Hop Henge Experimental IPA - Deschutes Brewery

rampole

Mississippi

4.83/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was in Portland for work and stopped by Deschutes for a round. I had this beer originally on tap poured into a snifter and had to have more so I bought three of their growlers that night and had them filled. One with hop henge one with inversion and one with black butte. I kept them in my fridge at the hotel and sent them back next day air the next morning. When I got home the next day they were waiting on me on my back porch so I called a few friends over for a tasting.

A Beautiful deep rich copper color with a nice full 1 finger head. nice lacing.
S Sweet citrus with nice pine accents
T Malty up front followed by well balanced hoppiness. Very floral (which my wife loved)with pineapple and grapefruit.
M Smooth dry and not very bitter for a double IPA. Nice carbonation but not overcarbonated very good balance
D Probably one of the most drinkable 2xIPAs I've had. four of us finished a growler before we went to dinner and would have probably had another with dinner if I had sent more back. Although I liked the other two Deschutes offerings that I shipped back I wish i would have sent more of this home.

Serving type: growler

06-28-2010 14:45:56 | More by rampole

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a fancy growler, I'm sure the handle makes a difference. Anyways, this is a great example of "balanced" DIPA that you can enjoy without having your tongue shredded by bitterness. Not this brew still has close to 100 IBU's, but it's a smoother bitterness that lends to the delicate fruit flavors. In fact, this beer is almost a little juicy, thanks to the pineapple and citrus punch hops. Check this beer out, it's a great DIPA to have around.

Serving type: growler

04-22-2010 00:43:03 | More by tempest

DrMalt

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A) Poured a dark amber red with a firm thick almost white head.

S) Excellent aroma but not extraordinary. Some floral & pine

T) Excellent taste with loads of grapefruit & bitternes. Definistely a hop explosion.

M) Alcohol warming but not overpowering

D) A superb DIPA but as with many...one is often enough.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: growler

04-30-2009 04:04:47 | More by DrMalt

drseamus

New York

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Medium to darkish amber body with a nice thick white head. No visible carbonation.

S: Grassy earthy hop aroma. Fairly mild with a touch of floral.

T: Very light for an IIPA. The bitterness is decent but I don't get the advertised 95 IBU's. The hops are pretty much all in flavor. The malt sweetness is strong enough to overcome the bitterness and balance it very evenly. The aftertaste is very sweet at the end with only a touch of hop flavor.

M: The sweetness seems to give it more body but it still is only medium bodied.

D: Very drinkable for an IIPA. I would consider it a heavier IPA, but it's a stretch to call it a double.

Serving type: growler

04-29-2008 04:01:49 | More by drseamus

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.36/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bomber from the Beer Store, Southampton, PA

Heavily hazed orange body, topped by a fist worth of almost-snow-white micro-bubbles. Terrific lacing.

Big orange aroma, backed by a chorus of other citrus fruits. Highly inviting.

Huge sweet slather upfront. Exploding oranges, apricots, and other citric grenades. Big bitter bite. Hidden alcohol. Nice lingering finish with the fruit returning.

Medium plus mouthfeel is smooth.

Everything you can ask for in an IIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 01:08:55 | More by RonfromJersey

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

05-12-2013 20:02:00 | More by andyfrancis

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into tulip.

A - Orange copper with a bubbly white head, slightly hazy.

S - Tropical fruit, mango, pine, sweet caramel.

T - Mango, peach, tropical fruit, caramel, sweet toasted malt. A mild earthy hop bitterness creeps in towards the finish. Hints of alcohol and grassy hops on the back end.

M - Extremely smooth and creamy, full bodied, mild carbonation. Warming alcohol, a little dry.

O - This is an incredible double IPA. One of the best I've had. Great balance and hop flavor. Alcohol is hidden well.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:13:32 | More by mooseo

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: It has a nice hazy golden/orange color to it. It has a nice off-white head that dies down moderately and leaves some nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitely give out hints of citrus, grapefruit, piney resins and caramelly malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has some citrus, grapefruit (tropical hopiness), some piney resins, some sweet caramelly malts and some warming from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel: It has a low/medium carbonation with a very nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 21:32:44 | More by SebD

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The Hop Henge is a good IPA and is a big beer! It poured a hazy copperis orange with thick head that is lacing nicely. The scent has a great pine and citrus base with sweet malt. The taste from start to finish is very well balanced the sweet malt and bitter citrus/pine flavors carry through and the after taste turns slightly bitter....all covering the 10% ABV. The mouthfeel is a full body with smooth carbonation. Overall...very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 23:00:48 | More by WoodBrew

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Brown to orange in color. Not too cloudy, not too clear - nice carbonation liveliness. A finger of head disappates to a good top and lacing on the glass.

S: Hops, pine, caramel.

T: Bitter up front but trails to a great hopped, sweet & bitter aftertaste. Really nice.

M: Solid beer, although still somewhat normal (not too heavy). High ABV masked really well.

O: Like this beer - glad to see it make its way east fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 23:42:20 | More by Oakenator

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a balloon glass.

Look: Hazy coppery orange. Cream colored head calms to a fil with a group of big bubbles. Light lacing.

Aroma: Spicy and boozy giving way to a licorice type of malt note. Spicy hops finish out.

Taste: Hops much more prominent at first, blending with faint caramel maltiness. A dry, alcoholic finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium, dry.

Overall: High alcohol overshadows any complexities on this. Not bad, however.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 20:08:27 | More by JuicesFlowing

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

4.26/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 22 oz bomber into tulip glass

A) Really nice deep amber. Pretty big head, lots of lacing. This bottle seems quite fresh.

S) Your standard citrus, floral and pine. Exactly what you'd expect. Seems well-balanced.

T) More muted citrus than I would have expected (too cold?), plus malt/caramel leading to bitter hops. This isn't as much of a hop bomb as is expected/advertised. High ABV masked pretty well. Well balanced.

M) Light-medium bodied, light-medium carbonation, some alcohol burn on finish (hard to avoid, I would imagine).

O) This is just a really, really nice DIPA. I would call it slightly less floral/citrusy than California DIPAs, but great balance with good flavor. Drink this if you can find one.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 23:25:48 | More by IvoryFoxhole

sam_bliss

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

My 22-ounce bottle says 10.4% ABV. As this is called an experimental IPA, surely Deschutes varies the recipe frequently.

The liquid contents of the bomber stream down the sides and into the bottom of a stemless, bulbous, snifter-shaped glass. Finally, the bottle is inverted and as many of the 22 ounces as can fit are piled into the frothing reservoir of copper-colored ale. The color and initial scent, both covered by a billowing bubble-bath head, suggest massive fruit flavors underlie the retentive foam cap protecting this beer's volatility, hidden treasure, and silent-killer alcohol content.

The smell is of floral and citric hops, just as the label's description promoted. Some caramel sweetness in the malt offering enhances the taste of the esters and hops, wonderfully offsetting the massive bitterness of the beverage. No soapiness is detectable, only a slight spicy and oily supplement to the flavors of tangerine and springtime bloom. The mouthfeel is substantial but not super heavy; the level of carbonation is refreshing but not distracting.

This rendition of Hop Henge is reminiscent of a supper-hopped version of a Belgian Pale Ale, perhaps owing to the character of the yeast, though this one is not bottle-conditioned. Tart, chewy yellow and orange fruits play with your taste buds as bitter evergreen American hop cones ruin them almost unnoticeably. For an American lover of Belgian beer and hops, this is heaven. This review is from memory and I've certainly neglected some flavor components, but sell you soul for a bottle of this experimental IPA batch if need be; it's worth it to experience for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 03:13:15 | More by sam_bliss

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deschutes Brewing 'Hop Henge Experimental IPA' @ 10.6% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $10

A-pour is a slightly hazy gold with a good size off white head leaving a streaky lace film along the pint glass after every sip

S-pine , citrus mostly grapefruit , floral

T-big and crisp tasting IPA , sweet & fruity start with a balanced hoppy bitter finish

MF-low mild carbonation , full bodied + , sneaky strong ABV

Ov-good beer , not a big hop bomb , a big hop & booze bomb

sampled alongside Lagunitas 'Sucks' , Driftwood's 'Twenty Pounder' & Phillip's 'Amnesiac'

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 04:44:29 | More by LampertLand

kemoarps

Washington

4.24/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Happy beer day, to start!! Bottled 5/31/13, drank 4/7/13
Poured from a 22oz bottle into a tulip/snifter/somewhere in there. Not 'actual' beer glass but whatever, it does the job.

A pretty brew, the colour is a translucent light amber. Really appealing looking head (but whatevs). Good retention/lacing.

Fairly sweet smell, with floral and grassy hops? Some malt, but well blended, if on the sweet side for a DIPA. Just a hint of the alcohol, but only at the very end, and only after I jammed my nose halfway down the glass about a dozen times trying to come up with better descriptors than 'sweet and floral.'

This may be hard to believe.... but it tastes similar to the way it smells (I KNOW NO WAY, RIGHT!?) starts off with kind of a creamy sweetness, balanced out with a solid hop presence, but for some reason I can't quite nail down what kind. But, uh, the tasty kind? Like, this beer tastes really good? And leaves an incredibly smoothe mouthfeel. Drinking it you'll be surprised to remember it's over 10% alcohol. the hops linger, but aren't overly abrasive or unpleasant. I really like that.
I'm a fan. My advice: this beer is worth going out of your way to find (especially if you like well balanced DIPAs with a bit of sweetness).

To paraphrase: "This is Hop Henge. I hope you relish it as much as I."

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 06:14:52 | More by kemoarps

IdahoPA

Idaho

4.83/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I'm a bit prejudice over this IPA not only because I'm a sucker for Imperials, but because this particular IPA has and incredible not too sweet floral hop flavor that finishes a bit bitter not like some IPA's giving you reason to have more and more.

It's a must to pour between a half and a one inch head to give you that creamy aroma as well as the taste in you mouth on that first mouthful. Don't be bashful when pouring into a tulip or snifter glass to get that head built up.

The appearance is golden and and as you drink their is a layer of foam and bubbles left around your glass if clean.

There is only one other Imperial that I can personally compare to this beer and that would be the Firestone Walker Double Jack and it actually finishes in your mouth giving you that feeling of wanting more right away. So why wait.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 22:37:22 | More by IdahoPA

ilikebeer03

Texas

4.39/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Best by 5/31/13.
Poured bomber into snifter.

A: Pours a nice, clear burnt orange. About a finger of head thins slowly until drinking begins. A constant nice ring around the glass. Nice lacing.

S: Smells incredible. I get a ton of orange up front. Some grapefruit, and some peach, which was a treat.

T: Like the smell. Orange and peach up front. Some grapefruit. Nice malty backbone. Good hoppy bitterness that lingers for a bit. Some earthy pine is present as well. The alcohol is masked incredibly well...watch out.

M: nicely carbonated. goes down smooth and easy. Typical mouthfeel for an IPA.

O: would definitely recommend this to anyone IPA lovers. It is a double IPA that is still very hoppy / citrus flavored. The malt doesn't take over.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 02:35:23 | More by ilikebeer03

jageraholic

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Fresh bottle courtesy of trade with Rizalini. Much appreciated man, loved this beer.

A- poured into a tulip glass. Pours a bright golden orange color, very clear, gourgous. An iinch finger creamy white head reduces down to a thin line while drinking. Mild lacing.

S- aroma is deep sweet fruits, mango, lots of orange. Mild grass.

T- taste is very orange, deep citrus color, malt biscuit in the background. Good balance. Caramel hangs on in the finish but pretty overwhelmed by the deep orange taste. Love it.

M- mouthfeel is fantastic. Coats the mouth like orange juice, slightly dry finish leaves me wanting to take another sip.

O- wow, fantastic double IPA. Not sure what hops are used, but never had this taste off them before. Like fresh squeezed oranges. Wheres the pulp?! No hint of the alcohol in the smell or the taste. Really incredible beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 23:31:38 | More by jageraholic

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.14/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A- poured into a tulip glass. Pours a bright golden orange color with a two finger creamy white head with good retention, leaving some nice lace as the head calms.

S- the first thing I notice is huge tropical hoppy notes; fresh pineapple juice & mango, citrus zest with a bit of floral hop as well. Sweet caramel malt with some biscuit note finish. This ones smells very well balanced.

T- bold floral and citrus hops with a bit of grassiness give way to tropical fruit flavors that transition into a bold sweetness. Notes of sugarcane and caramel malt with a toasted biscuit malt finish. The finish is sweet with a long hoppy, fruity linger.

M- medium body with a slightly viscous medium mouthfeel, low carbonation with a slightly creamy finish, warming alcohol on the finish.

O- hoppy and ruthless, yet it has a nice malty sweetness to it. The flavors are pronounced on both ends of the flavor spectrum, making this one a slow sipper. 22oz May be too much for one sitting, but very good overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 22:07:21 | More by Treyliff

kevanb

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

650ml bottle poured into a Deschutes Teku glass.

The beer pours a great copper color, great hues of orange with a slightly hazy complexion. A lovely, fluffy white head rises out of the glass, nearly 3 fingers high that has nice retention and leaves behind a great web of soapy lace. The aroma is nice, piney hops with some tropical fruit behind it, papaya, mango and some tart grapefruit and tangerine that brings out some sweet malt and boozy alcohol. Lots of fresh tropical fruit on the tongue with some crisp citrus that brings out some herby, minty qualities, that quickly get taken over by the rich, sweet malt bill and pungent alcohol. The body is very juicy with a thick, creamy texture that has a sweet finish that is lightly dry.

Verdict: A fine DIPA from Deschutes. It does a good job of straddling the line of too sweet and just right and does at times cross into the territory of a boozy, sweet beer. This is definitely a beer worth seeking out for any hop head.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 01:30:26 | More by kevanb

lunarbrew

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Beer pours a nice amber color with about 3 fingers of off-white head. Nice head retention and sticky lacing. Rich scent of sugar and tangerine. Simple, clean and hoppy. Full-bodied and very sweet. A nice flavor. The sweetness is accompanied by a good dose of hops. Pretty nice balance, but I think a little too heavy on the sugary caramel flavor. Hits every part of the palate. Strong carbonation, full-bodied, and pretty thick. Very good imperial ipa. I love the hops (which don't overpower at the front or end), but would tone down the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 04:15:03 | More by lunarbrew

scot_chale

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

bottle poured into a snifter glass with a "best by" date of 4/5/13

A- 2 fingers of bubbly white off-orange head. beautiful bright orange body with very little carbonation flying around. lacing is present and the head disappears to a thing later but some healthy bubbles stay on top.

S- not as scary and pungent as i expect in a double IPA. It's very citrusy, almost like grapefruit juice instead of the zest. the earthy and herbal qualities of the hop comes though nicely too.

T- it's a different kind of hop bomb. it's kind of grainy, kind of grassy, and the alcohol is present and warming. it's experimental for sure.

M- the alcohol sits in the back of your throat. the carbonation sparks the tongue and the body is medium.

O- Very strange. I'm glad I tried it, but the malt bill with the choice of hops really through me off. My favorite part was the appearance and aroma. When it came to actually drinking the beer, I don't think I'll come back to this one. I really like everything I've had from Deschutte's, and this one just simply isn't for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 21:30:20 | More by scot_chale

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
Best by 4/5/13
A- This beer pours a clear orange body with a thick creamy light beige head that last a good bit and a slow carbonation popping to the surface.

S- The juicy green herbal hops has a green citrus pith finish.

T- The pungent herbal hops is supported by a sweetness of malt that comes through as the beer opens up. There is a slightly juicy woody pine hop flavor that grows in the finish. The pungent pith with some bitterness lingers in the aftertaste.

M- the medium-full mouthfeel has an alcohol heat that is gentle but cuts the bitterness nicely. There is a creamy mouthfeel as long as the head last.

O- This big, hardy double IPA has nice a full hop bill and a nice alcohol heat that cuts some of the bitterness in the aftertaste. There is a nice sweetness for support aswell. This beer is a bit of a punch in the tongue, but that is a good thing. Just not a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 15:13:22 | More by rhoadsrage

barnzy78

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle, dated best before 5/31/13, 10.4% ABV, poured into a 25oz snifter the ale is copper-amber with a frothy, off-white head, great retention & lacing down the glass. Aromas are awesome! Fruity, floral, citric aroma with grapefruit, mango, pineapple, caramel, bready malt, super fresh smelling. Some booze comes through as it warms. Terrific meld of hoppy flavors consisting of juicy grapefruit, tropical mango & pinneapple, finishes a bit piny and spicy. Nice backbone of biscuity, caramely malt.
Body is medium-full with pleasant carbonation. Overall, another exceptional beer from Deschutes!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 21:08:53 | More by barnzy78

maxcoinage

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - poured from a 22oz bomber into a snifter which reveal a dark golden brew, with about a cm of head. As the head settled it left a nice lacing on the glass.

S - Great floral and citrus aroma

T - A little sweetness at first then grapefruit/citrus and then hops really hit you.

M - Medium Carbonation and very smooth at first but finishes with some hop bitterness, which I like

O - This is a great DIPA that I would glady buy again, especially given it's cheaper bomber price, 5.50, as compared to other DIPAs in bomber only format.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:26:32 | More by maxcoinage