Hop Henge Experimental IPA - Deschutes Brewery

Jason

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
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 -3.1%
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

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4/5  rDev -3.1%

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andyfrancis

California

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Looks like an IPA, bordering on amber color, nice off white head.

Heavy pine and citrus with some whiffs of cerealy malt on the nose.

Pretty good, definitely a mouthful of flavor. Would be a nice compliment/combatant for some stinky blue cheese.

A little heavy on the tongue, with a bite of boozey aftertaste. Despite that, I hadn't noticed the ABV on the bottle, and was really surprised it was so high when I saw 10.6% here, so that says something. Actually I think I'm starting to believe it.

I'd drink it again with some potent cheese, but one glass is enough.

Serving type: bottle

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