21st Amendment IPA - 21st Amendment Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

C-hop aroma and golden colour with temporary mushroom cloud white head of foam. A bit above average mouthfeel supported by malt backbone, or good grapefruit piney hopped smooth drinking IPA. Very drinkable.Refreshing.
A great throw-in extra on a trade!

Serving type: can

01-11-2009 02:43:58 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.63/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it."

--Thomas Jefferson

Crystalline nectarine with a few fine fluttering flecks of yeast. The good looking crown is equal parts eggshell, ecru and pale orange. It's more firm than creamy and is starting to deposit a great deal of sticky lace in shredded sheets. Other than the clarity, this is a fantastic looking IPA.

The aroma more than gets the job done as well. It's hard to go wrong with the murderer's row of American hops that 21st Amendment has chosen: Warrior, Centennial, Simcoe and Amarillo. In addition, the beer was dry-hopped with Simcoe, Ahtanum and Amarillo. Each whiff delivers clouds of tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit and pine.

Two things keep Brew Free! Or Die India Pale Ale from the big leagues. The first is too much Munich malt, which has the effect of giving the beer an earthy, toasted vibe that gets in the way of the hop love. If I wanted an Oktoberfest, I'd have popped open an Oktoberfest.

The second is a wee lack of hoppiness, which is never a good thing in an IPA. To be fair, this can *may* not be superfresh, although it's been in my possession for less than one month. Without any sort of date, it's impossible to know for sure. The claimed 75 IBUs taste like no more than 40-50.

It's odd how the hops give up so much of themselves in the nose, but fail to do the same on the palate. Specifics include toasted zwieback covered with a thick layer of grapefruit marmalade and a few spent tea leaves. Suggestion to the brewers: jettison the Munich malt and you'll end up with much better beer.

The body/mouthfeel is a fraction light for the style. It's okay for an APA, but then this offering aspires to greater things. The amount of carbonation is fine and dandy, I just wish it resulted in a more silky smooth beer.

This can of 21st Amendment IPA might have come from the most recent release and is a representative sample. If so, the brewery has some work to do to match their reputation. If it's a bit long in the tooth, then I'll be happy to review a fresh can... if someone would be so kind as to send me one.

Serving type: can

09-23-2008 13:06:40 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had the pleasure of tapping this can on Halloween. I had been waiting to try one for quite a while, and this was my chance. Served cold, right out of the fridge and poured into a pint glass. This one was consumed on 10/31/2008.

The pour was typical of your good, solid IPA's with a nice and slightly hazy, golden amber appearance. Nice carbonation could be seen streaking up toward the surface and a nice pillow of white dropped on top and stayed for a good few minutes before finally settling down with a decent amount of side glass lace.

The aroma was loaded down with fresh hops. Nice touches of grapefruit and pine, light bready notes as it warmed and an all over fresh type of profile. Clean and crisp, the first sip went down with ease. Nice sharp and contrasting bite of floral hops quickly wet the tongue before fading back into a mellow, light biscuit like flavor that seemed to linger long after the rest had gone. Nice and light, with good carbonation kept me drinking this easily as the glass emptied quicker and quicker.

Overall a very solid IPA and a nice effort here in a can. I am growing more and more fond of canned beers and this one was no exception. Very sold delivery and something I would gladly go for again.

Serving type: can

11-05-2008 11:42:23 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at 21A

A: The pour is the familiar light amber color with a finger's worth of white head.

S: Good citrus notes up front along with a fair amount of sweet fruitiness. A bit of bread and malt underneath to round things out.

T: The flavor is highly fruity and tropical in nature, much more than I was expecting. The bitterness is piney and helps to balance out the sweetness in the beer.

M: The body is medium with a crisp carbonation and clean bitterness.

D: Overall, a good IPA and much better than the canned version. This is one of 21A's signature beers for a reason...

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2010 07:26:21 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours orange with an off white head and a bit of lacing as it goes down. Some citrus and piney hops in the nose, although there seems to be quite a bit of malt coming through even in the nose. Taste is a bit bitter, but is definitely dominated by quite a bit of malt sweetness. The balance is definitely off as the malt and its flavors nearly override the citrus and pine flavors, leaving a somewhat disorganized beer. Mouthfeel is a bit better, with a little bit more balance. Drinkability is okay, but not one of the better 21st Amendment beers that I've had.

Serving type: can

09-29-2010 10:54:02 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a rather hazy, orange-hued body with a small, white head.

Smell: Particularly pungent nose of citrusy, fruity hops ahead of the pale malts and lesser waft of wildflower honey.

Taste: Faintly bready malts with a honeyish sweetness present. Richly fruity blend of hop flavors, notably tangerine, citric grapefruit, pineapple, and even the noble lemon with a medium-high, earthy bitterness. Finishes reasonably dry with a lasting bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: A pleasant, well-balanced IPA. I would cheerfully have another.

Serving type: can

03-14-2009 04:50:23 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear honey color with a nice cap that protects the liquid like a sentry without leaving much tell-tale lace behind

Smell: Surprisingly balanced aroma with plenty of bready malt mixed in with a hop bill that leans more toward pine than citrus

Taste: Toasty, up front, with a developing bock-like malty undertone; the piney hops arrive by mid-palate but are not particularly forceful and, after the swallow, the malty element remains predominant

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Easy to drink but not particularly exciting if you are expecting a hoppy IPA

Serving type: can

09-06-2009 23:05:54 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Canned on 6/22/12.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a 1 inch foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of lots of citrus fruit, citrus zest, and orange/tangerine juice aromas. Taste is super citrus forward with citrus fruit, citrus zest, citrus juice, honey, and some malt on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with great aromas and flavors that make it super easy to drink. A real surprise.

Serving type: can

08-03-2012 04:49:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Can: Poured a bright golden color ale with a large thick foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of soapy hops with light citrus undertone is a bit weird and not what I was expecting. Taste is also a weird mix between some soapy hops with light citrus undertones and a sweet malt base. Body is about average with good carbonation. I really didn't like the hops profile in this one and the malt base is too sweet for my taste.

Serving type: can

06-29-2011 02:38:10 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A delicious American IPA with a plethera of citrusy hop character, backed by malty richness to support. Delicious with fruity and caramel undertones, this beer puts the hop plant on display.

Pouring a mildly hazy light copper, light orange color, the beer's carbonation builds a froathy off-white head with tremendous staying power and intricate patterns of lace. A sturdy and strong look overall.

Citrusy aromas abound: chocked full of red and white grapefruit, orange zest and tangerine, pineapple, herbal notes, pine and resin... There's a lot going on with the hop character, to the point where any one characteristic in indistinguishable from the next. Fortified malt aromas come alive with a backbone of caramel and bread crust in a stronger than expected portrayal.

Citrusy flavors also dominate taste, but not without an early rebuttal of malt richness, sweetness, and overally bready/bread crust character with pecan-like nuttiness. But then the citrusy flavors quickly build with everything from citrus pulp and pith to earthy grasses and herbs, and with a sprucy-resiny flavor that deliver a consistent fade to bitterness in finish with a weakening malty front. A delicous beer throughout.

Medium full in body, the combination of ample carbonation with malty richness make for a very creamy upstart. But the hoppy dryness and building alcohol warmth transition nicely into a malty-dry and fleeting sweetness in finish. Only a linger of crust and citrus bitterness last into the next sip. A very appetizing and rewarding beer with its effortless in drinkability and overall hop complexity.

Serving type: can

09-22-2011 04:25:48 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My first 21st Amendment offering to try.Poured into a standard pint glass a slight chill hazed medium golden with thinner soapy-like white head atop,a few globs of lace were left behind as it settled into a patchy froth mass atop.Citrusy hops mixed with a hefty caramel malt base,the hops are big but malt base seems to drown out the hops a little not only aroma wise but also on the palate.Nutty and sweetish biscuit malt is big and the citric hop profile has a hard time over taking the malt base,the hops do come thru but the malt base seems to be a little much for a standard ipa.Its good and has a nice shot of left coast hops but it's a bit on the malty side for the style for my taste.

Serving type: can

01-01-2012 00:32:01 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It may be that the clearest grapefruit aroma you'll ever find in a beer will come from a can of 21st Amendment's IPA. It's bright and citrusy, lightly tangy, and very rind-like as well. Beyond that, the hazy deep amber body and creamy off-white head suggest that there's more than enough malt there to round it out, and sure enough it's true. It's bready and biscuity at the outset, revealing a hint of dark caramel, and then a burst of hop flavor that takes you over the middle and splashes you down in a piney, citrusy, and bitter finish. It's quite a ride, but it's not an over-done, bombastic beer - it's just well-balanced, really nicely rounded, and full-flavored. Quite enjoyable!

Serving type: can

06-03-2007 13:08:18 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazedapricottishhue, rocky head of milk whitefoam...lovely.

Pungent citric aroma,lemon spillsout, pine, orange, mango, tangerine...a cornucopia of hoppy delight.

It comes in the flavor, grabs the palate, delivers the bitter blast, then leans back. Juicy stuff. Light bodied, easy drinker, smooth...tons of hops, longish bitter finish, but not too intense.

This is a session IPA for sure.
I'd drink it again and again. Mmm.

Serving type: can

02-16-2009 07:57:11 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy golden color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice pale and Carapils malt scent along with the usual truckload of hops. The taste is good. It has a pretty good malt foundation as well as a killer piney hop character. The hops really dominate the palate; hitting you up front and resinating in the finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium/full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a very good IPA. I've gotten so used to the citrus, West coast hop profile that I nearly forgot how good a piney hop character can be.

Serving type: can

12-18-2009 19:52:15 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer is amber and hazy with a big nice off white head of small and medium bubbles. Lacing on the glass with low carbonation.

Beer is mildly hoppy in the nose, pine I suppose but it's pretty low key for an IPA.

Beer is medium in bodied and pretty earthy on the palate, It's not bad at all, the hop profile is different, not what I expected. It has a late sweetness and only mildly bitter. The overall beer is a little disappointing. I don't know how old this can is but I'd have it again if it were on tap.

Serving type: can

01-16-2011 01:31:03 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a golden-orange color with a white head. The aroma is heavy on the citrus and grapefruit with not too much else. The flavor is bitter grapefruit and oranges, along with some peaches. The fruit is very juicy and is a little bit tart. Very nicely done. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: can

10-18-2010 19:51:59 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a two-finger, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of tropical fruit, citrus and toasty malt.

T - It tasted of tropical fruit and citrus. Nice burnt toast maltiness with toffee and caramel flavors.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a very good IPA. 21st Amendment does great beer.

Serving type: can

01-09-2012 03:00:20 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is pale golden yellow in color and poured with a finger high white head. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of citrusy and piney hops in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and dominated by flavors of hops, but this is nicely balanced by the underlying malts and isn't overly bitter.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is some dryness in the finish.
D: The alcohol is well masked, which makes this beer relatively easy to drink.

Serving type: can

09-26-2010 13:51:30 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Jan (biegaman) for a can of this - starting with this one for Christmas.

A - Largely transparent amber/apricot color with generous white foam that takes a while to dissipate. Nice lace sticks around, also coating the sides of the glass. Lots of carbonation visible initially but it settles down quickly.

S - I'm a little stuffed up from allergies, but I'll do my best here. Hop bitterness, with sour citrus flavors like grapefruit and lemon, as well as some festive pine and floral notes. There's a little bit of malt sweetness in the background, but it's very understated and comes out as pineapple.

T - Starts sweeter but ends with a bitter aftertaste. There's a little toffee and biscuit in the sweetness, and then it transitions to the bitterness via the citrus flavors. There's also a little spice in this one. The taste is kind of weak compared to the smell.

M - A little more watery than I'd like, and with a little too much carbonation. Otherwise it's pretty smooth with a nice resinous character.

D - Easy to drink, but the carbonation might slow me down and leave me a little bloated.

I love quality canned beer - great for cooling quickly and transporting easily. This is a solid brew, but not in the same league as Furious.

Serving type: can

12-25-2008 19:06:21 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz can into a US tumbler pint glass.

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

S: The aroma is of floral hops, fruity citrus and light caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts with a good burst of piney hops bitterness that is quickly followed by sweet flavors of citrus and caramel. The malt character is on the thin side for the style but it helps the hops & citrus flavors stand out and is enough to provide both balance and substance to the beer. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, clean finish.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this very solid IPA that is worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: can

06-11-2009 03:45:00 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out of the can as a clear golden color with a fluffy white head on top. The lacing was soapy and a little scattered about. The smell of the beer has a pretty good hop aroma too it with a decent amount of malt on the nose too. The taste had a fairly good amount of hops on the tongue throughout the brew. It's a little light with flavor overall, you can definitely tell it's an ipa though. The mouthfeel is along the lines of any typical ale, it's light, crisp and refreshing. Overall this beer was pretty good and would be ideal for casual drinking.

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 02:12:00 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Cheers to FreightTrain for this one...Thanks Jacob!

Pours an effervescent apricot with 3 fingers+ of cream colored head. Above average head retention & lacing...

S: Biscuitty malt, a bit of lemon, doesn't really assert itself

T: Lemons, grapefruit, pine & biscuitty malt up front, the malts take a back seat quickly. Slight apricot & pear fruittyness as this warms along with a touch of flinty dryness, leafy & woody hops, caramel & then grapefruit with a hint of booze warmth. Finishes a bit dry, fairly crisp & citrussy with some nice fruittyness in the background

MF: Medium bodied, soft carbonation & very good balance

Drinks a treat, ABV is artfully hidden & balanced nicely, if i could this would be in the rotation. Much better than their watermelon experiment,,,

Serving type: can

09-15-2009 03:42:09 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled a pint on tap, and the canned version subsequently.

Pint is a bright saturated orange, Thin skim of white foam layered on the surface. Bright clarity with the occasional stream of upward moving carbonation.

Sweet orange and caramel malt aroma. Tap version seemed a bit fresher, more distinctive citrus.

Medium bodied, llight hop bitterness with some candied orange and caramel malt sweetness. Low carbonation suits the beer well, allowing the flavors to take center stage. Though very similar, the tap version had the edge due to freshness. Aroma and taste popped a little bit more than the can.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2011 02:34:37 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can, listed as 7.0%,

A: Pours a light orange with a medium white head, with good retention and light lacing.

S: Burst of caramel malt, with bitter melon, pine and grapefruit.

T: Has a lot of malt bitterness at the front, toasty malt matched with a bitter pine hop bitterness. Sweet hops come in later, grapefruit and orange, finish out the flavour.

M: Medium-bodied, relatively light in carbonation, creamy, resiny.

D: A good IPA, at times I thought I loved it, overall it is well above average. Nice to see a CA IPA in a can.

Serving type: can

08-08-2008 06:07:18 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: orange in color with a 2" fluffy head that lingers around a while. Some light lace develops during the session.

Smell: light grapefruits and some mild hop bitterness are pleasant on the nose.

Taste: caramel, grapefruit, some soft orange citrus, ripe fruit sweetness, and a decent bitterness makes up a nice IPA.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Lightly crisp throughout with a long aftertaste.

Drinkability: solid drinkable IPA here. Goes down quickly and it is refreshing. Worth giving this one a try.

Serving type: can

11-03-2009 13:23:48 | More by Gavage