Hop Czar - BridgePort Brewing Co. / Brewpub

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.03/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap. Pours a medium brown with an inch of light tan head. Some lacing. Aromas of citrus namely orange peel. Taste is rather malty with some citrus hops. Orange peel and pine. Not very hoppy considering the style and name. Medium bodied. Not much else to say here. Overall, not necessary to have this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 01:41:21 | More by PicoPapa

3.85/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Exchequer Pub in Chicago.

Appearance - pale orange with a slight white head.

Smell - Lots of West Coast hops upfront. Lighter on malt than IPAs usually are, hops just dominate the aroma - tons of grapefruit and pine.

Taste - Echoes the aroma - piles of grapefruity hops flavours, with a touch of honey-like malt and a nice bitter bite on the finish.

This beer is very easy drinking given the alcohol content.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2011 21:15:04 | More by

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Portland Brewpub.

A - Pours a clear dark orange/amber with a almost non-existent near white head.

S - Grass, pine, and plant-like.

T - Some sweet malts, citrus, pine, grass.

D - Low carbonation, a bit sticky.

O - Not bad at all, but a touch sweet for my liking.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2011 22:27:57 | More by HuskyinPDX

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance -- Coppery amber shade, very bright, with a slim sudsy beige head. Some lace, not much.

Smell -- Aromas of toasted malt, honey sweetness, tropical fruit, and faint citrusy bitterness.

Taste -- Hops are predominantly in the tropical fruit/citrus vein. Amber malt, almost reddish, with honey-like malt sweetness. Not enough bitterness to adequately balance the malt.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-bodied, crisp carbonation. Solid, albeit not especially noteworthy.

Overall -- Very much a hop-forward strong amber ale. Good, but doesn't stand out in this crowded style. I've had this a few times, and have yet to really be intrigued by it. Wish there was more to say, but this one is very much middle of the pack in regards to DIPA's

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2011 23:11:00 | More by yeahnatenelson

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a barely translucent dark honey-golden with a fine-bubbled, off-white, slightly orangy head that sticks around for a bit. Hoppy aroma has an orange undertone and a hint of malt. Flavor is strongly hoppy and fairly bitter with an undertone of sour orange. Smooth, strongly fizzy texture leaves hoppy, bitter, tingly finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2011 00:37:29 | More by Cyberkedi

velosuds

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap a tavern to say farewell to a departing employee. This was the best choice available of a beer I've not tried.

A-Pours a hazy golden-amber hue with a two finger, bone-white head with good retention and ample lacing.

S-The hops are not fragrant enough for style and not even closing to suitable for a Czar. What is there is to be expected: piney, and citrus, especially grapefruit.

T-Taste is fairly one dimensional, which is somewhat to be expected for the style and from the name. Hops present contribute more to overall bitterness than flavor, but not overtly astringent. There is also a sufficient caramel malt backbone that provides good balance.

M-Smooth and well carbonated. The 7.5 ABV is a little light for the style as is the body.

D-This is a decent but not an exciting beer. Glad to have tried this once without a larger outlay. Not likely to buy again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2010 03:10:29 | More by velosuds

argock

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear tulip glass at Clark Street Ale House (Chicago, IL).

A: Light amber with thin cap of off-white head and light streaks of lace.

S: Nose is pretty light for the style with resiny hops, mild citrus, floral notes, and pale malts.

T: Floral and resin hops qualities are most prominent with pale and lightly roasted caramel malts hitting next. Raw bitterness comes through next and finishes this brew. Enjoyable but mid-pack at best.

M: Good medium-body with low carbonation and smooth feel finished with strong bitter bite.

D: Decent but seems old-fashioned for the style. Needs a retool to strengthen the nose and pack more punch in the falvor department.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 03:51:19 | More by argock

jrallen34

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Paramount Room, into a pint glass...Light copper that is very clear, white head with poor retention, ok lacing...Hopp centric aroma with a very malty backbone. Your average dipa, nothing more or less...The taste is hop forward again, pine resin, a little alcohol. Decently easy to drink.

An average ipa.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2010 21:36:29 | More by jrallen34

spaceycasey

Texas

2.68/5  rDev -26%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On-tap in Austin.

A - Hazy orange with fluffy white head that holds fairly strong.

S - Biscuit and caramel dominate, perhaps slightly oxidized. Little to no hop aroma. Surprising for a Double IPA.

T - Piney, resiney hop bitterness that doesn't match up with the indications the nose provided. Were hops only used for bittering? Caramel flavor comes through a little bit to balance the hops, but not much.

M - A bit on the sticky side, which I find okay for a DIPA.

D - The out of balance bitterness make this below average drinkability for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2010 01:14:19 | More by spaceycasey

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nose is softly vinegary, sweet, malty, and artificially fruity. Smells good.

Pours clear copper with mild head. Looks good.

Moderatly bitter, dry, and thrashy/hoppy, yet decidedly sweet, syrupy, and unusually aged. Soft vinegar and oxidation. More hop with warmth, but hops do not come across very fresh. What a peculiar DIPA; I'm digging Hop Czar. There's a lot of hoppiness but it's restrained, muffled, almost muted. That by no means makes it bad, don't get me wrong. This is a stongly flavored beer with many interesting and unexpected elements. Good bit of hoppy bitterness. Tastes great. Feels good. Nice drinkability.

Absolutely wonderful, a good solid sipper. Intricate, interesting, and tastey. Way to go Bridgeport.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2010 02:16:32 | More by MrHungryMonkey

jokelahoma

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a shaker at Old Chicago at Olathe, KS.
Pours a beautiful reddish gold, little head.

Smells like orange juice. No way to say it any other way. Whatever hops they use a full of orange. Wonderful.

Taste is full of orange, as well. Just amazing citrus. Some malt to balance, but otherwise all orange. malt exists, I guess, but it's just all orange. And this is not a bad thing.

Mouthfeel is surprisingly thin. Yet, that's good. Adds to the whole effect.

Overall this is not an amazing beer, but it is damn good. Alcohol is well hidden. Nice, balanced example of a DIPA style. Worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2010 21:41:45 | More by jokelahoma

nickd717

California

3.18/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Pi Bar in San Francisco.

Pours clear golden with a one-finger white head.

Aroma is nice and hoppy, very citrusy with grapefruit and lemon. Malt presence is minimal.

The flavor is rather uninspiring. Pale malt as well as rough Oregon-style citrusy hops, lemon and grapefruit, almost even a little tart in a way.

Rough hops attack your palate, but not as cleanly as other DIPAs often do. Medium body for the style.

Overall, this is not a bad beer, but it falls short of the west coast DIPA mark for sure. Don't think I'd get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2010 18:37:02 | More by nickd717

bump8628

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light amber with a finger of white head.

The hops aren't nearly as vibrant as they are in the bottled version, especially in the aroma. They show up more on the palate with a mostly raw herbal character with highlights of citrus and pine. Caramel malt forms a solid backbone, which becomes too heavy at times. Finishes with a coarse bitterness on the back of the tongue.

I found the bottled version to be sheer bliss with lots of juicy hoppiness, but the draught version is a bit dull and much more coarse.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2010 22:10:07 | More by bump8628

glid02

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a surprisingly dark copper color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of grassy and pine hop aromas with small amounts of caramel malt and hints of soapiness. As it warms hints of butter enter into things as well, although it's far from overpowering.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Mildly sweet malt flavors up front are quickly overtaken by hop flavors that are more bitter than anything else, though pine flavors do manage to make an appearance. The bitterness intensifies through to the end of the sip.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a solid thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall I didn't go into this beer with high expectations and I was neither surprised nor disappointed. By no means a bad beer, there are a lot of better DIPA's out there.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2010 02:09:11 | More by glid02

nomomentwasted

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Bridgestone in the Pearl yesterday with an excellent smoky IPA pulled-pork sandwich, paired excellently. Served as a full pint in a pint glass.

Appearance: Apricot-amber orange with white head and relatively normal lacing. Head disappeared relatively quickly, leaving the slightest swirls on the crown.

Smell: Slightly citrus and pine, with a spicy hop undertone. This DIPA is not a Pliny-type, with more Chinook and Centennial backbone hops than a Simcoe or Amarillo. Smell is actually pretty mild all things considered, but an IPA it certainly is.

Taste: Straight-forward hop presence, but the flavors don't quite pop in the hop department. More mellow hoppy character for a DIPA, without much resinous and piny and more slightly grassy and a hint of citrus and a bit of spiciness. Malt backbone is very solid at 8% too, and the alcohol is present as an accompanying player. Bitterness is great, but the board claimed it was 85 IBUs, which seems in contrast to other claims of near 100.

Mouthfeel: Actually very pleasant. Bitterness plays a great role, and the alcohol presence doesn't really burn badly or anything. The spicy hop, the bite of the bitterness, the pale malt ever-slightly-sweetness, and carbonation are all spot-on.

Drinkability: Was easy to quaff at 8%, but there are DIPAs out there I'd prefer to this just due to a more robust flavor profile. If I'm drinking an IPA, I want the nose and taste to reflect that hoppiness, and the Czar, while tasty, is not quite enough to knockout a hop thirst.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2009 17:12:41 | More by nomomentwasted

Redrover

Illinois

4/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this one on tap at the Swiss in Tacoma. Served in a standard pint, the beer is a hazy bronze with a tan head.

Nice citrus (grapefruit) and caramel/malt nose.

The taste leads with some nice citrus bitterness followed quickly by a smack of grains that add an earthy quality, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. The beer sweetens mid glass but the hops never disappear.

The mouth is a nice combo of slick and carbonation bite. This is a session for sure.

Note that I did not realize that it was an Imperial while drinking or reviewing. The fact that it is 8% may help explain my mellow & happy mood the rest of the evening!

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2009 18:59:39 | More by Redrover

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A beer with 100 IBU calls to mind Nigel of Spinal Tap boasting of how his amplifier goes to "11". It's comical for two reasons. First, it's been affirmed that the human palate can't perceive bitterness beyond 80 IBU. And second, why would anyone want to?

That said, Hop Czar is still a fine DIPA for reasons I'll soon define. But the arms race thinking behind the continuous escalation of alpha acids gets a bit ridiculous at times and this is one such time.

The smell of Hop Czar is divine. It is resinous, succulent, and piney and quickly alerts the salivary glands that something good is on the way. Not surprisingly, the flavor is excessively hoppy. Four varieties of hops are used and they are overplayed to the point of emaciating the malts. They do contribute to a grandiose display of lace that covers the glass with white, beatific shards. The head is admirable for its sustained soapy lather while the mouthfeel shows a rounded body with taut hop constriction.

As I mentioned, Hop Czar is a fine DIPA. But it's built on the opulence of excess rather than the wisdom of balance which I prefer. Enjoy, but don't say I didn't warn you.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2008 02:01:28 | More by RedDiamond

ralree

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Tried at the Brewer's Fest in Portland.

A: Small head, dark gold.

S: Caramel malt, grapefruit, northwest hops. Smells good!

T: Extremely hard-hitting, very very bitter. Alcohol up front and unabashed. Bitterness stays after swallowing. Really grainy malt. Some light fruit.

M: Very very astringent, medium-bodied, carbonation is a little high. The astringency turns me off.

D: Not very drinkable. It's much too strong, yet, for those who can handle tons of astringency and bitterness, this could be a good pick.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2008 17:22:13 | More by ralree

BucannonXC5

California

3.68/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Hotel glass (~1/3 pint)
From: A Chevron in Tempe, Ariz.
Price: $8.99 for mixed 6-pack
Purchased: May 15, 2013
Consumed: May 17, 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured a dark orange, caramel, amber, clear color with khaki white head. Pretty bubbly underneath. Healthy amount of consistent layered lacing on the sides. Good retention on the top all the way down.

Smelled grassy hops up front. Also got a tad bit of resin, floral and spruce. Honey and caramel malts as well. Maybe some fruit notes. Some dirty socks. Abrupt on nose though.

Tasted a bit better than the nose. First thing I noticed was the heavy maltness that stuck to the tongue with a big bitter backbone. Floral notes come through better here. Also some orange rind and tangerine.

Light-to-medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt, bitter finish.

An OK IPA overall. I’d probably try it again though.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 07:16:25 | More by BucannonXC5

--Dom--

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a clear golden with a 1 finger white head. Piney resiny aroma with malty biscuit.

Pine and grapefruit dominate up front. Sweet malty biscuit on the back end. It's predominately bitter throughout.

Mouthfeel is slightly sticky. Overall this beer is OK. I'm glad I tried it but I probably won't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 03:26:06 | More by --Dom--

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Red IPA with good lacing. Bit of a Belgian look to it.

Smell: Mostly caramel.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Caramel and pine. Excellent balance of flavors, but not complex enough. Mouthfeel is full-bodied at first and becomes very thin as it warms.

Overall: I love the bottle design. I like the beer, but there are easily better DIPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:42:37 | More by tjsdomer2

WalterHeisenberg

New Mexico

4.13/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Aggressive pour into stein
A: hazy reddish amber. Fat foamy head good lacing. Head dies to a foam cap. Nice.
S: not much. Mostly hoppy. Trace of malt. Still what little there is good
T: bitter slightly cirtusy hops upfront slightly malty middle finishes bitter bready. Bitter top to bottom. Could use more bready-ness. That would be excellent. Hint of the 7.5 ABV
M: medium what you expect for an IPA but not a DIPA.
O: pretty nice . Hoppy all around. Fairly balanced. Could use that touch of bready yeast that would be the hop bomb baby! A bit tame for a DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:56:09 | More by WalterHeisenberg

Offa

California

3.76/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

I find this to be a very enjoyable, characterful, and nicely balanced double IPA.

Dark gold, it has a smallish off-white head that steadily thins to a ring.

Aroma is pine and citrus with some toasty raisin.

The taste is similar, but better and fully, with nice balance but clear presence of both sweetness and bitterness. It's an enjoyable and very drinkable double IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 07:12:25 | More by Offa

ilikebeer03

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

About a month hold. Poured 12 oz bottle into a wine glass. (Have to improvise when snifters are dirty)

A: Golden bright orange/yellow. excellent head, retention and lacing.
S: citrus, grapefruit, lemon, malt.
T: Some lemon, grapefruit. Malty backbone. Not too much malt, though. Lingering for quite awhile is a bitter, hoppy after taste.
M: good level of carbonation. Medium to Medium +. coats the mouth and leaves a linger aftertastes.
O: A pretty good beer for a very reasonable price. Not the best imperial IPA out there, but certainly not the worst.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:36:43 | More by ilikebeer03

Braz

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Aroma: Piney and resinous. Touch of citrus rind.

Appearance: Clear, bronzey topaz in color. Pure white head that leaves a bubbly froth on top.

Taste: Quite bitter and definately hoppy. Not alot of sweetness to speak of. Very bitter lingering aftertaste with a touch of booze.

Mouthfeel: Smooth easy drinking feel. Dry finish.

Overall: I prefer IPA's to have just a little more sweetness to them. This is still enjoyable but would not recommend to someone who is still trying to get into IPA's as it is very bitter.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:15:56 | More by Braz