Redeemer - Olde Hickory Brewery

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a cloudy golden orange in color with light amounts of sediment in suspension, a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation, and some apricot + golden yellow highlights. The beer has a finger tall creamy dense foamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a medium sized patch of large bubbles, a very thin film covering the majority of the remainder of the surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of citrus/grapefruit rind and pine hops over the top of moderate aromas of caramel malts. There are very light notes of floral hops in the background as well.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of sweet caramel malts but the flavors of this beer are dominated by the hops - moderate to strong flavors of citrus/grapefruit rind and pine hops and lesser notes of herbal and floral hops. Moderate amounts of bitterness that lingers for quite a while.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: This is a really nice DIPA and I'm excited that it came from an NC brewery (as I lived in NC for quite a few years and still have family there). Really nice balance from the malt sweetness to ensure that the hop bitterness is not too intense. Great flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:56:15 | More by dbrauneis

bum732

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

S: Bright fruitiness, passion fruit, grapefruit sweetness, lots of pineapple with some mango, candy like sweetness.

L: Hazy burnt orange, creamy white head that dissipates slightly. Solid lacing.

T: Resiny dankness up front followed by a medium large malt sweetness. Medium high fruity sweetness, a slight grapefruit bite. There is a short, pronounced bisquity malt that fades quickly to a deep burnt pineapple. Finishes quite resiny and semi-dry.

M: Medium full body, medium carbonation, alcohol barely noticeable.

Pretty good overall, a little heavy, but great flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:26:34 | More by bum732

Dope

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle states to enjoy by 8/13 so I assume this must be quite fresh.

A: Pours a slightly hazy amber with a big fluffy light tan head. Head fades fairly quick, leaving only moderate lacing behind. Decent retention.

S: Big big hops. Lots of onion/garlic and pine. Grapefruit abound as well.

T: Again, big hops up front. Lots of juicy citrus. Grapefruit, oranges and mango even. Some pine mixes in. Caramel malt tries to interject and barely succeeds. Strong pine and resin on the back end with a big wave of bitterness. Lingering drying and oily sensation sticks around for a long time.

M: Medium bodied, does not nearly feel 10% due to the hops wiping out everything.

O: Huge hop bomb. Almost no discernible malt even at 10% ABV. From start to finish it's just waves of different types of hops and bitterness. Great variety of flavors, all well balanced to boot. Excellent huge DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 02:25:04 | More by Dope

tdm168

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - orangish amber with a thick, white head that has great retention

S - citrusy, piney, big herbal aroma

T - mild breadiness, some sugar, big bitter finish, some pine, intense herbal hop finish

M - medium to full bodied, well carbonated

This is a really nice beer. The hop character is intense and intricate. The ABV is well hidden giving it great drinkability. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It's definitely worth finding.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 10:33:32 | More by tdm168

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly cloudy light amber, nice tan head.

Smell is pretty hoppy, even mix of bitter pine and citrus, juicy citrus and hints of pineapple. Smells fresh and very hoppy.

Taste is nice bitter hops, again a nice balance between piney/grassy hops and citrus hops, especially orange, some floral notes too, some light vanilla malt. Pretty bitter, big hop character.

Mouthfeel is milky smooth, good carb, alcohol is reasonably well hidden.

Very nice double IPA.

8.0/10

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 03:11:48 | More by AlexFields

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.99/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz, Best by August 2013 knotch
DFH IPA glass

A: Hazy bright orange color. Might have just been hop haze, as it became more clear as I drank it. Soapy off white head. Faint and fades quickly into a small layer. Sticky lacing that lasts the duration of the sip.

S: Big fruity hops. Big mango and peach. Orange rind. Sweet malts, but primarily this is a hop attack.

T: Nice fruity hop bitterness. Sweet malty backbone. Good balance. Dry finish.

M: Medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 14:18:46 | More by inlimbo77

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a hazy orange color pour with a finger of head which quickly dissipated. smells of fruity hops, peaches, grassy hops, bready. the flavor is extremely bitter grapefruit up front and it lingers, OH IT LINGERS! a deliciously sweet backbone tries to even it out, but holy hell this is a very earthy bitterness overall - don't get me wrong, i love it. medium in body, though it feels a bit thin for the abv %, moderate carbonation.

overall this is a decent dipa.. i've had better, but it is quite unique with the hop profile, lots of fruity citrusy hops, yet such an overwhelming earthy dirt-like bitterness!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 16:23:44 | More by facundoCNB

wedge

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

@ Ridgewood

Foggy dark gold with a little white creaminess on the surface. Herbal, scallion-like, and sticky pine resin aromas. Big, bitter hoppy flavor. Dark, sappy pine, pulpy citrus juice, oily, heavy earth flavors over a thick caramel base way in the back. Some fleshy tropical fruit sweetness, but the hops stay very raw. Heavy with a lingering, hefty bitterness. I wouldn't call it boozy, but the 10% is obvious. A strong punch in the face with not the most attractive blend of hops for my tastebuds. A half pour would have been fine.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 17:57:57 | More by wedge

brewski09

Ohio

4.54/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Served from a bomber into a pint glass on 3/15/2013 (seccond release?). Purchased from Sam's Quick Shop in Durham, NC on the staff reccomendation when I asked them what North Carolina beer I couldn't leave the state without trying. Thank you.

A - a brilliantly clear orange with about a 1.5cm head that is just off white. Beautiful. The head quickly dissipates d/t the beer being 10% ABV.

S - the smell hits you as soon as the beer is opened. Wow. Sweet, floral aromas with some heavy citrus. Not really any pine or grass though. The booze follows up the hops, but is overwhelmed by the hops right away, then they dance with each other. Malts are there In the background as base and a mild caramel sweetness.

T - great mix of hops, booze, residual sweetness for. The malts (light roast caramel), and more hops. The hops are of a pine resin note with a sweet floral background. I am impressed how thoroughly hoppy this beer is without being grassy.

M - the beer is oily and sugary throughout. The resinous nature of the hops remain long after the sip is gone, but thu are so sweet from the residual sugar.

O - if you can get a bottle of this, I would not pass it up. A well balanced beer that is rare from any brewery. Thank you again to the staff at Sam's Quick Shop.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:40:14 | More by brewski09

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, $8.99 from Ridgewood.

Appearance: Mostly clear golden orange with a bit of hops haze. Off white head, brief retention, spots of lacing.

Smell: Sweet and bitter citrus and pine resin. Orange and grapefruit, some tropical fruit too. Strong simcoe aroma tends toward cat pee.

Taste: Very Hopslam-esque up front, with powerful sweet and fruity hops flavors, but it becomes very bitter and evokes more dank and dirty (earthy) hops flavors as it finishes. Long, dry, bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light for a double ipa, avoiding the heavy syrupy feel that often makes one less drinkable. As above, dry finish.

Overall: Best DIPA from NC, unless I'm blanking on one. Foothills Papa Jade is a contender, but that's draft only-- so far. Pretty awesome. Super drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:28:35 | More by rapidsequence

RevRaymer

North Carolina

4.56/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is clearly marked that if you don't like hops than this is not your beer and that is no lie. From the moment you open the bottle you can smell the citrus aroma of hops pouring forth. The beer pours a deep orange gold color with little head. The smell of the hops is almost overwhelming but again if you are looking for a hops heavy bear this is going to thrill you. The taste is strong with hops bitterness but it is smooth enough to enjoy with leisure.

Overall this beer is what it says it is - a hops beer. If that's what you enjoy than you will enjoy this beer. If hops are not your thing than this is not for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:20:19 | More by RevRaymer

BeerZack

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle, best by July 2013. Strong orangey citrus nose with a hint of grassiness and some caramel. Pale malts with citrus and fresh grassy hop bitterness. Hint of sweet caramel starting to come out, not sure if its due to age, but I bet this one could have been stellar a couple weeks ago if the caramel was less developed.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:51:30 | More by BeerZack

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.96/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

So happy to see plenty of this one on the shelves at my local haunt. Grabbed some and popped a bottle with a friend whilst we played some darts.

Now this is the chunkiest beer I have ever poured. A massive amount of yeast sediment floats in this beer. It reminded me of that Orbitz drink from when I was a kid...but I hope these chunks aren't to be chewed. A cloudy dark honey color with a small white cap of lace. Spotty lace sticks to the glass. Aroma is pretty fresh with lots of citrus - pineapple, grapefruit and starfruit.

The body is a bit slick with a slightly oily feel on the finish. Drinks easy enough though. Carbonation level is moderate. Nice hoppy flavor that keeps me sipping as nothing really lingers. It's not the freshest or juiciest of hops as far as flavor goes, but they impart a nice bitter pop for sure. Mild peppery finish. Sweet and bold, this one is a good one. Nice work, OHB, I much prefer this to it's "milder" sibling, Death by Hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 00:30:25 | More by Onenote81

cardsfan

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Wow another great beer by olde hickory! Fantastic orange color with the perfect amount of head. Smell was a little underwhelming but the taste brings it back. Doesn't taste like like a 10% beer and very smooth and easy to drink. Had lost my taste for dipas for awhile but this brought it back! Well done ohb!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 03:41:43 | More by cardsfan

jrnyc

New York

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Rion for this as part of trade!

Appearance is average, kind of reminds me of Heady Topper. There was no head and no lacing at all.

Smell is all hops, straight in your face. if you like raw hops , this is your beer.

Has little carbonation.

Taste is , well in your face also. Ok in beginning and end, nice finish. Alcohol well hidden.

I enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 23:33:59 | More by jrnyc

blackie

Virginia

4.51/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bomber muled from Bottle Mixx into a wide Crooked Stave chalice. The pour gives up a low, white head, the beer itself a slightly hazy, deep golden color - lots of chunky yeast in the final pour. Impressive tropical nose at first hit - big passionfruit and mango with some minor kiwi, guava - very pungent, sticky spicy-sweet juice with a clean malting, sweet alcohol, great start. Smooth on the palate with a medium body and lighter, slightly prickly carbonation, a little sugar residue strikes a lovely balance with the acidic bitter. On the palate more of the great tropical structure - passionfruit and spicy mango rind - with a moderately sweet but clean malt balance. A pleasantly intense red grapefruit oil bitterness closes things out, lingering long. A pretty fantastic DIPA, maybe the best I’ve had from the state - preferred to the DBH draft I had last weekend.

Move over Wicked Weed! (sarcasm)

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 03:03:40 | More by blackie

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Wow. I have enjoyed Death By Hops by OHB many times but this might be the best NC beer to date. 9.99$ a bomber and was a little skeptical. Poured hard into a duvel open end. Unfiltered? Yes, please. Love that. Perfectly balanced hop bomb at 10% abv. Yes, please. Didn't feel like a true full review but this deserves more than just a tick. Easily a 4.75 across the board. Maybe even 5 on taste. OHB, if you see this, please make this all the time!! Truly a top shelf IIPA. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 01:37:14 | More by Ivegotmule

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Received in a random act of kindness from kingkong. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice hazy honey hue with a not quite one finger head that fades to leave spotty clouding and light lacing.

S - So this is from North Carolina eh? Okay, I see you. Nice grapefruit peel minus the bitterness that typically comes with that aroma. There is some malty sweetness too. Honestly, this reminds me of a well done lagered DIPA (ala Jack's Abby) with how mellow yet still aromatic it is.

T - Starts off with malty sweetness and them WHAMMY bitterness. Lots of bitter hops and grapefruit peel here. This may be above ruination level of bitterness here. Holy shit. So, I'm thinking its a bitter vein running through it that I'm tasting and not booze. I feel a little bit of heat, but the bitter hops drown out the alcohol. Very impressed at how bitter it yes, yet, still balanced with the malt sweetness. Lingering bitter hop/grapefruit peel that doesnt go away on my pallet after 15+ minutes of not sipping. Crazy.

M - Mouthfeel is solid. Nicely carbonated and that alcohol isnt really hidden nicely. Goes down dangerously.

O - Overall, surprised by this one. Appearance is alright, aroma a bit soft, but man oh man is this bitter! I guess if you're in to that sort of thing this is tasty, so luckily I am. Glad I got to try. Fun label too!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 01:11:44 | More by rudzud

brentk56

North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color; about an inch of foam tops the liquid, leaving a few dots here and there

Smell: Overwhelming hop aromatics, with a strong piney element; floral citrus tones are in the mix, as well

Taste: Sugary malts quickly give way to dominance by the hops; pine dominant, with added elements of grapefruit pith and floral elements overwhelm mid-palate; after the swallow, the malt comes back to add a bit of balance but this beer (and the finish) are all about the hops

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Nice to see a DIPA of this calibre come out of a North Carolina brewery; a fine effort by Olde Hickory

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 00:53:25 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

4.34/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours into an imperial nonic a slightly hazed burnt orange infused yellow with anice tightly formed one finger bone white head that never really completely settles.Grapefruti rind and pine resins really jump out nicely in the nose,quite sharp with no sweet malt or alcohol to muddle it up.A pine resiny sharp hop onslaught,again no big sugary malt or sweet stinging alcohol to get in the way of the hops,as it warms a little some alcohol sweetness lightly comes into play.The label is right you need to love the hops to enjoy this and I do on both fronts,it's raw and sharp and is unapologetic.I rank this up there with Foothills Jade as my favorite hop forward NC. beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 22:35:38 | More by oberon

beer2day

North Carolina

4.69/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy light orange pour with very little head. Not much in the way of lace, either.

Nose is very well balanced. Pine hops are complimented with grassy, herbal, earthy hops. Even a light shot of orange citrus. A veritable hops smorgasbord.

The initial hit hints at that light orange flavor, but is quickly overcome with grassy-to-floral hops and finished off with a pine note. Significant malt backbone here, but the varied hop flavor blocks most of that out. Very dry finish, almost arid but with enough hop resin to make it interesting. Very nice west-coast interpretation.

Feel is spot on. Not too heavy, not too sweet, not too thick. Just right.

Could this be the DIPA NC was waiting for? It's not a sweet citrus entry, but a very very good entry nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:42:42 | More by beer2day

jrsone

North Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 22oz bottle purchased today at Hops 'n' Grapes in Hickory, NC.

Cloudy with little head produced from a deliberately forthright pour into my Bell's tulip glass. Light honey color.
Aroma has every hop desciption evenly distributed: pine, grass, flower, and citrus. This is the first beer I've had in a long time--maybe forever--which hit all notes equally. There is a slight hint of alcohol, but come on, at 10% what's there must be a magic trick because it's so slight.
If you're a fan of Death by Hops, then you'll definitely be even happier with this beer. Less harsh for sure. It's definitely citrusy, but not too much. Maybe a little malt sweetness in there but who cares.
The body is light for sure. Like I said, no head per se, maybe a slight bit of lacing down the glass.
Overall, this is probably the most balanced 10% ABV IPA I've had. I love the fact that it's not primarily a fruit juice like many citrusy IIPAs. This beer is very new--just released--and there's hardly any alcohol burn in the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 22:06:25 | More by jrsone

Lantern

North Carolina

4.99/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this from a kegerator at Hops & Grapes in Hickory, NC.

A- Poured an opaque orangeish-honey color with about a half-inch off-white head.

S- Smells of citrusy hops and just a hint of pine. A little tropical. Excellent!

T- WOW! Nice citrusy hop EXPLOSION to the tongue. This one is BIG and aggressive, almost abrasive (but that's a good thing!) A little pine in there as well as the citrusy sweetness. Alcohol is pretty well hidden by the hops. Tastes outstanding.

M- You have the aforementioned abrasiveness that attacks the enamel of your teeth, but this one feels smooth with it's medium body. A little stickiness, but not syrupy.

O- OHB knocks this one outta the park. This beer reminds me a lot of Palate Wrecker. I hope this one makes another appearance!!!

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 14:36:31 | More by Lantern