep orange body, trace head, ok lacing

S: lemon grass, pine, earthy malt

T: lemon grass, earthy malt, slow bitter pine finish

M: med body, mild oily/sticky mouth

O: Don't know what to make of this IPA
or this brewery. I would be curious to try
more of their beer until I pass judgement.

SOLID IPA, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 19:41:06 | More by BeerLover99

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark copper with 1/4" of head that quickly fades. Smells like bready malt and a little yeasty. Taste is bread-like malts up front and very faint hop character in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated.

Overall, this is a mild example of the style. The hops are toned down and the malt is over played. The balance just isn't there. This would be a great English style Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 01:42:21 | More by tdm168

UCLABrewN84

California

3.35/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy honey orange with a 1 inch puffy orange-white head that settles to an oily cap on the top of the beer. Thick foamy rings of lace form on the sides of the glass on the drink down. Smell is floral and soapy with a citrus zest aroma as well. Taste is of malt and citrus zest with maybe some grassy herbal flavors as well. A lower level of carbonation with a smooth and slightly flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good English IPA and my first beer from Flying Fish. I probably wouldn't get this one again though.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 08:38:48 | More by UCLABrewN84

9InchNails

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Sideline Bar and Grill in Rockaway, NJ

Light copper to golden color in the body. Has a nice white head that turns into a film. Leaves behind nice creamy lacing on the glass.

I didn't get too much on the nose. Slight floral and citrus aroma.

The taste -- oh, the taste, this is delicious! Slight pine, juicy citrus and some bready malt and sweetness that really smooth things out.

Feels nice in the mouth. Easy to go down. Carbonation is medium and light in body.

I originally thought this was a tasty Pale Ale. Then I found out it was a IPA -- I was a little shocked because of the bitterness was kind of low. I like my IPA's very bitter but this Hopfish IPA had a sweet citrus and piney taste that kept me asking for another.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2011 05:43:15 | More by 9InchNails

Halcyondays

California

3.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a medium orange with a pillowy big white head leaving thick lacing with great head retention.

S: Cilantro and dandelion greens, weedy and herbal.

T: Fairly light malt character for the style. I enjoy the complexity of the hop flavours, orange creamsicle at first and light citrus which transitions into a sage play and finishes herbal and weedy more like the nose.

M: Frothy and medium-bodied, crisp carbonation in the finish, medium long appealing aftertaste.

O: On smelling the nose I was ready for disappointment, but this turned out pretty darn good. This is a balanced East Coast IPA, get any thought of San Diego out of your head because you wont get it. Enjoy a complex flavourful balanced ale. Good job Flying Fish.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 03:34:25 | More by Halcyondays

erosier

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L: Pours a nice amber copper color with a short and medium bodied white colored head that laces the glass a little as the beer fades.
S: Smells of sweet roasted malts, some orange hints, then a nice piney/citrusy hop aroma.
T: Tastes of sweet roasted malts, nice bits of citrus (mainly orange) then a piney/citrusy hop finish to it.
M: Crisp, fresh, refreshing, perfect amount of carbonation, medium bodied.
D: Overall a decent IPA that has a good mix of everything and a reasonable abv.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 13:45:28 | More by erosier

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy light brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is overwhemingly of hops. Taste is also very hoppy, a touch of citrus. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall, while not a bad beer, I thought it was lacking in balance.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 14:36:35 | More by tone77

cosmicevan

New York

4.15/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

took a break in between posting my rosso reviews to pop open this bottle so generously sent my way by mnbearsfan in the Good People Farm System BIF.

a - opened the bottle and filled my captain lawrence taster tulip. classic murky orange color with a very thin bubbly head. no lacing.

s - malty sweetness. nice ipa malt heavy.

t - surprising sweetness. good candy flavor. not a hop head's ipa, but a good beer. mostly malty sweetness.

m - very vibrant carbonation and nice feel. medium bodied. feels like a beer.

o - overall, very good beer. nice and smooth and great for a malty ipa.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 03:55:43 | More by cosmicevan

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Ping Glass.

A - Pours a medium cloudy orange with a thin tan head. Good retention.

S - Sweet malts, citrus- mostly orange.

T - Citrusy - Orange and some white grapes.

D - No Bitterness, low carbonation, not sweet, which was nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 01:52:08 | More by HuskyinPDX

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This IPA pours out as a golden yellow color with a decent sized head on it. The head doesn't give off too much lacing really. The smell has a pretty good hoppiness to it but it's nothing too crazy. The taste has an average amount of bitterness mixed with a malt body. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side, not a lot of complexity here. Overall to me its an average IPA. It's worth trying if your trying to ween yourself into the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 23:42:14 | More by Knapp85

womencantsail

California

2.7/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Bottle shared by Bobby.

A: The beer pours a clear orange color with a finger of white head.

S: Not what I was hoping for here. Butter and popcorn up front with a strong breadiness to it as well. Hints of floral hops and a little bit of orange peel to it. Not a very good aroma.

T: Orange peel, grass, and some floral hops up front, making the flavor slightly less awful than the aroma. Pale malts and bread with a lemony flavor and perhaps even a light tartness.

M: Medium in both body and carbonation.

O: This was just really not a very good beer. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 17:40:17 | More by womencantsail

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on tap at manny browns in philly

Pours a clear golden color with some yellow hues. A white head fades out slowly with plenty of patchy lacing and film.

Scents of biscuit malt and grapefruit hops, some rind and fruit sweetness, but not overbearing.

Burst of hoppy citrus and bready malt. Somewhat sweet with biscuit and butter. Grapefruit and orange with rind and citrus juice. Finishes a bit dry and watery with some bread crust.

Medium body, higher carbonation, drinks okay. Pretty boring flavor, would like to see more of a hop profile too.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2011 03:17:49 | More by xnicknj

TheDudeRules

Minnesota

2.58/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass.

Dark honey colored amber. One full finger of head when receded left some scant lacing. Sweet malt, biscuit and caramel in the nose. Maybe even a touch of tea too. Man.... This is a malt bomb to me. Huge turnoff. Comes across pretty creamy and smooth. Caramel like taste. Hop bite is non existent. Not at all what I am looking for.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 23:52:11 | More by TheDudeRules

oberon

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint a slightly hazed burnt orange with a thinner long lasting white head,a big sweetish biscuit malt base reallty stood out at first sniff than herbal/leafy hop comes thru.Flavors of caramel and sweet biscuit mixed with herbal hops makes for a pretty good EIPA,this is what this beer is all about.Its not a bad beer for the style,if your looking for an in your face hoppy IPA this is not for you.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 11:58:33 | More by oberon

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: bottle from Monster Beverage, Pitman, NJ

Poured a hazy yellow-orange with a small white head. True to the name, lots of nice hops in the nose, and on the tongue as well. Citrusy hops with a nice bitterness, and a bready malt base. Light-medium body, nice and drinkable. Not too harsh or strong for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 21:25:58 | More by Rifugium

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.48/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Amber color, white head, decent lace. All good.
Aroma, belgian yeast, banana, no hops. Label checked, not a belgian ipa. Smells belgian.

Taste, tastes like a belgian east coast ipa. Hops nowhere to be found. Notice here it says English ipa, doesn't say that on the label, in fact, calling itself hopfish makes me think it might have, well, hops in it, but no.

This isn't a bad beer, it just fails to deliver as advertised. If this said "Belgian IPA" I would rate it higher, as it would be actually tasting like it was intended. The yeast was really the biggest flavor component here, bready, grassy.

Hides the alcohol ok.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 17:37:07 | More by Beerandraiderfan