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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Surprisingly good American style pale. Tasty dry hop, some juice, an understated IPA. Good head, lots of lace in glass. Citrus fog aroma. Good mouthfeel, sligtly sweetish well-malted. Give me much more of this. Slight ageing, thanks to sample delivered directly by Captain Couger.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2006 02:55:11 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

nice clean amber pour with loads of carbonation coming up to the surface to form a nice little head of white that was about an inch or so high. nice lacing coming down the sides of the glass as well. aroma is nice and tight, clean piney hop notes give way to grapefruit, light lemon grass and a decent touch of simple malts. crisp, clean, and completely drinkable flavor has me from the first sip. really easy to put down and i could see myself easily drinking 4 or five. nice sharp bite of hops on the front which mellows into a very well balanced and lightly sweet buttery flavor, but keeps it all very, very light. nice light nd slightly dry finish seals the deal for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 02:06:09 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.95/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a reddish copper-hued, clear body with a loosely organized, thin ring of white bubbles set around the far edge of the beer. Positively headless!

Smell: Little else besides a light, bready malt aroma with just a bit of grassiness.

Taste: Middling, sweet malt dough flavor. Some citrusy hops, however faint, finally present themselves in the abrupt, dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Somewhat watery.

Drinkability: Though one might think a "Hop Hazard" would imply some sort of hop-based danger or calamity, it's nothing of the sort - I hereby propose a change of title to "Hop Kitten".

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2007 02:49:34 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a head that fizzes away quickly while leaving a few traces of lace behind

Smell: Very malty aroma, with lots of caramel and a hint of earthy hops

Taste: Rather sweet on the opening, with a lot of nutty caramel flavor, perhaps a bit of diacetyl in there; the earthy hops arrive by mid-palate, but are never able to overcome the big malt flavors; after the swallow, the hint of hops remains but it is mostly the sweeter elements that were tasted up front

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Just too darn sweet to be enjoyable, I'm afraid

Thanks, donkeyrunner, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 22:57:47 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a light amber color ale with an average head with OK retention. Aroma consists of light dry caramel malt mix with some metallic and somewhat resinous hops. Taste is also a mix between a non-descript dry caramel malt base with some notes of resinous hops and a metallic aftertaste. Body is about average with good carbonation. There was definitely something off in that one and I am not likely to revisit anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 17:38:13 | More by Phyl21ca

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The body is a slightly hazy and deep copper in color with a creamy ivory head that holds fairly well and leaves some nice lace throughout the glass. The aroma offers some bright grassy, piney, floral and lightly citrusy hops (how many different varieties are in here?) which occassionally step aside to allow some caramel maltiness to show through. It's not outstandingly hoppy, but very interesting in it's wide range of character! The body is medium with a restrained carbonation that leaves it lightly crisp in the mouth. The flavor starts hoppy (and maybe even a touch fruity), quickly reveals some malt that's immediately coat-tailed by firm bitterness, and finishes with another show of maltiness and then lingering bitterness. Although the flavors are not very rich, there is some complexity going on in the way that the flavors are perceived. It's a solidly bitter beer, but far from being overwhelming, and there's alot of hop flavor present but it's not really clear (I'm guessing mid-boil and kettle-off additions). This is a pale ale that's on the edge of becoming an IPA. Quite British, but also clearly American. Really quite unique, and easily my favorite beer from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2002 19:20:49 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

4.15/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark gold color with a thick frothy offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has an excellent malt scent that is comprised of pale and carapils malts. It adds the balance to the heavy hop aroma that is very refreshing. It is fruity to the nose and bursting of floral hop notes. The taste is good. It has a grainy pale malt flavor that is rich and a bit nutty. It has a very bitter hop flavor that is piney in the mouth and floral on the finish. It has a smooth creamy texture, despite the grainy malt flavor. The mouthfeel is awesome. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a very enjoyable beer. It has excellent aroma and flavor; a good drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2005 01:17:30 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured hazy amber with a small head that quickly diminished into lacey patterns of bubbles on the surface. There's a light- to moderate level of carbonation.
S: The aroma of oily, piney hops is rather strong and stimulates your interest in taking a sip.
T: The initial flavor is a huge one in the way of hops and piney oils, while the finish is rather bitter. The hoppy flavor is huge but not completely overpowering, as it is toned down a bit by the underlying malt, yet it is rather assertive.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate.
D: I don't know if I could down more than one of these in one sitting, but it's certainly a beer that packs its punch with flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2010 00:31:22 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a nice golden color with some lively head on it. The smell was on the hoppier side but it's not too hazardous. The taste is decent I expected it to be much stronger on the hoppy side because of the name on the label. The mouthfeel for this beer was alright too. I just felt that a beer with this kind of name it should be stand out in the flavor and stuff. This beer to me was a little disappointing in that sense. It's not a bad beer though.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 00:58:03 | More by Knapp85

Gavage

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear dark copper in color with a 1" head. Nice lacing develops.The aroma is a combination of sweet and pungent bitterness. The flavor is malt, fruit (plums), mild bitterness, and is slightly metallic. This is medium bodied with decent carbonation levels. The mouthfeel is smooth at the start but ends metallic and slightly dry. Drinkability is only average as I expected more from a dry hopped brew and the metallic taste lingers a little too much.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2004 01:38:35 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours slightly hazed orangish amber with no head - just a thin, lasting swirl.

The smell is of citrus, sweet bread and a touch of pine.

The taste is of citrus, tea-like leafiness, a hint of pine. Sweet caramelish, grainy malt balances it out. Finishes fairly dry.

A tad watery, but not enough to fall apart. Smooth. Some flavors linger.

The hops are noticeable, but mixed into a caramelish, doughy body. Nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2007 19:26:41 | More by jwc215

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clouded amber with a one finger crème head. Nose is hoppy, metallic, and a bit like an acorn too. Flavor is slightly sweet with a calm hop presence. Feel is a bit thick but with low carbonation. Overall it is pretty drinkable. But I won’t be saying it is one to run out to the store for.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 22:16:03 | More by RblWthACoz

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.68/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a two finger cream head that fades quickly to a thin layer leaving a little lace. Cloudy amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Floral/hoppy nose. Starts hoppy, midway some mellow sweetness, finish is hoppy/bitter. $1.75 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2006 22:45:43 | More by jdhilt

Billolick

New York

3.7/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness indication. pours slightly hazy or chill hazed, brownish amber, with an off white tiny bubble head/film and leaving blotchy lacing. Nose citrusy and also some malt picked up. this is a better then average P.A. well balanced between some grapefruit studded hops and some nice maple infused matls. Nicely crafted and a worthy sessioner.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2005 22:10:50 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to juliusseizure (Reddit) for this one, although I think I waited a little too long to drink it, but no date so screw.

Pours a very light fizzy head that fades very quickly to almost nothing, although the foam on top leaves bits of lacing on the sides, over a semi hazy slight sediment laden coppery orange red colored beer.

Nose has some hops, light citrus and candied orange peel, little fruity stone fruit hop, touch tropical fruit, touch pine and grassy even, with some caramel malts, plenty of malts underneath.

Taste starts with a light sweet malt, chewy malts, with some caramel, toffee, and toasty reddish malts before the hops kick in. Fairly bitter but not a lot, with a light citrus candied orange peel, little fruity hop flavors again, hint spicy pine hops. Balanced fairly well with lighter overall hop presence but typical in line with APA. Finish is still slightly sweet, fairly bitter as the bitterness ramps and it dries more on the later finish, more spicy slight piney and citrusy hops.

Mouth is med to slightly fuller bodied, decent carb.

overall pretty good, nothing special, decent hop presence, nice malt profile and balance, drinkable and tasty, wish I remembered to have this a bit fresher, and wish there was a date on it.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 23:50:48 | More by jlindros

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle picked up at Premier Gourmet in Buffalo.

Pours a slightly hazed copper, medium sized off white head, some lace spirals, thin layer. Smell is citrusy hops, caramel, butter, floral, breads and fruit, pretty basic, may not be the freshest bottle. Taste is nice and malty, very bready, toffee, some spices, citrus/floral, balanced finish, somewhat bland. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with low carbonation. Not too bad, would be half decent fresh, still pretty easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 01:13:49 | More by Viggo

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a bright, very clear orange color with a creamy 1 finger light beige head that recessed to a sparse macro-bubbly layering.

S: a nice toasty caramel aroma along with spicy oranges.

T: The initial flavor was dry toasted caramel, and smokiness. There was a fresh flowery hopping and a sweet and smoky nature to the flavor. Dry toasted caramel, smoky woodiness, dried leaves all combine to add depth and complexity to this beer. Finishes with a light dried woodiness and smoky hints.

M: medium full with a nice smooth dry maltiness, bittering flowery hop bite and some burnt woodiness.

D: Nice drinkability, a malt dominant pale with a smoky, dry woody fade makes this unique and different.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2008 00:07:24 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger creamy white head. There was good retention and very good lacing.

The smell had a very malty base with a spattering of oily hop aroma. A sweet toasted grain aroma was detected as well.

The flavor had a solid malt backbone with a citric hop finish. There was an enjoyable toasted biscuity aftertaste. Much more body than the typical APA.

The mouthfeel had a medium fullness and a very dry finish.

Overall a very enjoyable APA. Due to its solid malt backbone, this beer could easily pass for a good replication of an English Pale Ale. As far as the claimed five hop blend, I am not all that convinced.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2006 01:06:37 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured with a white head of medium body that held up well throughout. It poured a really gorgeous golden-yellow color. The nose was very fresh, putting me in mind of unmowed grass, cotton sheets, and thunderstorms. There was a nice hoppy bite on the front of the tongue, accompanied by a slightly creamy mouthfeel. It had a really good hoppy finish. A candidate for a session beer, IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2005 14:22:28 | More by woodychandler

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

It's easy to defend giving the beer a perfect score on appearance. Its coppered tone is icy and deeply tanned. The colour is rich and resplendent. Its complexion antiseptically clean and the clarity unimpeded. Its head, a lovely stain of off-white, is ultra creamy and impassively resilient. It coats the glass in thick, super crusty remnants that look dauntingly hard to clean. Looks exceptional to me.

Hey, and that smell is not too bad either! It's actually pretty darn exceptional itself, dare I say! Fresh cut grasses, freshly tapped tree resin, freshly cut open mango and pineapple all arise from the smell of freshly picked and added hops. River Horse doesn't disclose which are the five varieties used (nor the one for dry hopping) but it's a combination that procures herbs, vanilla, flowers, tang and plenty of exotic fruits.

A lot of these flavours carry over into the taste as well. The mango, pineapple, orange, melon, cantaloupe makes for an exotic, citric fruit salad. The warm, bready fresh-out-the-oven biscuits I failed to mention smelling in the aroma are also present, again with just a dab of vanilla extract. All elements, malty and hoppy, come together fantastically to make for the tastiest pale ale I remember having in some time!

The mouthfeel is the only thing preventing this really good beer from being really great. It is overly bready with a curious absence of bitterness given all the hoppy flavours. The carbonation is just a smidgen low given the citrus and acidity. There also seems to be a hint of ethanol floating around there somewhere, mighty unusual for a beer under 6%. To their credit, however, the dry hopping has paid off huge in terms of flavour and aroma.

River Horse's Hop Hazard is only hazardous to those who believe in a world of bland, tasteless beers. Anyone who appreciates the craft movement, or certainly anyone with an affinity for hops, should love this pale ale. I'm beginning to think this brewery deserves more credit for what they do, more credit for this beer at very least. I'd place this above a lot of reputable IPA's even. Yup, the only danger here is running out of it!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 18:41:50 | More by biegaman

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -17%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz brown bottle with no indication of freshness care of Jdiddy, thanks.

Poured into a snifter this brew appears a very dark amber that is almost brown in color and quite hazed. An aggitating pour provides little to no head beyond a thin bead of bubbles around the inside perimeter of the glass. Very faint spotty amounts of lace cling to the glassware.

The aroma is not all that exciting, kind of a let down from the large "dry hopped" advertisement on the label. Minor notes of citrus, floral and herbal hops all come together to form a sweet smelling nose that accents the maltiness. There is a peculiar smell of malt that comes across with a scent that is almost chocolate-like and very out of place for the style.

The taste has very faint hop bitterness upfront that is blended with the malt and a bit of a fruity skin flavor. Just like the nose suggested, there is a bit of a chocolate malt flavor present that is strange. The hops lend themselves as being a bit herbal and musty that lingers in the mouth.

Overall feel of this brew is light and watery with a very low level of carbonation. I could finish the glass but this is not something I would want to have another of. Perhaps this was not a very fresh sample.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 21:54:32 | More by stakem

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Thanks to hopflop for this one! Served from bottle into a Samuel Smith imperial pint. Pours a nice hazy dark copper with a three finger white head that subsides to one finger. It maintained excellent lacing throughout. The aroma was comprised of malt, hops, and citrus. The flavor was of malt, slight hops, and citrus. It was light on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a very nice brew. It definitely had a very unique aftertaste that I could not determine the origin of. Just hate I can't get it around here.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 20:02:51 | More by thagr81us

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean copper color with a small tan/ off white head. Aromas of hops, very small grapefruity smell and a bit sweet. In the taste, a small bitter, yet smooth, and a sweet malty presence. A bitter mouthfeel, with a clean malty aftertaste. Nice hops for a pale ale, easy to drink and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2007 15:53:50 | More by OWSLEY069

ZAP

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Not a bad beer here...pours a deep cloudy orange color....nice white head...nose is musty...also some pine notes...and caramel too....but kind of soft on the nose...body is about right...medium..carbonation feels right too...the taste is not real strong English style with a biscuity malt base..also some caramel it seems but very light...the hops seem to be of the noble variety but on the finish it seems more west coast style....maybe they dry hopped with West Coast and used noble hops for the flavoring...

Overall this is decent and well worth drinking....not good enough for me to seek out again though...worth trying once for sure..some might like it more than others depending on your pale ale expectations..

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2003 05:42:45 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I bought this at Quick six in West York, PA. poured chilled from the 12oz into my dfh shaped pint.

A - A somewhat dark turbid caramel shade w/ particulate settling in the bottom (hops). 2 fingers of light cream tops the ale w/ a fine bead and sticky lace rings the glass.

S - A very fragrant hoppy nose w/ both herbal and sweet aromas. The odor of fruity yeast esters hint at English pale, but a slight nutty caramel hint is there too.

M - A slightly syrupy sweet texture w/ mellow bitterness. There is more spice from the hops than flavor really. A yeasty soft texture is there w/ medium carbonation and mild bitter tinge in the finish

T - The flavor is mild w/ subtle fruity flavor and mild caramel malt w/ a subtle bitter tinge w/ a piney hop note. A mellow pepper-like spice follows the creamy malt w/ a slightly acidic hop taste which is lemony and the flavor is mildly tart as it finishes

D - An average pale drinkability-wise for me. The ale lacks any thing to set it apart and comes off slightly one-note to me

edit -5/23/10
thanks to carlos for sharing this
A-4, S-3.5, M-4, T-3.5, D-4

A - A slightly hazed caramel colored light brown with thick cream cap of tan which has tight beading. Lace clings to the glass in ringlets

S - A sweet worty caramel malt smell with mild floral citrus hop aroma w/ a hint of pepper

M - A smooth balanced feel of biscuity and spiced hop with moderate carbonation and medium bitterness w/ a clean dry finish

T - The flavor is good whil not outstanding hop flavor, a nice balance is achieved between the crystal malts and mild toasted quality w/ a slight lemony bitterness with mild pepper in the finish

D - Overall a solid beer I wouldn't mind having on hand, a decent pale ale. I think it fits the style well

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2009 11:25:15 | More by Slatetank