Wildcat India Pale Ale - Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company & Taproom

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

From 22 oz bomber...ordered through the mail. Different and more fancy label for 2013. Poured in St Bernardus chalice.
Pours a clear gold with significant head.
Aroma of oats, white bread.
Significant carbonation and creamy mouthfeel.
Flavors of grassy hops, persimmon, slight black pepper, cream of tartar, pine sap, white grapefruit rind. Rich and refreshing, somewhat challenging in bitterness...the bottle says "Perfectly Balanced...." which of course is in the mind (and mouth) of the beholder and I'd say a bit of a stretch. I'll give it 5 minutes to open up...
OK...8 minutes later there's still a little head...smooth aroma of grassy hops, slight malt, full bodied hop flavors...a bit more cream of tartar tongue piercing bitterness than I prefer. "Aromatic, Carapils, and Crystal hops and 75 IBUs of alph acid bitterness" is what If I knew these hops better I might say there's the bottom line of the bitter flavor profile.
The bottom 1/3 of bottle has some cloudiness. Flavors of bitter grapefruit rind, rough peppers, and for me a mouth puckering bitterness and the question, do I like this?
Just asked my second opinion master and she said...wow...cream of tartar, bitter, "I don't like it."
This could be an issue of shipping, or just that this particular Pacific Northwest IPA has a profile of a monster, but not a "ooh, this is nicely balanced and flavorful IPA." I'd certainly like to visit the brewery and taste what they have fresh...might make a big difference, or not.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 05:06:40 | More by DenverLogan

harrymel

Washington

2.65/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Been looking to try this in a bottle that appears not to be too old (based on the giant cakes in most bottles in my area).

Bottled: unk
Pours hazy copper with solid sheet of small light cream foam. Smells like resin, hint of pine, grass, body odor, a really assertive PNW style nose here - punched in the face, to wake you from the rain. There is a strong biscuit (buttermilk) in the aroma as well. Taste is primarily malts with sweet and crackery flavors and a touch of cardboard oxidation alongside a healthy bitterness sans layered flavorful character. Some dry pithy and resiny flavors, but all and all a lower end flavor profile. Medium body with moderate carb and a slightly dry finish. This is not impressive at all, but I have seen others rave about it, maybe I'm simply getting old stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 04:58:46 | More by harrymel

draheim

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz into a tulip. Pours a hazy copper with a thick, dense, fluffy off-white head that leaves nice sticky lacing on the glass. Moderate carbonation. Good-looking beer.

Aroma is nice piney and grassy hops + some citrus, but a bit muted. This might be an older bottle, I've had this before and recall a more pungent aroma. Bottle says 100% Columbus hops.

Taste is a nice blend of dry biscuity malt and tropical bitter hops. There's an abrasive bitterness actually, reminiscent of grapefruit, tempered by a slightly fruity apricot aspect of the malt. All in all, a pretty typical Northwestern approach to the American IPA.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, dry and crisp. Sharp and clean, refreshing with a lingering aftertaste.

Overall a solid offering. Could be a staple in my fridge if Snoqualmie started canning this, don't think I've seen that yet.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 22:03:23 | More by draheim

sendsilk

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Received in a recent trade from Hopluva1, thanks!. The problem with getting IPA's that aren't dated is that this one may have been slightly old, not too old, but the weeklong shipping in the heat of the summer certainly can't help.

Nice dark orange color and a very solid hoppy nose. A very large frothy head on an average pour. The malt comes through a little more than I expect in the flavor. Not a bad beer, but certainly not something better than I could get fresh locally. I would guess if I had this at the brewpub it would be excellent.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 22:15:53 | More by sendsilk

billab914

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into my Southern Tier tulip. It poured a little hazy and bright orange amber in color. A thick, pillowy white head filled a third of the glass at first and left some nice lacing as I drank it.

The aroma shows a good amount of hoppiness to it. I get some herbal, grassiness along with some citrusy grapefruit like flavors. Some of the malts really come out as well with some sweeter, candied fruits and toasted grains. Pretty flavorful and balanced.

The taste has a little more of the sweeter, crystal malts coming out to give it a bit of a candied fruit like quality. The hoppiness shows more of a juicy citrus up front with a bitter grapefruit and citrus rind flavor in the finish. Some pale, toasted malts come out in the finish as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a pretty nice beer, it had a nice balance of hoppy and malty flavors to it. It was pretty easy drinking and flavorful as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 20:30:49 | More by billab914

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #57 (October 2011):

Reaching above the benchmark for west coast IPAs and still retaining a good amount of drinkability. Excessively american in a good way, with the hop character grabbing the palate and running with it. Balanced? Sure. Still a bit of a beast and a sure thing for any hophead out there.

LOOK: Heady top, amber hue

SMELL: Ruby red grapefruit, evergreen, grassy, hop oil, bready

TASTE: Bitter, citric rind, hop oil, leafy, blond tobacco, semidry, nutty grain, fruity

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 22:29:47 | More by BeerAdvocate

Nachojon

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Clear, amber colored with no haze. Nice foamy head about one finger that holds on pretty well. Very nice lacing, forms rings.

S- Not very fragrant. Almost smells like a lager.

T- As a single IPA I must say this thing tastes great. Very nicely balanced beer here. Hop forward, pine resin, PNW, and then a nice malt back, some red apple and even a little pepper in the finish.

M- Crisp. Like I said before, very balanced and really drinkable. Good IPA carbonation and just a hint of that IPA tongue burn.

O- Stoked to get this awesome PNW IPA extra. Glad I got to try it, and would drink it again if available.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 06:17:01 | More by Nachojon

snaotheus

Washington

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a large mug

Pours pretty slightly cloudy amber with a big fluffy attractive head. Smell is mildly hoppy, mildly strawy, floral.

Taste is bitter, not quite so citrusy as some IPAs. Some of that straw comes out, a little bready, slightly yeasty.

Mouthfeel is very nice, thick but not heavy or sticky. I want to call it fluffy. Overall, very nice.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 05:16:23 | More by snaotheus

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to 5000 for sending me this bottle. Drank fresh back in March 2011.

The beer pours an orange color with a white head. The aroma is very nice. I get a ton of tropical fruit with a lot of mangoes, papaya and oranges. I also get some nice bready notes from the malt.

The flavor is also fruity. I get some pineapple, papaya and orange notes. The bready malt keeps the bitterness fairly low, even though the beer has a lot of hop flavor.

Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 04:46:46 | More by Mora2000

dirtylou

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomb, available everywhere

appearance: icon Twin Peaks falls on the label - served in an arrogant bastard pint, bright copper body, creamy beige cap with a sticky, filmy lace

smell: light orange zest, evergeen, grapefruit

taste: nice hop profile - tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, orange, notes of pine. light crackery malt

mouthfeel: light and refreshing, oily

overall: nice solid IPA - would be nice in sixer format, or CANS

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 23:45:03 | More by dirtylou

womencantsail

California

2.78/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks again, Gil.

A: The pour is dark orange in color with a white head.

S: Like so many of the other Northwestern IPAs I've tried, there is a bland hop character. Straw and grass with a bit of pine and lemon. Still a pretty decent bread and toast note with some sweet caramel.

T: Sweet toffee, bread, and caramel. Straw, grass, and lemon hop flavors with just a bit of pine and a moderate bitterness. There's a bit of pine-sol to it, too.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: Boring hop profile with lots of sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 02:02:34 | More by womencantsail

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From notes:

Pours a hazy golden amber/orange with burnt orange hues and a frothy one finger off-white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Sporadic spots of lace left behind.

Earthy floral hop aroma with a strong malt backbone along with a faint citrus character. Hints of pine, bark and buds along with subtle grapefruit and orange peel. This is overpowered by a strong malt presence with hints of caramel and toffee.

Chewy full body with a nice dry, earthy bitter hop presence that lingers throughout into a bone dry finish. Lots of earthy dank pine notes as well as some citrus fruit, mostly grapefruit and orange peel. Strong malt backbone balances things perhaps too much with a promient caramel, toffee and biscuit flavor. Not bad but the malt profile is too stent for my liking and it is dry to the point of being unpleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 00:34:20 | More by corby112

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 3.31.11

22oz bottle.

A- Pours a nice hazy orange with a thick off-white head.

S- Smells of citrus and vinegar?

T- Hop acide and some pine.

D- Drinks very bitter.

Overall- and ok IPA. This bottle must have been oxidized. I want to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 01:18:58 | More by HuskyinPDX

benpopper

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This poured really nicely. Bright and clean, with a solid inch of white head that left good lacing on the glass.

The smell, oh boy! Floral, fruity, piney. The malt was in there. So well balanced, reminded me of Daisy Cutter but toned down just a bit. I could have this as an air freshener scent!

The smell follows right into the taste. Clean and hoppy. Carmel yet pine, loved it.

Mouthfeel wasn't anything to write home about, but not bad either. Straight IPA styled, but could drink it all day long if needed.

Overall this is my second favorite IPA after Daisy Cutter. It was very well balanced at a steal of a price. Definatly worth seeking out I'd say

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 20:51:08 | More by benpopper

loren01

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear orange color nice 2 finger width frothy head great lacing down the glass
S: Nice piney/floral hop scent as well as caramel maltiness
T: Nice balance of caramelly malts with piney hop flavor, very good
M: Medium bodied beer, good amount of carbonation
D: This is a really greatly balanced IPA, not too much malt, not too hoppy either. My favorite beer i've had from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 01:32:52 | More by loren01

leedorham

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a lighter hazy orange with a thick white head. Very good head retention and big pillowy lacing.

S - Pungent and strong hop aroma with a bit of a bite from the carbonation. There is some serious stink to it. If you like the smell of hops, you like this.

T - Not as well balanced as the label advertises. The malt backbone is there but this is a hop monster for sure. Resiny, sticky with some sweetness in the background.

M - Dries out the tongue and makes you crave snacks.

D - A bit on the enamel peeling side so might ruin the rest of a tasting. Overall, a great IPA for hop lovers.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 16:44:03 | More by leedorham

Bookseeb

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance has a nice golden copper with a healthy head and clingy lace. Smell of floral citrus hops with light sweet malt in the back. Taste has the floral hops of pine, citrus grapefruit with a sharp malt backbone with a light caramel sweetness and having a bitter cling in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. A little sharp for me in the hops, but nontheless a good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 03:22:24 | More by Bookseeb

srandycarter

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh, yes. I like this one. Poured into tulip at 55 degrees.

A - Darker than most IPAs, fairly clear copper. Light colored fairly thick head slow to leave. Tons of sticky lace. It looks inviting.

S - I get both pine and citrus in the nose, with a def. sweet malty undertone.

T - Taste is better than smell. Lush caramel center, grapefruity citrus mingles and the pine finishes up the job.

M - Good carb, good balance. Good, good good.

D - One of the better IPAs I have had in awhile. Thanks to my trading buddy wsucoug96 for this little gem.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 06:41:19 | More by srandycarter

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a wine glass on 12/2/10

Hazed amber color of medium density. Some rising bubbles. One half finger of white foam thins slowly, leaving a thin layer with a thick collar. Solid wall of lace - very impressive.

Aroma is a cross between vibrant & dense. Mostly citric with a hint of pine. Grapefruit pith, orange peel & a spritz of lemon zest. Mildly juicy. Not too much appreciable malt (though malts do emerge with warmth).

The taste is very dry but not overly bitter. Very similar to the nose, though the pine is ramped up. Grapefruit & lemon. Malts are more apparent - toasted bread notes. More dry, piney bitterness creeps in toward the finish.

Medium body with moderately low carbonation. Underlying grit. Very dry finish; sharp but not harsh.

Drinkability is good; this is definitely a West coast IPA in nature, if a tad malty. I enjoyed it more while cold.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 02:20:39 | More by Ryan011235

Flightoficarus

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice, almost clear copper hue, with a two-finger off-white head, with good head retention and bubbly lacing.

S - There isn't much of a very strong aroma with this beer, but what is there is hints of caramel, lemon, and pine.

T - Luckily, it delivers the goods here. A biscuity caramel/pale malt backbone supports an earthy hop profile, and lemon/pineapple fruit flavors. This IPA is less piney than many I've had, making it an interesting change of pace.

M - This beer is medium bodied, with a smooth, light carbonation, and slightly oily feel from hop oils.

D - Flirts with being sessionable, but is more of a "couple pints is good" deal IMHO.

Overall - A very solid PNW IPA. Pretty tough to beat for $4 a bomber. If you're in the mood for a decent IPA, this one will deliver.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 05:19:41 | More by Flightoficarus

Buebie

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another fine brew brought home from Oregon from a friend.

Poured from the bomber into a pub glass. A 1 inch head of hite, settles and leaves a solid cap with thicker collar.
Color is a true 2 row based beer. Darker yellw with hints at gold and amber.

Aroma is filled with honey malt, sawdust, mineral water, spicei hemp hops, mustard seeds, all around good aroma for an apa, but for an aipa...not so much. Hops are mia for the style and malt is just ok.

Taste is malt forward, hops blasting through with pine resin, bittering very strong, plenty of rind and man, just blowing my pallet up with resin and bitters.
Mild mint, but hemp is really phenomenal here.
Malt shinning nicely, as is honey malt and a slight breadyness.

Mouthfeel is slick and carbonated perfectly.

Great brew, a tad warm though, but hops just delight the pallete. Not in an all around easy to drink way, but in a knovk your socks of, bitterness, you are done drinking tonight cause your pallet is shot now kind of way.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 01:45:10 | More by Buebie

oberon

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have tried this beer in the past but couldnt remember the flavors,now a bottle to myslef to review.Poured into a impy nonic slight hazed light to medium golden with a real burnt orange hue,a craterous one finger white head atop.Aromas of resiny nop over top of sweetish crystal malt,as it warms I notice a hard water note.It is a big nearly balanced northwest IPA,resiny with a hint of leather,the hops dominate at the start,there is a mineral and hefty caramel base to keep it close to being balanced.Its big on the hops wich kicks ass but it has a healthy malt base,a real solid American IPA to be had.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 22:39:11 | More by oberon

jdense

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle from West Richland WA Beer & Wine, poured into shaker pint glass 5.24.2010.

One finger creamy white head, very long lasting ultra-slow dissipation, with excellent lacing, deep gold body with multiple trails of carbonation, a really nice looking beer. Nose is citrusy balanced by bready malts, not too sweet, resiny noble pine on the backend. Taste is grapefruit zest, complex from use of 5 different malts, nicely balanced with a fairly bitter finish, the use of solely Columbus hops works nicely. Full mouthfeel, nice effervescence. Tres drinkable. To be honest, I wasn't expecting something quite this good. Impressive, will certainly have this again, looking forward to trying the tap version. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 14:15:28 | More by jdense

flagmantho

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: slightly hazy light orange hue with two fingers of rocky ivory foam. The head had amazing staying power and remained thick and full-bodied to the last drop.

Smell: sweet malt base with nice citrus and earthy hop aromas. There's a nice balance here.

Taste: very much in line with the aroma. Sweet malt base with a nice citrus and earthy flavor profile. There's a very nice level of bitterness here.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a very good level of carbonation, so there's a nice creaminess.

Drinkability: a very drinkable combination of flavor, aroma and feel makes this a durn good IPA. I'm glad it's local to me.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2010 01:41:13 | More by flagmantho

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 22 ounce bomber bottle poured into a shaker glass. The first bottle from my Secret Bunny 2010 haul from ROBORB. The IPA appears a hazed, hop particle filled golden light copper color with a good inch or so of creamy, sticky, off white foam. Nice lacing. The aromas and flavors consist of caramel and toffee malt, toasted bread, resinous pine, tangerines, orange zest, white grapefruit juice, a bit grassy and floral, bitter and dry. Smooth body and amply carbonated with a lingering, yet pleasant bitterness. Just a well made IPA all around. Thanks again for this one Rob!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2010 04:24:04 | More by ClockworkOrange