Hop Trip (Bond Street Series) - Deschutes Brewery

Climber9

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: deep copper with some red highlights, hazy. Head comprised of fine white bubbles that persist long after the pour.

Aroma: low levels of citrus and pine hops with clean pale malt. Some caramel but not toasty or bready. No diacetyl.

Mouthfeel: medium body, medium-high carbonation, neither creamy nor astringent. Finishes crisp.

Flavor: pale malt with notes of caramel. citrusy/piney hops balance, slight lemon hints. Clean fermentation (no fusels, diacetyl, phenols). Finishes with lingering hop and malt notes, but clean, and hops eventually win out as the malt fades.

Overall: Great American pale ale, or even extra pale ale

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 03:57:13 | More by Climber9

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with a one-finger, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled very floral, grassy and piney. Some caramel, too.

T - Nice tropical fruit flavors with a piney hop bitterness. Good caramel and burnt toast maltiness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry clean finish.

O - This is a great American Pale Ale. Another delicious brew from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 03:07:09 | More by zeff80

McStagger

California

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very highly recommended...

A: Moderate pour of muddy copper into a tulip glass. Brutally awesome head. Thick, ridiculous head that extends half an inch above the glass. Excellent retention. Beautiful pint.

S: For a beer named Hop Trip, I find it strange that the immediate nose is malt. Toffee, caramel, perhaps a touch of cinnamon. Spicy hops, tropical, stone and citrus. Mainly stone and tropical, though.

T: Not at all hop aggressive. Hops are noticeable, but not nearly to the level of even the moderately bruising IPA these days. Malt plays a huge role in the flavor of this beer. Slightly spicy (think noble), with an awesome malt sweetness that is accentuated by the fruit forward nature of these hops. Finishes fairly dry, with a bit of ash like bitterness and a slightly resinous twang.

M: Beautifully full bodied while still maintaining session like qualities. The best aspect of this beer. Nice balance.

O: Maybe it's my preconceived notions, but I was definitely expecting more of a punch with this. I mean, it's got a truck full of hops on the label. Regardless, this is a damn fine APA and a testament that more does not always mean merrier.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 08:30:43 | More by McStagger

vfgccp

New York

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Nice eggshell white head sits about 2 fingers high. Nice retention and lace. Light haze on a dark orange body.

S - Huge tropical notes; passion fruit, mango, papaya, and pineapple. There's a unbelievable amount of fruit in there for a non-fruit based beer.

T - Wow, that's a solid APA. Soft, and loaded with tropical fruit straight from the nose. Passion fruit, papaya, green plant bitters, honey, light biscuity malt.

M - Medium light frame with nice carbonation.

O - A light, sessionable APA with a surprisingly fruity hop profile.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 18:37:27 | More by vfgccp

mjurney

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
Amber-Orange color, touch of haze. Lots of bubble rising up to the top. Thick rocky head. Lacing looks very nice on the glass.

Aroma:
Pine needles, resin, fresh, sweet malts.

Taste:
Hop forward, but not to hoppy. Clean fresh hops, piney, resin, just a touch of floral. Nice malt structure, sweet bread, caramel. Crisp finish. Body is medium, refreshing, a little tangy and dry, nice carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:02:57 | More by mjurney

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle says best by 25 December 2012. Tasted 21 October 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours a medium-dark amber, clear, with a touch of rust. 1.5 fingers of cream-colored head, thick and dense. Good retention and lacing.

Smell is all juicy hops. Heavy on the pine, backed by a bit of citrus. Malt base is fine, and basically undetectable, as I think it should be in a beer that showcases hops. Good - could be better with more dimensionality. But very solid for an almost-session beer.

Taste is pretty straightforward, and is in the vein of IPAs that I tend not to like. Bitter, and mostly a one-trick pony. Subdued malts, which let the potent bitterness rip through. Mostly resiny, but occasionally drifts into unpleasant aspirin-like bitter, especially in the finish. Meh. It's got flavor, I'll give it that, but I'm not loving it.

Medium-light body, tingly carbonation. Lasting bitter finish. I wish it weren't quite so lasting, actually.

Decent beer. Smell is the definite highlight. Wish the flavor had more to it than the bitter.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 04:11:11 | More by zeledonia

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surprise surprise! Another excellent APA by Deschutes. Basically, take Mirror Pond but give it fresh hops. It is smooth, pleasantly bitter and it has a nice citric character. When it's in season it's nice to grab a pint of this to mix it up. Perfectly sessionable, noticeably fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 16:59:14 | More by TheRealBigC

chugalug06

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Moderate, small, white head flows atop a blood red brew. Lacing is local and minute. Clarity is also in question.

A very plain, basic, light hopped iced tea aromatic brew. Nothing fancy or special.

Flavor is smooth pine, light caramel, not over bearing toffee, not bitter hopped, nor sweet and sugary. Carbonation is medium and not remarkable. Brew is medium viscosity and drinks like it smells.

Eh, this brew is slightly above average. Nothing stands out. It would be nice to drink from a can, but not remarkable from a glass. I really wanted more from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 03:05:05 | More by chugalug06

Treebs

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks again to mfavoino(Matt) for the beer. 12 oz. bottle served in a Deschutes tulip.

A: Pours a clear orange color with a frothy white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin ring that leaves some soapy lace down the glass.

S: Sweet fruity yeast notes with a pale malts and a little grassy hops.

T: Pale malts, grassy hops and a nice sweet fruit flavor.

M: Light bodied with a medium-high carbonation level. Easily drinkable.

O: Very light and easy drinking. I could drink several in one sitting and not get tired of it.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 15:38:10 | More by Treebs

hooliganlife

Missouri

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

Pours a bright copper, light creamy head.

Bright citrus on the nose, one dimensional hop profile, but hoppy.

Nice bright citrus hops with a much lighter malt backing. The freshness of the hops was mainly citrus with some faint herbal flavors.

Light and easy, a bit resin like

Great abv and flavor, this has been my go to as long as its on shelves.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 18:01:10 | More by hooliganlife

deebo

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass from a bottle with a Christmas BB date. But given the aromatic hop aroma I think you want to consume this one as quickly as possible. Using Crystal wet hops.

A-Completely transparent with a beautiful light amber/copper color. Very heady. The foam is just slightly off-white, sticky, laces the glass and is around for the entire brew.

S-Yes the hops hit you first (spicy, citrus, pine tree) but there is a lot of malt in here too (really bready and just a hint of toast). Very inviting aroma.

T-This is the most malt forward fresh hopped beer I've had. For a pale ale it is absolutely full of flavor. The hops are fresh and complex (fruity, spicy, and slightly piney) and upfront. You get a significant malt backbone here as well. The beer finishes hoppy with just a hint of bitterness that cleans up quickly and begs for the next drink.

M-Highly carbonated, with lots of body for this type of brew. Drinkability for this one is super. The only thing I can find about this beer that I don't love is the bitter build up effect you get towards the bottom of the glass...would go great with some sharp cheese or some hot eats.

O-Great beer, perfectly balanced, tons of fresh hop flavor that stands out from beers like it with the slightly toasted heavy malt bill. At this point I should just keep loading up on every Deschutes brew they make. Extremely well made and they all seem to hit my preferences perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 02:44:15 | More by deebo

elNopalero

Texas

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at the Toronado during a return visit after the wet hop fest to work my way through the rest of the lineup. This is the 2012 edition that I am reviewing. I have fond memories of it from years past and am glad to see that it lives up to those recollections.

This poured an amber gold color with tight foam. It has a light aroma of tangerine & orange marmalade. The flavor has a pleasant bitterness, a subdued but emerging biscuity malt & more citrusy preserves. This brew is enjoyable without being assertive.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 01:16:46 | More by elNopalero

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big off white head slowly settles into a nice lacing with a small biscuit like mound in the middle of the glass above a clear reddish copper colored beer.

Lightly roasted caramel malts blends well with a light citrus hops aroma.

A full taste of Lightly roasted caramel malts outweigh a the light hops coming through.

Dryness of the aftertaste is accented with a light roasted caramel on this medium bodied beer.

A pretty good tasting beer, but with the name Hop Trip I was expecting more hops. Although, I do wish this beer would have had a bigger hops bite I am in no way unsatisfied with it. It has a pretty good feel and taste to it, but seems like it tastes more like a bock or even an Oktoberfest than a beer that has the word HOP in the name of it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 21:57:03 | More by LXIXME

TheSixthRing

California

3.9/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a brilliant, golden burnt orange with an off-white, 2 finger head. Great retention. The resulting lace is silky, thick and with good stick.

Smell - Primarily a citrus hop aroma, sweet and a touch tangy, like tangerine, supported by a nice, bready malt backbone.

Taste - Mellow, well-balanced. Starts with a fair amount of citrus hoppiness that's more savory than bitter. There's a strong underlying note of freshly baked bread malt character to give this beer excellent balance. Nearly untraceable hints of caramel. Finishes with balanced hop and malt notes, somewhat satisfactory, but doesn't quite reach that expected peak. I'd give it a 3.75 rating if I could.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body with an impossibly smooth, silky delivery. Decently carbonated, but it's so slick on the tongue that it goes down before you realize you've swallowed.

Overall - This is a really good fresh hop Pale Ale. Superb drinkability is only undercut by a flavor that, while excellently balanced, doesn't quite deliver, falling off just a tad bit before the finish. Still, this could be a hell of a session beer, and it's one I wouldn't mind drinking again.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 05:05:33 | More by TheSixthRing

DavidST

Texas

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass, best before 12/25/12. This pours a clear brownish mahogany color with a mid sized tan head. The smells are of citrus and pine along with caramel malts. The feel is medium. The taste is pretty great, a nice amount of hops up front along with the sweet backbone.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 03:21:44 | More by DavidST

silentdonkey

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Congregation Ale House in Long Beach, CA.

A: Clear amber with a one finger head. Leaves a nice lacing on the glass as you sip it down.

S: Nice big west coast hop aroma! Hints of citrus and pine backed by some caramel.

T: Fantastic fresh hop flavors of grapefruit and tangerine start the beer off and it finishes with the taste of grainy and caramel malts. A slight piney hop bitterness is left behind, but nothing too overpowering. An extremely well balanced pale ale.

M: Medium bodied with the perfect amount of carbonation for an APA.

O: One of the best pale ales out there in my opinion. Really fresh hop flavor. The bitterness and the malts do not overpower the hop flavor. A really easy drinker with a lot of hop character similar to an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 20:37:52 | More by silentdonkey

Rizalini

Nevada

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle, with a best by date of 12/25/12, into my Deschutes tulip...

A - Pours a crystal clear golden amber color with 1 finger of tan head, that leaves some spotty lacing as it fades.

S - Nice earthy notes of some pine and grass. Also a nice solid bready malt aroma as well.

T/M - Nice combination of bitter hops on the front, with a subtle fruity end. A nice slightly sweet malt middle. Medium, slightly slick mouthfeel. Perfect carbonation.

O - A very flavorful and well-rounder APA. The fresh hops really give it character, almost bordering on an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 04:37:21 | More by Rizalini

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a becker glass. Best by 12/25/12

A- Poured a pretty clear dark copper color, visible carbonation, with frothy off-white head leaving lacing that coated the glass.

S- Big juicy citrusy hops and big caramel malt dominant the aroma. Some piney and earthy notes too.

T- Lots of spicy and grassy hop flavors. Huge grainy and barley notes. Pretty big malt profile like that of an Irish Red, toasted malt, caramel, and toffee

M- Medium body, smooth, prickly carbonation, pretty dry

O- Really unique and complex fresh hop ale with big malt and hop profiles.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 03:12:55 | More by Hoptometrist

Flip2006

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz Bottle. Poured into my Deschutes Brew Pub Pint Glass.

A: Bright, beautiful Amber with a 2 finger head. Slightly hazy.

S: Citrus, Pine, Hops, undertone of malts. It really smells like a tangerine mashed with pine. I really like the smell.

T: Citrus upfront with the piney hops mixed in. Nice malt characters in the middle of the mouth. And a bitter,dry citrus taste left in the mouth.

M: Medium body, with medium carbonation.

O: An absolutely steller Pale Ale. Something to look forward to every year. What Deschutes does with this beer in incredible. The aroma and taste just out of the glass and leave you wanting more.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 23:42:46 | More by Flip2006

mfavoino

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hop Trip 12oz bottle poured in a pint on 10/7/12.

A: Bright Amber with a one finger head that recedes to a rim.

S: Surprisingly big caramel malt aroma, and a fresh citrus scent. Hops not quite as huge as I expected, but still present.

T: Sweet citrus fruit with a substantial malt bill. Nice caramel malts and then the beer goes back to the semi-oily hop feeling. Finishes very smooth and leaves jus a lingering hop bitterness.

M: More full-bodied than I would expect from an APA. Average carbonation and just a touch of bitterness.

O: Good fresh hop APA, especially for the price and accessibility this time of year. Smoothness is the main draw and drinkability is high.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 04:34:25 | More by mfavoino

denver10

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been waiting patiently for these bad boys to find themselves on the local shelves. Finally found some today, stoked that its available in six pack form and no longer bomber. Anyways...

Pours an amber tinted copper with a nice effervescent head. Wow, what a glorious aroma. Bright, fresh, sharp. Strong sweet grapefruit and tangerine absolutely dominate the olfactory senses, ontop a nice caremel malt base. Taste is sweet and fruity; a supportive caramel malt underbelly letting the hops steal the show -- the tangerine hits first, it transitions gracefully into the grapefruit and a little grass bitterness closes things out. A crisp, active moutfheel. Overall, Deschutes with another great beer. So glad I have 5 more bottles of this in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 01:53:31 | More by denver10

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was the first wet-hopped beer I had ever had, many moons ago (I'm talking 7 years ago as the now "retired" Hop Trip). So it's fitting that I try it again today to review it after having two other wet-hopped beers.

As expected, the impact of this beer is not quite what it was six or seven years ago. The hops/oils seem less vibrant and impactful as the other wet-hopped beers I have tried. There is a bitterness that combines with oils and hop tones decently well, but doesn't really wow me. I mean, it's okay, but it doesn't scream fresh to me. I suppose you can only go so far with a mass produced and widely distributed bottling?

A decent beer, but could use more punch. I guess I've spoiled myself and ruined it for so many other beers at this point.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 05:03:18 | More by RblWthACoz

dazdave

Ohio

2.43/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

So i'm reviewing this beer after looking over other reviews. They seem outrageously high. Poured from a bottle with the date good by 4 months after. Not sure if this beer needs to be insanely fresh. Perhaps it does.
Anyways yes the appearance looks lovely like i'd expect of a pale ale. One of my favorites is stone pale ale. It has a cloudyish copper color. Very little head. Very staid.
The smell gets some waffs of fruity orange and hints of grapefruit. Pleasant.
The taste is where i have some issues. I keep getting a very tea like astringency. From brewing i've found that seems to come from too high of a boil. Basically what i feel i'm drinking is a slightly sweet tea. Not what i'd expect from a well respected brewery.
Drinkability is fairly low since i'm not a fan. Hate to be the downer here but i really don't get it.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 04:15:07 | More by dazdave

DocJitsu

California

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep copper with an antique white head. Impressive head retention. Mown grass and citrus nose. Pleasant mouthfeel with an enjoyable, but peculiar mix of caramel malt and tangerine gummy worms. It finishes as smooth as it begins. This beer is an excellent example of a fresh hopped ale while managing to be pleasantly different.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 03:04:20 | More by DocJitsu

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly murky honey orange with a 2 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a small cap. Super thing rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of citrus fruits, citrus zest, and tropical fruits. Taste is of tropical fruit, sweet grapefruit, and citrus zest. There is a very fleeting hint of bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a low level of carbonation with a somewhat flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good pale ale with some nice fruity aromas and flavors but the mouthfeel brings this one down a bunch for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 04:10:35 | More by UCLABrewN84