Lilja's Hop Nest Monster - Sand Creek Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Hopcat. Very hoppy, like a double IPA Light yellow body with creamy white head and lacing. Hoppy aroma, creamy mouthfeel at the beginning and then lighter as you work your way through the head. Carbonation right there, as in all the taps at Hopcat.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2009 18:33:43 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"Men heap together the mistakes of their lives, and create a monster they call Destiny."

--John Oliver Hobbes

Polished 24-karat gold with sunshine colored highlights. A vigorous pour produced four full fingers of eggshell colored foam that has a mousse-like texture. The lid melts in attractive fashion and is leaving the glass festooned with a generous amount of delicate lace.

The nose is more Imperial pils than American IPA, thanks to a musky-earthy grassiness reminiscent of Saaz and its ilk. One source says that Amarillo hops are in use. It's odd that their typical orange zestiness isn't apparent. Warming makes things more pungent and more pleasing.

Lilja's Hop Nest Monster tastes like an IPA... to which one or more of the German/Czech nobles were added. Classic Saaz flavor. It's also pretty hoppy-bitter, so this must be a fairly fresh bottle. Some sort of dating would still be nice (for all craft beer).

It looks and smells and tastes like nothing darker than pale malt is present. That allows the focus to be where the focus should be in an IPA. Hop flavor is clean and pithy and biting. It's mostly white grapefruit pith, with bitter grasses and lemon zest close behind. I'd love to know the hop bill.

The mouthful is more APA than IPA. On second thought, a more full creaminess would require more malt, and that would not be a good thing. Actually, it's fine the way it is. Sparkly carbonation adds just the right amount of mouth energy.

Lilja's Hop Nest Monster isn't as good as Sand Creek's best beer (Wild Ride IPA), but it's a wonderful effort in its own right. It you like the European hops as much as the American ones, give this one a go... and satiate your inner hop monster.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 13:53:28 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this beer as an extra in a recent trade. I am always thrilled to try new beers, and having this one was going to be no exception. This gem of an IPA was served cold and poured into a pint glass. Consumed on 03/29/2009.

The pour was very nice. Rich medium amber in color with a nice head of white coming up and over the top. Decent settling and nice carbonation left a good amount settling down as it warmed. Rich notes of pungent pineapple and grapefruit led the way here. Subtle malts mid palate as it warms provided a nice amount of balance, and the easy, smooth character of it really showed off quite nicely. Rich hop profile here as it warms and the finish was full of orange and pineapple bite. Really nice medium body and a full, dry finish that begged me to come back for another round.

This was about as solid of an IPA as you get. Really top notch and I would go back to it anytime.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 00:00:21 | More by mikesgroove

brentk56

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with a massive head that just sits there and does a nice job on that lace front, when asked

Smell: Biscuity malt and piney hops interplay with one another (not the greatest aromatic combination)

Taste: Biscuity malt, up front, that grows even sweeter before the pine, pith and bitter grassy flavors (vaguely Germanic) enter the fray; after the swallow, the bitter flavors continue to develop, though the malt bill never backs down

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Certainly a different sort of a beer for the style and not all to my liking, but still a worthwhile effort

Thanks, brewandbbq, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 19:38:26 | More by brentk56

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Bah, it's just a stick... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear straw topped by about a finger or so of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises sweet flowers, light lemon zest, light orange zest, and white bread. The taste...well, I think the only way I can describe it is as follows: Take an orange. Peel it. Take the shards of peel, flip them over, so that the orange side is facing away from you, then lick the side facing you. That's what this stuff tastes like, all orange resin-y and bitter. Boo this. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a wet-ish feel. Overall, the hops just didn't work in this beer (or such is my assumption as to what happened). Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 07:19:32 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not much to go on, here. On the label, the beer name is splayed over a painting of a roaring T-Rex, with this extra verbiage: "A Primordial Extra Pale Ale", "India Pale Ale", & "Bold, Brazen Beer Brewed Behind the Cheddar Curtain."
Okay! Well, let's check it out!

Very hazed,thick and clouded, golden hue, creamy white rocky head.

Snappy citric aroma, bright and pithy, lemon and orange...nice.

Taste: the hops are happily at play here.Very bright and lively. Puts me in mind of a fresh, fruity IPA like Bell's Two Hearted Ale. Nothing wrong with that.

Medium body, well balanced, mellow mouthfeel, long hoppy finish.

Good drinking IPA, really delivers.
Nice work, Lilja, whoeveryou are.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2009 08:19:39 | More by feloniousmonk

emerge077

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a tulip this pours a dull coppery orange. Bright, bleached bone white foam rests on top with some sticky lacing. Aroma is all floral with some skunk and sweet caramel malt buried underneath. Bitter and sappy, some malt meagerly appears in the middle, and the end is all harsh bitterness. Pine and chalky bitter aspirin without much else to balance it. It has medium body and a decent carb level, but far too abrasive to really enjoy it that much. Needs more malt and hop flavor to improve. It leaves me wondering how old this bottle is, it's been 6 months since the first review.

For the masochistic hop heads out there...a monster indeed.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 00:16:42 | More by emerge077

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Keith for sharing this. There was a doughy malt background behind standard citrus and pine hops. While this beer is technically fine (no flaws), it's also fairly unremarkable. The hops aren't very big for an IPA, this comes off more like a thick pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 20:48:26 | More by tempest

Wasatch

Utah

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to beerbeagle for this brew.

Pours a nice cloudy golden yellow/orange color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is slightly hoppy, with some malts, citrus, slight pines. The taste is hoppy/malty balance, with some citrus, and slightly piney. Medium body. Drinkable, not a bad IPA at all, my first from this brewery, Thanks Randall.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2009 22:52:56 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in an American pint glass)
A- This beer pours a hazy orangeish-golden body with a thick lumpy off-white head and a gentle carbonation.
S- The green piney hops have a cinnamon hint to them with a soft minty quality. There is a faint musty diaceytal butter note to the finish.
T- The dry pungent bitey hops have a cream flavor to follow them. The hops are aggressive and a bit harsh without having much hop flavor to them. There is a slight sweetness underneath that comes through when the beer opens up and some faint toasted malt that comes with them. The finish is more bitter pungent hops bite that lingers a moment.
M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a tight fizz and no alcohol heat noticed.
D- The hops are soft in aroma and flavor but full in bitterness. It made this beer a bit tough to get through but the malt offered a little support to the bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 03:30:15 | More by rhoadsrage

weeare138

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to TomDecapolis...
Appears a hazy light gold with a small white head that fades into a mild cap. Spotty bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of cracked grain and a bit of a bland clay like aroma.
Taste...ok, talk about bland. Just not a whole lot going on in this other than the yeast.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, yeasty overkill, and grassy bitterness. I don't like it. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 02:43:24 | More by weeare138

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a clear gold, with at least 2 fingers of rich and foamy bright-white head. Retains with a thin yet creamy layer of froth that flares up quite robustly and coats the sides of the glass with some sticky patchy lacing. The aroma is floral and earthy, with some herbal accents, bitter grapefruit, and gentle spice coming out as well. Bready notes and some lighter caramel mix in with the hops, giving this a danky smelling tang in the back of the nostrils.

The taste is aggressive with hops, as resins, spice, earthy green citrus, and gritty bitter citrus rind all being very assertive and lingering strongly on the palate with an intense dry feel. The malts feel more on the Paler side here, blending with the fruitier aspects of the citrus flavors to help provide some balancing sweetness. The moutfeel is meduim bodied, with a slick and creamy texture in the mouth, keeping this easier feeling than it probably should be. Some light alcohol is present but it's less tasted than it does help strengthen the bitterness of the hops.

Well there were certainly no shortage of hops in this, even if their character was a bit all over the place at times. The aggressiveness got a little out of hand but there was just enough balance here to keep things in check and the easy body on this kept the drinkibility up for the most part.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 17:10:37 | More by Kegatron

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy sun yellow with a bunch of particulates hanging in suspension. Decent crop of frothy white head. Aroma is a little grassy and herbal, but mostly stale, dusty malt feel to it. Interesting flavor to say the least. Lemony feel to it but more of a lemony custard sweet flavor rather than bitter or citrusy. Although I do get some bitterness on the aftertaste. Base malts are doughy sweet, but not too sweet. Moderate carbonation with a medium to medium-full body. Drinkable beer and flavorful, even if not in an IPA kind of a way.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 03:18:59 | More by Bighuge

beerthulhu

New Jersey

2.58/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: A crystal clarity pumpkin orange coloring shows a light and lazy rise of effervesce. The head is frumpy and rocky of light cream coloring, standing an initial finger high. Retention was fair, as was the lacing.

S: Lemon weed best describes this, really light in strength despite its name. Lightly dried vegetation, dried citrus peel. Really disappointing in light of its name, what a farce.

T: Watery toasted grains, dried flowery citrus is quick to hit and go before returning to a weak finish. A bit more distinguishable then their argosy, but really isn’t saying to much. Dried grapefruit shows a quick flash at punch out. The strength is coarse but again as with their argosy, a wreck and like chewing raw citrus weeds. A ton of hops alone doesn’t make for a good beer, neither a snappy name.

M: The mouthful is medium, dry toasted malt with a touch of heat coming from the alcohol and warming citrus. Dried grass comes as well on the swallow.

O: Overall another bitter disorganized beer by sandcreek that is trying to be the big bully on the block in the ipa department, but needs to step back and learn some class and refinement. Its evident that they know neither so just opted for the most blunt and offensive amount of hops which im sure is someones thing. No complexity, uninteresting flavor, boring, and a hold off by purchase unless you just like to be insulted.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 16:19:47 | More by beerthulhu

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sand Creek : Liljas Hop Nest Monster

LOOK: Pale copper in color with a yellowish head. Some lace on the glass. The end of the pour yielded some sediment.

SMELL: Cat pee, herbs, flowers and sweetness. Hoppy aroma.

TASTE: Mellow in character, with a citrusy hop giving off lemon and grapefruit flavors. A bit grassy, and fairly bitter. Sweet caramel and honey from the malts. Alcohol is present in the taste but not distracting. Just plain.

FEEL: Medium bodied, carbonation ok, kind of lacking in fullness.

OVERALL: A pretty decent IPA , unfiltered , with good hop flavor. Lies somewhere between an English and American style pale ale but falls short of many finer examples.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:20:02 | More by Stinkypuss

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, light copper with pretty good bubbling. Theres a nice film o' foam and some Brussel's lacing stuck to my glass, a good sign.

The aroma is a crisp orange and grapefruit peel citrus. Not much malt noticed in the smell though.

Lots of crisp grassy malts topple the tongue first. Then the bitter oarnge peel and a few other citric hop flavors dominate the flavor profile. The finish has a more pronounced malt compared to the front and middle of the palate. This is a bitter beer overall, but not a hop bomb by any means. This is a bitter session beer. Hop flavors from start to finish with just a little balancing malt.

Pretty good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 22:17:25 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Pours a light golden...creamy white head

S-Grassy hop aroma...more floral than fruity but nothing real impressive..a bit of doughy malt

T-Pretty strong grapefruit rind bitterness...piney..at first it seemed to be .lacking malt backbone and appeared one sided with too much pure bitterness. But after having a couple more the malt seems to standup just fine...doughy notes complement.

M-Medium bodied...ample carbonation.

D-A little too one sided and first but closes off as a nice drinkable IPA leaning into DIPA area.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 19:45:12 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

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

12oz single - i should know better than to purchase crappy sand creek products but the label got me

appearance: very busy label with a "cheddar curtain" reference - pour is pretty nice - kind of a dull copper body but a real nice foamy white cap and full retention

smell: pretty light, bready, lemon, light hops

taste: nice and oily but with a dull hop profile - light bitterness, lemon, dough, lacks a refined definition or direction

mouthfeel: oily, medium

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 22:08:01 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

2.8/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hazy golden straw with a decent rise of white suds. They quickly sink towards the surface, but then stick around, lacing well.
The nose is fairly closed, but brings lemon oil, peppercorns, and a floured breadiness.
Taste follows suit. Bready upfront and throughout, dusted heavily with flour. There are minor flourishes of pear-like sweetness. Hops bring some lemon traits, but overall flavor is underdeveloped. Though there is a substancial peppery, dry hay, talc-like bitterness.
Medium bodied, with a rushing carbonation up front that wanes as it goes. The briskness of the CO2 actually plays well against the sharp bitterness, and this suffers as it fades away.
The acute dryness makes this rapidly drinkable, as one is thirstier for having taken a sip.
This could use some work.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 06:27:15 | More by cokes

Tone

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, golden color. 1/2 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus hops, sweet malt, slight pine, and floral hops. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean with an average carbonation level. There is a noticeably high bitterness level. Tastes of floral hops, citrus hops, sweet malt, and a hint of pine. Overall, not too complex, but great appearance, and good blend.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 20:57:32 | More by Tone

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 06/04/2009. Bottle at PPRBSG09. Pours a cloudy light orange. Aroma of sweet fruits and citrus hops. Flavor is sweet upfront with bitter hops in the finish. Light on the hops, I thought, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! I found this to be a good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 15:19:53 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Mitchster

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

$1.80 for a 12oz single at Jack's.
http://pangaeabeers.com/Hop_Nest_Monster_IPA.html

7.0% ABV, Hopped with Merkur, Amarillo, and Cascade; Degrees Plato: 17; 77 IBU, Fermented with Wyeast 1272 (American Ale 2), Post-boil Hopped with Amarillo, not dry hopped. Filtered. 222 kcal/12oz bottle.

Pours out to a lightly hazy pale golden, forming a peaking whipped bone white head with superior retention and solid sheets of lace. Moderately strong carbonation. Not terribly hoppy for an IPA, no doubt due to the lack of dry hopping. Quite pale for an IPA as well. The head is literally like meringue. Very thick, beautiful looking. The nose reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I doubt I could tell a difference. It's uncanny. The mouthfeel is sharp, bone-dry with a medium body. The taste is almost exactly like SN Pale Ale, but more bitter. Medium-strong bitterness. No perceptible off flavors.

Not really digging this beer. Too light bodied, not enough malt, too bitter, not enough hop flavor or aroma for an IPA. Look elsewhere for a good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 20:38:47 | More by Mitchster

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A single 12 ounce bottle picked up at the Beer Stop for $1.75. Poured into my nonic pint glass. Hop Nest appears a hazy muted peach color with about a finger of off white foam. The head leaves a size-able lace on the inside of my glass. Nose and flavors consist of pine, bready malt, some caramel, grass, lemon. Decent medium+ body with adequate carbonation. Pretty tasty, but - "hop nest monster"? Really? That is certainly a myth in this case...

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2010 05:59:17 | More by ClockworkOrange

TastyTaste

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale body, small head. Taste and smell have a grainy malt component not really wanted/ expected in the style. Certainly delivers hop bitterness if that's what you are looking for, but not a very well rounded experience. The grassy-grainy malt of euro lager is certainly unexpected for the style. The hop are large, but not overpowering. A decent IPA, flirting with the DIPA range of bitterness and strength.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 01:08:52 | More by TastyTaste

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

The beer pours a pale golden yellow color with some hop haze and a thin white head that is leaving some lace. Smells a bit on the light side, some mild floral components, a touch of breadyness. The taste is bitter with a slight sweet malt balance. I does not go over the top. transition between bitter and malty is nice. taste is floral, with a tinge of lemon peel. mouthfeel is perfect, carbonation lasts for 45 minutes through the session, great semi dry finish. Mouthfeel is medium to full body with smooth carbonation. Overall is is ok.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 02:24:50 | More by WoodBrew