River Horse Hop Hazard Pale Ale - River Horse Brewing Co.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue VI:

The name has a lot to live up to, that's at least what our inner hophead is saying to us. Brewed with five different hops and dry hopped as well. The off-white head slowly subsides to a beautiful crowning of sticky lace on the glass. Reddish copper color is bright and clear, no noticeable haze from the extra amount of hops. Smells of fresh tobacco, wildflowers, dried mint and faint grapefruit, which all come from the hops. Maltiness and a faint fruity alcohol rest in the back. Silky smooth with a creamy medium body. Solid footing of maltiness lays down a complex mix of caramel and bready/biscuity overtones. Hop bitterness is a bit more tame than anticipated, but it's there with a mellow balancing effect. Thankfully the hop flavor kicks into overdrive with a strong arm of herbal, light citric, light peppercorn spice and a big tea-like smack. Suggestion of pear and Red Delicious apple from the yeast, and the maltiness turns more biscuity in the bitter semisweet finish.

While some may expect some sort of bitter hop bomb, which it's not, Hop Hazard not only gets away with being balanced, but it still comes through with a wide hoppy character.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 13:51:09 | More by BeerAdvocate

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New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%

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4/5  rDev +13.3%

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New York

4/5  rDev +13.3%

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DS31

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%

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New York

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%

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Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13.3%

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New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%

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Mojoman8561

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

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New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%

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New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

03-24-2013 16:22:09 | More by brheuer

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New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

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New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%

03-11-2013 20:31:37 | More by cw13

smiga

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Bottle poured into .5l cylinder. Fresh in Central NJ!
I am a fan of this style and want to be a fan of this beer, but it falls short.

A: Pours cloudy amber w orange tones, very light amountsof carbonation. Unfiltered for sure as it remains cloudy. The beer has a 2 finger creamy beige head that slowly reduces to a very long lasting quarter thick head covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing.

S: Unusual. Stinky (in a good way). Strong aromas of oily pine hops and wet grass. Not much caramel malts. Alot going on. Good meditation ale.

T: Alot going on indeed. Pepper, wet hay, barnyard, citrus, along with a peppery, oily hop flavor. To me it's over done and not 'fresh enough' like a great fresh APA or IPA (Dales, Titan, Stone). Was enjoyable with sauced scallops and shrimp cocktail, good with seafood.

M: Medium bodied with light carbonation. Slightly oily/sticky, not a super after taste. Not tingly enough, weak on bitter, clean finish, weak on malts.

O: This is an intense, stinky APA. There's 5 hops and I think they are battling. There's a barnyard thread that runs through all River horse - they taste horse stall like! Wet hay and horse order.

Much better regional beers to be found in Doylestown PA (Victory) or Harrisburg (Troegs). As a NJ guy, I'd like River horse to make a more refreshing and simpler ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:29:51 | More by smiga

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

03-09-2013 18:29:41 | More by bacher468

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Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%

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New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +20.4%

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DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-18-2013 20:30:57 | More by DIPAFAN

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a bottle at Village Pourhouse in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a cloudy amber in color with some orange + ruby red highlights, light amounts of visible carbonation, and a fair amount of dark sediment in the bottom of the glass. The beer has a finger tall creamy/foamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of pine hops with a touch of oiliness and just a hint of spicy hops. Light amounts of caramel malts can be detected in the background.

T: There is a light flavor of caramel malts with just a touch of sweetness underneath the strong flavors of the oily pine hops and moderate notes of spicy hops. Moderate to strong amounts of bitterness which fade in intensity but linger for quite a while. Not too aggressive in the bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly oily/slick.

O: This is a pretty intense APA and I'm not sure that I could have more than one of these in a session - there is just too much intensity to the pine hops, somewhat overpowering the other flavors in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 22:04:30 | More by dbrauneis

Snarf103

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

02-12-2013 04:45:29 | More by Snarf103

Huffs

New York

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured to a dense, tan head that lasted through most of the beer and laced exceptionally well. Appearance was a hazy amber orange with a very mild aroma which had hints floral, citrus and malt hints. Taste was slightly malty and caramel with a bitter finish. Mouthfeel was full and creamy with a dry, slightly bitter aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 03:09:18 | More by Huffs

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Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%

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