Longshot Friar Hop Ale
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Longshot Friar Hop AleLongshot Friar Hop Ale
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From:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Belgian IPA
ABV:
9%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 12.47%
Reviews:
185
Ratings:
240
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 18, 2017
Added:
Mar 17, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by zaphodchak:
Photo of zaphodchak
Reviewed by zaphodchak from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fluffy tan head over a gradiented amber body. Laces nicely.

Some Belgian yeast on the nose; a trace of honey.

Taste explodes on the front with a harmony of several different flavors; this breaks off and a rather clean hop finish. I get some light honey with floral notes and some tangerine/apricot hop tang, with a bit of black pepper in the mix. Quite varied, quite balanced. Just a trace of the alcohol is present in the taste. I'm not really getting the "orange and coriander" not the "toasty caramel sweetness from the malt" that the label proclaims, but this is probably more a semantic difference than anything else, because I found a lot of flavors close to those.

Mouthfeel is standard; well-textured and neither over-carbed nor thin. Keeps a big flavor from being syrupy.

Overall, this thing won a contest, and I'd tend to agree that it deserved to do so. It's a really neat hybrid between American strongs and barleywines, which can be overpowering with hops, and Belgians strongs with yeast and spice (which I personally prefer) and the result is very natural, not forced at all.
Jul 28, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by harpus from Alabama

Mar 18, 2017
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.64/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Amber color, solid 1/3" head on it, average retention, attractive. Aroma wasn't over the top belgian spice rack, SA usually understands and gets this right for their audience. A noticeable yet not west coast amount of hops.

The taste hid the alcohol quite well, hopping still there, a tiny spice rack intrusion, a little bit of orange rind. This was better than expected but neither mindblowing.
Mar 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.59 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Feb 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Techichi from Texas

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.12 by shoegueuze from California

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Jovian00 from Ohio

Aug 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by pathman from Ohio

Jul 13, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by spikechiquet from Ohio

Jun 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by lancecenter from Texas

May 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by lucasj82 from Indiana

May 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Bill235 from Ohio

May 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by sendbeer from Georgia

Dec 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by bzach from Indiana

Oct 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 26, 2012
Photo of diddly
Reviewed by diddly from New York

3.94/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The date on the beer was September 2011, so I'm a bit past the date, but it somehow got shoved in the back of the fridge and I figured it was worth a shot. Poured into a tulip glass and was pleasantly surprised how fresh it still seemed.

Aroma is not too strong, with a slight slight fruitiness. Definite Belgianness comes through.

Appearance is a dark gold with an off-white, fairly thin head.

Taste is surprisingly good, and I'm usually not into Belgians overall, and specifically not Belgian IPA's. Nice use of spice and hops to gain some balance, while retaining the overall style.

Mouthfeel is well-carbonated, but perhaps a little light.

Overall, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this beer, and imagine it may have been even better last summer.
Aug 08, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by kobeer from Texas

Jul 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by bozodogbreath from Indiana

Jul 19, 2012
Longshot Friar Hop Ale from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 240 ratings