Hop Henge Experimental IPA - Deschutes Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Golden yellow, 3 months past expiration but only received it in last few months. Carbonation bubbles. Almost a half inch of white foam bubbly head. Lacey, hop aromas are hard to distinguish. Taste held together, initially good hoppiness taste for 95 IBU, palate filler not a shredder. Creamy above average mouthfeel, creamy but also oily. Booziness builds up, so the drinkability is good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 01:23:42 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark kumquat with a static storm of fine yeast. I like the color of the beer, but the head is out of this world gorgeous. It's creamsicle orange in color and is a sticky mass of bubbles that has absolutely slathered the glass with sandblasted lace. This is one of the best head-lace combinations that I've seen in quite some time.

The nose is nice and hoppy, just as advertised. Given the fact that Hop Henge is a DIPA and that it was dry-hopped with loads of Centennial, Cascade and Northern Brewer, I expected more explosiveness. Don't get me wrong, it's an enjoyable nose, it just isn't an outstanding one given my standards for what has long been my favorite style.

I feel the same way about the flavor. If permitted, both the smell and the taste scores would be 4.25, so I'll massage the final score upward using drinkability. Hop Henge is very close to, but doesn't quite reach the 'special' threshold. It's hard to figure the 95 IBUs. While the beer is impressively bitter, I've learned that 'on paper' and 'in the mouth' are often two entirely different things.

The flavor profile is one of the more typical variations on the DIPA theme. Each mouthful is chock full of candied white grapefruit and orange peel, pine sap and a ganja-like funkiness, riding atop a river of melted caramel. There's plenty of pale malt in use (I'm guessing) since caramel doesn't overwhelm the other flavors. A minor blip of alcohol is noted, but it's pretty tame considering the ABV and the freshness of this particular bottle.

The mouthfeel is just about where it should be in terms of size (medium-full for the style) and carbonation (on the low end). Again, I'm tempted to pull the trigger on the next highest score, but can't quite do it. I've changed my mind on using the drinkability score for anything other than drinkability. The score that I've chosen seems just about right.

I'm sorry that I never got a chance to try the original Hop Henge IPA because I've heard so many good things about it. This Imperial version is pretty good in its own right, but can't quite get over the hump to join my favorites of the style. Hopheads shouldn't hesitate to buy a bomber. Non-hopheads might want to spend their money elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2007 21:38:14 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

lone bottle i had managed to acquire and had been resting in my fridge for a good long time. served cold and poured into a pint glass,

The pour was very nice with a rich light golden amber. Smooth and very cloudy, this thing looked like it was about to kick my ass, and as I was about to find out, it was defintley going to. Lots of ripe grapefruit and pineapple hops that just tore through the air as soon as I leaned in to it. Huge notes of hops dominated the entire flavor as well. Sharp flavor here as the resin like hops took all the moisture out of my mouth and left me parched, dry and looking for more. One of the best finishes I have had in a big IPA in a very, very long time. I would love to try this one again and will defitely be on the lookout to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 16:44:56 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a nice head that retains and laces well

Smell: Rich caramel backbone for wafts of piney hops, slightly resinous

Taste: Starts out with a nice caramel flavor that lasts for a few seconds until the piney hop flavors overwhelm the tongue by mid-palate; after the swallow, it's all bitterness through to a lengthy finish

Mouthfeel: Full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: I have a hunch I might have preferred the drinkability of the previous version as this one is just too over the top for me

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2007 20:29:07 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared at drewone’s tasting.

Best by 5/26/12.

Pours a clear honey orange with an orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is pretty much the same and has a medium amount of bitterness with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a solid IPA with some nice hop aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 01:00:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Experimental for sure as the beer surely favors flavor of citrusy hops over bitterness with extreme reliance on late addition and dry-hopping of hops for extreme flavor and aroma.

The typical hazy golden-straw color held a froathy and long-lasting foamstand throughout the session with even and intricate patterns of lace. A very handsome beer!

Poured into a tulip, the beer releases an immense burst of orange, grapefruit, mangos, appricots, and spicy alcohol aromas. Both mouthwatering and appetizing out of the gate.

Flavors bring the same intense hop flavors that the nose promised with a definate emphasis on the all those citrusy notes. A follow of estery mangos, peaches, appriots, and almost pineapple all offer a continuation of the citrusy qualities that the hops deliver initially. The hop and yeast derived fruitiness are supported by a firm, sweet malt pillow that offers just enough extra confectioner's sweetness to keep the hops from complete domination. Slight peppery phenols compliment the sweetness and add intensity to the spicy alcohol to come.

Surprisingly, not as full or as richly textured as many bigger IPA's, but certainly deserving of it's characterization. Alcohols provide thinning, warming, and spiciness without bringing attention to the heat or impact. Bitterness definately does more than just balance the malts, but give a refreshing lemon or grapefruit zest and acidic cleansing deep into the finish.

This is a well balanced and intensely hoppy beer that relies on it's flavorful balance of hops and malts instead of trying to wow you with IBU's, thickness, or alcohol content- simply well done in recipe formulation and brewing execution!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2008 21:02:30 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Glad to get a fresh bottle.Poured into an imperial nonic a brilliant burtn orange with a large sticky white crown that settled slowly leaving broken globs of lace behind.Big fruity hop,overripe pineapple,grapefruit,and tangerine aromas abound overtop of a healthy caramel malt base,no alcohol really detected.Citric fruit flavor with not a real bitter edge to the hop profile,not as sweet as way to many of the style are, although there is a caramel sweetness to it,the alcohol stays pretty well hidden for the style but is noticeable.Big and fruity with not really any stinging alcohol,Deschutes kicks ass.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 22:27:58 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

You think if the city is ever closed or destroyed for some reason, a local-ish headline might read "Bend, Oregon, over"? Anyway, this stuff pours a clear amber-brass topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises pine needle, pine resin, grapefruit rind, mild toffee, and fresh grass. The taste brings in more of the same, with everything buttressed by a foundation of sweet caramel that blends very nicely with the various citrus fruits. (Wait, can a foundation buttress? Oh, well...) The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sticky-ish finish. Overall, a very nice DIPA, indeed, one that includes a lot of hop flavor without overwhelming the tongue with it and without losing a sense of balance. Good times.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 19:17:13 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber bottle courtesy of russpowell, thanks, Russ!

Clear, dark crimson coloring, big, creamy slab of froth atop, lace leaving.
Intense hop aroma, big pine & grapefruit, & more fruit. Twist of orange, slice of lime, ...bitter, but lovely.

Drinkin'...plump flavor, but surprisingly easy drinking and smooth, though the hop bitterness rises up again. Big blast of hops with each sip, mellow malt below, nice and toasty. Hop bitterness shines above it all, and delights even the most hardened hophead.

Nice one. Maintains a bitter hop edge, but cool, calm, & collected. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 09:51:23 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

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

The beer pours an orange color with a nice sized white head. The aroma is pine, resin and some grass. There are definitely tons of hops in this one. The flavor is resin and pine with a lot of spices. Medium bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 03:26:43 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First of all, I love the label - Stonehenge with bags of malt.

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly copper/orange color with a thick, cream-colored, rocky head of foam. It left sticky rings of intricate lace.

S - It smelled of pine, grasses and citrus. The nose was a little muted for a DIPA, but still good.

T - It tasted of grapefruit, pine and orange peel. The caramel flavor adds some sweetness but it is secondary to the hop power.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a slightly dry finish. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is another fine Imperial IPA. It certainly is a hop forward one.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 02:52:06 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A reasonable pour produces a three-finger thick, tan colored head that just rises above the rim of my 25cl tulip glass. Lots of lace is produced by the sticky, hop laden head. The beer is a clear, deep amber color, but shows a brilliantly clear, deeply red tinged, copper color when held up to the light. The aroma is of course quite hoppy, though I wouldn't characterize it as being aggressively so for a Double IPA. Sweet, fruity citrus notes of lychee, apricot, candied grapefruit zest, tangelo and mandarin orange are the most noticeable note, but there is a greener hop note of light herbal notes that are just barely noticed under the surface. Biscuit like grain notes and a touch of toasty malt round out the finish, though this again plays a secondary role to the more fruity hop notes.

Soft feeling and almost creamy feeling up front, but a prickly carbonation quickly provides some texture and bite that evens this out. The beer is fairly bitter, but it takes a few sips before the effect gets magnified throughout the entire flavor profile; originally it was most noticed as a biting, lingering note in the finish. Very hoppy, yet somehow I feel like it is restrained; the fruity hop notes are most noticed, but a substantial herbal hop character plays a much bigger role than it did in the aroma. Flavors of lychee, mandarin orange and tangelo are coupled with a sharply herbal note reminiscent of a mix of hemp oil, menthol and perhaps something a touch harder like chive (this last is very light though). The finish gets a bit astringent with the mix of herbal hop character, hop bitterness and lightly perceptible, hot alcohol.

I like the body on this beer, it is not so heavy as many examples that seem confusingly like a hoppy Barley Wine, instead it just about has that drinkable character that something with IPA in the name needs. It does have a medium heft to it that is lightly viscous, and certainly palate coating; this quality serves to temper the hop character and accentuate the fruit focused notes. Speaking of the body, this is the spot where the malt character is most noticed; an accentuating sweetness that is not distinctly malt flavored helps to accentuate the hop character. There is perhaps a touch of a caramel edge to this beer, but the bitterness and alcohol heat keep this from developing any toasty malt character in the finish.

This is a pretty good Double IPA. It can get a little hot in the finish from the alcohol, especially as it warms up, but it does have a nice mix of hop notes that ultimately are what this style of beer is about. This is not the most scathingly hoppy example of this style and does actually achieve some balance despite the malt character really note playing an overtly noticeable role in the flavor.

Purchased: South Bay Drugs Pharmacy, Imperial Beach CA

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2008 01:39:59 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from vasdef42, so a big "Thank you" goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright amber color, with a large off-white head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is a good mix of grassy hops, fruity citrus and caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts with a strong bite of floral hops bitterness, which is quickly followed by a hearty malt characters and sweet flavors of caramel & citrus. The beer achieves a better balance as it warms a bit. The after-taste is slightly bitter.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, there are better 2IPA's out there but this is still a good hop bomb to drink for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2008 01:42:56 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber/orange with some effervescence with 4+ fingers of cream colored head. Pretty good lacing & excellent head retention

S: piney & resiny, restrains as is it warms, but gets a second wind the last 4-5 ozs

T: Citrussy (orange & grapefruit) hops, caramel & honey malt up front. Grapefruit& a couple of bales piney hops, boozey warmth, caramel, slight candi sugar & curaco notes as this warms up. Finishes with piney hops, a bit of booze, & loads of dry orangey hops & some grapefruit

MF: Chewy with enough carbonation to get the hop taste up through the giant malt presence. Gets very sticky as this warms, then strangely becomes creamy at the finish

Drinks a little slow, due to the complexity of this ale. The taste draws you in, I believe this beer would sneak up & whoop your ass if you choose to session on this! Super DIPA IMO, won't get hyped too widely available, more for me!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 04:02:20 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle, from Whole Foods in Tustin, CA,

A: Pours a dark maroon red, with a thick rich cap of white foam, great head retention, extensive thick lacing.

S: Light for the style, stone fruit, and caramel malt.

T: The overall flavour is very idiosyncratic for this style, but still pretty tasty. Get a lot of sweet pine, almost a spruce character. Malt is of burnt toast and caramel. Sour cherry also plays a role, tree sap, light alcohol character.

M: Light in carbonation, long aftertaste, overall a pretty medium body, very resiny as per the style.

D: An interesting beer from Deschutes, love the label. Wasn't blown away, just a good Double IPA for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2008 16:48:12 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep saturated sunset orange color bleeding into dark copper, with a bright jewel tone clarity. Fluffy head of dense foam, leaving exceedingly drippy lace inside the glass. Nice color, and good retention on display.

Sweet tropical fruity aroma, sticky and lush. Warming up there are some identifiable sweet toffee malty notes.

Unique hop flavor, seems like nelson sauvin lending some lemony, woody notes, and something intensely fruity.

Fruit skins, creaminess, lemon custard, blood orange, bitter dandelion stems, woody leafy hop greenery. Alternate flashes of tropical and citrus fruit, making for a complex hoppy brew that lives up to its name. Ends up with a fairly creamy feel, slightly sticky on the lips with a dry whisper of a finish. Pretty fucking nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 04:31:02 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to bitterbill for including in a trade!

22 oz. bottle, poured into a snifter glass:

Pours bright orange amber with a thin head that descends to a swirling patch. Dotted lacing sticks to the glass.

The smell is of citrus - esp. pineapple and pink grapefruit with pine and a whiff of alcohol.

The taste is of grapefruit, pineapple with some pine. A caramelish/pale-ish malt backing gives it a sweet backing, leading to a dry, bitter finish. Alcohol is well-covered.

Full-bodied without being too thickish or syrupy. A nice carbonation level keeps it smooth. This can disappear way to quickly, as it is so smooth and drinkable. A gem and a hop lover's delight, yet with a nice balance to it.

Thanks again, Bill! And thanks to skourtis for sending two more bottles to me in '09!

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 12:20:03 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, from the Lighthouse liquor store in tiny Hawi, Hawaii.

This beer pours a clear, medium golden hue, with two fat fingers of puffy, densely foamy eggshell-white head, which leaves some randomly blotchy painted lace around the glass as it slowly settles.

It smells of oily grapefruit rind, tropical fruit, sturdy pine resin, and that caramel/toffee blanket that contains, but doesn't douse, the fire. The taste is still big on the big multivaried bitter citrus peel thrust, only to be brought back to earth, but not wholly restrained by the caramel, creme brulee malt, which gets a bit bready as things move on. The biggish ABV does well to keep its head down.

The bubbles are nicely forceful in the background supportive sense, the body a decent medium weight, a little clingy, but generally quite smooth. It finishes less bitter, and more fruity, all under the watchful eye of that caramel goodness.

A pretty stand-up DIPA, the bitterness maybe a tad on the waning side, as the BB date is approaching next month, and I'm drinking this an insanely long distance from that lovely Bond Street brewpub I visited last summer. At any rate, this is a pretty damned fine brew, precariously balanced, another of its numerous selling points.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 08:49:26 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 22 oz bomber from a trade with msubulldog25.

A: The ale pours with a vigorous carbonation, yielding off-white billows that fill the glass and lace throughout. Color-wise, the ale is a lighter amber color with some definite orange highlights.

S: The nose is chock full of hoppy goodness, showing off a vibrant, piquant citrus hop body. The citrus is nicely paired with some thick resiny pine hops.

T: The flavor is surprisingly well balanced; there is a strong hop bite without too much alcohol or unevenness. The hops register immediately, showing off a pronounced citrus sweetness that transitions into strong bitterness in the finish. The malt body matches nicely, adding a grainy element that balances out the early hop body (until the bitterness kicks in).

M: The mouthfeel never quite figures itself out, starting out well-balanced and quickly turning bitter. I'd vote for the well-balanced start over the finish, if my vote carried any weight.

D: The abv is not conducive to pounding, but I think that some age on this beer would serve well, mellowing out the hops a bit for added balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 02:15:42 | More by akorsak

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

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appears a semi hazed copper brass hue with a large billowing khaki tan head forming thick with a rocky texture rising well above the rim of my pint glass. Very creamy textured dense head of foam, that leaves thick chunky even bands of lacing with each sip. I miss having readily available fresh West Coast hop bombs to partake in, I found my passion in craft brews while residing in So Cal for a summer although Bend is up in the PAC NW I'm still feeling the West Coast aggressive hops within this style.

Aromatics burst with blistering citrus zest and with raucous pine needle scented earth tones, finishing with an unadulterated course of kind bud like robusto. At the same time sugar sprinkled grapefruit peels rise to the forefront, showing of the loads of malt that went into preparing this fine hoppy offering. A touch of alcohol among the huge citrus hop bouquet, tickles the nose with some carbonation and citric qualities. Hop burps almost scorched my nose hairs leaving me with the sense that I just consumed something with garlic, green onion, or wassabi (that's intense).

Flavor is aggressive with layers of hop bitterness and flavor, compromised of bitter pine and citrus peel weighing heavy with dank earthiness. Slaps you around with hops yet gives gentle strokes of malt sweetness not heavy on the caramel but just a deep since of glazed hop buds. As it warms more and more alcohol provides even more depth and character, outstanding hoppy offering. I'm dying to make a pilgrimage to this brewery when my pal Geof and his lady Lindsey get hitched later this summer, I will be sure to show some support and hoist a couple pints with you folks in celebration of your commitment to each other.

Mouthfeel is oily yet filled with tones of residual sugars, never sticky or cloying but well lubricated with hop oils. This beer literally fills up your senses not many beers out there are able to compete on this playing field. An eye opening smooth and natural carbonation bring this brew to a plane of enlightenment, mystery with the Hop Henge...I'm sold just give me more. Increase production and I preach the way of the Deschutes Brewery.

Drinkability is effortless from the moment you sample the first few sips to the second your swirling the last dregs from the bottle, you simply want more. Thanks for the sample, I know 22 ounces should be enough for anybody. In this case a bomber just induces cravings much like the Nugget Nectar that made me purchase back to back cases, this would be my go to hop fix if readily available.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 22:18:38 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a clear orange color with good carbonation and a nice white head

S: Plenty of grapefruit, fresh hops and booze smell

T: Chewy, plenty of citrus hops upfront, fresh and tasty. Some booze and maybe a light caramel

M: Sordove slick, good carbonation, nice hop bite on the end

D: Would drink again for sure

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2010 04:47:14 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 Vintage

22oz. Bomber
Best By: 4/16/10

Pours a very nice clean/clear dark copper color, nice carbonation, nice small creamy off-white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, with some malt notes, some citrus/pine notes, and caramel. The taste is sweet, hoppy, malty, nice little touch of citrus/pine notes, nice caramel touch. Medium body. Very Drinkable, it's been 3 years since I've last had this brew, a nice one.

2007 Vintage

Thanks to msubulldog25.

Pours a nice clean/clear dark orange color, nice carbonation, nice small off-white head, nice sticky lacing throughout the drink. The nose is hoppy, malty, citrusy, and some caramel. The taste is mostly hoppy, but the malts do come in the middle, the finish is dry, slightly malty and bitter. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice/tasty DIPA from Deschutes.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2007 00:06:18 | More by Wasatch

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

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