Hop Henge Experimental IPA - Deschutes Brewery

Jason

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz brown bomber with no freshness date.

So they tweaked the hops on this years version, I am glad they were able to brew it again. Pours a dark orange amber color with a healthy crowning of off white lace. Smells of blood oranges, hemp seeds, papaya and faint evergreen which comes mostly from the hops. Clean bite in the breath of bitter hops and slightly, but very clean, solvent alcohol. Smooth with a deep creamy malt body. Hop bitterness pops but leave a few spots for the malt to come through. Slight caramel and toasted biscuit maltiness pairs well with the fruity esters. Clean warming alcohol throughout. Finishes hoppy and quite bitter but nothing that destroys the taste buds.

Spot on for the style, what ever they tweaked it still stands comparable to the previous version. Love the beer ... make it year round please.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 05:15:15 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from Beeradvocate Magazine March 07.

Hop Henge IPA's big brother, "Imperial," has been released from its shackles. Centennial, Cascade and Northern Brewer hops are the catalysts for a bitter onslaught. A rating of 95 IBUs is the result of about three pounds of hops per barrel (31 gallons).

Chestnut in color with good clarity and small bubbles in advance. Full-looking head drops a sticking trim on the glass and has commendable retention. Deep herbal, spearmint, blond tobacco and citric-accented aroma from the hops. Creamy, semi-smooth mouthfeel with a dense medium body. Tangerine fruitiness moves on to a citric rind flavor, and the full-on hop bitterness sets in. The 8.1 percent ABV is a bit hidden but warms up the mouth after several sips. Bready, dry malt backbone holds strong even though a ceaseless bitterness barrels over it. Finishes with a dry, herbal character.

Deschutes really knows how to throw down. They may as well stop playing around and make this a year-round brew. Let's go the meat-and-potatoes route for this one; a pot of Hell's Fire Stew is fitting.

Check out http://beeradvocate.com/cookbook/recipe/8

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 18:58:54 | More by BeerAdvocate

Sark

Montana

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- orange copper, plenty of carbonation, thin whispy head

Smell- bready and grain mixed with earthy hop notes, herbal spices and lemongrass come to mind

Taste- light caramel on the front, grain malts on the middle, and a delightful earth hop on the finish

Mouthfeel- medium body with milky texture, slow mannered fade out

Overall- Solid brew, not an extreme IPA for the hop heads, hardly noticeable alcohol warmth. The balance is key.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 12:57:44 | More by Sark

DrDaves49

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

06-19-2013 06:32:42 | More by DrDaves49

heavenlyStash

California

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

06-19-2013 06:16:10 | More by heavenlyStash

UncleBuccs

Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

06-19-2013 03:43:41 | More by UncleBuccs

headyhopzhead

Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-18-2013 12:47:23 | More by headyhopzhead

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-18-2013 02:57:05 | More by TonyTalon

BeerMeInStl

Missouri

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-18-2013 02:40:09 | More by BeerMeInStl

GaToWyo

Wyoming

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

06-18-2013 02:04:54 | More by GaToWyo

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-16-2013 15:30:24 | More by TheBeeraholic

jaxon53

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-16-2013 13:25:07 | More by jaxon53

RayUF07

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-15-2013 23:53:41 | More by RayUF07

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

06-14-2013 01:28:14 | More by Kmat10

pisano

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-13-2013 14:28:43 | More by pisano

Lionhawk

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

06-13-2013 02:17:25 | More by Lionhawk

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

06-13-2013 01:21:09 | More by calcnerd

gleemonger

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

06-12-2013 21:19:29 | More by gleemonger

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-12-2013 14:25:07 | More by KStark

mrw1zard

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured a cloudy amber with very little to no head, slight lacing down the glass as I drink it.
Interesting nose to this - not as punchy as most IPAs, smell is mingled with caramel and malt.
That being said, it doesn't deliver the hop bitterness and is a little smoother than I thought it would be. Not a bad beer, but probably not something I would seek out on a regular basis.
Worth a purchase if you haven't had it.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 23:01:31 | More by mrw1zard

goblin7704

Ohio

4/5  rDev -3.4%

06-11-2013 17:03:44 | More by goblin7704

ReyG006

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

06-09-2013 22:27:08 | More by ReyG006

NEO68710

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

06-06-2013 00:00:17 | More by NEO68710

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

06-05-2013 23:50:41 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

Nachos4two

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

06-05-2013 14:28:56 | More by Nachos4two