Wells IPA - Wells & Young's Ltd

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Serving Type - 500ml can poured into a nonic pint glass

Appearance - Beer pours a clear copper colour, with a red hue. There is some a moderate white head that sticks around for a while. A reasonable amount of lacing is left behind.

Smell - Not much aroma coming off this brew. What is there is grainy and metallic. Not unpleasant, but certainly not appealing.

Taste - Getting an unpleasant metallic taste. I don't see a freshness date...but maybe it's old? I don't know. There is something of a hop profile but it's way to understated for the style. Maybe some caramel malts coming through as well.

Mouthfeel - Medium mouthfeel. Not too watery, not to thick. Carbonation is medium to low.

Overall - 2.75/5

Serving type: can

05-16-2013 02:55:30 | More by IdeaSpeeder

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

BB (28/05/13) Beer pours a fluffy finger or two of soapy head, leaving a nice film and respectably good lacing. Colour is an intriguing medium-dark chestnut/oak brown.

Nose has round malts, hops are present but fairly light. Stale vegetable and skunked notes. Not really defined. IPA aromas don't really come through.

Taste has some initial full maltiness with a few caramel undertones then hop bitterness comes through with dryness. Dry, with a profile focusing on a moderate hop bitterness and a big malt presence. Typical and somewhat unremarkable. Finish is medium bitter and dry.

Mouthfeel is pretty thin, course carbonation, slightly watery. Medium bodied, and fairly in keeping with the style for texture. Drinkability is okay but quite boring.

This one didn't come across as particularly memorable. Fits into the style but without many outstanding features. Drinking this isn't inspiring or overly pleasant. There are far better ones out there.

Serving type: can

08-14-2012 21:52:04 | More by mick303

Snatchomcfly

3.15/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: golden copper with nice foam head that stayed in the glass during the 25 minutes of tasting.

Smell: Like many other reviewers the smell of this IPA is not that appealing. Wet socks and stale bread on the nose.

Taste: Surprisingly tasty from the staleness of the nose. Smooth throughout but does seem to loses some steam going down the throat.

Overall: Decent IPA for the price but does not blow any socks off.

Serving type: can

05-29-2012 01:13:41 | More by Snatchomcfly

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From notes... A brew from my brother in-law...

A - Pours a golden copper colour, solid finger of head with solid retention and nice spotty lacing.

S - Super musty, grassy and pilsener type hop notes, with a slightly metallic finish.

T - The metallic grassy hops dominate, wet cardboard and paper mache comes to mind, surprisingly sour and bitter and reminiscent of a sweet tart.

M - Medium bodied, though prickly going down and a bit too dry for my liking.

O - A decent ale, but by no means a good example of the style. This is a mass produced IPA that is better than others, but still fails to fully meet the style expectations. That being said, if I were given more cans for free I certainly wouldn't turn them down.

Serving type: can

03-17-2012 02:33:03 | More by andrenaline

prosper

Alberta (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a darker-than-expected red colour, white head.

Smells... bad! Vegetables, stale grains. Yuck.

Taste, thankfully, is much better. Dark crystal malts, sort of toasty, burnt-candy-like. Not a lot of hop flavours, but a good bitterness that plays well with the toasty grains. Nice finish that lingers around. I'm actually bumping this up a few points as I go.

Mouthfeel is moderate - it's a perfect match to this particular beer.

Overall - a bit of a sleeper. It's not really an 'IPA,' but it's a nice ruby ale, kinda sorta like Wychwood Hobgoblin. Good, but not what I expected.

Serving type: can

11-25-2011 00:59:43 | More by prosper

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.29/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

[Updated Jan 22 2013]

500 mL can, best before November 2013. I didn't really like this the first time I tried it, but I have given it many chances since (due to a lack of other options) and I must admit it's grown on me a little. I've probably bought close to a flat of these things over the last year or so.

Pours a bright, clear amber-bronze colour, topped with more than two fingers of off-white head that gradually recedes over the next four or five minutes. It leaves behind a doily pattern of lacing on the sides, in addition to a bumpy, creamy cap at the surface. A damn fine-looking glass of ale. The aroma is decent, but with a distinct metallic twinge to it, while leafy English hops, wet hay and some light caramel maltiness comprise its remainder. Appropriate for the style, and inviting enough I suppose.

The flavour is mild and balanced, perhaps not that surprising for an English session ale. The lightly toasted, bready malt character and slight honey sweetness are soon countered by a firm dose of leafy, grassy, somewhat floral, very English-style hop bitterness and light lemon citrus. The finish is dry, and a little metallic, though it doesn't linger terribly long on the palate. Light-bodied, with mild carbonation and a very smooth mouthfeel.

I used to be the sort of person who would try an IPA like this and immediately write it off for not being hoppy enough. I still don't think it's anything terribly special for the style, but it's quite sessionable and tastes fine. Not an exciting pint, but a perfectly serviceable one.

Final Grade: 3.29, a B-. For any thrifty English ale drinkers out there, Wells IPA should make for a decent pint, if an unmemorable one. At its LCBO price point, I would consider it reasonably good value - any fan of English-style IPAs might as well give it a shot for this reason alone, given the lack of other options around here. It's not a masterpiece, but I've thrown several of these back in a night before and will probably do so again at some point.

Serving type: can

10-24-2011 02:45:33 | More by thehyperduck

francisfilion

Quebec (Canada)

1.2/5  rDev -58.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

This is the most out of style IPA I have ever come across. It is a dark copper color with a soapy head and has good carbonation. The aroma or smell as we should call it for this beer (cause it is smelly) is one of cheap skunked ale. The aroma's are really bad and maybe a little grassy hop gets through but it is barely perceivable. The taste goes along the same lines, it is skunked, metallic and astringent. I can't believe this stuff is getting imported here and people buy it!! Overall the worst IPA I have come across and I definitely do not recommend it even if it is the only beer that is available for you, just have a glass of water and you will be much better off!

Serving type: can

10-19-2011 23:52:07 | More by francisfilion

paxkey

Ontario (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

poured in a samuel smith pint glass.
big cascade effect. white big head, soapy looking.
body is clear amber.

getting lots of skunk off this. this is a canned beer. and that is from a distance.

getting some hops aroma, guessing its cascade hops, not bad but the malt aromas are not impressive, kind of an artifical sweet candy smell. smells like a trashy euro lager.

starts out clean and refreshing with some bitterness throughout, then some grainy grassy not impressive flavors come through on the end and linger. the bitterness is nice and covers it pretty well but their is cheap product in this stuff.

this beer gives me a headache. do not buy.

Serving type: can

09-22-2011 22:26:02 | More by paxkey

Jaxxon61

British Columbia (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've been quaffing this highly-affordable British-style IPA for a number of years and have usually thought...meh. But this time around it has less of that mineral/metallic taste. It's nothing to get get all hot & bothered about, but it's a clean, highly sessionable malty-less-hoppy bevvy that wouldn't be out of place around the barbecue or dart board. For about the same the price, it's head & shoulders above the crap domestic macro swill.

Serving type: can

09-22-2011 02:04:11 | More by Jaxxon61

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500ml can poured into a pint glass.

This one pours a dark coppery amber with a fluffy off-white head sitting on top. The head settles down to a thin layer on top. Looks quite inviting.

The aroma is light and slight malty with a bit of grassy hops coming through. It's a very "beer" smell to me.

The flavour is slightly sweet and malty, with a little bit of hops coming in later. It has a slightly nutty aftertaste. Unfortunately, I'm left with a bit of a metallic taste in my mouth.

Overall, I really like this beer. It's not the most amazing flavour experience of my life, but it's really drinkable and has a nice robust flavour. As an IPA, it's a little boring.

Serving type: can

08-20-2011 22:41:22 | More by evlu1441

Yoonisaykul

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

One of the rare times I've felt like drinking an English style IPA insteadof an American one.

A- Seems pretty dark. Copper with some golden highlights. Lots of off-white head and lacing.

S- Meh... Some burnt pale malt and vaseline or lightly fruity lipbalm. Cracker. Not liking this very much.

T- Better than the smell. Might be because the bitterness hides some of the faults. Not very much flavor other than bitter. Good enough to drink though.Lip balm taste comes out more and more as it warms.

M- Quite dry. Medium to high but aggressive carbonation. Medium body.

O- A crisp, better than average beer. Not a better than average IPA though. I think there is something wrong with it.

I will not buy it again becauseof that darnlip balm taste.

Serving type: can

07-27-2011 19:00:28 | More by Yoonisaykul

2.6/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Appearance - very clear red-copper with a really nice white foamy head with excellent retention.

Smell - I had to inhale really deeply to gt much of anything on the nose of this one. Some musty, earthy English hops, maybe a touch of carmelized malt. Pretty weak aroma.

Taste - Echoes the smell - not much going on. Earthy hops and a bit of caramel. Has an oddly pronounced bitter finish for such an otherwise mild beer.

Serving type: can

06-10-2011 10:57:34 | More by

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A stereotypical British IPA. None of the hop forwardness or aroma of the American style, but malty and easy-drinking. Fine pub fare!

Clear, red-tinged amber with limited head and thin mouthfeel. Slight aroma of roasted malts, with caramelized tones more pronounced in the taste. The finish is a curious combination of sweet and bitter - not unpleasant, but not as well balanced as some.

All in all, a beer that would be better enjoyed via quantity rather than quality. But in my opinion, a pretty decent example of this particular style.

Serving type: can

06-10-2011 00:34:34 | More by hopsolutely

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

poured a thin head from a can into a wine glass - dark amber color - malt, hops and metal smell - poorly balanced - taste the same - hops bite - not a great mouthfeel either - overall I expected little for a 2$ can and the result was as expected - tried it and now I know to buy others

Serving type: nitro-can

05-15-2011 16:52:55 | More by Stocean1

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500ml can poured into pint glass feb6 2011

A clear dark copper with a shitload of bubbles of all sizes feeding a nice long lasting light tan head that leaves a few partial tings of lace

S a little metallic thing going on and a little earthy hops and caramel

T not far from the smell but with a slight fruity aspect, nothing bad here but pretty average

M medium bodied with enough carbonation to cream it up a bit

D pretty average brew when all's said and done, I expected a little more from these guys after trying their Chocolate Stout

I understand this is an English IPA and wont have the same in your face flavor profiles the big West Coast IPA's I'm used to, that being said this is still a little disappointing and not the best example of the style

Serving type: can

02-06-2011 20:00:32 | More by wordemupg

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A - golden bronze, clear with a decent off white head that retained well at about one finger with nice lacing
S - a very astringent grainy malt and somewhat sour smell, there is a grassy hop note but the malt is overpowering, not what I'm looking for in an IPA
T - very tinny metallic, astringent, and grainy, any hop taste is dominated, not impressed
M - thin and decently carbonated, finishing with a metallic dryness
D - a poor brew, it should be illegal to put IPA on something like this, its started off looking good but looks are deceiving, tastes cheap

Serving type: can

01-20-2011 03:25:03 | More by joemcgrath27

marty21

Manitoba (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear dark copper/brown with a two finger fluffy white head. Settled to a creamy cap and left lots of thick lacing covering most of the glass.

S: Bready malt and a metallic hoppy smell make up the aroma.

T: Lot's of malt up front with maybe a bit of hops and finished with a really odd metallic taste. The Metallic taste seems to become less strong the more you drink of this beer. It also finishes very dry.

M: Lighter fizzy carbonation with a medium body. Pretty easy to drink.

D: I was a little disappointed in the fact this beer is called a IPA. I would say it's more of a Pale Ale. But if you look past that it's not too bad. I don't recommend this beer if you're looking for a good IPA but it doesn't hurt at least trying this beer and maybe even having a few

Serving type: can

01-14-2011 00:28:24 | More by marty21

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a nice honey-amber colour with a white soapy head falls fairly quickly, but leaves some decent lacing and a small film and collar.

The natural mineral water that Wells IPA is brewed with comes through in the aroma, along with a malty sweetness and a decent hoppy and grainy backing.

The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy and the beer has a high carbonation at first that tapers off to what I'd call medium after a few minutes. Then I find it becomes a tad watery.

The taste is malty and bready, with a sort of metallic undertone from the mineral water. I find it very dry, but not to the point of bitterness. I note a certain peppery spiciness in the aftertaste.

For an inexpensive beer, Wells IPA really isn't half bad at all and it's certainly drinkable. It goes very well with spicy and salty foods in my experience.

Serving type: can

12-30-2010 17:55:38 | More by bryehn

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml can poured into a pint glass.
ABV 5%

A - Poured a clear copper brown with a big thick bubbly head. Good lacing is produced.

S - Light caramel, grains, some citrus and a bit of earth.

T - Sweet caramel malts upfront with a decent hop finish but with a almost unpleasant slightly metallic note.

M - Standard low carbonation expected from an English Ale. Creamy, sticky with a smooth finish.

D - Easy to drink. A bit light in flavour for an IPA but a decent Ale overall.

Serving type: can

12-24-2010 02:49:22 | More by decimator

uno99

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +34.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My Wife and I decided to get drunk on a Saturday night, and we popped into the local LCBO. I thought it would be fun to try this 2L pop bottle beer. I see its brewed in England, so I felt confidant it would be a decent beer.

A: Pours very dark for a pale. Very dark indeed. head is great. lacing isnt huge, but using the same glass for the 4 pints makes it stick around longer and longer each glass

S: malt forward, but some nice hop presence as well. A little sweet.

T: Lots of malt again. really surprising from this "IPA". Quite balanced though. nice English hop bitterness.

M: Carbonation is delicate and smooth. Nice medium body. not sticky at all.

D: Well I drank 4 pints of this during a movie marathon of sorts. 3 hours after pouring my first pint I was drunk, but not totally sick of drinking this "Wells IPA".

In conclusion, a good deal is this 2L bottle at $8.95. Don't be fooled by the cheap appearance. this is a decent beer, although I wouldn't necessarily classify it as an IPA, it is however, a nicely balanced English ale.

A word about the 2L bottle: If you put the cap back on tight the beer stays carbonated for a good 3+ hours. I had a few swigs left in the bottle, and the next day it was still drinkable with my breakfast pancakes!

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 19:40:53 | More by uno99

MattyV

Ontario (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clear copper-amber colour with a pillowy, creamy off-white head that shows good retention.

Not much of a nose, slight bready malts and some graininess.

Quite malty, which is of the bread/biscuit variety, with just a slight earthy hop character evident. However, a distracting metallic flavour overpowers any of the other flavours present.

Light to medium-bodied with soft English-style carbonation

Would be an average English pale ale, but this just doesn't make the cut as an IPA. Very little hop character to speak of, and the overpowering tinny/metallic notes ruin this for me. I must echo past reviews in that this is very reminiscent of the stereotypical European macro lager.

Serving type: can

10-09-2010 19:09:36 | More by MattyV

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I keep getting tempted by the 2L bottle of Wells IPA that looks like a pop bottle, but they never seem to move off the shelves so I didn't want to chance an old bottle. Bought a can instead.

Pours a copper-orange colour with white head and nice lacing surrounding most of the glass. Mild floral hop aroma with some bready malt. Flavour has a mild bitterness with small amount of sweetness from the malt. Nice carbonation and easy to drink.

Serving type: can

09-17-2010 21:41:44 | More by kwjd

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml can poured into a pint glass

Appearance - The beer pours an amber colour with an average size frothy and fizzy off white head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing. There is also some great lacing and the head lasted for a couple of minutes.

Smell - the beer smells slightly metallic, also some hops and caramel

Taste & Mouth - The beer actually has an okay mouth feel. There isn't much carbonation on the tongue, but it still feels okay. I can taste the hops, breads and grains, and it is slightly metallic. Unfortunately it comes across as a little watery and not a whole lot of flavour

Drink - an average beer that I may or may not seek out again.

Serving type: can

09-09-2010 22:08:50 | More by spinrsx

BBP

Ontario (Canada)

3.35/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark brown with a little red. Maintained a decent head.

S- Bready malts. Not much else that I could detect.

T- Smooth malts and subtle hops, especially for an IPA.

M- Goes down easy and smooth with little carbonation. Feels nice in the mouth and has a fuller body than the taste would imply.

D- Very easy to down and hits the spot as much as you'd expect a beer to. Didn't impress me at all, but didn't offend me one bit either. I would by no means refuse one, and may try again.

Serving type: can

08-30-2010 21:30:18 | More by BBP

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at the Brit Cafe with dinner. Can dated 18/08/10

A: Deeper brown than expected with a thick white head which left substantial lacing. A great looking start to a glass of beer.

S: Very light aromas, mainly of malt and mild bitterness. Surprisingly weak.

T: An interesting beer, as I am not well versed in English IPA as a style, but there was little hop aroma of flavor. There was a definite earthy bitterness (Fuggles?). A fairly strong level of malt in the body for a beer that finishes so dry. No real bitterness in the finish either...

M: A great mouthfeel. Low carbonation and a rich creamy head made this taste like cask out of a can. Very enjoyable.

D: Hampered by the lack of welcoming aromas and a definite IPA body, it still scores above average as it is an enticing beer with great mouthfeel and a fantastic look... If it were sold to me as a bitter, I may have rated this higher.

Serving type: can

04-11-2010 00:37:48 | More by kjyost