Highland Devil’s Britches IPA - Highland Brewing

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.59/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

"'Lordy, that's as red as the devil's britches,' exclaimed a local rancher, awed by the vibrant fall canopy ablaze on what is known today as Devil's Britches trail. Highland Brewing commemorates the history of the Great Smoky Mountains and Devil's Britches trail with a rich, red IPA. Ashburne Mild malt produces a toasted and biscuity flavor, and Extra Special malt renders an alluring red hue. Apollo hops provide aggressive bitterness (70 IBU), while dry-hopping with Calypso hops yields complex fruity and floral aromas with hints of pear and apple. This devishly delicious ale is Highland;s twist on the great American IPA." Brewed in the style of a Red IPA. The newest seasonal beer by Highland Brewing Company.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Served north of 49º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a toasted caramel cream head of a creamy froth consistency over a red-tinged copper body with moderate relaxed carbonation and high clarity. Lacing is light and curtained- retention is very good. Very pleasing appearance. 4.25

(Smell) Aroma is relatively clean with a light bready malt base. A mild citrus hop aroma tries to pair, but doesn't quite match the intensity. Potency overall is somewhat muted- none of the aromas really come forward to define this beer. 3.25

(Taste) Toasty caramel biscuit malts with a mellow bready sweetness. Hops are equally softened- some peppery, earthy characters and a touch of spice, but nothing is taking the reins. I don't personally find the bitterness too much. Balance is right on for the flavors involved, but collectively they're very light throughout. The toasted caramel is probably the most unique part of this IPA- I haven't had many IPAs with a toasted grain front like this one presents. The drinkability is incredibly high, as neither the malt nor the hop character trash the palate like heavier-bodied IPAs do. It's a good, session beer but likely won't meet the demands of the adventurous IPA bunch that go for a maltier or hoppier IPA. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Mouthfeel is very smooth with a slight thickness and a mellow buzzy carbonation. Body is light+ for the style, light/medium overall. Alcohol presence is very low, concealed by the little alpha bitterness that is perceptible to the tongue. The texture is very nice for this style, it helps keep the flavor and texture relatively uncomplicated, but it could be even more relaxed to go with the texture. Ingredients for a very sessionable IPA are all here, it just won't be to everybody's IPA expectations. Based on the recipe, the mouthfeel is good. 4

(Overall) Devil's Britches hits the mark for those who want an IPA that doesn't neutralize the taste buds or fill you up after one drink. Highland has a tendency to craft light, drinkable IPAs, and this one isn't all that exciting, but is enjoyable enough to drink a few in a row. Feel free to give it a try. 3.75

Highland Brewing Company's
Devil's Britches India Pale Ale
3.59/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:14:14 | More by Jadjunk

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.44/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours from the 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Emerges the same color as Yuengling, copper reddish blood orange color with a slightly tanned head. Good spot of lacing, head retention is nice as well.

Aroma is quite nice. Definitely hoppy. Kind of an earthy, slightly floral hops aroma that is fresh and tickles the cilia. Plenty of caramel malts to back up the aroma with slight biscuit and cracker.

Solid flavor also. The mouthfeel is way thin, almost watery. Finishes very clean and stark dry, almost like champagne. Good bit of hop bitterness, slight grapefruit peel. Tis one is very easy to drink; too easy if you ask me. There is no chewiness or anything. Needs more body. Decent beer, plenty better out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 21:03:07 | More by SaCkErZ9

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasted 10 April 2013.

Pours a medium-deep amber, slightly rusty. Mostly clear, with a column of bubbles rising up. One finger of off-white head, okay retention and lacing.

Smell is a malty medium-hopped herbal IPA with a shade of pine.

Taste is grainy, dominated by a moderate to high liquid, flowing bitterness.

Mouthfeel is the high point. Medium-bodied, persistent, but with a flare of carbonation that livens the whole thing up.

A decent IPA, balanced, and heavier on the acids than the aromatics.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 06:41:41 | More by zeledonia

avalon07

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a copper color and a clear consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Pretty good lacing.

S: A very underplayed aroma of hops, pine, and some malt.

T: Tasted of malt, light hops (less than you might expect from an IPA), pine, and a little tinge of citrus. Like the aroma, the flavor was very mild. Almost seemed more like an English IPA than an American version.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a prickly finish. Light- to medium-bodied.

O: A little on the tame side as IPAs go, but still worth a shot. Drinkable, but there are certainly other IPAs I would go for first.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 17:47:01 | More by avalon07

MacQ32

South Carolina

3.66/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Poured into a Weyerbacher tulip glass. Aggressively carbonated, nearly 3 fingers of caramel/cream colored thick (not bubbly) head. Body is amber/red and seemingly a bit murky. Lacing is quite good (spotty but very thick on the glass). Retention is absolutely fantastic.

S - Light caramel malts, refreshing apa type aroma (think apples), earthy/grassy hops, slightly biscuity. Pretty mild aroma.

T - Decent piney/floral hops initially, apples and mostly pears are dead on and quickly mediate the hops (with some sweeter caramel malt), making this a lighter ipa, probably ideal gateway IPA, light bitterness lingers after the fruits subside. Finish is very mildly bitter, and minimally dry.

M - Well carbonated visually, certainly carbonated on the palate as well but not overly carbonated as it may look. Very refreshing, really really easy to drink, decent lawnmower beer.

O - Definitely more of a mild flavor profile but a really good APA/IPA type brew. Very smooth, very refreshing, fantastic lacing and retention, ideal for those who dont love hop bombs as I do.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 17:12:32 | More by MacQ32

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into an Allagash glass on 3/27/13

Burnt tobacco; quite clear with a head just shy of two fingers. Thin, smooth retention and tightly speckled, sandy lace. Thick rings of lace further down.

Herbal and piney hop aroma with floral bleed. Full biscuit aroma sets the backdrop for the zesty hops. The taste is spicy with pine resin and brash herbal hits. The malts are full without being obtrusive. Bitterness is moderate throughout and rough on the finish. The finish is also a little dusty. Medium-full for the style with a resin-sticky feel is offset by fairly smooth, puffy carbonation.

I've had several of these and the Devil's Britches fit just fine.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 02:32:15 | More by Ryan011235

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours copper colored with a thumb of cream colored head. Good head retention & above average lacing

S: Some biscuitty notes, piney & leafy hops, also herbal hops

T: Herbal & woody hops, & touch of breadyness up front. Pine & orange rind as this warms, plus more woody hops. Finishes with woody & herbal hops, plus a bit of dryness & biscuitty malt, plus some citrussy & piney hops showing up at the end of the party

MF: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, alright balance

This is a serviceable AIPA/red ale, but nothing to get excited about & a step below most of the other Highland beers I've tried. The Lowes I was in had Bells Twi hearted for about 60 cents more a sixer. That would've been a far better purchase...

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 03:04:34 | More by russpowell

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.24/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours and orangish copper color…very red more an IPA…a thin layer of off white head formed and remains…very thin, but persistent…fairly transparent, there is no real bubble action happening…kinda basic…(3.5/5)

Smell: Very mild aroma…I’m getting some light grassy bitterness mixed with some earthy, more toned done qualities…has a faint Scottish ale feel with a light touch of rye…very earthy and malty, nothing traditional about this brew…lacks though in overall pungency…(3/5)

Taste: Earthy bitterness rounded with a light citrus freshness…much like the nose, very toned down and earthy/woodsy driven…malts are also very earthy and toasty, leading to a somewhat bland flavor…there is the slightest touch of rye malt bite, that brings a bit of life to the brew, but it’s super mild and really only plays the deepest background role…tastes very much like a blend between a Scottish ale and a basic IPA…(3.25/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body…Light to medium carbonation does bring some earthy/woodsy bitterness with a bit of rye pepperiness…earthy bitterness on the palate into the after taste…(3.5/5)

Overall: While this isn’t a “bad” beer, the flavor is disappointingly bland…it’s very woodsy both in bitterness and maltiness and that lack of depth leaves me wanting…a very drinkable ale, as it warms more of the peppery rye flavor comes out…I feel like Highland was trying to make something innovative here with it’s mix of traditional Scottish ale flavors and earthy hops IPA, but for me it’s a miss…like I said, it’s not bad, but one is enough…try it for yourself if you like IPA’s that are west coast, citra hop bombs because this may be right up your alley…(3.25/5)

Brewreport.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:16:34 | More by SerialHiker

aubuc1

Florida

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into imperial pint glass.

Pours a reddish light brown with a thick cream/light beige head.

Smell is classic piney/ citrus with a hint of biscuit.

Taste is a crisp, bitter with significant biscuit.

Mouthfeel is right on. Not too thick or thin.

Overall this is a good red ale. Not sure why they call it an ipa.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:42:44 | More by aubuc1

Mantooth

North Carolina

3.41/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a La Chouffe snifter.

This is a pretty amber colored IPA, everything is solid, head, nose, appearance. It's not going to blow you away; however, it tastes pretty damn good. What makes this a nice little brew that I'd advise you to try? The hop profile. It's nice and bitter. There's an apricot thing going on here that I'm not used to picking up on. I'll have this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:35:50 | More by Mantooth

fastrodney

North Carolina

3.49/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Served from a bottle procured from Grapes & Hops (represent!) into my trusty Sam pint glass.

A: A dark amber with a head that built quickly to the highest hights and dissipated slowly.

S: Bright and grassy hops and biscuity, toasty malt.

T: Citrusy hop flavor balanced with a toasty malt. Lingering hop bitterness on the back leaves a slightly metallic or astringent taste that mingles with enduring toasted malt.

M: Medium-bodied, medium level of carbonation.

O: This is a hard one to pin down - I took a sip before pouring and was a bit confused before reading the side of the bottle. As this is intended to represent some sort of IPA/Red hybrid, it's hard to compare it to too many things - it honestly comes off as more of a bitter amber than an IPA, but the more I think about it, the more I think that it might just be closer to a British IPA than the West Coast variation that has become the standard. Tasty, interesting, and unassuming, but in a good way.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 22:12:06 | More by fastrodney

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.66/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 0z bottle out of a sixer from Teeter.

A - Pours a dark brownish red with orange backlights. Sticky half finger head. Lace hangs on the glass.

S - Smells of grapefruit and hops. Saltwater. Grass.

T - An interesting mix of some brownish ale malts flavors up front, which disappear quick (real quick) to make way for some tangy hop bitterness with a salty aftertaste.

M - A touch on the thin, watery side, but it doesn't detract from the beer.

O - Hops heads who like a salt burn rejoice.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 01:51:24 | More by Apellonious

oberon

North Carolina

3.64/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a nonic a clear rich amber with a fluffy one finger off white head that left multiple chunks of head behind as it settles into a frothy mass.Biscuit malts and some leafy herbal hops in the nose,pretty pedestrian but not bad.Earthy hops dominate the flavor profile with some caramel/biscuit malts,more of a big earthy red ale than a red ipa.Not bad but not something that is on par with other Highland offerings in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 21:08:46 | More by oberon

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours out a very nice amber with about 2 fingers of an off-white head.

The aroma is full of floral and fruity hop notes along with pine and some toasted biscuit and bready malt notes.

The flavor doesn't follow the nose all that much. There are some very subtle floral hop notes, some piney/earthy hop notes and this is followed by a decent amount of bready malt flavor. It finishes pretty dry and it's decently bitter for a regular IPA.

The body is medium and there is a nice, crisp mouthfeel. Definitely not amazing, but not a bad beer either. It's a more malt forward IPA that doesn't do anything new.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 23:28:51 | More by JohnnyMc

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.08/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Dark rich copper color, looks more like a scotch ale than an IPA.

Fresh sticky hop aroma, piney but very refreshing.

Taste is nice and clean, fairly bitter but not a crazy hop bomb, taste is more pine than citrus. Strong malt backbone. Pretty good.

Mouthfeel is fairly thick, carbonation could be a little higher.

Decent IPA, I think I like Kashmir better though.

6.2/10

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 22:14:05 | More by AlexFields

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

devil's britches ipa pours a reddish brown with white head. the smell is very hoppy. its pungent. the taste is very bitter with a strong dose of hops. there isnt much citrus at the finsh but i do feel like there is a hint of sweetness. over all a strong ipa. i like this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 12:34:36 | More by mattkoon

n2185

North Carolina

3.09/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear copper color with two fingers of off-white head that recedes into a thin layer with decent lacing.

S: Dry, piney, grassy hop aromas with some caramel malt notes underneath. Not much going on.

T: Dry, bitter pine flavors with some earthy and grassy notes. The finish is moderately bitter and lingers.

M: Medium body with sudsy carbonation, this beer is slightly watery and frothy feeling on the tongue.

O: A pretty mediocre IPA overall. Not particularly offensive, but simplistic, overly bitter, and just kind of bland.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 18:16:37 | More by n2185

amread4

Florida

3.2/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured into a straight pint glass.

A: Nice burned red with hues of brown. Quickly dissipating bright white head with strong lacing.

S: big hops up front. Pine is noticable with classic grapefruit behind it.

T: mostly hops with less of the classic red taste. Not quite a full IPA, not quite a red. Taste falls somewhere in between, but without all the best qualities of both styles.

M: quenching yet not overly thin. A warm weather beer, for sure

O: a nice effort, but not as pleasing as some of the best in the style (Cigar City's Tocobaga comes to mind). Would benefit from some more of the qualities typical of the red style. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:39:30 | More by amread4

BeerZack

North Carolina

4.14/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark copper color with nice off-white head that laces the glass. Smell is definitely hop forward, spicy, almost grassy, but very fresh with a noticeable sweet caramel maltiness right underneath with whiffs of burnt toffee. Flavor is similar to the aroma. To my delight the layered maltiness does not overpower the hops at all, but lends the beer an interesting balance. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:11:24 | More by BeerZack

chinchill

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle of Devil's Britches, dated Jan. 2013, poured into a snifter.

Pours clear, dark reddish-brown in color, with a thin off-white head. Nonetheless, this has good head retention and lacing.

Appropriately hoppy IPA aroma is primarily herbal but also floral and with a bit of pine and a faint hint of citrus. A secondary malt presence adds some hints of baked bread and caramel. A well crafted mix which, happily, carries over to the taste. The flavor is very well balanced, although hops partially dominate the biscuity malt component, as should be the case in an IPA. The flavor is more earthy than suggested by the aroma, but not all objectionable.

M: Medium+ body with a smooth mouthfeel and a markedly dry finish.

Overall: An excellent, satisfying and moderately distinctive IPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 00:31:33 | More by chinchill

farrago

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Hits you with two fingers of highly whipped up and loose foam, quite delicate and dimples easily, sort of eggshell white in hue, leaves a lot of thinner yet sticky streaks of lacing. Bright amber red in color, immaculately transparent with a few scattered beads of active bubbles. The nose is peppery with a saline quality too, dried grapefruit and orange pith, rye, pine tar, gets more floral as it warms, same for the cocoa powder and apricot to peach fruit scents, complexity sort of sneaks up on you. Medium-bodied, tight weave to the carbonation, lively with erect posture. On the dry side yet there’s tang in the orange, grapefruit citrus and great support from the pine, pepper, black tea leaves, forest scrub accents. Has moderate malt backbone, mostly powdered chocolate, not that sweet, more texturally softening. Really grips the palate, sticky and resinous, even factoring in that carbonation. The fruit is mainly apricot, pineapple and peach with a hint of red cherry. Long aftertaste, hoppy bite refuses to let go. Pushes the hoppiness card but doesn’t overplay its hand, nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 01:46:47 | More by farrago

alk3kenny

Georgia

3.71/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Devil's britches is called an IPA upon reading the label it is a "red" IPA which makes the appearance make so much more sense. It is a reddish amber color smells nicely of clean hops. Smells much like a lower abv ipa should none of the caramel malts or sweetness on the nose like in a normal red. Lowered the smell score because of that because while I like the smell I like to review on style and it doesn't meet what I would expect of the style. Taste is hoppy, clean, pleasant, some malt coming through but again not really tasting any of the "color" if you will. I could easily drink a bunch of these so a very sessionable IPA. The mouthfeel is nice some hop bitterness goes down easy. Overall I would probably buy the again if going to a cookout and wanted to share a good IPA with friends that were a little less then extreme hop heads.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:30:51 | More by alk3kenny

suspect

New York

4.21/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Dogfish Head Snifter. Thanks to Bulbman for the hookup.

A: Pours pure amber, crystal clear. Mostly aggressive pour leads to a thick, rocky off white one-finger head that fades reluctantly. Leaves sticky slug trails along the sides with bubbles clinging for dear life all the way down. Very nice looking beer.

S: Very nice up front hop presence. Brings the yin of the citrus (grapefruit, but one on the sweeter side) and some crushed pear and then brings the yang of the pine resin - almost like the smell left on your fingers from carrying your Christmas Tree to the curb once it has served its purpose. Malt background is nicely present and unique from other IPAs I've had. They eschewed the typical IPA malts for an Ashburne Mild malt and it really stands on its own nicely. Picking up some floral notes and a bit of the breadiness from either the yeast or the malts on the end of the nose.

T: I must have a very fresh bottle because the hops are beautifully blended with the malts. The Apollo hops do not overpower on the bitterness but slide nicely in towards the back of the tongue. There is a nice fruity flavor that hits in the middle and the bittering hops round out the tast. Good mix of flavors.

M: Sharp biting finish yet smooth and coating. Medium bodied beer.

O: An excellent take on the IPA and this one is most excellent. I would definitely buy this beer in quantity.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 05:01:40 | More by suspect

Rion

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad beer. Very crisp but much darker then I was expecting. Pours an almost brown color. With a good lacing. Pretty easy to drink. and with the ABV at 6 % you could drink a few and still be alright. Overall the beer is decent I would have to say I would get it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 18:15:13 | More by Rion

BrewskiGal

South Carolina

3.31/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

This new brew from Highland Brewing Company is crisp and jolting.

It smells of pine and grapefruit, and tastes of both. This brew reminds me of a slightly milder version of Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin'. I did not enjoy that one, nor do I enjoy this one. I prefer this one because it uses more subtlety by introducing the flavors progressively.

The best quality of this beer is that the flavor lasts for an inordinate amount of time after taking a swig. The flavor actually improves and can be tasted best in the "aftertaste".

It is a sharply crisp, light beer. Great for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 05:33:36 | More by BrewskiGal