Hop Hearty Ale - New Glarus Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light orange body and off-white foamy head. Malty and faint hop aroma. Light though creamy mouthfeel. Easy drink, bitterness enwrapped in malt, decent balance. Not too complex. Above average brew, Fairly average for its style and will underperform for the hopheads.Dry aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2006 02:15:10 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Crystalline orange-copper with a portly head of orangish beige. The stiffsticky cap of foam looks as expected given what I assume to be the generous hop load in this IPA. There's a perfect one finger ring at the top edge of the glass with fat, vertical rivulets leading down to the beer's surface. Perhaps I could foretell the future by reading lace as some do by reading tea leaves. I predict... that I'm going to like this beer.

The wonderfully hoptastic nose certainly doesn't hide its robust caramel maltiness. Hops win going away, but if the aroma is any indication, they're more than well-supported. Now, to the actual drinking. Hop Hearty is one of the more balanced hoppy IPAs that I've run across. Heavily toasted malt provides more than mere support, it provides flavor as well.

There are still plenty of hops in the house (pine sap is particularly strong), but they don't soar and explode in my mouth due to the restraint imposed on them by the sweet caramel-toffee. The hop bill appears to reside somewhere over the North Atlantic, closer to the U.K. by my palate. There's nothing at all amiss with the medium-full, sparsely carbonated body/mouthfeel.

Hop Hearty Ale is a well-crafted beer from a solid Midwestern microbrewery. Again, even though I like my IPAs to be more hoppy and less malty, I'll still finish the bottle with relish. Another quality offering from the good folks at New Glarus, courtesy of Skidz.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2004 22:50:25 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

amber with a huge white pillow like head on top. Very and I mean very slowly receded and left behind lots of lace down the glass. Big time visible sediment here, bottom of the glass was covered.

Smell was a huge hoppy fiesta. Big profile was filled with hints of orange, grapefruit and pineapple. As it warmed a slight sweetness started to come through, but the big name here was hops! This was great citrus centric hoppy IPA, my favorite kind. It was smooth as silk going down and left a nice dry tingling aftertaste, left a long lingering flavor that stayed behind for a good 15 mins.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 02:51:44 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes. On tap at the brewery. Was very disappointed that this got retired; this was one of Amyliz4's favorite beers.

Pours a copper caramel color. Nice off white lacing. Nose is quite nice with some citrus notes and a bit of caramel. Taste doesn't go too far in any direction with a nice balance between citrus and caramel. Light bread. Good feel with a bit of sweetness and some bitterness. Drinks quite well and is really quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2010 02:38:07 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a thick three finger head that won't give out, while leaving plenty of lacing behind

Smell: Rather balanced, with a full on caramel tone that is joined by a piney hop character

Taste: Caramel malts dominate, up front, but by mid-palate, the piney hops arrive and more than hold their own; after the swallow, the flavor profile is balanced, with the brown sugar and caramel flavors lingering just a bit longer than the hoppy ones

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation; a tad sticky

Drinkability: As one who likes a more attenuated IPA, this one doesn't really float my boat; still, it is a well-crafted example of a balanced IPA and I recognize it as such

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 23:16:56 | More by brentk56

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours out a brilliantly clear, orange-amber body topped off with a full inch and a half head of off-white foam with some notable staying power to it.

Smell: The nose has a bright zestiness with a lightly oily, pithy lemon character. Pale malts with a note of delicately toasted grains and a plastic-wrapped cube or two of milk caramel.

Taste: Pale malts with a hint of clean, fresh, washed grains and a moderate amount of sweetish caramel tones preclude the citrusy, zesty, spicy hops from the Cascade and EKG's. Medium amount of bitterness. Appropriately dry on the back end with a light, ending malt hint and slight, lingering bitterness. Presents a good balance from beginning to end.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: I dug it! A very nice, well balanced India Pale Ale from New Glarus that presents a firm hoppiness but also a nice amount of balancing maltiness.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 18:11:31 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a light brown colored ale with a nice big head with better then average retention. You can easily feel the bitterness in the aroma. Taste is as expected, i.e. quite bitter with a side of roasted malt and subtle floral notes. I would put this one on a par with Victory Hop Devil as one of the great IPA out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2004 17:25:33 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A fantastic IPA. Colored with a hue between orange, copper, and golded, with a light, airy head retention / formaiton and shows nice lacing as the beer falls. A rich bready, yet well attenuated malt character sets the tone for a very clean, crisp cracker-like maltiness. Sharp, pungent hops take on more pine than citrus, but make the beer dry and refreshing on the palate. Grassy from dry hopping, and minty in the finish. Those hops blend well with the fruity esters from the yeast. Wish we could get more of this down here in 'tucky.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2008 18:38:40 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The perfect balance and support that occurs between Hop Hearty's toasted, biscuity, and caramelish malts, and its citrusy and piney hops is what makes it work so well. It's just slightly hazy despite its bottle-conditioning, and its reddish copper body glows with orange and gold highlights beneath a creamy head of white foam. The head retention is very good, and it leaves wide rings of lace at the outset of the glass, and walls of spotty lace as it goes. Piney and citrusy hops grace the nose over a caramel-soaked maltiness, and return moments later in the flavor. It's not agressively hoppy, nor abusively bitter, and its wonderful balance leaves it quite drinkable. In fact, it's soft, juicy grapefruit character is so well entwined within its biscuity/toasty/caramel maltiness that at times you don't even notice it and percieve the combination as one whole. It finishes dry with some short-lingering dull caramel and a sprinkling of hops. It's not a knock-your-socks-off IPA, but it's really well-done and exceptionally balanced. Very drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2005 20:26:19 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Color is typical clear, reddish hue, with a firm, if smallish, white head. Nose is sharp, and hot, pine and spruce associations jumping forward. Some citric tones, too, but however you divvy it, it's all hops, baby! Fresh and bold on the palate, though the finish is a bit too brief, but not unmemorable.
Body's medium, malt back-up is quite good, very substantive. Very tasty, and very rewarding! Deee-licious! Quite a treat for this card-carrying hophead. I sampled this brew after having last had a draft pint of an all time fave, Summit IPA, upon my lips, and it handily held a candle! Onward, Wisconsin!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 03:30:02 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, amber color with a good deal of carbonation. It had a foamy, off-white head that left sticky lace.

S - It smelled very citrusy and floral. Also, some caramel malt aroma.

T - This starts with a nice hop bite, very hop forward. The caramel maltiness takes a back seat to the hops. Very citrusy.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a great IPA. It has a great citrus hop bite that will grab your attention.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2008 12:40:17 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from brdc, so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of caramelized malts, floral hops and citrus.

T: The taste is malty up front, with sweet flavors of caramel & citrus along with a bit of smokiness. There's a strong hops presence that comes in and provides a good balance. The after-taste is hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a good IPA that is worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2008 22:40:06 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cheers to mothman for this one, thanks Ben

Pours an effervescent orange/copper with 2 fingers of fluffy sand colored head. Above average lacing & average lacing

S: Slight citric hop presence & not much else

T: Biscuitty malt, flinty dryness with floral & citric hops, plus caramel up front. Biscuitty malt, slight hints of tangerine & herbal hops shine through as this warms. Finishes dry with a slight booze pop at the tail end, along with herbal & leafy hops. This would rated higher to me as an English IPA

MF: Medium bodied, a touch sticky with low carbonation & good balance

Drinks easy enough, not really assertive enough to blow me away as an AIPA, but I would happily session on this given the chance

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2009 03:32:40 | More by russpowell

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a clear, deep copper-amber color that sits beneath a creamy tan head. As I pour this beer, I get suprisingly malty aromas that waft to my nose. As I go in for my first deep smell, I get more malty notes of toasted malt, and carmel. I go in for a deep snort, and just confirm that malt aromas dominated the nose on this beer. Perhaps I get a hint of citrus in the nose, but that is it.

The taste has a zingy, hoppiness to it that is slightly herbal and definitely floral in character. The finish is nicely bitter,but is dominated by a dry, austere maltiness that is evocative of lightly toasted biscuits, caramalized sugar, and raw malted barley. I get flavor notes of lemon, grain husk (a certain astringency in the finish), crystal malt, biscuit malt, and a certain elusive grassiness. The hops certainly are dominant in the front of this beer, but there is a really nice complimenting malt component in the finish, which ends up competing with the bitterness to balance this beer out.

I would, perhaps, have enjoyed this beer a bit more if it had not been labled an IPA. It is so malty as to almost throw me for a loop. It is quite hoppy as well, it is just not a conventional IPA (and really who wants that). While there is a pronounced maltiness here, the hops still play a central role.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2004 20:30:53 | More by Gueuzedude

emerge077

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice color, slightly darker amber into orange. Creamy head that leaves intricate lacing. It settles, then creeps up again with a swirl.

Light herbal & grassy notes, sweetly malty later on.

Flavor has some herbal hop notes, but very low bitterness. Body is malty but fairly light. Easy to drink if you enjoy a mellow IPA. Malt seems to win out in the end, like a subtle English IPA. Good for summer weather...

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2008 23:50:35 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: amber in color with a 1" head that falls to a thick surface foam. Light lace develops.

Smell: grapefruit and floral hops are very pleasant on the nose.

Taste: caramel and floral hop bitterness is hearty but not overbearing. Grapefruit and pears round out the flavors.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp throughout with some light dryness late. Long aftertaste here.

Drinkability: this is an easy to drink IPA that has a nice balanced flavor. Refreshing too. Worth finding this one and giving it a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 19:07:34 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Wasatch for this one...

Pours clouded caramelish amber with a one-finger white head that lasts.

The smell is of caramel - and plenty of it - with some pine and citrus.

The taste is of lemon, pine and general citric fruitiness with plenty of caramel. The caramel is at an even balance at times, though the hops do get ahead with some sips. This is a maltier, caramelish IPA. Bittersweet finish.

Well, it does have a nice drinkability and it's not bad at all if you are looking for a more balanced IPA with a caramelish flair.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2008 13:29:46 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Starts with a great citrus aroma (centennial hops?) and have a dark amber body to match. The malt profile stands out more than your average American IPA with a rich caramel malt flavor that finishes with a bit of cocoa. The hops aren't too big and the bitterness is only moderate, but there's a nice creamy grapefruit quality that comes through. It's not the biggest or the baddest IPA, but it's different and makes for good drinking. My favorite IPA out of WI so far.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 23:53:46 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz bottle courtesy of my top trading partner, JAYW (6 and counting).

A: The IPA is a darker amber color, more auburn than brown or red. A small band of lace appears to be lacing around the lip of the glass.

S: My first thought from the nose is that the hops are strong enough tbe be a DIPA, thick with pulpy citrus notes. As the ale warms, the nose softens up and reveals a smaller hop profile that still drips with citrus.

T: The first sip dispels that stronger nose. A blast of biscuity malt greets the taste buds, full of cereal grains and toast flavors. Mixed with the grains is a spicy, piquant citrus hop flavor. The citrus flavor is resilient, lasting throughout the sip and playing nicely with the biscuitiness along the way. As the ale continues to warm, a floral hop flavor emerges to nicely compliment the citrus elements. This is not an overpowering IPA (Two Hearted, Furious, Masala Mama); rather it is a good sipper with a nice hop profile and a good tail.

M: The mouthfeel is subtle, lacking the pizzazz and blast of many IPAs. It instead takes the tactful route, lulling the tastebuds into a state of nirvana.

D: Moderate abv and a nice balance, this IPA is the kind that you want to sit and drink all day long.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 22:31:20 | More by akorsak

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours a clear deep orange body with a nice bubble white head and a gentle carbonation.

S- The smell of fresh green hops and some citrus hops is very fragrant with a hint of grapefruit in the finish.

T- A nice malty backbone with a slight sweetness blends with an almost white grape hopiness. The caramel flavors come out a bit more as it warms and the hop bitterness is light but complex in the finish. A taste of cat pee, in a very good way, is in the finish hop flavor

M- medium mouthfeel with some creaminess that makes it feel smoother.

D- This is a very well balanced IPA. Many IPAs focus on the hop complexity where this beer takes it a step further. It really brings in the malt and the complex layers of hops to give it a very smooth but bold Drinkability. Well-built and unique IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2005 02:59:51 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to flyingbison and ThomasHardy for this brew.

Pours a cloudy dark golden orange color, nice carbonation, nice small creamy tan head, nice small islands and sticky lacing follows. The nose is malty, slighlty hoppy, some citrus and caramel. The taste is mostly a nice blend of malts/hop, with some citrus/caramel thrown in. Nice little dry/bitternes finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, a nice IPA, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2007 00:05:16 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

LOOK: Clear brass, thick sticky head

SMELL: Herbal, earthy, spicy, citric, toasted grain, faint esters, leafy, ripe pears

TASTE: Oily, smooth, medium body, hop forward, blond tobacco, mild pine, herbal, woody, faint lime rind, dried grass, caramel, semi-astringent hop pull, dry biscuit, dry finish

This IPA got up all in my grill and did not want to back down. For serious hopheads only and hopheads that can understand a heavy hand of hops without using those super alpha-roid palate destroyer hops.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 02:19:14 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ouncer, picked up on my recent adventure through the heart of wisconsin. No freshness info offered. Pours slightly darker then average almond, mostly clear, under a long lasting frothy tan head, leaving plenty of impressive sheeting. Nose here is mostly of malt, with a hint of peppery spice and hop notes mixed in. Again I initially get mostly malt here, honey, vanilla, then quite late, some mild, drying hop notes show up on the tongue, more light pepper also in evidence. Respectable sessioner, could use some more hops to satisfy my tastes in an "American IPA"

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2007 15:28:46 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with Skidz. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 3/4" of light tan head over the orangey-amber brew. Lacing is excellent. Aroma is malty, but shares the stage with piney hops. Taste is solid malts up front, smoothly flowing over the tongue, and then the hops kick in the door and ransack the place. But not so bad that everything can't be put back in order, for an overall balanced flavor from both ends of the malt/hops spectrum cancelling each other out in the end. Wonderful stuff. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both excellent.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2004 22:08:48 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to GV for this one! Shared w/ sckressler.

Nice amber body with a frothy off-white head that sticks around. Real nice lacing as this one goes down. Thought I may need a scrub brush after this one. Real nice carbonation w/ a few bits of hops noted in the bottom.
To me, this one smells really nice. It's not an over the top IPA but you can tell this one should be good just by the smell of those dry hopped Cascade and East Kent Goldings.
I love the way it tastes. Not a pretender by any means. It really gets better as it gets warmer and towards the bottom of the glass. The taste resonates for several seconds after the swallow, making sure to leave a caramel hop explosion swirling in the mouth. Nicely balanced. I wish I could always get this one. I could drink them all night if I had a case.

Finger licking good!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2005 13:44:09 | More by weeare138