Modus Hoperandi - Ska Brewing Co.

PaleZombie

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Ordered this one on tap at Wings Over Broadway.

A- Beautiful color, amber/copper like color to it with about 1 finger worth of head which dissipated fairly slowly. Moderate lacing was left on the glass.

S- This had a wonderful smell to it, the first whif was filled with a blast of hops followed by some mild citrusy sent such as grapefruit, lemon, and orange.

T- Taste of hops and some citrus with a fairly bitter finish.

M- Moderate to high amounts of carbonation with a medium body which was pretty pleasant.

O- I enjoyed this one, still a bit bitter for me but I am new to IPA's and I'm really starting to like them. Give this one a try if you get a chance.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2013 06:47:04 | More by PaleZombie

smakawhat

Maryland

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured on tap into a shaker pint at Falling Rock pub in Denver. From notes.

This is a real gorgeous beer. A real glowing amber red, almost ruby, with hints of orange hues all around the edges. Light off white head presented with a finger. Fast thin rising bubbles with huge sheets of lacing coating in rings while drinking.

Nose is wonderfuly balanced and subtle. Hints of hop citrus zest and light caramel. Very nice airy toast grain and powdered cinnamon. Not a blast but real nice.

Palate hits with a nice light caramel like malt richness. Incredibly chewy brown sugar, with a hop warmth freshness in the mid palate. After taste hits somewhere between herbal tea and citrus orange. Feel is just a good bite of malt density with wonderful chewy grains and bread like character.

Not a hop lovers dream brew, but a fantastic slightly hoppy amber that really delivers, I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 16:01:25 | More by smakawhat

GilGarp

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Rackhouse Pub in a pint glass.

I had this a few years ago from the can and wasn't that impressed so I thought I'd give it another try.

Amber in color and with very good clarity and a 1/4" of white head.

Aroma is very hoppy and fresh with all of the good citrus and piney hops you could ask for in a standard IPA.

Flavor is big in hoppiness and bitterness but not overwhelming in either, which is a hood thing. The amber malt base is big enough to stand up to the hops but not too big to get in the way of the hops. It's a hop head's IPA but still fairly drinkable.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and perfectly carbonated for the style. Balanced enough but still plenty bitter.

Overall a really good Colorado IPA and I'm glad I gave it another try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 18:45:00 | More by GilGarp

DoubleJ

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Paramount Cafe in Denver, on to the beer:

Looks copper orange in color with a semi-creamy texture of head on top. The nose is very aggresive with the hops, with a good combination of piney grapefruit and crystal malt, and its hoppy nature continues into the taste. Citrusy flavors of orange, grapefruit, and lemon mix well together. There's is a thin layer of caramel from the malt which provides just a little sweetness. In a city filled with a number of good hop options, Modus Hoperandi can hold its own.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2012 00:25:00 | More by DoubleJ

NickDrakeDesign

4.83/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my favorite beer. So I'm biased...but also haven't had every beer. I used to not like IPAs and this one slapped me in the face and said: "Listen, you like scotch, Cabernet Sauvignon and argumentative women." I immediately knew that the intensity of the palette is what I require in beer. Looking for other great IPAs...especially in six packs....I would say Marshall's Atlas IPA does the trick...ALMOST.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2012 21:53:00 | More by NickDrakeDesign

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Deceivingly pale for an IPA. Pretty decent foam and ok lacing. I would rate this lower, but the color is a nice element of trickery.

Smell: Basically wet hay with some citrus hops. I have definitely smelled better...and worse.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Very crisp body, but the flavor is too mellow. Mostly hay and some faint lemon and pine.

Overall Drinkability: I was definitely disappointed with this.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 05:24:12 | More by tjsdomer2

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one on-tap at Lindley Park Filling Station in GSO the other day.

Pour yielded a dark amber-orange with a thin head. What little head was there created some killer lacing though. Pretty beer in the glass. Mild citrus nose. Orange, pineapple, green hops. Flavor is dull and bitter. Faded grapefruit-like bitterness. Bitter hops for sure, but not all that flavorful. Decent finish. Alright IPA, but I expected more. I guess that's the danger of checking reviews *before* having the beer, something I try not to do too often.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2011 14:47:11 | More by Onenote81

Shibbykaiyai

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reminds me of the some of the great christmas ales I have in the past with the really strong tastes of pine.

A good strong IPA from a brewery that I have not heard of before (but doesn't seem to be too well loved), I got this brew on tap at one of my favorite bars.

A damn good brew if you can find it....

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2011 04:38:44 | More by Shibbykaiyai

osusullins

Illinois

5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. I love the little green cans, and I love this brewery. I have been enjoying the cans for some time, and recently had the pleasure of having on tap. Just a perfect example of an american IPA.

Pours a nice orange with an off-white head. Very nice lacing. Beautiful beer.

The aroma is pine, pine and more pine. Hops is the word of the day when it comes to this beer.

The taste does not dissappoint. It is like a Christmas tree in a glass. I love it. 75 IBUs and it is amazing. Any hop head should definitly taste this beer. Ska has a few good beers, but I think this is head and shoulders above the rest. A great IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 04:29:14 | More by osusullins

WoodBrew

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Modus Hoperandi....is not only an awesome name...but a pretty good beer! Our local watering hole had this on tap...Yeah BABY! Teh appearance was a darker copper, clear with finger thick head which laced every step of teh way! The smell was pine and citrus....more pine though than citrus. The taste was apine cirtus balanced by malt. very good IPA. Themouthfeel was also good....and not tooo over the top with only 6.8% abv as compared to the Decadent that had 10%+. Abosolutely a must try!

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2011 04:50:45 | More by WoodBrew

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Mayor of Old Town, Ft. Collins, CO

Poured a clear, golden orange with a huge white head that retained through the session and left copious amounts of creamy lace. Best head I've ever seen on an IPA. Smell of pine and citrus hops, mainly. A good-tasting IPA, everything where it should be, with a sweet yet subdued malt base, and a generous amount of pine and citrus hops. Smooth but a little bitter, medium-bodied, and quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2011 12:59:59 | More by Rifugium

jmvecchio1

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours out deep orange in color with a thick head that dissipates into some nice lacing. On the nose you get pine hops up front giving way to citrus (grapefruit) hops at the end. Either way, this beer drinks smooth and doesn't have a heavy hop bite on the finish of the sip. Even though this beer is close to 7% ABV, it is light enough in body and not overpowering in hops to make it a session worthy brew.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2011 19:15:50 | More by jmvecchio1

ZenAgnostic

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance - Fucking amber. Offwhite head. Clear.

Smell - Moderately hoppy. Typical of a mod.

Taste - Bitter hop. Possibly oxidized. Has some complexity. Not harsh.

Mouthfeeel - Smooth. Foamy.

Overall Drinkability - Good IPA. High-middle end. Would do it again. Very hoppy and bitter. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 20:52:27 | More by ZenAgnostic

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Falling Rock in Denver, CO.

Pours a crystal clear orange-brown with a 1/2 inch white head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Foamy clumps of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of citrus zest, malt/biscuit, and flowers. Taste is of citrus zest, sweet malt, flowers, with a bit of a soapy taste too. Mild hop bitterness on the palate quickly fades. This beer has good carbonation with a nice crisp and clean moutfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but the soapy taste is weird. I think I would like to try this one again from a can to see how it compares. My first beer from Ska.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 16:05:00 | More by UCLABrewN84

jar2574

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Charlie Hooper's in KC. Great looking pour out of a fresh keg. Big head, excellent lacing all the way down. Very hoppy smell. The flowery kind, not the grassy kind. The smell really blows you away with hoppy goodness on the first sniff. Very good. Taste is very good, a well blended IPA. The hops aren't overly powerful, excessively bitter or too grassy. Good mouthfeel, carbonation. Extremely drinkable, could have several.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 22:44:47 | More by jar2574

HOPPYKC

Kansas

3.98/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at the flying saucer.

A- Poured a nice and slightly dark color. Almost close to a dark brown. A little hard to see through. Showed nice signs of carbonation. Not too much lacing on the glass.

S- A nice a wheat-like smell. Overpowering smell of a grass like hops note. Citrusy. Floral. Pine. Grain.

T- Slight hop presence up front. A good meld of hops and malt. I did get a real wheat kind of flavor from this brew. Also pine, fruit, grain, sugary sweet.

M&D- A nice brew to drink. Not too much alcohol so its an easy drinker. Nice session-able brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 04:42:41 | More by HOPPYKC

JonathanG

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Amber orange, clear through. Unfortunately poured with minimal/nonexistent head.

S/T: Pine and citric components, plus some grain and stone fruit notes for balance, in addition to slight bread and butterscotch/orange/toffee notes. Great overall balance... Nothing is overpowering.

M: The balance and weight here, without being heavy, makes this very palatable.

D: Again, the balance is pleasant. Medium-bodied. Not too dry, or sweet... off-dry. Could certainly have a few of these.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 22:33:22 | More by JonathanG

rrski198

Missouri

3.65/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Small white head. Decent lacing. Dark golden color that is transparent.

S: Holy hops! I'm getting some great citrus hops. Pine in the background. Good balance. Sweetness is there, but again, the hops rein SUPREME.

T: Piney, citrus hops again. Grassy, earthy dryness. My mouth is puckering from the bitterness and dryness.

M: Full in the mouth with big carbonation. Very dry, bitter, and not overly thick.

O: A fairly solid hop bomb. Decent balance but this beer definitely focuses onthe hop biterness and flavor. If in the mood to have your palate ruined, give it a try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2011 03:05:40 | More by rrski198

withliterature

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer was poured a rich coppery red color with a thin white head that cleared to a fine lace.

The scent was pine-y, and reminded me of a milder Green Flash IPA. Nice scent for sure, exactly what I would want out of a good IPA.

Unfortunately, the taste did not live up to the name. "Modus Hoperandi" had me pumped up for a really intense IPA, and this wasn't quite what I expected. Not weak by any means, but not the punch I was looking for. Keep in mind that I must be pretty inured to strong hops by now, because my fellow taster found it fairly strong. However, a great beer for its price: it was cheaper than the vast majority of good IPAs on the menu at the pub I was patronizing.

The mouthfeel was nice. Not sticky, not watery, but just right. As far as drinkability, they could have served this in a pint glass instead of a 10oz. I would have enjoyed a full glass.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 08:08:12 | More by withliterature

CampusCrew

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer at Meddlesome Moth while traveling in Dallas. It poured golden with some amberish glows. Had a Low nose bt I did detect some grassy-earhty aromas from the hops. Balanced. The beer was an explosion of hoppy flavors and more on the Grassy, Earthy side. Kinda of made it taste like Belgian yeast was added.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 23:17:09 | More by CampusCrew

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Falling Rock Tap House in Denver, CO on 8/12/10.

A - Slightly hazy reddish amber with copper hues and a tight, creamy white head that deposited some frosty, icy lace all around the glass. Head retained well and flared up with each swirl of the glass. Carbonation bubbles reminded me of a fishtank filter.

S - Citrus hops paired with grainy malt notes. Pretty straight-forward IPA nose, actually. Over time, a hint of spicy pepper and mild alcohol notes emerged.

T - Flavor incorporates floral and citrus hops with just a hint of metallic tin, but not too off-putting overall. Malt is sweet with hints of caramel and bread. Finishes with dry herbal tones in the backend, resulting in a lingering hop bite.

M - Medium bodied with a slight syrupy, though untilately kind of watery, texture. Dry and hoppy. Finishes with dry, lingering bitterness on the palate.

D - Above average IPA in the grand scheme of things. Hop profile is a bit all over the map, but ultimately this is pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2010 18:51:27 | More by ffejherb

Tone

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of strong floral hops, sweet malt, and dark citrus. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and clean with an average carbonation level. There is a strong bitterness level. Tastes of strong floral hops, sweet malt, strong dark citrus, and a hint of roasted malt. Overall, a good body, blend, and appearance.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 21:13:25 | More by Tone

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark golden amber color with lighter golden orange edges when held to anlight source and a one finger off white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Sporadic spots of soapy lacing left behnd.

Dank earhy hop aroma with hintsnr pine needle and slight citrus fruit. There is also a decent caramel and biscui maln presence onthe jos which is slightly toasty but this beer's aroma is all about the fresh piney hops.

Slghtly chewy medium body with a very fresh and dry hop resence that lingers throughout over the malt backbone into a long dry finish. Very dry and piney with subtle citrus peel balanced by slightly toasty caramel malts. Pretty quaffable but really dry.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2010 04:14:43 | More by corby112

Redrover

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have had this several times but have never reviewed until now. On special for $3 at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth. Served in a standard pint glass, the beer is a dark copper with a tan head. Awesome sheets of lacing!

I like the pine and citrus nose.

The taste leads with a nice hop blast. There is pine, caramel and grapefruit. Maybe a bit unbalanced, but it works for me.

The mouth is pleasantly oily and a bit coating.

May not be a true "session" beer, but it is easy to throwback a couple.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2010 16:31:28 | More by Redrover

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Petrol Station. Amazingly, this looks identical to the Saint Arnolds Spring Bock I finished directly before ordering this, clear copper with a thin head. Actually this IPA has more lacing, other than that it looks really similar. The aroma is NICE, so strong with various hops notes that I'd take this for a DIPA. My nose reports pine resin, all kinds of citrus fruit (mainly grapefruit but also orange and/or apricots), maybe some grassiness too. All of this comes through in the taste, along with a strong malt base, enough sweet caramel counterplay to again make a case for this being a DIPA. The bitterness in the aftertaste is lower than that point which I'd consider objectionable, just excellent flavor all the way through. This is easily my favorite from Ska, I'll make a point of picking up bottles or cans when I see them.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2010 12:05:25 | More by TurdFurgison