India Pale Ale - Yards Brewing Co.

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a clear and light amber colour with a nice full lasting and creamy yellow/ tan head that leaves a beautiful and sticky cracked desert pattern on the glass. NOICE!

The aroma comes off to me as a mix of citrusy hops and sweet malts with a hint of white bread to it and a very faint floral note.

The tastes comes off from the beginning as well balanced between sweet pale malts and mild citrus/ earthy hops and as it moves towards the back of the tongue some more of the bittering hops come through in an earthy way and then leaving citrusy and floral once again. The finish is only mildy dry and peppery. This is an excellently balanced beer!

The mouthfeel is lightly sweet and mildly dry with a moderate body being exactly what I would look for in an IPA. The carbonation is once again middle of the road and perfectly done.

I'm an IPA rookie having only tasted a total of 12 to 16 different varieties, but this has to be amoungst one of my favorites. I don't know if I would call it world class as that may be reserved for an imperial IPA like Yards' Cape of Good Hope IPA, but this one is definitely refreshing and not overly hoppy at all. I find it very drinkable and capable of satisfying a hop connoisseur (hop head) as well. I'm giving this a strong 4.4 out of 5! Cheers Yards!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:52:22 | More by WissBrauSean

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Clear dark amber with a fluffy white head and lots of sticky lacing.

S - Earthy, grassy hops and toasty, biscuit like malts. Balanced and pleasant.

T - Light citrus, sweet toasted malt, caramel, earthy hops. Finish is bready and somewhat bitter with a lingering graininess. I'm getting a pronounced nuttiness as well, which I assume is part of the English IPA style, very nice.

M - Soft, chewy, medium-bodied. Dry finish. A hint of warming alcohol.

O - Very enjoyable, easy going IPA. It's definitely on the sweet side, but the fruity hops come in and lend nice balance, making this a tasty, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:43:28 | More by mooseo

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The last of my Yards.

Darkish copper orange on the pour, white head retains at about a finger, nice and bubbly with good lace.

The scent brings herbal+earthy hops, toffee, bread, mineral-y malts. Good strength.

Taste I'd say is a slight improvement over the smell, quite hoppy for an English while still maintaining a nice malt presence. Very earthy, herbal with some light fruit. Malt is complex and nice, caramel, toffee, buttery, nutty, with a big bready finish.

Full mouthfeel with highish carbonation. No complaints here.

Distinctly English IPA flavors but with a bit more oomph. A little strong on the earthiness I think but pretty solid overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 15:59:06 | More by Chico1985

smiga

New Jersey

2.28/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Not for me. Perhaps it's this 6 pack, which has a freshness date of < 60 days.

Presentation: 12 oz brown longneck bottle. Why a union jack on the city that started our independence?

Appearance: Orange, cloudy. Weak and failing head and lacing.

Smell: too estery, solvent, spicy alcohol. Also a little stale.

Taste: Full bodied chewy malt mouth feel. stale sweetness.

Notes: Not for me, old, stale, musty, frat- like aftertaste.

I liked this on draft, but I'd not buy this bottled again, due to a stale, edgy, sharp off taste that reminds me of the morning after frat basement.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 01:11:32 | More by smiga

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought back on my most recent trip to Philly.

A- English-style IPA poured from the bottle and into my pint glass with a slightly hazy orange-amber body. A white head about one-finger in height forms with average retention. A ring with creamy, small bubbles stays around leaving some nice patches of lace.

S- Really not the most aromatic IPA by any means. Some nutty and caramel malts come off the top with some dark fruits. Some herbal, spicy and floral hops but not a whole ton.

T-Yeast seems to offer a bit more here than in the nose. A definite dose dark fruits, spice and some bread notes. Malts are deep and give off some caramel sweets, nutty hints and a slight bit of a toasted feel. Hops round it off with herbal, floral and spicy fruit notes.

MF- Creamy overall feel to the body which is moderately thick. Carbonation has a silky feel and is at a medium level. Slight bitterness in the finish on the palate.

You can certainly taste an influence from the English/Euro yeast strain that must be used here, dark fruits and spices. Full flavored and well-rounded.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 03:56:14 | More by cbutova

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

A: Clear dark golden yellow with one-and-a-half-finger, white, foamy head that lasted several minutes. Great lacing.

S: Citrus and caramel malt. Nice.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and moderate hop bitterness. Butter and toasted caramel malt and citrus hops. English style.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp and slightly warm going down.

O: I feel like this is a pretty good example of the English IPA. Drinkable and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:46:57 | More by SolipsismalCat

barczar

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light brown copper color with a half inch cream head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving spotty lacing.

Bitter orange, grapefruit, and bready caramel malt form the aroma. Floral hop notes emerge as it warms.

Flavor reveals bready, grainy toasted malt, with underpinnings of sour orange and grapefruit. The finish is fairly bitter. More citrus character than expected, which is uncharacteristic of an English ipa.

Body is moderate, with carbonation on the high side, and light astringency and alcohol warmth.

Citrus flavoring hops and bitterness dominate. No real off flavors, but bitterness lingers a but much for my taste. Floral notes and earthiness are present, but are overridden by citrus.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 22:02:13 | More by barczar

socon67

New York

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Orange pour with active carbonation. Hight soapy foam, and decent lacing.

S - Citrus smell of oranges with a slight bitter smell of oily hops.

T - Actually enjoyed that this wasn't over the top bitter. Tart citrus gives way to a earthy hop finish. Malty profile in this one gives it a robust flavor.

M - Very drinkable IPA that is a bit heavy but more mellow with flavor. Heavy feel with moderate carbonation.

O - I'd have this again. A nice IPA for the non hopheads.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:23:49 | More by socon67

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

P- AOH

A- a light copper color. half finger head that dissipates quite rapidly. A decent lacing on the pint but looks foamy.

S- pine hops and orange peel aroma. hints of caramel malts as well.

F- pine resin and orange peel flavor comes out more in the mouth. Simple yet tasty.

M- crisp and not as dry as an IPA. It has some creamy feel to it but the pine resonates in the mouth longer.

O- It really doesnt have too much of an English IPA feel....but the malts on the backend give it that. A nice beer to watch football with though.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 18:59:58 | More by Dodo2step

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear sunrise orange with white head and loads of lace. Good bit of head sticks around.

Smell is pine forward with elements of grapefruit and orange peel. Edging on tropical aromas.

Good IPA.. solid malt upfront, citrus flavors and wash over pretty quickly, clean bitterness to finish.

Finish is very clean..dry.

Enjoyed this...Always impressed with Yards.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 01:49:05 | More by TheMultiYeast

larryi86

Delaware

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle, dated 6/1/12, poured into a snifter

A- A clear amber color with a three finger off-white head.

S- Sweet malts and piney hops, n ot too much going on here.

T- Good balance between hops and malts, finish is fairly bitter, earthy/piney, and fruity sweetness, somewhat apricot like. Also getting some toasted malts.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- A really nice beer that has very nice balance. I am really enjoying this beer and will pick it up again. I have not had many English IPAs and ESBs but the kind of falls some where between the few beers that I have tried in those styles and I really like it!

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 00:33:10 | More by larryi86

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a dark golden/amber color with a thick and billowy just off white head. The head has great retention, but fades slowly over time to give a moderate amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is a mix of hop and malt. There is a lighter sweet malt base of bread and caramel. Mixed with these are hop notes of pine and a lighter citrus (orange and lemon) as well.

Taste – The taste begins with a bready and caramel base mixed with notes of a citrus hop flavor. While the hop starts out mainly of citrus orange and grapefruit in nature notes pine come more to the tongue. The pine gets stronger and begins to bitter the taste as it advances further. Toward the end there is an earthy hop flavor that when mixed with the bready base and the pine leave a more bitter and dry flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the thicker and chewier side with the carbonation level being quite average. The body of the beer is quite nice and allows all the bitter hop flavors to soak into the tongue.

Overall –A pretty good more on the bitter side IPA. Good but nothing extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 00:24:23 | More by Darkmagus82

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yards India Pale Ale pours a glowing, clear amber color with a medium sized, creamy head on top. The foam disappears quickly leaving a netted pattern of lace on the glass.

The aroma is muted but has nice orange citrus, a touch of light fruit and a hint of malt.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is very soft with mild carbonation. The flavor begins with pale & caramel malt and tropical fruit (mango). In the middle the hops kick in with orange citrus and a little pine. It finishes slightly bitter and dry. Once gone the sweet fruit flavor and orange citrus linger on the palate.

This is a very well balanced beer that's easy to drink and would be great to keep in the fridge year round.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:34:28 | More by WanderingFool

jifigz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into a pint glass

A: The appearance is an orange-ish colored beer with a nice head that lingers for quite a while. The beer also left great lacing throughout the drinking process.

S: The aroma is a nice and mild citrus hoppiness that is quite appealing.

T: The taste is an excellent balance of malt with a very nice coating of citrus and floral hop flavors dancing across the top. The hops are crisp on the tongue and taste slightly of apricots and other fruits.

M: The brew is medium bodied and nice and refreshing.

O: I much prefer American IPA's over English styled ones , but this is probably the best English style IPA i have ever had. THis is an excellent beer and very tasty and well balanced for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 16:50:10 | More by jifigz

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in March 2012. Dark copper orange in color with a yellow hue and good clarity. Poured with a short, rocky, off-white foam with good staying power. The foam slowly reduced to a thick cap that left sheets of sticky lacings on the glass. Pungent citrus hop aroma with orange, ripe pineapple and grapefruit. A light caramel and biscuit maltiness manages to show through as well. Medium-bodied with lazy, but rich, full carbonation. Pungent mix of ripe citrus and floral hop flavors right up front and through the middle. Hop flavors abruptly drop away leaving only bitterness through the middle to the end, although the citrusy aromas linger throughout. Finishes dry with a lightly sweet caramel maltiness and tapering hop bitterness. Lots of character and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 18:58:48 | More by IronLover

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew pours a solid copper color with a 2.5 finger head which lasts until near the end and lacing which is pretty thick on the glass until the end.

The smell is of floral hops, orange, grapefruit, pears and maybe honey.

The taste starts with bitter hops, moves to malt then various fruit tastes, (mostly orange and grapefruit,) then floral hops on the back end. There might be a little honey in there as well. There is also a slight pine taste. Floral hop oils remain on the tongue after swallowing.

The mouthfeel is think and bready.

Overall this beer is mostly hops and the associated floral hop taste. There is a good mix of bitter and floral hops as well as a few malts as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 00:04:05 | More by microbrewlover

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yards Brewing Company India Pale Ale

A: Medium pour yields a massive, off-white, textured head. A solid heap of rocky fluff sticks around the whole time, pretty nice. Plenty of sticky lacing. The beer itself is very clear, light amber, and with lively carbonation. 4.5

S: Earthy, floral hops and a touch of citrus in the nose. Pretty mellow, on point for an English IPA. As it warms and/or gets deeper in the glass the tropical fruits are more apparent. 3.5

T: Citrusy, juicy, and a little floral. Maybe some fuggles? Like grapefruits, pine, even some mango. Nice. 4

M: From the looks of it I thought it’d be a bit more carbonated, but what’s there is nice. The mouthfeel is rich but you couldn't say this ale is thick. The finish is refreshing and clean. I could put down a few of these. 4

O: Another good one from Yards (their pale, at least on tap, is amazing); it’s hoppy but not over the top. Don’t get me wrong, these taste buds enjoy a good walloping, but at 7% abv, this is a very sessionable beer if you want a good buzz for the sweet-sixteen... 4

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 18:32:53 | More by NardiByNature

C20Percent

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

*Review taken from notes*

A: Hazy bronze color with a nice head. Lots of bubbles in this one.

S: Hoppy. Big citrus notes with some pine in the background. Aroma is fading fast. Can't understand that one.

T: A hoppy punch that trails off leave a dry, thick finish. A bit malty.

M: Medium to heavy body that coats the mouth. A bit displeasing.

O: Smells nice but doesn't last long. Flavor doesn't match aroma. Doesn't compare well to other IPAs like Stone or Avery.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 19:15:54 | More by C20Percent

Fcip78

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Yards IPA is a tremendous IPA and one of my favorites for a long time now. It pours a nice rich amber in a pint with a great off-white head. This is a very English IPA and that is what I love. Plenty of malt and rich citrusy hops with each sip. I consider a thinking man's IPA with plenty of zip but enough to contemplate and enjoy. A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:28:16 | More by Fcip78

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottled poured into standard pint.

A - Nice clear golden orange color color. Head dies quickly but a speckled lacing paints the glass as I drink.

S - Big on the malt. I get some orange rind and slight hops. It is very strong smelling, which I consider a positive thing.

T - I get alot of citrus, maybe tart grapefruit and orange. Sweet english malt in the center, although not as prevalent as in the nose. Drying hop finish that doesn't linger. Very nice and balanced.

M - Well carbonated and medium bodied. Develops a creamier mouthfeel as it warms.

O - Very well done English IPA from yet another great eastern PA brewery. I like the combination of citrus and english malt. Very smooth and perfectly hopped.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 03:07:49 | More by NoLeafClover44

Brewsky29

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours an light orange amber color with white head that disappeared in a few maybe two minutes. Lacing in the glass though.

This beer has a nice smell of malts and slight citrus.

This beer tastes of malt slightly boozy and not much in the way of citrus or grapefruit.

This beer has moderate carbonation and a slight tingle.

Overall this beer is just okay not much to say kind of bland, probably won't purchase due to, to many other good beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 22:29:02 | More by Brewsky29

cyclonece09

Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a dark amber with a small head that dissipates quickly. Has a wonderful hop aroma with citrus tones, right amount of strength. Great taste with a perfect balance of hops and flavors from the malt. Goes down great and has a good carbonation. This beer is a great IPA. Definitely one that I could drink all night.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 01:57:49 | More by cyclonece09

UDbeernut

New York

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

6 pack given to me for Xmas from baby sis. Pours a translucent tan capped by a off white head with good retention. Light bubbling carbonation rounds the picture. Nose is full of flower and light caramel. Taste is balanced, almost malt centric with cracker sweetness, add caramel, dash of flower hops. Add undertones of peach. medium bodied. Thanks sis.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 21:39:34 | More by UDbeernut

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes. No freshness date. Thanks to biglobo8971 for this.

A- Hazy dark peach colored pour. Half finger sticky eggshell head that sheets the glass in lace.

S- Faint citrusy hop, mild floral hop with a sweet malt backing and orange rind. Very pleasant and refreshing.

T- Subtle sweet malts up front with floral and bittering hops. Lemon juice taste on the tongue. Not as hoppy as I expected.

M- Thin body with a quick juicy start and a dry finish.

O- Solid English IPA, was expecting a little more bitterness, but an unknown freshness can be more the culprit.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 15:49:10 | More by korguy123

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber with a three-finger tanish white head. Moderate lacing left on the glass.

Smell: Citrus and hops, mainly lemon and orange. Sweet, mild malts.

Taste: The front is very grapefruit-hoppy, with a bit of mild malts and a bitter finish that doesn't linger very long, no alcohol taste, it's good.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body and carbonation, it's crisp, but a sipper to me.

Overall: A nice beer that I would definitely try again, it reminds me of a more malty version of their Philadelphia Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 02:45:18 | More by CowsCanBark