Hophead Imperial IPA - Bend Brewing Company

unklesyd

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bought from the brewery the day after Thanksgiving: my only purchase of the day.

Was a little nervous after opening to hear only a little "phhft" from the growler. Poured it at a good pace to get a finger's head. Very nice color; pale as IPA/IIPAs would go, but to my liking. Not too much caramel color, very nice.

Smell was all hop, obviously, but a very interesting mix. Citrus bite up front with the carbonation, giving way to some real nice floral notes, and as it rests a little bit herbal. This is actually a really nice hop-head nose.

Very well balanced. Flavor is all about the sweet sticky hop, but never abrasive. Somewhat resinous, and not coating the tongue, it does weigh it down a bit. I think this is a good thing for a beer of its size. When it is a little cooler, you can taste a little of the alcohol. It doesn't detract per se, but gives an extra diminsion, though it does impede the "easy drinker" perception.

I'd had this at a fest before and wasn't terribly impressed, but on its own, this is a nice brew that opens up the more you let it. Well done to Bend's "other" brewery.

Serving type: growler

11-25-2007 05:59:42 | More by unklesyd

BYOFB

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-04-2013 18:26:59 | More by BYOFB

strongaf

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%

04-07-2013 08:13:29 | More by strongaf

bluckbeyes

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

03-07-2013 03:54:31 | More by bluckbeyes

BeerNW

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%

11-25-2012 16:38:55 | More by BeerNW

Travisnin

Idaho

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

09-13-2012 17:08:53 | More by Travisnin

kylemckinnis

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

08-20-2012 05:00:56 | More by kylemckinnis

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.1%

08-18-2012 01:13:53 | More by bumchilly25

WaydeRafnel

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%

07-24-2012 08:49:46 | More by WaydeRafnel

litheum94

California

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-22-2012 04:06:14 | More by litheum94

WhiskeeTango

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-05-2012 15:07:52 | More by WhiskeeTango

ahalloin

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber.

Pours a slightly opaque hazy dark yellow color with a hint of orange. Initial voluminous head of bright white recedes to nice ring over the liquid with plenty of lacing attached to the glass. 4

The is a combination of bitter citrus pith and piney undertones. Some floral bits and even a touch of tobacco or cannabis smoke. A slight sweetness rests underneath the hop aroma. The smell leaves a little to be desired in that it isn't real pungent like some IIPAs. 4

Resiny taste matches the smell with bitter citrus peel and pith from orange and grapefruit. I get a slight hint of the pucker factor one would get from fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with lots of pulp. Malt body is very simple and very subdued to let the hops shine. Finish is quite dry and bitter but balanced pretty well. 4.5

Good medium low carbonation really lets you enjoy the hop resins. 4

This is quite a good IIPA that I would buy regularly if I could, given I don't live in the distribution area. 4

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 00:34:45 | More by ahalloin

Brodybeer

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A golden yellow. Nice color
N sweet aromatic. Bread
T excellent. Tiny bit carmely banana bread upfront turning to hoppy. Good amount of hops but the beer allows the tongue time to basque in the flavors before they arrive. Man it's a good ride to the hop. When the hoppy flavor comes its there just long enough to enjoy the flavor then all come together as one in the end. Awesome. Edit. Pineapple! Got that from another review. Yes
M syrupy first then carbonated. Lingers slightly then leaves you wanting more
O man solid beer. I love the complexity. Had to mouth it quite a few times to figure out what was going on. Yet it's smooth at the same time. I love interesting. The bottle says leaves you wanting more. I agree

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 05:03:59 | More by Brodybeer

marine1975

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

03-07-2012 23:26:23 | More by marine1975

kchannel9

California

4/5  rDev -4.1%

02-20-2012 03:44:12 | More by kchannel9

brentk56

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a respectable head that leaves some lacing behind

Smell: Floral and sugary, with pithy and piney undertones

Taste: Definitely in the piney side, with a lot of pith as well; underneath, the sugary malts come on strong by mid-palate and into the finish, ringing pineapple flavors, as well

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately carbonated; a bit sticky

Overall: A pretty darn good DIPA, though I would prefer a bit more attenuation or a bigger hop bill (may have been my fault for sitting on the bottle for a month and a half)

Thanks, chumba526, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 00:11:01 | More by brentk56

yuriruley

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

12-21-2011 05:32:07 | More by yuriruley

gizmodave

Oregon

5/5  rDev +19.9%

12-07-2011 21:39:40 | More by gizmodave

loren01

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a nice clear orange, not much head with no lacing down the glass
S: Big blast of citrus, slight pineapple and piney scents as well
T: Much the same as the smell, lots of citrus and pineapple
M: Medium bodied beer perfect amount of carbonation
O: This is one good double IPA!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 06:26:53 | More by loren01

CoryR

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

11-19-2011 04:48:44 | More by CoryR

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.65/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle picked up in Bend, OR.

A - Pours a slightly cloudy, medium orange with a small cream-colored head that fades slowly, leaving lacing on the glass.

S - Citrusy, oranges mostly, sweet malts, slight pine.

T - Sweet malts hit me first, then some oranges and carmel flavors. Where did the hops go?

D - Lower carbonation, a bit chewy and thick for an Imperial IPA.

O - Sweeter, citrusy. OK.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 04:25:21 | More by HuskyinPDX

brew3crew

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

First beer of San Diego beer week with Danwho!

A- golden orange with white head around the edges

S-nice sweet hop taste that invites me in for a drink

T- bitter hop resine that coats my mouth and slides down with a nice and smooth ffinish. Very nice

M-medium body and oh so smooth!

O-very nice beer and a good way to kick off the week!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 23:08:36 | More by brew3crew

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, golden bronze with a white head, thin ring of retention, some nice lace.

S: Big citrus & pine aroma, somewhat grassy and floral.

T: Quite hop-forward with a pleasant (not over-bearing) bitterness. Some alcohol warmth, but I wouldn't have guessed it was this strong. Pine, tangerine and nectarine... definitely some Amarillo here. Hints of underlying biscuit and toffee from the malt. Really great stuff.

M: Well attenuated, moderate body has a slight hop acidity with a crisp finish.

D/O: I could session this and SERIOUSLY regret it. Personally, I'd cut back on the booze a bit, but to have a brew of this strength so balanced, flavourful and drinkable is an art.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 00:42:11 | More by Derek

daveytheformer

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice lightly hazy golden orange color with a bright white head that fades to some lacing and lots of spotting.

Leafy hops and pine dominate the aroma at first followed by strong grapefruit citrus smell. This might be one of the best smelling IIPA's I've encountered from Oregon if not ever.

A quick sharp citrus blast upon first sip backed up by a dry bitterness. A mild sweetness in the background balances all the flavors together perfectly. Crisp, a little dry, fruity and very drinkable for the ABV.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with mild carbonation.

Overall is an excellent beer. Solid and easily drinkable. Really stand up to some of the big popular IPA's out there. I went out and bought another bottle the next day after having this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 22:11:44 | More by daveytheformer

caskstrength

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Bend Brewing.

Pours a typical yellow/orange, carbonation as expected with a 1/2 inch head in a shaker pint glass.

Smells are salty resinous pine, some citrus, but pine is dominant. No alcohol, no buttery or floral notes. Getting excited.

Pine and resin jump out and throw a party. Wow, let me introduce myself, I am a West Coast IPA. Some floral complements to the pine, some citrus complements too. Pithy rinds weave into the pine, a symphony ensues. Barely enough malt to balance, fine by me.

Resinous and salty. I love when hops work magic like this.

This is up there with the greats. Got a growler to go, and 2 bombers as well (Should have bought more). Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 22:51:30 | More by caskstrength