India Pale Ale - Meantime Brewing Company Limited

MABZ

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a good english IPA. Pours to a nice hazy peachy color with a thick creamy foam. Carbonation is quite active. Lacing could be better considering the awesome qualities of the head.

The smell is quite hoppy. Very spicy, grassy, and piny. Fuggles and Goldings. Nice pale malt aroma, not too buttery. The taste is just as good, though it has a hint of alcohol that doesn't show up in the smell.

Body is nice and full with a very good carbonation and bitterness. Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2006 03:06:49 | More by MABZ

ypsifly

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Corked and caged 750 with BB 03 11 08 jetted on the neck. Purchased at Bello Vino in Ann Arbor and poured into an imperial pint.

Clear brass under two fingers of ivory that shows very good retention and leaves lots of webby rings as it slides down the glass.

Floral hop nose with some apples and a hint of caramel malts. Nice balance and I like the suggestion of apple.

The taste follows the nose step for step. A bit of lightly toasted malt, fruit like flavors that again suggest apples and a growing hop flavor that has earth and leaf. Very well rounded and flavorful.

Medium in body with a good amount of carbonation.

An exceptional beer, quite possibly the best English IPA I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2006 05:38:20 | More by ypsifly

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

But friends, this beer changed my life.

Appearance: Pours out a blurred coppery orange with a very fluffy, very inviting white head.

Smell: Exhilarating aroma of fresh bread, butter, and toffee tied to the spicy, herbal scent of English hops.

Taste: Yum! This brew was a perfect blend of caramel sweetness, rich grains, and a citrus hop flavor reminiscent of orange marmalade. Nice spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Carbonation is soft and fine.

Drinkability: Very much so. I can't help but lavish this beer with uplifting compliments, positive energy, good-cheer thoughts and sugarplums.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2006 04:31:28 | More by ChainGangGuy

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big 750 mL olive-green champagne bottle with a buncha info about the beer on the label. As I removed the cork, there wasn't much of a "POP!" so I was a bit worried it could be flat, but it pours a sediment-laden orange/apricot color with a half inch head that reassures me it isn't flat. It smells citric and soapy with sweet, vinous malts and hints of melon rind that are sharp/tart. It is medium and smooth on the palate with flavors of perfumy/citric hops, soap, the same tart melon rind character, yeast, and a good bitterness that is there to let you know it's an IPA without ruining your palate. Interesting to see an amped-up English IPA designed for the US "bigger-is-better" market, and I'd say they hit their mark, I just wish it weren't 10 bucks a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2006 20:40:33 | More by mmmbeer

cypressbob

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, beautiful 750ml bottle with tasteful text and subtle artwork

Smell, thick sweet english hops, reminds me of an english celebration ale (only with goldings and fuggles hops). Very aromatic. Little bit of lemon and other citrus coming through

Taste, thick dry biscuity flavour, some lasting dry hops with a very english character. Some degree of the usual pine found in US ipa's, but a degree none the less. Slightly spicy, peppery mouthfeel also

A fantastic english big bad ipa, lots of flavour and worth the cash. I'm happy and proud that an english brewery is making such a big bold beer, great drinking such a big beer that isn't a US import

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2006 19:03:49 | More by cypressbob

rajendra82

Georgia

4.63/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer came in an elegant looking Champagne style brown-green bomber with the information about the beer printed on contoured labels. Having a wire cage and cork added to the overall refinement of the packaging. As the beer relinquished the confinement to the appointed Imperial Pint glass, the color looked golden amber, the body slightly hazy, carbonation ample, and head well proportioned at two-finger thick. The appearance was pretty spot on for an IPA from either side of the Atlantic, while the smell was that of signature English hops. The restrained spiciness, and full on earthiness of the hops could not be mistaken for anything but Fuggles & Golding. The taste indicated that the hops had been added in amounts typically absent from the beers brewed over there. It wasn’t overly bitter, but it was certainly spicy and snappy. There was also a good deal of citric acidity that makes the American versions of the style so quaffable. The very cohesive flavor profile set off fireworks in my mouth with each sip. The body was medium thick and carbonation soft and creamy, i.e., the typical IPA mouthfeel that makes me long for the next sip. Aftertaste was long drawn out and citric. Kudos to Meantime for incorporating the American influences so well, while keeping the beer an English IPA at its heart. Will have to pick up more next time I’m at Green’s.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2006 03:31:12 | More by rajendra82

AaronHomoya

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 mL corked bottle poured into a couple of pint glasses.

Shared this with a friend the other night. As some have mentioned, this is not a high-powered hop beer but is very good for what it is.

Pours an amber color, a bit cloudy at the end, decent head.

The aroma is not very strong, no crazy hop assualt, but does have nice malt character with some subtle, more earthy hops.

Flavor is big, strong with alcohol warming and a bit of roasty, biscuit flavor. Has a nice, clean hop finish that is more restrained and earthy compared to American IPA's. Almost tastes a bit like a dopplebock with more hops to me.

Mouthfeel is nice and creamy, smooth and fairly full-feeling. Rather little carbonation.

This beer is pleasing to drink, but seemed strong as I had it. I probably wouldn't have wanted to drink the whole bottle, but I'd get it again to share.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2006 19:25:26 | More by AaronHomoya

Imstillthegman

Delaware

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This Meantime poured a slightly dark golden color with about an inch and a half of off white head that leaves light lacing. You can smell the fruity hops and the malty sweetness almost evenly. The taste starts with the sweet malt but citrus hops take over in the end with a little caramel flavor as well . Medium bodied with only slight bitterness from the hops. Shouldn't have any trouble finishing off this big bottle my self. My new favorite English IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2006 17:22:20 | More by Imstillthegman

Crosling

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Burning forest in color, with a full lofty foam. Fruit cocktail hop aroma (peaches, apricot, pear), with a touch of floral aromas, along with a mildly vibrant sweet malt, caramel thing going on in the nose as well. Well balanced malt and hop flavor, though it is hop accented. The hops are still fruity, just like the aroma, but they also seem piney and resinous as well. Definately not your typical "English" medicinal, antibiotic hop flavor, which some American brewers seem to seize, but rather a fresh, very lively and fitting hoppiness. The malt was very sweet and lingering. Overall, I found it very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2006 06:14:41 | More by Crosling

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

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

750 ml bottle, corked and caged. Meantime IPA has a hazy orange topped with a large, white head. The aroma is mainly hops, with citrus and herbal qualities. Bready malt flavor with lots of fruit, including orange and pineapple. Sweet in the middle, but the finish is fairly bitter. There is a herbal hop flavor that I didn't like at first, but it grew on me as the beer warmed. Creamy mouthfeel. Good drinkability. It was by no means a difficult task to finish the 750 ml bottle on my own. It's a bit expensive, but worth it.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 00:14:13 | More by beveragecaptain

lou91

California

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow what a nice bottle presentation. Poured golden and hazy. Great smell of hops – definitely not an American IPA but the british IPA with use of fuggles and goldings. There are some great flavors of fresh baked bread, pear jam and pineapples. Crisp, clean with enough body and alcohol to tell you this is a serious pale ale. I wish I had seen this in England.$11.99 @ Chevy Chase Wine in DC.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2006 05:35:07 | More by lou91

dogfooddog

Panama

3.48/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle, this one did come from a store with fluorescent lighting, and had been there who knows how long. Served at 50F in a pint glass. Lot number on bottle 51647. Opens with very light pop (cork) but is very carbonated.

This beer is very heavily hopped, i don't taste any malt at all. Smell is not great, a little sour. Not too appealing.

Taste somewhat sour hoppy overwhelming mouthfeel, reminds me of some cask ales where they were not on quite right.

The aftertaste is bitter, with some floral notes. I am not enamoured of this beer, but given the storage situation where i bought it that may be part of the issue.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2006 23:25:11 | More by dogfooddog

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle obtained via trade with LuckySevens82. Thanks for the opportunity... Corked and caged. Nice that the caged top has drinking directions: "Remove cork, hold glass open end up, pour, taste, swallow." I think they left off "repeat as necessary", but maybe they ran out of room.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a frothy 1 1/4" off-white head above the clear golden amber brew. Head fades quite slowly, and light, delicate lacing is prevalent, not unlike a cask ale would produce. Aroma is balanced, yet that does not indicate boring, as hops and malt sweetness are present. Taste is also cask-like to my tastebuds, with sedate grains giving way to ample lightly fruity hoppiness, more than what the style classification would lead you to expect. Mouthfeel and drinkability are superb, would love to find this one locally, perhaps for a bit cheaper, and revisit over and over.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2006 22:46:56 | More by ppoitras

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm gonna break down most of this review into two pours since the first pour from my 750ml bottle into a my American pint glass yielded noticeable differences in appearance, flavor, and taste than the second pour.

Appearance- First pour yielded a a sparse one finger that dissipated in about a minute. The color was an exquisite golden amber color with a little lacing. Second pour yielded the same one finger head but the color was a more cluody copper color. Darker than the first pour from gthe bottle.

Smell- First pour was a dry 70% malt, 30% hops with a anise thrown in their. Second pour was a more complex smelling malt with a bit of hops and sugar and cinnamon.

Taste- First pour was closer to a regular IPA. A dry hop and malt mix of about 60% and 40%. The secodn pour was a much more complex and dynamic flavor. The hops and malts were dancing around in my mouth beautifully. With hints of candy and toffee. Toffee, can you believe it.

Moouthfeel- First pour was in the traditional IPA vein of dry and hoppy as far as the palate was concerned. The second pour was a rich hop and malt palate that this beer went great with my corned beef hash and pickles lunch swimmingly.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2006 19:34:05 | More by scruffwhor

Gusler

Arizona

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The after it's de-corking for the 750ml brown bottle resides in the glass a beclouded amber with a prestigious creamy light tan head, the lace forms a tight skirt around the glass. Nose is rich in hops, sweet malt, and a citrus-like crispness that makes the mouth water, start is sweet with a pleasing grain profile, the top is middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is nicely hopped, mildly acidic and the aftertaste desert bone dry, a nice IPA, that hits the "B" spot after a long day of toil and trouble, worth a sample.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2005 01:42:01 | More by Gusler

meathookjones

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml corked bottle. Cloudy amber colored body with a quick rising tall off white foamy head. Nice rings of lace as the head drops. Citric and floral hops come out quite nicely in the aroma with a solid malt backbone. A bit of hop juiciness with some caramel rounds it out. Flavor starts with some sweet caramel and bready malts before the hops come on again. Citric hoppiness adds a nice bitter edge along with some earthy notes. Nice strong flavor that is fairly balance while letting the hops take center stage. Finish is a nice lingering dry grapefruit bitterness. Plenty of body to carry the great flavor and quite smooth. Really easy drinking stuff to boot. If this was a little bit cheaper and more available locally I would definitely make it a regular.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2005 19:57:30 | More by meathookjones

deejaydan

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear straw color, good head and nice lacing. Aroma is hoppy, but not reconizable to me. A good mix of citrus, grassy hops, and a slight dash of spicy hops. Flavor is remarkably balanced. Slightly sweet up front, and then that's washed away by the hops. Mouthfeel is okay, a touch thin, but the carbonation is nice. This is a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2005 03:23:05 | More by deejaydan

mntlover

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a lightly hazy amber burnt orange color with a creamy looking nice off white head that falls slowly and laces well.

Aroma is caramel malt mixed with bready toasted malt lots of citrus orange peel with some herbal and spicey notes mixed in as well. Some sugary notes of molasses noted as well.

Taste is malty big some metalic notes from somewhere. Caramel mingled with hints of sugary molasses appear briefly. Nice big hop profile for an English IPA citrus orange, grassey with some light herbal flavor that complements the metalic taste.

Mouthfeel is big almost full, nice almost like free floating sugars are in the beer.

Drinkability is good, very enjoyable big but not strong, 7.5% no noticed at all. One of the best English IPA's I have had. Pricey but worth it.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2005 15:53:55 | More by mntlover

shirfan

New York

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy golden-orange with lots of floaters and a sticky layer of lace.

Warm, sweet inviting aroma of croissants and toffee.

Flavor hits with juicy floral and leafy hops, backed up by sweet and chewy malt. Light notes of toffee and butter. A well-balanced IPA, maintains sweetness and a very drink-more-of-me profile throughout.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2005 01:00:29 | More by shirfan

RedwoodGeorge

California

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml champagne style bottle with cork and cage makes for a very impressive presentation.

The ale pours a deep cloudy orange bordering on brown with a thick, sticky off-white head. Retention is good with a bit of crown lasting through the entire drink and plentiful lacing on the glass.

Plenty of hops in the nose - the Fuggles and Goldings are obvious and plentiful with lots of floral and herbal notes. Taste is bold, rich and very well balanced with a respectable malt body to keep the hops in perspective. Bread and caramel notes, some sweetness on first blush. Next comes the spicy, herbal and resinous flavors. Great presentation and a wonderful sequence of flavors.

Mouthfeel is very good. Medium bodied with very fine carbonation. If this isn't bottle conditioned it sure seems like it. Great finish, clean palate, only mild bitterness despite the bold hopping.

While it sounds stupid when you step back and look at it, my first impression was "wow, it's as if someone made a very nice IPA but used English hops instead!" (duh) Very drinkable, very enjoyable, it's a shame this isn't widely available on this side of the Atlantic.

[a big thanks to LuckySevens82 for this brew - what a find!]

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2005 22:49:05 | More by RedwoodGeorge

merlin48

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very attractive, corked and caged, 750 ml bottle. Thanks to mntlover for bringing this one to our tasting on 11-05-2005.
Pours a mostly clear, orange marmalade body with a billowing, three finger offwhite head. The head becomes pitted and rocky, and immense lacing is spongy and clinging. Very impressive to behold.

Aroma features English hops that are really kicked up a few notches. Earthy and herbal, with some citrusy orange notes. Toffee and fresh baked bread lend a pleasant balance.

Mouthfeel is smooth and satiny, with a medium body and moderate carbonation.

Taste is a definite departure from most English IPAs, with plenty of toffee tasting maltiness, some citrusy lime and orange, and signature earthy and herbal Fuggles and Goldings hops. Bready and doughy most of the way through with a body full of toffee and molasses notes. Hop bitterness adds a crisp and bitter balance. No hint of the 7.5% abv.

Very likeable IPA that seems to be brewed for the hopped up American market. I will be looking for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2005 12:00:16 | More by merlin48

cokes

Wisconsin

4.7/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It sits in the glass, dusty golden amber topped with fleeting ivory foam.
Inhale, and its dank prairies, spruce trees, cherry cordials, iron, pumpernickel, fig preserves and browned butter.
It tows toffee first, as it gallivants into the mouth, immediately ensued with apple butter, lime rinds,and biscuits. Raw sugar remains for a moment, and then is swept clean with the quartzite minerality. And here is shimmers for several euphoric seconds. Gritty sand and flint and pulpy orange juice and burned butter and even coriander, as it gradually transfers into a lime leaf and corn husk bitter greenness. At the close, it is all lime twisted gin and tonic, but in flavor only, never in burn or other alcohol-associated unpleasantries.
Medium built, with a firm body butting against a fine-grained, jagged carbonation. And it works perfectly here. This is sharp in almost all its facets and definitions. And it is downable in nothing less than gullet-stretching gulps.
This is a traditionally hewn English IPA juiced to American standards. Seek this one with haste, and don't allow the price tag to scare you off. It's something special, especially for those that might knee-jerkedly dispel Fuggles and Goldings. This shows those hops in unprecedented depth.
Absolutely required reading here.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2005 07:38:40 | More by cokes

Skidz

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out golden amber and sits a hazy copper-gold in the glass with a large silky white head. Fades to a light skim, decent lacings about the glass.

Smells of rich caramel soaked hop cones, oozing with light pine, juniper and crispy brown fall leaves. Bits of apple peels and green grapes.

Bountiful flavors of crisp pine and bold grasses. Wooden undertones soothe a layer of caramel and apples, browned to the core. Hints of pepper and just slight inklings of tropical fruit and apricots. Finish is moderately bitter with plenty of character and hop juices still roaming around.

Delightfully smooth, creamy and paired nicely with ultra-fine, rolling carbonation. Medium-full body holds it all together.

Solid English IPA character, this one is a good performer. And you know what, this packaging does it all for me, it just reeks of class. Even though a bottle runs about $10, it's still worth every cent of it. Better than spending $10 on a bottle of mediocre wine, and much more enjoyable with food.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2005 02:39:51 | More by Skidz

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, orange-copper color. It is not nearly as carbonates as I would expect from a corked and caged champagne bottle, but the head when roused forms a decent sized, rocky, frothy, tan colored head. The aroma is nicely hoppy, though it is not in your face like many American IPA's; it is a mix of fresh cut grass, currants, a bit of lemon, and a light hoppy spiciness. The beer is somewhat full in the palate, almost sticks to the mouth. The beer finishes with a solid, sharp bitterness, which is balanced by sweet malt and fruity hop notes. The hops in this have contributed a definite orange character, which I was not expecting from a mix of Goldings and Fuggles hops. The citrus note really picks up in the middle and lingers on long after the beer has been swallowed. There is an herbal, grassy note here as well. The sweet malt is here, but really only accentuates the citrus character in this beer; there is some subtle dry malt character here that makes me think of biscuits, toasted malt and whole grain crackers.

This is certainly not anything like your standard, subtle English IPA; this is full flavored, including a bracing bitterness that is not typically associated with an English beer. I definitely like this beer, better than I allowed myself to hope for. This is certainly balanced, but I do like the differing hop notes that play against each other.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2005 05:32:20 | More by Gueuzedude

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A beer that I have noticed a few times in the area and never picked up now I have and looking forward to it,poured a slightly hazy golden with a a real orange hue with a frothy two finger head on top leaving a sheet of lace behind as it settles.Very herbal,minty aromas due to the large dose of fuggles thrown in with a nice caramel undertone.Well balanced but with a real nice big hop profile,herbal "green" flavors hit ya but the big caramel sweet malt backbone holds up well even showing thru at times.Wow this is a nice big English IPA more subtle than some American counterparts but thats fine,well made and a treat to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2005 20:51:51 | More by oberon