Modus Hoperandi - Ska Brewing Co.

hoppytobehere

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. can, best by 3/16/2013. So, presumably very fresh.

A: Vigorous pour into a glass, 2 finger head. Clear amber body. Nice look to it.

S: Citrusy hops, some pine to it. Maybe a little nicer than your standard IPA.

T: Nice, big hop flavor here, and balanced well with caramel malts. Hop bitterness sticks around and is pleasant.

M: Decent carbonation, medium-bodied. Thick and full of resin.

O: Slightly ahead of the curve. I'd pick this IPA up over a lot of other ones. Cans are good for camping.

Serving type: can

11-23-2012 23:34:14 | More by hoppytobehere

YeastWrangler88

3.38/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz can into a sam adams pint glass:

Apparence: poured a medium amber color (i'd guess something like 12.5-13.5 SRM), crystal clear, looks very nice, but maybe not how a IPA SHOULD look..

Aroma: piny, earthy, with some malt sweetness coming out, also slightly "green" tasting. Smells like an average IPA, but thats not a bad thing.

Flavor: flavor is almost even between malt sweetness and the btterness of the hops, i get a sweet caramel flavor with some crystalized sugar (crystal malt) hops are definetly present, and taste nice, i just wish the sweet malt wasnt there fighting with the hops as much, i would prefer a more hop domonent flavor, but again, this is average for most IPAs ive tried.

Mouthfeel: carbonation is nice, the after-mouth-feel is kind of cloying, it completely saturated my tongue, almost like a DIPA. Bitterness is, well, bitter, slight flavor of pine and "earth" come to mind. Again, sweetness is on the high side, which tends to stick around for a while on the tongue and battles the hops, which some people might like.

Overall: this one tasted pretty average to me, it's a good "go-to" but something i would crave or drool over, eh, I dont know. It takes a lot for me to say a beer is above average, so by no means is this a bad beer, just nothing to really take note of. Pretty average down the line.

Serving type: can

11-18-2012 02:11:10 | More by YeastWrangler88

nickfl

Florida

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

A - The beer pours with ones finger of white foam on top of a clear, dark copper body. The head settles quickly and leaves decent lace on the glass.

S - Pine, onion, and sweaty hops with some toffee in the background.

T - Sweet, caramel malt up front with pine hops. Some onion and sweat in the middle and a finish of toffe, grapefruit, and moderate bitterness.

M - medium thick body, moderate carbonation, and a balanced finish.

D - Hoppy, well balanced and drinkable. The hop aroma is pungent and while things aren't overly complex, it is a nice example of a malty IPA.

Serving type: can

10-25-2012 03:28:09 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No head really on a clear light amber body. Excellent aroma with nice degree of bitterness including earthy, citrus hops and caramel notes. Flavor follows nicely with the citrus hops providing some tartness up front moving to caramel and toffee then finishing with earthy hop bitterness. medium body and moderate carbonation. This is a nice bitter hopped IPA. Fairly complex and doesnt overwhelm.

Serving type: can

10-25-2012 03:27:38 | More by kylehay2004

Tuey13

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a can into a beer snifter glass. A beautiful orange copper color with a creamy off-white head.
Aroma is of wonderful hops with pine, grapefruit, orange zest, tropical fruits, and caramel sweetness.
Taste is just as the smell... huge bitter hops with pine grapefruit and tropical flavors... a light sweet caramel taste from the malt is present as well... very well balanced in my opinion.
I was happy to have discovered this... it is one of my favorite IPA's now. Definitely one i will get often.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 01:47:22 | More by Tuey13

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oh my. What the hell is this? I ordered this beer after seeing a can in the cooler that I didn't recognize. What good fortune!

The hop oils on this are so thick that if I immediately wonder if this is wet hopped. Thick resin tones. It's so thick and that I almost want to say that it's too much. But, too much? Who knows about all of that. I like this one though. One of the more unique and interesting beers I have had in a long time.

Serving type: can

10-16-2012 14:43:26 | More by RblWthACoz

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 oz. can poured into an Allagash chalice.

Appearance - Copper with an off-white head. Nice head with good retention and nice rings of lace down the glass. A little dark.

Smell - Musty pine hops with a hint of grapefruit citrus. Toasty malts. No sweetness. Kind of a weak hop aroma.

Taste - Sweet caramel malt is significantly stronger than the hops. The pine and citrus play second fiddle. The bitterness is intense and lingering.

Mouthfeel - The bitterness at least covers some of that malt. It's not sweet, but there's nowhere near enough malt to back it up. It's pretty drinkable though, especially with food.

Overall - Nothing special. Nothing bad, either. More hops, please.

Serving type: can

10-15-2012 00:17:35 | More by Alieniloquium

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A 355ml can with a BB of Dec 2012. Picked up recently from Trembling Madness in York. I like the label imagery - but what inspired it? Lip up fatty...

Poured into a Delirium chalice. A rich marmalade-orange hue with faint haze and good carbonation. Produces a decent head of creamy off-white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a thin surface layer. Aroma of intensely juicy hop notes: grapefruit, orange peel, citrus, pine and faint tropical fruit hints. This is underpinned by subtle caramel malt and dry yeast. Slightly sweet. A warming and rather solventy note of alcohol in the background.

Tastes of overwhelming aromatic hops and caramel malt with a stinging bitter finish. Notes of grapefruit, orange peel, citrus, pine, caramel, earthy yeast and a hint of brown sugar. Faintly sweet. A seriously dry bitterness upon swallowing; spicy and astringent. Mouthfeel is smooth, spicy and tingly, with good body. Could be just a smidge thicker (but I'm splitting hairs). Dries the palate, and leaves a lingering aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops and malt.

Superb - another quality American IPA. An avalanche of hops assault the senses, with the malt taking a back seat but providing good balance. My only minor complaint is that the aroma had a slightly estery/solventy quality - albeit very subtle. All said, a tasty and very drinkable IPA. Well worth sampling if you have the chance.

Serving type: can

10-14-2012 23:43:59 | More by jazzyjeff13

afrokaze

California

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

Got this in Tucson, excited to finally check out the buzz.

Pours a nice golden orange/brown with decent head and minimal lacing.

Aroma is dense and tropical, herbal, a little heat, honey, lemon citrus.

Taste is orange, pineapple, lemon lime, some grassy herbal hops, followed by some catty notes, piney resin and a mildly sweet finish almost like a hoppy red ale. Heat becomes nice and slightly warming as it comes to room temp.

Mouth is medium and firm, somewhat dextrous, sits on the palate long enough but doesn't get cloying. Finish is clean and on the drier side.

Another great beer for a can, juicy hops and pretty drinkable put packs a decent punch. A shame I can't get more at home.

Serving type: can

10-14-2012 03:42:20 | More by afrokaze

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this down on the Outer Banks in NC, brought one back to MD to review. Hoppy aroma oozes out as you pour it. Nice cloudy copper color, smallish head to it. Good mouthfeel, great balance in this one, of the better I've come across. Huge bitter hop taste but nice malt backbone that finishes clean and smooth. Definitely one of the better IPAs out there, in a can none the less!

Serving type: can

10-03-2012 23:58:11 | More by marlinsfan4

ChuckHardslab

Texas

4.78/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into a standard pint glass. A lovely clear dark copper color with a two finger off white head that hangs around for a few minutes before settling into a thin cap. There is visible carbonation and lots of sticky lacing down the glass. The mouthfeel is a little thin.

The smell is a nice malty sweetness with a wonderful piney and citrus hop scent that opens up a bit as it warms. There is also a slight grassy smell.

The taste pretty much follows the smell. It starts with malt up front, followed by lemon, grapefruit and pine notes from the hops, It finishes with a clean bitterness that doesn't last too long. It's very refreshing and goes down very easily.

This is one of my favorite IPA's with a distinct flavor and wonderful smell, highly recommended.

Serving type: can

09-29-2012 03:46:32 | More by ChuckHardslab

English

4.8/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

By far one of the most pungent and flavorful beers I have ever had. Its sweet kiss followed by bitter kick is unmatched. Leaves a "stink-face" on those whom dislike IPAs, but a body shivering aw of perfection to the few who find the IPA complex, over-taking, and slow.

Not for the weak tongues

A must have for IPA lovers

Serving type: can

09-24-2012 23:49:23 | More by English

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz can courtesy of DonFrap. Poured into tulip glass. Best until 1/13.

A- Pours a dark reddish amber with a little over a finger of slightly yellowish off-white head that has great retention and leaves layered lacing. Decent carbonation.

S- Grains, amber malts, some light hops that don't give off that much of an aroma.

T- Fairly malty, mix between caramel and amber malts with some grassy hops in the background that accentuates on the finish. Lightly sweet, not much citrus going on, too dominated by the malts.

M- Medium bodied, king of corn-syrupy, slightly under-carbonated, easy to drink.

O- This was an okay beer, but not at all what I look for in IPAs. This was almost completely dominated by the sweet malts. The hops that were in it were fairly grassy and not the type of hops that I like in my IPAs. It was easy to drink, but not something that I would probably want again.

Serving type: can

09-19-2012 01:03:21 | More by jaasen64

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce can purchased at Brawleys in Charlotte, NC. Best by dating towards the bottom of the can.

Pours darker honey amber, under a medium tan head.

Resiny hop nose

Pleasantly balanced IPA, nice level of honey infused malts, some vanilla, and soft and smooth yummy hops. Tasty better then respectable IPA, perhaps a bit on the amber side of the IPA/Pale ale/amber scale of things.

Serving type: can

09-13-2012 00:33:04 | More by Billolick

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A medium sized off white head settles into a nice lacing above a clear golden honey colored beer.

A big hops aroma with floral, pine, and citrus all begging for time.

A big pine and floral hops taste with some of a sweet malt tries to work its way in there.

A dry and almost tart aftertaste with some if the citrus hops hanging around on this medium bodied IPA.

Very well done SKA.

Serving type: can

09-11-2012 02:05:58 | More by LXIXME

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to ncketchum for the opportunity to give this one a go. Poured from a 12oz can into a pint glass. Served chilled...

A) Nice looking amber, good clarity. There were two fingers worth of cream colored head, which had nice retention, eventually settling to a dusting. Layers of sticky lacing were left on the glass. Good looking brew...

S) Decent malt presence on the nose, primarily a caramel aroma. Plenty of tropical fruit, pineapple, fruit cocktail syrup. There is light grass/pine. A very enticing scent.

T) Does not quite live up to the nose. The flavor is just not quite as pronounced. There is light caramel and tropical fruit, but really what stands out from my perspective was lots of citrus peel tingle and light alcohol.

M) A lighter medium body, pretty well carbonated. It's fairly smooth overall, right up to the slightly dry, zesty rind finish. The aftertaste lingers a bit.

O) This was a very enjoyable IPA. It's not readily available in these parts, but I won't lose much sleep over that fact. Even so, it was definitely worth a try. Glad to recommend...

Serving type: can

09-04-2012 03:38:22 | More by RoamingGnome

bmwats

Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz can into a standard pint.

A: Dark amber hue. Pours about a half finger, foamy, brown-white head. Settles fairly quickly leaving a blanket of foam on the surface, and a substantial beer ring. Very spotty lacing.

S: Hoppy pine, with a hint of indistinct sweetness.

T: Subdued hoppy goodness.

M: Full flavor; hoppy, dry finish.

D: Goes down easy, but lends itself to a sipping experience.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Nice color, decent head, but lacking lacing. Nose is simple but full, and representative of the style. Flavor is hops...enough said. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 04:04:16 | More by bmwats

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Lightly chilled 12 oz. can into an imperial shaker pint. Best by date 10.14.12.

Look- Clear light amber with three fingers of banana flesh colored foam. Head falls over the course of five minutes or so, good retention. Gobs of sticky lace cling to the side of the glass.

Smell- Fresh, bright citrus, resin, lightly sweet. Nothing too flashy, but bold and promising.

Taste- Light, starts with a bit of resinous bitterness followed by a lighter citrus. Sweet grapefruit comes to mind, bitterness fades quickly but makesma resurgence towards the end, more of an herbal, black tea flvor this time around. Light, candied nut malt flavor comes and goes throughout but never really takes the stage. Aftertaste is a bit peppery, orange essence lingers.

Mouthfeel- Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp at the sip, finishes quite smooth. Light warming towards the end. I could have a few.

Overall- A solid everyday IPA, big flavor without going overboard. Definitely worth snagging if you can get it.

Serving type: can

09-02-2012 02:42:59 | More by Lawl3ss

TBoneJones

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours golden caramel with a 1 1/2 finger head. Some tiny bubbles in the middle, and even tinier free floating stuff throughout.
Smells apricot and piney.
Tastes of a bitter hop explosion with some of that fruit, and malt is in there somewhere but, as I prefer, it is backseat to the hops. Drinks nicely.
Nice mouthfeel, thick and smooth
Overall, a great go-to American IPA. I've avoided this for a couple years due to the canning aspect, and i wouldnt have tried this anytime soon had it not been for recently trying another canned beer that blew me out of the water (H. Topper). Since then I suddenly became open to trying more canned craft beers. There never really was a good reason to avoid them. This is a worthy one of them.

Serving type: can

08-19-2012 22:20:29 | More by TBoneJones

FreshHawk

Illinois

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

A - Deep bronzed color with a good sized, smooth, creamy, tight, ivory head. Decent retention leaving a great layer of lacing.

S - Plenty of C-hops. Sweet citrus hop aroma along with some pine and a sweet sappy resin. Fair amount of sweet caramel malt.

T - Starts with a prickly grassy and pine hop flavor. That gives way to a sweet citrus and caramel/toffee malt flavor. Fairly sweet with touches of bitterness. This bitterness gets stronger on the finish.

M - Light to medium body. Plenty of carbonation and prickly and zesty mouthfeel.

D - Easy to drink beer. Not too sweet nor too bitter. Pretty refreshing and I finished the can no problem.

Notes: Overall a pretty good IPA with plenty of C-hops. Solid offering with a nice balance of flavors. They really start to come out when the beer warms. For the price this is a great canned IPA. Worth a try.

Serving type: can

08-18-2012 00:42:15 | More by FreshHawk

barczar

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a brillianty clear deep copper color, with a solid half inch cream head that lingers. Leaves light lacing as it dissipates.

Aroma is a fruit salad of grapefruit, mango, pineapple, and apricot, backed by pine and resiny dankness, with fresh cut grass, cat pee, and a bit of skunky cannabis. Yum! Caramel, bready malt is secondary.

Flavor is instantly bitter, with more subdued citrus character than in the aroma. Bready malt, slightly toasted, supports the hops throughout. The grapefruit and orange rind character break up the bitterness mid palate, but resin and pine usher it right back in, until the peppery finish. Floral hops and onion surface as it warms.

Body is moderate to heavy, with moderate carbonation and a bit if hop derived astringency, ending with slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, the flavor was far more bitter than the aroma alluded to. Expected a little more flavor hop complexity. But a great ipa, especially for those who favor bittering hops.

Serving type: can

08-17-2012 01:00:25 | More by barczar

JCaweinstein

Ohio

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

A deep amber colored ale with a one finger peach-white head and that is very creamy. This is also a terrifically carbonated beer.
On the aroma I mostly just smell pineapple, which to me is fantastic. As the beer warms I also picked up notes of caramel.
This is a bitter tasting beer with grapefruit followed by toasted bread. I'm also tasting caramel and just a slight touch of honey.
This is a medium bodied brew and it's very smooth despite the large amount of carbonation. Bitter hops are followed by bitter malts and a sweet citrusy aftertaste lingers.
This is a very solid IPA that if available in my area I would purchase over and over again.

Serving type: can

08-15-2012 22:12:01 | More by JCaweinstein

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Dark Copper with a hazy look. Brownish head with excellent retention and lacing

Smell - Toffee, Caramel, Yeasts, Citrus Hops, and Malts. So malty and sweet that it almost smells like a Barleywine!

Taste - Toffee, Malts, Yeast, Citrus & Piney Hops with a rather (too) strong resiny aftertaste. Aside from the aftertaste, the flavor itself is quite good

Mouthfeel - Very light, smooth body with a molasses-like feel to it. It allows you to savor the flavor which this has to offer.

Overall - Very flavorful and easy to drink IPA and I would highly recommend this to any IPA fan.

Serving type: can

08-12-2012 22:59:14 | More by NuclearDolphin

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 of 4 cans sent from Will (thanks man!) poured into a Ram 71 pint glass.

A: Pours a nearly clear caramel/gold with a touch of hop haze...creamy off white head sticks around and leaves good lacing.

S: Hope forward with a definite malt undertone. Some sweeter hops, grapefruit, mixed with astringent notes...piney hops, a bit pungent.

T: Decent bitterness, grapfruit and pine, lighter tropical fruits, soft caramel malt backbone with hints of creamy sweetness.

MF: Nearly medium bodied, creamy with a dry but not oppressive finish.

O: Really good, glad I tracked it down finally. Very flavorful. Thanks to Will sending me this Want!

Serving type: can

08-12-2012 02:35:36 | More by Scotchboy

Mora2000

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a reddish-amber color with a tan head. The aroma is full of pine and grapefruit, with some nice sweet biscuit malt notes also thrown in. The flavor follows suit. I get a lot of big, resinous pine notes and a medium amount of bitterness. There is also some orange citrus in there, but it hides behind the pine. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice IPA.

Serving type: can

08-04-2012 04:47:05 | More by Mora2000