Three Skulls Hop The Plank IPA
Baron Brewing

Three Skulls Hop The Plank IPAThree Skulls Hop The Plank IPA
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From:
Baron Brewing
 
Washington, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
72
Avg:
2.89 | pDev: 15.57%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 14, 2019
Added:
Apr 25, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.02/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had the dull yellow/gold color scheme going for it, close to 1/3" white head. Aroma is completely lacking any dry hopping, seems like there is a substantial amount of crystal malt and C hops, but none of them as late stage.

Taste is again all bittering hops, like grapefruit rind and almost nothing more in terms of hop flavors. Back when I had this in 2009, it was marginal, I can't believe how below average it would be today. Mouth feel stays in the all bitter no flavor beyond that lane. Even if you're looking for that C hop fix, there are world class beers out there that do it and do it inexpensively. This really is a great example of the stuff that was being put in overpriced bombers a decade ago.
Feb 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by Braz from Washington

Nov 23, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by WDJersey from Colorado

Aug 19, 2012
 
Rated: 2 by AlaskanYoung from Arkansas

Dec 05, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by twelveinches from Washington

Dec 03, 2011
Photo of sabinelr
Reviewed by sabinelr from Washington

3.18/5  rDev +10%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I have to agree with the previous reviewer. Three Skulls is my kind of beer label. Takes me back to when my bud was making "The Yellow Dog's Beer" and "Shivering Timbers Beer," and I was distilling moonshine into a Rainier beer bottle. So I poured this out into my thrift store Mac & Jack's pint glass, and the first thing I noticed was how cloudy and sort of blah tan it was. Oh well, maybe a little stuff in my beer will give some character. Unfortunately, there is too much character and too much stuff in this beer. The bitterness is indeed too pronounced, and aggravated by the stuff suspended in the beer. But hey, I think it's better than Rainier, and you can't discount the 7%, and it isn't making me gag, so let's say it's average and don't pay premium for it. Three Skulls, keep at it and see how you do next time.
Nov 26, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by Jenray from Texas

Nov 20, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by projhex from California

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

2.84/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Thanks for sharing, Gil.

A: The pour is a golden amber color with a finger of white foam.

S: I feel like a broken record: sweet malts; toffee, caramel, and bread. There's some light citrus peel and pine and only a hint of floral hops. A touch of booze on the back end, too.

T: Bland flavors of stale bread and some sweet toffee and brown sugar. Citrus peel, grass, straw, and a bit of piney hops. Lightly bitter. A touch of booze. Really meh.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: Boozey and sweet and bland. Not a good combination.
Sep 04, 2011
Photo of superdavex
Reviewed by superdavex from Washington

2.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I bought this one based on the cool looking label with the skulls...scary! I felt like it was Halloween. Anyways, this was a rather unimpressive beer all around. A little too unbalanced and bitter, but not in a good bitter way. There was just an off-putting taste from the hops. It left an unpleasant aftertaste. This is not one I would buy again in the future with the abundance of great IPA's out here.
Apr 13, 2011
Photo of AJDean
Reviewed by AJDean from Washington

2.11/5  rDev -27%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Not what I expected from a Northwest brewery. Very malty all around. Seems to be mostly bitter hopped instead of aroma hopped. I didn't really enjoy this beer and would not have it again if given the chance. The taste is more of an amber/red with big malty flavors. It really bugs me also when brewers don't include the ABV and IBU's on their label. I want to know what I am drinking. Dissapointed in this beer.
Mar 24, 2011
Photo of hopburster
Reviewed by hopburster from Washington

1.36/5  rDev -52.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Poured from a 22oz bomber into a regular pint glass. Shared with my buddy BH who wholeheartedly agrees with these notes!

Appearance: Golden amber pour; lots of foamy white head which quickly dissipated, leaving minimal white lacing.

Smell: Nothing jumped out at me; completely unremarkable.

Taste: Took three or four good pulls before dumping it down the sink. This level of brewing is a disgrace to the fine tradition of PNW IPAs!

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied; low level of carbonation.

Drinkability: It's been a long time since I dumped a beer down the drain, but this was a completely undrinkable waste of my time and $ !!! Can't understand how a brewery that makes this kind of swill can compete in a marker full of excellent breweries!
Mar 07, 2011
Photo of Briken
Reviewed by Briken from Washington

3.27/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Clear dark orange amber and off-white foamy/frothy head with good retention and okay lacing. Sweet earthy floral aroma. Dirty malt and hop balance. Hop flavors and bitterness subdued which makes the fairly long bitter linger a bit of a surprise. Peppery at the end. Thin, watery and low carbonation.

Not a big bold IPA but fairly well balanced with good earthy flavor. It must be bottle conditioned because it became cloudy by the end which actually added to the complexity and mouthfeel positively. Although a little too late, it's not too bad overall if you like a balanced IPA.
Feb 05, 2011
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.13/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served in bubble pint glass. Poured a hazy orangeish-amber color with just a thin cap of white head that had OK retention and lacing.

The aroma was fairly evenly balanced between some citrusy hops and a mildly sweet malt scent. The taste was the same, the hops in front, the malt as a base. The beer was very evenly balanced between the taste components.

The body was solid, just a touch short of being full, and very smooth. Drinkability was good, it went down smooth and easy.

Overall, this is a solid, but not outstanding brew. This would be a very good introductory IPA for any of your friends who are just starting to explore. If you're already a hop head, you'll probably want some with a bit more bite.
Jan 16, 2011
Photo of JRed
Reviewed by JRed from New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours a deep, cloudy orange topped by huge white head. Citrus, hops, lemons, lemon scented detergent in the nose. Clean orange, some orange rind, lemon, and sour notes in the taste. Medium bodied beer with medium carbonation. The sour/lemon notes of this beer I found to be quite overpowering and a bit irritating.
Oct 18, 2010
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: pours a hazy orange color with a spotty head. No lace develops.

Smell: some soft floral bitterness and a hint of grapefruit is all that you can detect.

Taste: caramel, light grapefruit tones, some orange, red apples, a hint of pine, and a mild bitterness for the style.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp to start, smoother towards the finish.

Drinkability: this beer was weak in a the flavor department, but it went down easy. One pint was enough in a session.
Oct 01, 2010
Photo of philbertk
Reviewed by philbertk from Washington

3.63/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Three Skulls Ales--Hop The Plank India Pale Ale--2010-A 22 oz. Bottle. 6.90% ABV. 70 IBU's. (3.5 / 5.0) Fizzy thin mild lace white head. Bright clear rich gold color. Sediment dusting. Slightly earthy mild floral pine hop front. Smooth mild sweet slightly crusty caramel biscuit light fruit ester malty body. Mildly bitter smooth balanced hop spice end. No Off Notes. Approached Apprehensively, but not bad. Sampled 6/12/2010. 2 @ $4.49 Each.

Three Skulls Ales--Hop the Plank IPA--2010-B 22 oz. Bottle. 7.50% ABV. 70 IBU's. (4.0 / 5.0) Lacy thin white head. Cloudy bright dark amber orange color. No sediment. Earthy mild floral hop front. Earthy rich pine herbal hop oil infused dry earthy sweet bitter crystal malt mild fruit spicy IPA body. Rich earthy bitter hop spice end. Likely to have a Short shelflife. Sampled 8/30/2010. 2 @ $4.49 Each.

Three Skulls Ales--Seattle, WA Hop The Plank IPA. 7.20% ABV. 70 IBU's. Lacy off white head. Cloudy bright amber orange color. Sweet piney fruit ester hop front. Dry sweet fruity thin body. Piney hop end. (2.0 / 5.0) ABV & IBU's Per Brewer on Site. Sampled 5 oz. Taster @ Seattle, Fremont Oktoberfest on 9/26/2010. Inconsistent and prone to fruitiness.
Sep 01, 2010
Photo of ralree
Reviewed by ralree from Maryland

3.07/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Nice brownish red, 1/8" head, white, OK retention, no lacing.

S: Rather sweet, nice fruity flavor, tasty-smelling malt.

T: Rather bready, not enough hops. Not enough fruit either. Definitely mediocre. Needs to be sweeter and pack more hop punch!

M: Dry, astringent, good carbonation, medium body.

D: Goes down pretty well.

Enjoyed at the Oregon Brewer's Festival 2010
Jul 26, 2010
Photo of brewandbbq
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

2.99/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22oz bottle with Baron Brewing nowhere to be found on the label. Are they trying to hide the fact that they brewed this beer?

Pours clear, dark amber with a one inch head of beige. Retention is decent enough with a solid skim coat throughout the glass and a few strings of lacing.

Aromatics are mildly hoppy with plenty of stalish malt. Hints of pine, grapefruit, cardboard, and caramel. Murky butterscotch follows though along with burnt wires or foam. Eeek.

Medium bodied with a sticky, slightly chewy mouthfeel.

Wet paper-laced malt with grapefruit oil and pine bark start the palate. A firm bitterness runs atop the stale malt and pellet hops.

Finishes with a lingering, coarse bitterness, oxidized malt, and a pellet bite.

Now I know why they didn't put thier name on the bottle.
Jul 09, 2010
Three Skulls Hop The Plank IPA from Baron Brewing
Beer rating: 72 out of 100 with 30 ratings