Sea Hag IPA - New England Brewing Co.

DNICE555

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Woah... NE Brewing is killing it. They re-did the formula for this beer. I talked to Rob the owner and he said they changed the hop profile around. They must have changed up the malts too. Crisp, clean, hoppy, fruity... loving this ipa. It's now up there with the ghandi bot for me. Takes away the best ipa in CT from the Cambridge House.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 21:20:37 | More by DNICE555

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Beautiful, light orange-yellow coloration; somewhat hazy and unfiltered looking. Nice light white head that is even and laces intensely and evenly along the glass and maintains a spiderweb like lace on top of the liquid throughout the drink.

S - Piney, honey malts, bread. Maybe a little sage.

T - Follows the nose almost to the point, and I do taste the sage in there. This is nice. Extremely densely hopped and biting, yet flavorful. Some citrus to lemon flavor there as well. Really nice. Crisp.

M - Could be drier. The hops bang up your tastebuds and give them quite a pummeling. It's nice though. The body is light to medium and each sip is somewhat airy in the likes of Anchor Steam. Carbonated appropriately as well.

D - A really good East Coast IPA. Nicely crafted. I don't know how this only has a B on here. This seems to me to be clearly A-range. I will have to read others' critiques. Would get this again. Will get this a lot in the future actually; this beer has "Go-To" all over it. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 01:08:30 | More by jmerloni

Sensaray

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a orange brown color with white quickly dissipating head.

Strong pine notes a bit of lemony light orange citrus.

Tastes like lemon citrus and pine with a bit of hop spice. Sweet and a bit tart to the bitter finish. Bit of pineapple and other tropical notes come through the more i drink

Light to medium feel.

Overall decent. Bit too piney but pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 01:34:58 | More by Sensaray

SpdKilz

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another big thanks to Paul (pmlondrigan) for this beer. Cheers!

Appearance - Pours into my SA Perfect Pint with a slightly ruddy orange hue and about a finger of slight off white head that dissipates quickly leaving decent head.

Smell - A somewhat mild aroma with some nice pine, hops, a hint of citrus, and toffee malt backbone. As it warms a bit of floral hops become present.

Taste - Hm...quite a bit more sweet than expected. There is a heavy amount of pale malt and toffee/caramel. The hops are almost tea like - my friend made me try her tea the other day (no idea what kind) and it seriously reminds me of this. There is literally no citrus presence and I was hoping for the hops to make a comeback at the end but overall, this is a malt bomb.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, decent carbonation.

Overall - As with most new beers, I'm glad I was able to try it. The prior beer to this was vastly superior. If this had more of a hop bite to offset the sweet malty backbone, I feel it would have been better. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 03:57:45 | More by SpdKilz

theghost3

Louisiana

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Sully62601 for this one.

Pours a slightly cloudy, light copper with a 3-finger, frothy white head. Moderate lacing.

The smell is just like a fresh, juicy grapefruit and with some piney hop aromas. The taste was much more subdued as far as hops go. Slightly herbal and citrusy. There are some caramel malt flavors in there too. Mouthfeel is crisp, carbonated, and light-bodied at first, but tends to get smoother throughout the session.

This is a nice, drinkable IPA. The aroma really made me think this was going to be a citrusy hop treat, but the taste was rather subtle in that area. The herbal qualities in the taste made me think of a hoppy pilsener. This would pair well with grilled, spicy meat or vegetables.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 22:55:03 | More by theghost3

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to knifestyles for this extra.

Poured into Duck Rabbit snifter.

Pours 1/2 finger of beige white head. Decent retention with some lace. Color is a dark bronze gold.

Aroma: Fresh earthy hops with with a lot of fruit. Mangoes and orange with slight pineapple. I also get an onion/weedy flavor to it.

Taste: Very grassy/weedy. Some fruits, mangoes and oranges. Very sweet. Has the onion flavor but lightly (lots of cascade).

Mouthfeel: Bitter, sweet. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends with the grassy hop flavor on the tongue.

Overall, tons of cascade here. No citrus. Decent, but nothing I am crazy about. Okay drinkability. As it warms it gets more oily and harder to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 22:36:24 | More by mothman

brdc

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks tai4ji2x for this nice extra. Poured from a can into a pint glass.

Somewhat hazy, between amber and copper colored, with an off white head - very similar to their amber in appearance, quite off the style for an IPA.
Aroma, just like flavor, is well balanced, perhaps too balanced for an american IPA, and definitely "less hoppy" than their amber.
Notes of citric fruits, grassy hops, cookie dough are well balanced, but the malty sweetness somehow ends up front, or side by side with the hops.
Highly drinkable, but lacks hop punch for an american IPA. Go for their amber instead.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2009 01:19:15 | More by brdc

Proteus93

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Lighter amber, a little haze. Head was shorter, with a weak retention and a thin layer left behind alongside a little lace trimming.

S: Floral hop bouquet, a slightly spicy herbal edge, and a bit of a pungent leafiness and earthiness.

T: A similar, flowery flavour is present. A little earthy, perhaps to the point of being a bit 'musty' Almost a bit of a tinniness to both the flavour and aroma - some sort of unusual offtaste, anyways. It seems this can may be a little dated, as it doesn't have much of the bite I would expect from an American IPA.

M: Carbonation is fairly minimal... a little spot of it on the tip of the tongue, and then it falls almost flat.

D: A 'victim of mediocrity' is all that came to mind. It's not a horrible beer, but not something I found myself enjoying a great deal and doubt I'd be going for it again in a hurry.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 04:08:05 | More by Proteus93

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: This beer poured a nice amber color with a huge, foamy, off-white head. Great lacing which looked like a spider web.

Smell: The beer has a huge pine aroma from the hops which also give off a nice citrus and earth aroma. A caramel maltiness is present as well.

Taste: Once again the pine dominates in this IPA. Their is a nice balance between the caramel maltiness and the piney hops. A wonderful bitterness in the finish. Not as bitter as many IPAs that I have tasted but still good. Since I'm not a hopbomb fan I find it kind of nice.

Mouthfeel: A nice medium body with big carbonation.

Overall: A great offering from New England Brewing. This is a nice easy drinking beer that I wish we had access too down here in NOLA! The fact that it comes in cans makes it that much more appealing to us down here in the Big Easy. Why? More great beer to drink during Mardi Gras!

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 16:04:31 | More by Beerbuddha

dickieb

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours A Hazy Amber/Orange with a very small head, and some pretty good lacing, looks like a big beer. The smell is somewhat grainy with hints of caramel and a good whiff of piny hops. Th flavor is mostly grassy and piny hops with a grainy malt profile and a lingering citrus hop flavor. THe mouthfeel is good for a bigger session brew. I wouldn't want more then two of these on any given day, but its a pretty tasty brew, and it was the cheapest IPA when I picked it up. I will probably buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2008 22:50:53 | More by dickieb

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

New England Sea Hag IPA pours a light amber/copper with a thin head that quickly fades. The aroma is slightly citrusy and bitter with some floral, earthy hops as well. The aroma is bitter upfront with a sweet maltiness seeping through. The hop flavor is secondary to the bitterness, there are some hints of the same citrusy hops as in the aroma. A fruity maltiness comes though a bit in between the bitterness. Overall this is a pretty decent IPA, and I really like the can art, as well as the fact that it's in a can.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2008 00:33:04 | More by ericj551

taez555

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can. From notes, tasted 1/27/08

This beer poured a clear reddish/orange body with a white head.

Nose has a biscuit and cooked vegatable smell.

Taste is medium to light bodied. Caramel, biscuit and some cooked vegies. A nice firm bitterness comes in the backend. Slightly metalic hop taste. Earthy, musty hops. Classic english IPA but with a New England twist.

A pretty middle of the road american attempt at an english style IPA. Honestly... the coolest thing about this beer is the bright red pull tab on the black can. Love the contrast.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2008 21:29:52 | More by taez555

Zorro

California

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sample through Brewfan and Secret Santa BIF 2007.

Very strong head forming beer. Chill hazed amber color and a decent tan colored head.

Quite a good smelling beer strong herbal hops in spades. Pine, grapefruit, flowers, woody and spicy. Very toned down C type hops let earth and herbal English style hops really show their stuff in this beer.

The taste starts out very earthy in the mouth a taste of oak and mushrooms with a malt drop candy after taste. Nice well-balanced IPA this one doesn't overwhelm or hide the malt layer. Bitterness is well matched to the flavor.

Mouthfeel is good.

Supper easy to drink IPA here and one of the most drinkable. Beer makers need t make more balanced IPAs like this one and fewer hop only grenades.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2007 05:21:24 | More by Zorro

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz can courtesy of cooperrip.

A: The can cracks open with a hiss but no explosion of foam. The body is an amber brown color, crystal clear with a noticeable red tinge. The head was almost a finger is size but laces quite nicely throughout the glass.

S: The nose is malty biscuit with a strong undercurrent of citrusy grapefruit and tangerine hops. Neither aroma overpowers the senses, insread creating a strong enjoyable scent.

T: The beer has a sturdy hop presence that jumps out immediately. The flavors are citrusy, with grapefruit being the primary flavor that is supported by some pineapple notes. The hops are assertive but not as strong as one would expect. They are nicely balanced by a biscuity sweet malt body that sends the swallow off to a sweet hoppy finish.

M: The hops are strong but not too strong. This is a nice candidate for sessioning.

D: The abv doesn't show up anywhere, giving this beer serious session credibility. The can is also a nice touch, compact portable and loaded with nice artwork.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2007 23:03:13 | More by akorsak

arguemaniac

Virginia

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Don’t really have anything nice to say about this one; it’s flaws eclipse it’s virtues. The hoppiness is rough and a bit unbalanced (even for an IPA) because the malt flavors are just too mellow (comparatively, anyway). And the mouthfeel is rather thin and watery. But, the hoppiness, despite it’s faults, is pretty sharp and crisp, and the hop flavor is fairly decent too. Plus, it’s nicely drinkable, I had no problem sucking a few down even though I wasn’t crazy about them. This beer isn’t horrible, but it probably isn’t worth your time or money. Not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2006 02:52:14 | More by arguemaniac

Liquids

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It's hard not to have a twinkle in your eye when drinking beer that's brewed down the street from your home. Of course, I'm not an ultra hophead so IPA's are, at times, a hard sell...

This can is from the first batch that was canned purchased the first day on the shelves. Color is a rather amber and approaching red color with a one finger, somewhat bubbly head, with notable carbonation. Smells of hops but in a sweetist, floral, noble hop way. No real malty aromas, but a good aroma for an IPA. Taste is actually malty and earthy up front with caramel malts and even a suble taste of charred brown malt in there? The hops come through and are rather bitter, I'm less so detecting the resinous hop flavor and more so just straight bitterness. Mouthfel is medium light bodied and a bit heavy on carbonation for my tounge. Overall this is a good IPA, and I think it's likable, but it's not my pick for best of. The flavor factor of the heavily earthy malt profile and the hops tipping the scale in bitterness rather than complexity of flavor will more often than not keep this one out of my fridge most of the time, but drink up if you at all enjoy true-to-style, bitter IPA's, as this one is well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2006 14:26:16 | More by Liquids

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

CT pit stop on my way movin' me and my family westward, well here we go:

Into a pint glass:

A: light hazy yet almost slightly clear orange/brown body with a two finger white foamy head, foamy clingy lacing, some carbonation is seen rising

S: hoppy citrus/pine up front, malts are coming through as it warms, sorta bready in the smell

T: crisp citrus/pine again, breadiness is a bit stronger, malts stay in the background, dry crisp aftertaste and finish

M: medium, semi-sessionable, adequate carbonation, smooth yet crisp

O: I'm glad I finally tried a NEBCO brew even if I'm on my way out of New England, this is very good for its style and very good to me as I would have this again if I stayed in New England

Serving type: can

05-23-2013 00:56:51 | More by kangarooAdam59

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

New England Brewing Co. - Sea Hag IPA

Another courtesy of Hendry, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't get to branch out this fast, props man!

Look - Pours a darker caramel brown, hazy with a good sized soapy head that dissipated quickly and leaves behind sticky lacing. Negligible carbonation.

Smell - Malty and bready but with a tart apple hoppy citrus bite. The tart creates a mouth-watering experience. Light in the aroma, good for a hot Summer day.

Taste - Smooth hints of vanilla in the malt and blended with citrus, nice and crisp. A great refreshing and thirst-quenching brew with a tart apple finish, but a slight bit on the thin side.

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is slight piney hop bitter. Quick drinkable. Slight booziness but not bad at all.

Overall - Solid brew with unique malt characteristics and a bitter hop finish. The only qualms I have with this brew is that it is categorized as an IPA, but it lacks the stones to be an IPA. This is a great brew, but I would say if they called it an APA or a Pale Ale, it would be more fitting.

Serving type: can

05-22-2013 22:26:34 | More by JMScowcroft

Hendry

Vermont

4.21/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy apricot hue with a white one finger head, relatively aggressive carbonation, good lacing.

Nose is sweet malts, little in the way of hop assault though they reside in the background.

Taste is malty and sweet, minimal hop presence,yet not unpleasant.

Mouthfeel is medium and the malty sweetness rests atop the palate with nothing in the way of bitterness to counteract.

Overall the quality is good for the dollar ($10 six pack of 12 oz cans), but not my cup of tea in the way of a hop infusion. Drinkable and overall pleasant, but nothing I would go out of my way to find: Vermont beers hath spoiled me once again.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 05:30:35 | More by Hendry

dheacck11

Connecticut

3.99/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pour is a hazy gold orange with a 1/4 finger of dense white head, with nice lacing.

Nose is a little damp, with soft, sticky pine and just a hint of citrus

Taste is pretty malty up front for an IPA, but not in a bad way. Some nice milky caramel notes, followed by wet, softly biting hops. Creates a really nice balance overall. More West Coast IPA style overall with the hops.

Feel is medium bodied, but on the thicker side.

Great local beer. Not the best IPA out there, but thoroughly drinkable, and readily available. Can never go wrong with a Sea Hag.

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 20:14:20 | More by dheacck11

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Delaney's, New Haven, CT

Cloudy orange-amber pour, with a moderate cap of white head; decent retention and lacing. Aroma of citrusy hops and caramel malts. A bit more like an APA than a straight-up IPA, as others seemed to have noted. Taste was similar, citrusy hops, malty sweetness, a little toasted bread. Body was light-medium, mouthfeel was smooth and crisp, and it was drinkable enough, but it just seems it would work better as an APA. But styles aside, it's still a solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 02:14:32 | More by Rifugium

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Big thanks to beersndrums for this one!

12 oz can poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Hazy pale amber color with a 2.5-finger bubbly, white head. Decent retention with some wisps of lacing. I can’t really appreciate many bubbles due to the haze.

S – A solid caramel malt backbone with mostly grapefruit and orange hops, but there may be some mango and a touch of pine in the bouquet, as well. This smells really nice.

T – It starts off sweet with the bready, caramel malt and citrus flavors. As the taste progresses, the citrus sweetness shifts to citrus hop bitterness. Toward the finish, some piney resin joins the party.

F – Medium-bodied with pretty good carbonation, a sticky, chewy, and creamy mouthfeel, and a bittersweet and slightly dry finish. Pine and grapefruit hop flavors linger for a bit.

O – This is a nice IPA. It’s a touch on the maltier side of the scale, and the hop bouquet is a bit one-dimensional with mostly citrus aromas and flavors, but the beer is certainly well put-together. It’s tasty and definitely drinkable. Thanks, Jared!

Serving type: can

05-10-2013 02:41:55 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Kendo

New York

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from the can into a pint glass. Body is hazy honey-amber with a small white head. Leaves behind a little lace.

S: Sweeter than expected for an IPA, though it's pleasant. Caramel malt, some butterscotch and juicy citrusy hops - though they're muted for an American IPA.

T: OK, good - the hops show up in the taste. Modest caramel malt foundation, then green hops - that is, the grassy, piney type. Also a bit of grapefruity citrus, and a bit of earthy spice is noted as well. Finishes with a good lingering dry, lemony bitterness on the back of the palate.

M: Heft is medium, carbonation is modest.

O: Solid stuff.

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 22:08:33 | More by Kendo

Duesler

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

This is my 1st review
Poured from a Can into a DFH Signature Glass.

A- Pours a glowing orange, mandarin orange in color. Unfiltered. Small white fluffy head on top. Medium lacing.

S- Not super strong smell, biscuity from the malts, and the orange/ mandarin orange smell is here as well, sweet smell. Very appetizing, and fruity.

T- This is a solid tasting IPA, both in bittering, and in the fruity taste that I smelled earlier. Slight boozy taste. Some peppery hop flavor as well. In the finish, you get a little grapefruit and sap

M- Pretty average for an IPA, tastes thick and a little chewy

O- A solid IPA, really cool that they can them (super convenient). It should be noted that pepperjack cheese is SO good right after drinking this. The smell is definitely its strong point.

Serving type: can

04-22-2013 22:16:09 | More by Duesler

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.96/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I didnt know what to expect with this one. It was a beer that one of our customers recommended, so we brought it in.
I love an IPA, so why not, I never heard of this brewery before, but since we have been on a path to showcase local beers from Connecticut, we went for it

My initial impression, was that this beer poured, looked, smelled and tasted a lot like Hop S....
but to a lesser degree.

I enjoyed the bouquet of hops, the inevitable citrus and grapefruit taste. It was all there, and this one was very drinkable. Sometimes I talk about a beer being chuggable, this fits that category.

I did enjoy this beer and am hoping to taste more from their brewery

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 02:18:04 | More by rdilauro