Bhagwan's Best IPA - Big Time Brewery & Alehouse

draheim

Washington

3.99/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap into an American pint glass @ the Wedgwood Alehouse, Seattle. Pours a slightly hazy copper color, no lacing.

Aroma is hoppy and floral, clean and fresh.

Taste is neutral pale malt balanced by floral and citrusy hops, just a touch of something a little more tropical.

Mouthfeel is crisp and sharp with a hoppy bitter finish.

Overall a pretty typical NW style IPA. Perfect with a bowl of French onion soup, Buffalo wings, and a cheeseburger.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 03:15:12 | More by draheim

corby112

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at the brewpub in Seattle.

Pours a cloudy pale golden orange color with tangerine edges and a 1.5 finger white head that very slowly fades into a thick lasting ring.  Glass is left coated with streaks of soapy lacing.

Fuller bodied than expected with earthy, resinous hop aroma.  Strong grass/soil character with sticky pine needle countered by sweet malt and tropical fruit notes.  Hints of pineapple, mango, grapefruit and orange peel along with biscuit, caramel malt and graham cracker.  Hops linger throughout with a decent amount of dry bitterness that's nicely countered by the sweeter notes.  Well balanced and easy to drink with a well masked abv.  Nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 01:41:26 | More by corby112

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: 1/4" cream coloured head that left a nice lacing over cloudy yellowish amber liquid.

S: Floral hops and citrus hops.

T: Citrus hops up front with a bitter and malty finish.

M: Medium viscosity with a high level of medium carbonation.

O: A decent IPA that isn't quite as good as some of the others that are brewed at Big Time.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2011 06:05:42 | More by DaftCaskBC

flagmantho

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer on tap in the alehouse.

Appearance: hazy copper-amber hue with a finger of white foam. Standard but solid IPA.

Smell: nice citrusy hop aroma, but a bit light. Perhaps they are serving a bit cold tonight?

Taste: good malt backbone with a good collection of hop flavors. Floral and citrus with a bombing bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation for the style. I like it.

Overall: a solid and nicely drinkable IPA. Good stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2011 02:44:48 | More by flagmantho

Sky2625

Washington

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Big Time Brewery. Poured to a standard pint glass (this review is from notes taken on 7/12/11).

A - Poured a hazy burnt orange/tan, with a little head, decent retention for the large bubbles, isolated bits of lace.

S - Very mild scent: light malt, subtle hop, and mild tropical fruit.

T - Sweeter than your standard IPA. Picked up a distinct passionfruit flavor with a bit of malt. Finishes with mild hop bitterness, and the tiniest speck of heat.

M - Light medium body, smooth but with subdued fizzy carbonation.

D - Very pleasant flavor makes it very drinkable. The bitterness is nicely balanced with tthe sweetness of the passionfruit. A refreshing IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2011 02:04:24 | More by Sky2625

ccrida

Oregon

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draught at the brewpub, Bhagwan's best is dull, dark gold/brown/orange, with a white head that leaves nice lace.

Smell is fairly hoppy, a nice citrus nose, limes, although there's a softness to it overall.

Taste is less hoppy, still all citrus, with moderately sweet bready malt and modest bitterness. A solid, sessionable IPA that is in the west coast style but approachable for noobs.

Mouthfeel is very soft, almost cask like, with a bit of a dry finish.

Drinkability is pretty good, a nice little IPA. While I appreciate the smoothness, I'm sure they could bump the ABV up closer to 6 and still retain the balance (which is more in-line with what I look for in an IPA).

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 00:36:07 | More by ccrida

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on the randall tonight at Parkway Tavern

A.Poured a lightly cloudy light copper with a nice white head

S: Citrus and caramel mainly

T: Mix of citrus and floral notes, light caramel

M: Well carbonated, lighter hop bite

D: Pretty good, but even on the randal I was looking for more

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2010 02:38:38 | More by barleywinefiend

JTahoe

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

on tap, poured into a Hale's pint glass at Hopevine Pub.

A - Copper color with barely a whisp of head, just a beige ring and nearly no lace.

S - Mellow herbs and flower petals over a fairly roasty malt aroma.

T - Steeped wild flower petals and pine infused mandarin. Rich bready body.

M - Medium body with excellent prickly carbonation.

D - Smooth and somewhat understated at first for aPNW IPA, but the flavor develops nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2010 02:40:09 | More by JTahoe

ralree

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tried in Seattle at the People's Pub Aug. 2008.

A: Reddish orange, pretty transparent. Good lacing. Not much head.

S: Sweet malt, lots of hops, apricot.

T: Heavy grapefruit and apricot - very juicy and sweet. Pretty alcoholic. Hops taste good, and are flowering, but they're subdued. Leaves an alcoholic and slightly bready aftertaste.

M: Non-astringent, medium-light bodied. Not oily, pretty dry.

D: A little too sweet, but not bad. A good transition beer into the IPA world for those with a sweet tooth. Drinks alright, but wouldn't be my first choice for an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2008 23:28:28 | More by ralree

IgotsHops

Washington

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Overall, a good beer. Nothing incredibly special when it comes to an IPA.

Appearance: This was not poured very aggressively, and I would have liked to see what the head could do on this beer. Pale and golden, somewhat cloudy, apricot color.

Smell: Strong Hops. Well balanced selection. No overwhelming pine or floral aromas, but you could almost smell the alpha acids.

Taste: Nothing too surprising here. Good balance of hops, a basic base malt. I would have liked to experience more of the malt flavor in addition to the bitterness that was pretty prominent, but it followed the pretty standard IPA formula.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel was clean, crisp, but there was a little residual bitterness which every IPA has.

Drinkability: A good sipping IPA, not a session beer. It would be great with a meal, like a creamy Alfredo dish. I only needed a 12 oz serving and I didn't need to taste it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2008 17:54:26 | More by IgotsHops

woemad

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint consumed on-tap at the brewpub for $4.

The beer was a hazy amber color, slightly darker than the Scarlet Fire IPA I'd had previously. It came with a couple of fingers of off-white lace. Lots of lace were left on the sides of the glass.

The nose was spicy and bitter, with a mild biscuity hoppiness cowering in the background. This made an excellent contrast with the more citrusy and slightly more malty Scarlet Fire. Big Time is to be commended for having IPAs that show off both the citrusy and spicy routes a brewer can take.

Like the nose, the taste was of a spicy, bitter, piney IPA that would appeal to a hardcore hophead. The maltiness in the taste was primarily to provide a backbone to contrast the hops and served no other purpose.

Mouthfeel was oily with hop resin, and the body was about medium, fine for the style.

A very tasty, bracing type of IPA that serves as a great counterpoint to the more citrusy Scarlet Fire. Big TIme is a must visit for any IPA fan passing through Seattle.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2007 04:21:36 | More by woemad

shivtim

Georgia

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on-tap at Big Time. It's a hazy yellow orangish beer with great lacing and a slim but foamy head. Nose is syrupy hops and slight citrus. Taste is heavy on hops with just a bit of malts, and slight sour citrus. The finish is nice and hoppy without being ridiculous. Drinkability and mouthfeel are both above average. Not a bad IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2007 16:09:43 | More by shivtim

GClarkage

California

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mid September 2005. Had at the Big Time Brewery in Seattle, WA.

Presentation- via samplers from the tap.

Appearance- Lightly cloudy golden pour, 3/4 inch head with great lacing.

Smell- Very lighly scented. Maybe a touch of sugary and fruity hops.

Taste- Very bitter flavor. Lots of hops...mostly fruity, but some piney ones as well. Some decent malt flavoring as well.

Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation level.

Drinkability- Well rounded brew. A very well done IPA. This brewery continues to impress.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2005 21:30:06 | More by GClarkage

xoqx

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured to a hazy copper with a nice 2 finger head. Diminished to lace over the next couple minutes.

Smell: A strong hoppy smell rolls off this beer, not much else.

Taste: Powerful hops give way to an almost piney, long finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium

Drinkabilty: So many around town speak with such reverence for this beer, I expected to be a little more wowed. That said, it’s a very well-crafted IPA and should please any fan of this category.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2005 08:53:42 | More by xoqx

francisweizen

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to RoyalT for the growler of this he sent my way in a recent exchange! This stuff was awesome. A cloudy dark orange colour with a large off-white head of foam. The aromas are of fresh citrusy hops, with a nice piney edge to them as well. The taste is fresh, citrusy, piney, fruity, and awesome. There is also a nice malt backbone holding everything up as well. The mouthfeel was creamy and smooth, what more could one ask for in an IPA. The drinkability was, of course, awesome as well! Another great PacNW hop bomb.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2004 15:52:29 | More by francisweizen

RoyalT

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – This one poured a thick, hazy dark orange in color with a modest but inviting head.

Smell – The big, PacNW citrus and pine leapt from the barroom glass. This is a classic, locally-brewed IPA. There was a nice malty sweetness to the nose as well.

Taste – Like citrus hops? Here ya go. The fruity hoppiness was huge in this IPA. There was a bit of malt balance as well, but the citric hop profile clearly dominated.

Mouthfeel – This medium-bodied ale showed some decent carbonation and was dry as a bone. This will suck your cheeks in for sure. You almost want another beer to chase this with.

Drinkability – I was sipping on this as I was the DD for the evening. Otherwise I would have drained the pint glass like a Ferrari zero-to-sixty time.

Update – I had a 2005 batch at skyhand’s Beer of the Dead party on Halloween, and this really is a solid IPA. It’s not too dry but very hoppy and easygoing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2004 01:39:10 | More by RoyalT

jreitman

California

4.72/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Very hazy gold in color with a nice off-white head. Head leaves a nice lacing down the glass. Hop aroma was floral and citric, but not overwhelming or very assertive. The beer comes across as very crisp in almost every way. Hops are assertive, yet not in your face like some brewers tend to do. Malt flavors (sweetness particularly) are allowed to show and present a very nice balanced feeling to the whole thing. Finishes moderately bitter and malty with a dryness. Some toasted flavors are also evident in the finish. A truly outstanding beer, IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2003 21:56:17 | More by jreitman

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a clear coppery orange amber. Half finger off-white head that dissipates quickly to a ring around the glass and patchy foam. Slippery lacing. Aroma is mild herbal and citrus hops. Flavor starts with light to medium citrus hops with sweet caramel malt developing into a citrus and piney hop and malt finish. I'm getting used to a bit more assertive aromatic hops in my IPAs now, so this one is somewhat subdued. The taste and flavor progression is pleasant. Light to medium bodied. Good for a low ABV IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 03:33:46 | More by LiquidAmber

dirtylou

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber from the brewery; split

appearance: served in my big time shaker pint, a pale amber body with a light layer of beige bubbles and no retention

smell: subtle - citrus, a touch floral

taste: big time cranks out a lot of IPA's of varying quality and consistency - while this may be the most accessible, its not my favorite. A subtle hop profile, with enough caramel and toasted malt to confuse it with an american amber, light floral notes

mouthfeel: light and slick

overall: refreshing, but not exceptional

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 20:38:02 | More by dirtylou

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle.

Pours hazy copper with an orange hue. An inch-plus of white froth settled to a partial skim coat with lacing throughout the glass.

Aromatics lead off with a blend of pine and grapefruit, with toasted biscuit ends and a hint of drizzeled honey. Not screamingly pungent or floral, but nice and fresh.

Medium bodied with a mouthfeel thats split down the middle creamy and crisp. Quenching.

Citrus fruit, pine, and a drying bitterness start the palate. Shades of orange pulp, spruce resin, grapefruit oil, and husky malt.

Finishes with a lingering but light bitterness, grapefruit, orange, and pine.

Nice combo going on here. Fairly light duty with the bitterness, but the beer is dry and very quaffable. Quite fresh with a nice hopping profile. Too bad the nose is lacking.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2010 01:29:02 | More by brewandbbq

unHipHopHead

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice deep orange, a little cloudy with a nice fluffy off white head. A nice sticky lace left most of the way down.

S: Very floral and citrus with a tiny bit of malt.

T: Nice soft and sweet floral and citrus balance of hops of front with a good lingering biting hop finish. wow, quite good. There is also a subtle malt backbone to this that balances the brew nicely, it doesn't get in the way of the hops but instead rounds them out with the sweetness.

M: Feels kind of creamy and syrupy with minimal carbonation.

D: Drinks very well. At 5% ABV this is super flavorful and certainly sessionable.

Overall I have to say for whatever reason I wasn't expecting too much from this beer, perhaps it was its location in the heart of the University that impacted my judgement initially but I have to say I was quite impressed by this beer. I asked about the 3 different IPAs they had on tap (they also had 1 belgian IPA) and what the differences were. He said the Bhagwan's was the least hoppy of the 3. As a hop head I cannot wait to try their more hoppy IPAs. I'll be back for more indeed.

Serving type: growler

04-19-2010 21:10:15 | More by unHipHopHead

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy honey-apricot color with a one finger head that leaves a few shards of lace behind

Smell: Citrusy aroma along with some biscuity malt elements underneath

Taste: After a brief flirtation with the biscuit, the grapefruit flavors rise to the surface, tempered just a bit by apricot, as well; after the swallow, the malt returns a bit but this beer remains grapefruit dominant, just as you would expect from a Pacific NW IPA

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: One of the best unheralded West Coast IPAs out there, IMO; too bad, it's not more readily available

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2009 18:31:43 | More by brentk56

beertunes

Washington

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into bubble pint glass. Poured after the growler sat in the fridge for 4 days. There was plenty of carbonation but no head or lacing. A hazy orange color. A subtle hop aroma. The flavor matches the aroma closely, without a strong hop blast. Wonderfully balanced body. The lower alcohol makes this easy to have several of and the flavor makes you want to. I've had this beer before and was more impressed with it and suspect the transfer to growler cost this beer some of its character. A beer I think highly of and recommend going out of your way to go to the brewery. I will update my review after giving it another chance on-tap.

Serving type: growler

02-26-2009 23:20:18 | More by beertunes

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle acquire in trade with bvc - thanks for going out of your way to find me an IPA I haven't had!

Poured a medium and hazy golden color with a larger sized off white head. Aromas of floral hops, piney, and a little toasty. Tastes of citrus, lighter floralness, and caramel.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 01:06:16 | More by hopdog

scootny

New York

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into my tulip tumbler. A tightly carbonated two finger head that has some staying power. Good lacing on the glass. Faintly cloudy amber wit minimal carbonation evident.

Smell is of citrus, piney hops, some caramel, and toasted malt. Bits of bread and yeast as well

Taste is well balanced. A strong hop presence, piney and lightly spicy is followed buy a big sweet malt body. There is a caramel component and the hop bittering in the finish that is quick and dry. A bready yeasty taste is left on the palate.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and smooth. With just enough carbonation to invigorate the drinking experience.

Drinkability is excellent. A satisfying and quenching beer to session

Thanks to dnichols on this one. A real yummy IPA

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 07:23:43 | More by scootny