Hop Crisis - 21st Amendment Brewery

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured on-tap and served in a tulip, the beer is a hazy, ruby highlighted copper coloring with a tall, frothy, small bubbled, off-white head. Aromas of resiny, spicy hops on a pineapple and grapefruit sweet backbone. Flavors are rich and extremely smooth, with the hops bitter and cedar notes riding over the top of the subtle sweet pineapple and tropical fruit blend. Unbelievably balanced. Pepper and oregano spicing clean up the end of the palate, and they also keep the sweet and rich characters in check. Rich, balanced, and slightly bitter and resiny finish. This is a damn tasty beer, and very drinkable for a little elevated ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2012 16:22:01 | More by GarthDanielson

grittybrews

Washington

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

Poured a rich gold with a thin slick of head. Sweet aroma of caramel, orange, and pine.

Moderate carbonation and a thick, sticky mouthfeel. Juicy citrus up front with lots of caramel sweetness and some pine bitterness mixed with a hint of oak on the finish.

Nice IIPA, but the sweetness and booze cover up the subtler hop/oak elements.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2012 21:03:54 | More by grittybrews

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a nice light golden color with good carbonation and a nice white head

S: Light citrus and minor oak. A little weak for what I was expecting out of such a potent IIPA

T: Caramel upfront which transitions to a nice orange peel, light grapefruit, oak, a nice juiciness backed with plenty of IBU's and little boozey finish

M: A little bit of hop oils, medium body.

O: Good but for some reason it just didnt shock me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2012 02:17:27 | More by barleywinefiend

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a golden colored beer with a one finger white head. The head faded rather fast to leave a moderate level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is a nice blend of citrus and floral hop aromas - the citrus is of a slightly bitter grapefruit. These hop aromas are mixed with a very light malty aroma, some tropical fruit, and a somewhat caramel sweetness that help to balance the hop aromas, creating an overall, not overpowering and quite nice smell.

Taste – The taste began a bit on the sweeter side. Some light biscuit flavor with caramel and tangerine are up front. A grapefruit hop then comes to the tongue and bitters it out a bit. Some sweet seems to come back however as some tropical fruit flavors of papaya, mango and pineapple come to the tongue. Toward the end the citrus hop grows stronger and when mixed with a light herbal hop and alcohol flavor one is left with a nice semi-sweet yet bitter flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The brew was of average thickness and carbonation. A little more thickness may have helped to make the hop flavors more potent on the tongue. But none the less it was still a nice overall feel.

Overall – A very delicious beer with some rather smooth hop flavors that are complemented by a good malty body. While dangerous at 9.7 % abv, it is one to try and go to when looking for something hoppy, but rather balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 23:40:20 | More by Darkmagus82

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: slightly hazy gold head was originally about. 1/4" coming off white settled to nada after a sip.

Smell: light floral, soft hoppy feel. It smells bitter but soft on the nostrils.

Taste: complex in the motion that you feel how bitter it can be but with a honey feel that you will absolutely love.

Mouth: Very good carbonation for this tyPe of IPA, exceptionally smooth and very hard to dislike.

Overall: you're missing out if you if you didn't have one shame on you. Salud!

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 02:07:37 | More by BlurryVisi0n

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

21st Amendment Hop Crisis, Imperial IPA, aged in oak spirals. 9.7% ABV, 94 IBUs.

Clear, bright, reddish amber hue; huge head, lush and long-lasting, creamy-toned.

Aroma: oak notes hit the nose immediately, covering the harsher aspects of this Imperial IPA. Citrus and pine lurk beneath. Grapefruit meets mango, lighter lemon and lime. Slightly soaked in oak, not necessarily smothered, though. Still showcases a beautiful bouquet of hop notes.

Taste: Lush in the mouth, full and forward with flavor. Hops are high, here, big, bracing bitterness, but nicely coated by the touches of oak. It's an extra dimension, it's nothing intrusive or reductive, in the least. You're still smacked around with hops, and high alcohol levels, two things you want in your imperial IPA, but x-factor of oak brings a comforting element, something that subdues the harsh bitterness ever slightly, and ushers in a crisp, satisfying something else.

It hangs in the air, and it hides in your head. This has an electric hop buzz that cradles the cranium, and sizzles, the senses, without killing anyone, or ruining anything. Boom, and, yum, and boom, and, ahhhh!!!

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2011 21:42:26 | More by feloniousmonk

nickd717

California

4.45/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review dated 2/15/2009.

On tap at 21st Amendment in SF. What hop crisis? They sure were able to find a lot of those little lupulin bombs for this beer. Deep golden amber with a nice creamy head. Aroma is fresh piney hops and malt. Flavor is sweet caramel malt and lots of piney, citrusy west coast hops. Syrupy on the palate. Really nice DIPA overall.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 18:48:17 | More by nickd717

dgilks

Australia

3.63/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear dark golden colour with a small, off-white head. Poor head retention but great lacing.

Pine aroma with a touch of orange. Mild mango. Very good.

Well balanced malt sweetness with caramel and a distinct pine note. Astringent bitterness.

Medium full body with moderately-high carbonation. Fine but a bit prickly on the tongue.

A decent but middle of the road IIPA whose flavour doesn't quite cut it. Not worth the price when compared to Pliny.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 11:23:48 | More by dgilks

popery

California

4.22/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes 1/1/11. Draft, Beer Revolution. Despite its silver medal at the last GABF, I expected to be a bit disappointed by this beer, after hearing it was an oak-aged DIPA with a pretty big malt backbone. However, I was happily surprised. This beer had a wonderful hop aroma, mostly floral with some grassy and pine/ctirus in a supporting role. Taste was very balanced, which is normally a descriptor that I associate with too much malt flavor for DIPAs, but it works here. I can see why this beer would go over well with judges. It’s balanced but still has some good bitterness and lots of hop aroma. There’s a touch of oak in the taste, but I think it mostly serves to make the malt flavor gentler and rounder. The malt has a honeyed flavor - very nice. Mouthfeel is thick and full. Very good DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2011 19:17:27 | More by popery

david18

New York

4.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer made an unfortunately very brief appearance at the Amsterdam Ale House on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I had about three over a two day period and then it was gone, which was too bad because I really liked this beer.

Appearance was a copper/amber color with a nice amount of carbonation which stuck around for a while. Very enticing.

Aroma was probably the best part. Very refreshing hops, almost sweet. Fruity, with a nice malt aroma as well.

Flavor was also great. Great mix of hops, malt and heat, with a very west coast hop bent. Great bitterness, great flavor.

I really hope to see this beer again because I really liked it. One of the better double IPA's that I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 19:32:06 | More by david18

ccrida

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On draught at the Beer Stein, Hop Crisis is dark gold with an off-white head leaving scattered lace.

Smell is pretty hoppy (I'm shocked, considered this is oak 'aged'), a little earthy/woods/stemming note as well (I mean woods=forest, not oak barrel). Mostly citrus, accentuated by the sweetness of the malt.

Taste is more malt forward then the nose, with a little spice from the alcohol, which is rather noticeable, but clean. The hops are still certainly there, a nice citrus bite in fact, and again with the stemmy note as well. Really not getting much from the oak, apparently a very short aging period, explaining the fact that the hops still have some freshness.

Mouthfeel is oily, medium bodied, on the dry side but not overly so.

Drinkability is okay, it's a bit thick, not really satisfying my hop cravings, and to strong to session. I've only ever had one oaked DIPA that I really liked, but for the most part, the fail because the concept is a fail. DIPA should be brite-tank fresh. Aging it kills the hops, period.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 00:16:46 | More by ccrida

dirtylou

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap, noble fir

appearance: served in a 13oz chalice, bright orange body, healthy creamy white head

smell: very hoppy - citrus rind and pine, boozy sweetness

taste: piney hops, lots of sweet grapefruit zest, citric juice, oak comes through in a subtle manner...pretty boozy for the style but still an enjoyable dipa

mouthfeel: medium, higher alcohol presence

overall: good

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 19:04:13 | More by dirtylou

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright copper in color with a slight haze. Poured with a strong, healthy off-white head with unusually good staying power for a DIPA. Foam slowly reduces to a thick cap that leaves sheets of sticky lacings on the glass. Big citrus hop aromas, pineapple, lemon, orange, grapefruit. with a underlying malt sweetness. Slightly resinous up front, but smooth and lightly creamy through the middle and end. Pretty much just tropical citrus hop flavor from beginning to end with a hint of pine and a light maltiness beneath. Finishes a bit dry with a long lingering hop bitterness. The hops and malt nicely mask the high abv. Very smooth, tasty (if you enjoy lots of hops) and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2011 13:28:56 | More by IronLover

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At Al's of Hampden.

A: The DIPA is an amber color, plenty of yellow adding a Central PA in fall look. A thin head, white, comes along.

S: The nose has citrus hops but generally the maltiness stands out. Balance levels things out, adding malty breads.

T: A moderate hop profile not as much as a DIPA should have. Citrus is present but the breadiness seems to overpower it. The pairing seems to be more IPA than DIPA, breadiness taking the place of bold hops.

M: Too balanced to be a DIPA. That seems to be par for the course for 21st Amendment, balance at the expense of the green gold. I enjoyed the ale but it didn't feel like a double IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 21:25:34 | More by akorsak

Avantyawn

New York

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Rattle n Hum, 12 ounce pour ...

A: Nice clear light orange yellow color. Very standard looking.

S: The aroma is where this beer really shines. Luscious tropical fruits, pineapple, mango, peach. The hop scent is alluring and wonderful!

T: The taste doesn't quite match the wonderfulness of the scent, but thats no dig. It's a great tasting beer as well. It has a nice sweet fruity hoppy flavor, a strong but not overly sweet malt backbone, and a nice dry puckering bitter hop finish. this beer does the west coast DIPA on point. The taste is nothing sublime or jaw dropping, but it is really quite tasty and drinkable for the high APV.

M: Nice balanced medium mouthfeel, pleasant carbonation. No problems here. Well done.

O: Overall, this is not an elite beer, but it is much better than your average DIPA. I can think of tons of DIPAs I have disliked for lack of balance or being overly boozy or astringent tasting. This beer is not one of those beers. Purchase this beer with confidence, you will not be sorry you tried it! I found the experience quite enjoyable! If there was such a thing as the everyday DIPA, this would be it in my book!

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 02:41:22 | More by Avantyawn

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the tap a beautiful clear golden with a thick, fine-bubbled, off-white head that sticks around and leaves some respectable lacing. Aroma is seriously hoppy with a firm undertone of grapefruit and more than a hint of sour orange. Flavor is about half strongly hoppy and half grapefruit, and fairly bitter but having just a whisper of honey sweetness. Texture is ragged and fizzy, leaving behind a hop-bitter tingle. If you love hoppy beers, this will help you deal with any crisis!

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 02:23:03 | More by Cyberkedi

Duffman929

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden color with minimal lingering white head .

Tasted of pine with hints of citrus, lemon.

Initial taste is bold and hits the tongue nicely. Great, flavored but lingering feel and taste leaves a bit to be desired. I enjoyed this beer as a whole but the aftertaste was not great. I would have it again if available, but still prefer a dreadnaught.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 21:38:36 | More by Duffman929

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours golden with a nice lacy head. Smells of sweet malt and sweet summit hops. Very juicy in both the nose and taste, with a nice long bitterness that underpins the sweeter flavors. A little grainy on the finish, which jolts a little bit after the prior juiciness. Overall a solid beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2011 02:14:41 | More by Georgiabeer

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clean yellow to orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, oaky, alcohol and dry pine hops. In the taste, dry pine hops, oaky, and a taste of alcohol with no burn. A small hop bitterness and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry oak and pine hop in the aftertaste. Line smell to taste, but nice. Nice small oak presence, and a small alcohol presence, wi=hich is somewhat hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2011 19:56:30 | More by OWSLEY069

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Appears a semi transparent gold with an orange hue and a fluffy white cap that slowly goes away. Scattered bits of lacing cling to the glass.
Smell is of resin, pine, citrus, herbs, and ripe fruit.
Taste is of the aromas with a flavorful white grape punch that I wasn't expecting but certainly welcome. Lots of hoppy bitters balanced by sugary malt.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, chewy, pine sap lingering, and decently.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 22:44:36 | More by weeare138

Gavage

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: orange in color with a nice big 2" head. Thick lace paints the glass during the session.

Smell: grapefruit and a big floral and piney hop aroma is wonderful. Some booziness is picked up by the nose.

Taste: big caramel profile. Loads of grapfruit, grass, and a pine flavor are well balanced. Alcohol is quite noticeable and warming. Bitterness is sharp but not overbearing.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp from start to finish with some drying late. Medium-heavy in body. Long lasting aftertaste.

Drinkability: this is down a notch with the high alcohol levels despite the fact this can be consumed fairly quickly. One a session make sense, but I can see reaching for a second pint.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 12:48:46 | More by Gavage

SwiftyMcBeer

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this in Pittsburgh PA, was pretty excited to see it as I have had some of their cans and been very pleased. Usually I don't like a beer that has been near any barrels. This poured nicely with a very small head and didn't have that barrel smell that sets me off.
Taste wise it just got better. It was in no way cloyingly sweet. Really tasty, good balance of hops and malt. The alcohol was hidden very nicely too. Would seek out again and adds to my growing opinion of the brewery

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2011 21:53:36 | More by SwiftyMcBeer

augustgarage

California

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap @ Library Alehouse; served in a 5oz taster.

Butterscotch/lemon-curd color liquid - very cloudy with a rich persistent sno-white crown. Cakey lacing. Thin viscous legs.

Light floral hop aroma with clean malt and a hint of sugar - subdued.

Lemon zest, tangerine, biscuity malt, and a clean lasting bitterness mid-palate. Very citrus forward, though finishes dry, faintly bready, and with a faint twist of marijuana and additional fruit in the aftertaste.

Well carbonated, just barely medium-bodied, and somewhat spritzy. ABV is completely hidden!

Very flavorful and fruity (though not in a tropical SoCal IPA way). Drinks like an IPA more than a "Triple IPA" (remarkable).

A superior example of the style - and just as well crafted as everything else I've sampled from 21st Amendment (their "Black Beauty IPA" was a tasty contrast to this, but I neglected to review it).

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 16:51:31 | More by augustgarage

srandycarter

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - VERY clear, nice near white head that has staying power. Lace is in the same category. Medium honey color.

S - Balanced well between hop and malt. I LOVE good malt in an IPA and this one performs without being tight on the hops.

T - Matches smell. Caramel core wrapped in bitter hops.

M - Good carb and great balance.

D - One I could drink all night.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2011 08:17:30 | More by srandycarter

jmfc8237

Delaware

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clear tangerine light caramel color with sticky lacing and fluffy head info a 12 oz snifter. Smelled of sweet tangerines and a slight tinge of oak and vanilla. Taste had a wonderful hop bitterness that was as close a marriage of flavor I can imagine for a double IPA. Great intense earthiness and floral citrus tastes are backed by significant malt balance. Overall this is indeed a winner in my book and I love all things in 2's

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2011 20:23:50 | More by jmfc8237