Portsmouth Bottle Rocket IPA - Portsmouth Brewery

SaucyA

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber from the brewery during the last Kate release. Thanks Tom :D

Dear Kuhnhenn... Portsmouth Brewery is a perfect example of how to make labels on the cheap, and still have them look AWESOME. Get with it.

A - A wisp of gunsmoke exits the bottle upon cracking. Poured the vast majority of it into my Short's imperial pint. The head is a khaki colored foam that rises above the lip of the glass, and slowly caves into itself. The body, an effervescent, firey bronze looks awfully inviting. Shines a glowing ruby hue on my hand when I pick up the glass. Fat lacing. I'm having an experience right now haha

S - Not insane in the nose, yet well put-together. A nice malt backbone is evident in the nose and appearance, and the herbal hop profile plays around in the foreground. Almost metallic notes?

T - Very balanced... extremely balanced. Holy wow. While not overdone, it's just an IPA and doesn't really have to be. It's a perfect little blend of big malts, and supreme hopping. It leaves a slightly dry backend, but doesn't blow you away. It's a stellar brew to just kick back with. Yeah, this is the epitome of a drinkable IPA.

M - Creamy and nicely carbonated. Yes.

D - Absolutely awesome drinkability. They finessed this one.

Notes: I'm pissed off and jealous of everyone that gets to drink this on a regular basis. Bottle Rocket is awesome...

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2009 18:15:43 | More by SaucyA

EricDu

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -1.2%

05-25-2013 04:20:00 | More by EricDu

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

04-23-2013 05:45:02 | More by Kelp

mklisz

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -1.2%

01-15-2013 15:37:09 | More by mklisz

Trevdawg

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.2%

01-06-2013 19:12:55 | More by Trevdawg

BeerCosmonaut

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

01-05-2013 21:17:49 | More by BeerCosmonaut

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-24-2012 04:26:10 | More by jbertsch

pogoowner

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-16-2012 05:17:01 | More by pogoowner

metapod

4/5  rDev -1.2%

12-15-2012 03:56:55 | More by metapod

seplo

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

10-23-2012 23:48:44 | More by seplo

anewlanguage

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.4%

10-12-2012 23:30:13 | More by anewlanguage

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Clear copper color with a beige head of about 3 fingers.

Smell: Very citrusy and mild alcohol smell.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth medium bodied. Citrus and Hops are at the front with a good ending of hops that leaves a pleasant aftertaste that is a mild bittersweet.

Overall: Good beer! I will have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 18:15:19 | More by Cavanaghty

mtnwesdew

New York

4/5  rDev -1.2%

09-07-2012 16:52:30 | More by mtnwesdew

mattparsons

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

08-24-2012 02:42:54 | More by mattparsons

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -13.6%

08-02-2012 01:54:19 | More by KTCamm

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%

07-28-2012 14:22:22 | More by oldp0rt

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours copper with a developed head. Head is off-white and fluffed. Laces quite well. Mild light penetration.

S-Mellow aroma. Citrusy hops and grains along with a full caramel malt bill. Pine perhaps matches the citrus in terms of intensity. Nose is not exceptional. Definitely a bit let down.

T-A slight step up from the nose but not too much. I am getting a semi-concentrated pairing of pine and citrus. The hop profile doesn't stand out with any unique or complex aspects. Balanced and a tad bland.

M-Medium bodied with mellow carbonation. Lightly resinous. Bitterness is not long lasting.

O/D-Disappointed by this one. Does not stand up to its competition. Lacks individuality. An enjoyable IPA but this will not leave a lasting impression with me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 00:45:23 | More by VelvetExtract

FoodBrewsReviews

4/5  rDev -1.2%

07-17-2012 01:41:27 | More by FoodBrewsReviews

Stockfan42

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-30-2012 05:16:24 | More by Stockfan42

SlickestWilly

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%

04-26-2012 02:24:31 | More by SlickestWilly

Miamilice

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%

04-01-2012 16:59:44 | More by Miamilice

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Growler filled on 03/10/2012 poured into an imperial pint glass.

Pours a hazy, golden orange color with a minimal off-white head. What little head does develop disappears almost immediately. There is a tiny bit of wispy foam that is left on the glass but, like the head, it's minimal. The beer doesn't look all that special or greater, probably due to the serving type.

The nose isn't all that strong. Definite floral and herbal notes but nothing that really stands out above the rest. There is a touch of sweet malt that comes across but it's also not very strong.

The taste follows closely with the nose. It's actually almost exactly the same aside from a slight bitterness at the finish. The floral and herbal hops are met almost equally by some sweet caramel malt. As with the nose none of it is that strong aside from a nice, pleasant bitterness that finishes each sip.

Medium body with low carbonation. The beer has a creaminess to it but definitely feels a bit fuller than is normal for the style, most likely due to the lack of carbonation.

This beer was just ok for me and it seems that maybe the growler has had a negative effect on the board despite being filled the day before. It lacks the crispness and bolder hop flavors typical with the style. Perhaps a pint from the tap or bottle is in order.

Serving type: growler

03-12-2012 01:10:14 | More by ms11781

Boppar

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask (dry-hopped with CTZ) at Portsmouth Brewery.

A: Pours a foamy golden amber with three fingers of frothy white head.

S: Honey, pine, flowers.

T: The taste is bright, floral, and supported by a malty backbone. Bittering hops are in evidence on the finish, but for a dry-hopped American IPA, this about as non-bitter as they come.

M: Smooth, creamy, and medium-bodied.

O: Excellent. For fans of the style, this is a must-try, and even non-hopheads will appreciate this approachable and sessionable IPA.

Serving type: cask

03-11-2012 02:36:58 | More by Boppar

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub. This beer is a hazy golden color, with a modest yet persistent head of foam. The aroma is OK, more bitter smelling than floral or piney. Basically it smells like a hybrid style somewhere between American IPA and English IPA.

Nice flavor given the somewhat lackluster aroma, with some lasting bitterness after each sip. Again this seems a hybrid, leaning more toward the English IPA category but in a way that seems just a little more aggressive than usual.

The beer was light bodied and smooth. Honestly this was the best score for me, I love when IPAs come close to cask mouthfeel. I recommend it, and I'd definitely get it again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 19:58:54 | More by TurdFurgison

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery, served in a straight-sided pint glass with a 1/4 inch head. Hazy cider color; leaves little lacing on the glass.

Floral and citrus aroma is not overly strong, but noticeable and very appealing. Big round body with a biscuity malt base punctuated by citrus fruit and a peppery bitterness. Herbal bitter finish.

Body is a little on the full-bodied side for a IPA. Mouthfeel is punctuated by the peppery bitterness.

Overall a pleasant IPA that seems like a cross between American and English styles.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 03:15:03 | More by CliffBrake