Modus Hoperandi - Ska Brewing Co.

obireidkenobi

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love that craft beer is adopting cans more and more. That said,
this IPA really blew me away. This fresh hop nose really got me on board quickly.

Lots of pine in the nose, flavor follows suit. Caramel malt is the backbone of this IPA and balances very well.

It's very drinkable, the flavors really pop with this beer - pine, grapefruit, pineapple.

Excellent example of an IPA in can.

Serving type: can

09-19-2010 20:57:38 | More by obireidkenobi

azjoel

Arizona

4.58/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Off-white two finger head, dissipates to a half finger that lingers. Caramel orange color

Smell- Tons of juicy citrus. Absolutely delicious

Taste- Citrus, some sweet malts, nice bitter finish

Mouthfeel- Perfect

Overall- Awesome IPA! One of my favorites

Serving type: can

10-04-2011 05:00:38 | More by azjoel

thatsright

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear gold with a medium head, short retention

Smells and tastes very much like bitter hoppy grapefruit. Slightly sweet malt, with a clean hoppy bite at the end. My only complaint is that while the resiny citrus taste is bold, it doesn't for me unfold with depth and complexity. Still, the hops- somewhere in the Simcoe-chinook vein- is in your face good

Body and mouthfeel is middle of the road, which seems appropriate for an American IPA

This is an exceptional IPA- very drinkable

Serving type: can

04-09-2010 04:40:53 | More by thatsright

blackearth

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from Binny's Beverage Depot in Warrenville, IL. Pours a bright, clear amber body with a fluffy off white head. Aroma is very thick on the hops! Big malt backbone that supports the very long hop finish. This beer is a hop head's delight! Awesome IPA.

Serving type: can

06-15-2010 23:12:12 | More by blackearth

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.55/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is a clear dark orange mahogany/copper color. A foamy cream colored head dissipates to chunky, bubbly film. Lots of sticky lacing. The beer smells piny, woody, and slightly citric. The beer tastes like a good IPA should: bright bitter hops, and a clean fresh pine wood accent. The finish is that of pinon wood. Tasty. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and dry.

Overall, highly impressed. I've seen this beer on the shelf for years, and just couldn't pull the trigger. It's got some interesting flavors in it that are delicious.

Serving type: can

06-22-2012 23:19:49 | More by JuicesFlowing

ckeegan04

Texas

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

A - Clear amber color with a two finger light brown head. Excellent retention and lacing. Lots of little carbonation bubbles quickly rising to the top.

S - Big grapefruit citrus aroma. Hints of a little orange as well. Faint biscuity sweetness underneath.

T - Citrusy hops up front that carry through the entire beer. Lots of grapefruit and even a touch of some tropical fruits. The malt backbone is present but very muted and gives a light biscuity taste. Finishes with a clean bitterness.

M/D - Medium bodied and very smooth. Carbonation is at a good level, could be a touch higher. Very easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2009 21:06:04 | More by ckeegan04

Grabbin2nd

California

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

From Notes: 7/1/09
Ska Brewing Co.
Modus Hoperandi
American IPA
6.8% Abv.
12oz. can into American Ale (not mine) Pint glass

LIP UP FATTY!!!

Appearance= regular pour into glass yields a fat 1 finger head. Deep menacing looking beer. Not black, not brown deep, but a deep orange redish beer. Nice lacing.

Smell= Hops! Yay! Grass, a little citrus. Lovin it!

Taste= Awesome! Excellent hoppy IPA. Almost perfect IPA.

Mouthfeel= Nice slick, thin mouthfeel. Perfect for the style.

Drinkability= High. Quite the hoppy quaffer, yet not over the top. Super enjoyable beer in a can, @ a decent price, it's hard to beat this IPA. Holla!

Serving type: can

07-15-2009 21:10:58 | More by Grabbin2nd

jhoban19

Illinois

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

12oz can poured into a tulip. occasion: having lunch with my dad the day before my wedding. first time drinking anything from Ska Brewing.

A: brilliant copper color with a thick creamy foam, 2 fingers +. excellent retention on the head, becomes beautifully rocky as it settles. a thick lacing remains on the glass as I drink. I find myself staring at my glass as much as drinking from it.

S: oh the hoppy goodness. lots of pine with hints of grapefruit and a well balanced caramel malt. if this beer tastes half as good as it smells, I'm gonna be in for a real treat.

T: thank goodness, it tastes every bit as good as it smells. the piney hops really linger, but this brew also has a perfectly crafted malt backbone. just enough grapefruit and other citrus fruits.

M: full bodied, particularly early on as the foam is still at its thickest. settles into a nice medium bodied, refreshing brew. the well balanced hops and malt really fill the mouth and linger perfectly through the end of each sip and beyond.

D: incredibly drinkable beer for being so hoppy. I liked it so much I had 3 or 4 more after the rehearsal dinner later in the evening. the best part was encouraging two of my groomsmen (both are award-winning homebrewers) to also partake of Modus Hoperandi and seeing them enjoy it as much as I did. IPA is my favorite style, and this is now one of my favorites. Definitely gonna look out for this one at my local bottle shop and make sure to keep some in the beer fridge.

Serving type: can

10-12-2009 02:46:47 | More by jhoban19

vdread

Texas

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

Modus Hoperandi pours a pretty amber color with a small off white head that leaves spots of lace behind.

the smell: jesus christ! grapefruit and hops come up and punch you in the nose. i could sit and smell this for a few moments, and in fact, it is exactly what i do.

when the glass finally meets my lips, the grapefruit and citrus hops come to the front, backed by some bready malts. very bitter and tasty, without being offensive. not really a complex flavor, but very satisfying. sip after sip brings delicious pink grapefruit to mind.

well carbonated, thick enough to satisfy, slightly dry finish. this is a great beer, especially for people that like big hoppy IPAs.

the brightly colored bottle, prominently displayed hop cones, and the skeletal 'men in black' image is what initially attracted me. i had never heard of Ska Brewing before, but now i am officially a fan.

+ well balanced but still very hoppy, and a great aroma make this a world class beer.

+ an interesting label from a creative brewery that just happens to make great beer. this bottle of beer is the epitome of what craft beer should be. not only great brewers, but creatively pushing the boundaries of what beer can be.

Serving type: can

01-28-2010 17:11:34 | More by vdread

edwino

Arizona

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

A short review here, my first.

I love this beer and have it often. Pours a lovely color.

Aroma is delightful. In a pint glass, aroma is strong of hops. Nose stinging even.

Strong hops right on the tongue, and lingers. Cuts through other issues, including gum, food, ginger, whatever.

This evening, perhaps contrary to convention, had a couple right out if the can! Still tough to beat.

Have had these before in similar style on an extended camping trip, cooled in the creek. Delightful.

Serving type: can

05-30-2010 08:31:21 | More by edwino

antlerwrestler19

Nebraska

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

Poured a deep copper/orange color with one finger of frothy cream colored foam. Decent retention as the head slowly dropped to half of its original thickness leaving a nice solid ring of lacing around the glass - the bubbles are rising steadily from the bottom. Smells of a mixture of sweet fruits and resinous pine all balanced out by a subtle caramel hint that's just barely showing through. I'm getting a sweet flavor bump up front overwhelmed by an earthy pine bitterness that takes over the palate at the end (in a very good way) - not a whole lot of malt in the taste. The mouthfeel is very refreshing upfront with a perfect amount of carbonation for this beer then leaves the back of my mouth sticky and wanting another drink - not sure if its the bitterness of the hops or the alcohol that cause a slight burn. I love this beer and drink it quite often just never got around to reviewing. Ska has excellent offerings and I recommend getting a hold of there beers.

Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 23:47:54 | More by antlerwrestler19

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

GossageBrewery

Missouri

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

Poured this American IPA from a 12 oz can into a pint glass. Poured a dark orange amber color, slightly hazy, produced a nice thick off white head. Excellent retention and lacing left on the glass. Aroma of this AIPA consists of wonderful pine and citrus- some malted grain aroma as well. Medium in body this IPA features a base of malted grain, super pine flavor, herbal notes and citrus orange. Somewhat bitter this is the perfect IPA session beer- It doesnt make your face pucker but it has an awesome amount of hop flavor. Excellent Beer! I will be seeking this one out again. Prost!

Serving type: can

04-05-2012 01:50:43 | More by GossageBrewery

KingRascal

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Look: Deep red amber/bronze with a thick and foamy off-white head

Aroma: Smooth floral hop scent, very citrusy

Taste: Bold and robust hop flavor, very floral, with a smooth and pleasant aftertaste

Feel: Thick and frothy with an imprint left on the tongue

Overall: A very tasty and rich IPA that goes down smooth

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 05:55:59 | More by KingRascal

DoctorDog

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz can into a nonic. Big thanks to pokesbeerdude for sending me this one as an outstanding extra in a trade!

A- Slightly hazy amber/copper. Pours with 2+ fingers of creamy off white head, which fades slowly to a thin cap; excellent retention. Tons of sticky lacing.

S- Delightful pine/grapefruit hoppiness. Slight malty notes hide behind the onslaught of hops.

T- Grapefruit and pine resin hops, combining for a superbly bitter finish. Fairly solid, sweet caramel malt provides good balance. Alcohol is well blended.

M- Moderate carbonation with a medium feel. Slightly slick and coating oiliness.

D- Rock solid. Looks, smells, and taste are all excellent....goes down easy. This is good stuff, and I certainly wish I had another in front of me.

Future outlook: What a great extra...damn shame I can't readily purchase/obtain this little gem.

Serving type: can

05-21-2009 03:05:22 | More by DoctorDog

jera1350

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to bonsreeb85 for this one!

Coppery in color with a 1.5 finger head of fluff. Leave lots of sticky lace.

Amazing piney and citrus hops fill the nose. Reminds me of Furious!

Big biting pine hops. Citrus takes a back seat to the pine in the hops. Solid moderately sweet malt backbone. Again, this reminds me of Furious a lot. There is a bit of a rye taste present too. I'm guessing they may have similar hop profiles?

Medium bodied and smooth on the feel. Finishes pretty moist.

Nice drinkability. This is an IPA that is near the top of the food chain. It is an all around great beer. This is a hopheads delight. I still think this beer resembles Furious in many ways. It even comes from a can! Great beer.

Serving type: can

11-27-2009 23:14:25 | More by jera1350

srandycarter

California

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Another excellent beer out of a can! Pours dark copper, nice thick off white head that leaves to disk. Some cling lace.

S - Skunky, piney, malt follows. I like it.

T - Nice solid malt core bittered to equilibrium by the hops.

M - Medium body, good balance and coating, carb.

D - I really like this one.

Serving type: can

02-03-2010 05:27:23 | More by srandycarter

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've sat down with this beer a handful of times with the intention of reviewing it, but for a myriad of reasons I just end up drinking her without analysis.

Pretty orange pour with a snow white head nearly an inch and half tall

Smells like a post rainstorm forest drenching....a little leafy and an abundance of pine

Heavy bitterness from front to back, unrelenting. I also pull fresh lime from this beer along with the pine from the nose. Biting bitter finish remains well after the sip.

Medium bodied with nice appropriate carbonation. Modus leaves a nice lacing on my tulip and is quite enjoyable to drink. This beer has been, and continues to remain along with Furious, a favorite go-to example of the style.

Serving type: can

05-16-2010 02:35:48 | More by BarrytheBear

ghebel

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours copper colored, slight haze with 2 finger, creamy off-white orange tinged head that that covers the glass with laces upon dissipation.

S - Sweet caramel malt with floral, citrus, piney hops. Nice balance. Smell is inviting. Slight alcohol in the background.

T - Profile follows aroma with just the right amount of bitterness. Dry hopped "vegetal" character is noticeable on the tongue, but not over the top. Adds a bit of complexity.

M - Carbonation bite followed by sweet malts and bitterness. The bitterness is lingering and leaves the tongue numb. Warm on the swallow. Finishes dry. Body is moderate. Hop flavors coat the mouth for a few minutes post swallow.

D - Could drink plenty. Does not leave a full sensation.

Overall - Balanced IPA with both malt and hop characters, but neither are too much. Gives the impression of both working together, neither competing to be up front.

Serving type: can

05-25-2010 22:17:33 | More by ghebel

Walken

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ska: Modus Hoperandi, IPA (Best by 11/26/10) (Tasted 07/20/10)
12 oz. can, poured into a cervoise goblet.

Appearance: Sunkist amber beer with a big foamy off-white head that fills the glass, then takes its sweet time to die down, leaving loads of sticky lace and a nice three millimeter cap.
Odor: Orange oil, a bit of mango-ish tropical fruit, pine needles in back, suggestions of rich, low lovibond crystal malt. Big, oily nose, I dig it!
Consistency: Light bodied, a little bit of oil in the mix, some dry cracker-y graininess to the feel. Carbonation is mellow, low-ish for style, but assertive enough to contribute a slight crispness.
Taste: Herbal/citric bitterness steps up like a big dog from the get-go, accompanied by a cadre of grapefruit and orange hop flavor, slightly waxy/grassy, but not all that offensive, it adds some character. Bitterness continues to dominate as sweet, light caramel flavors and a cracker-y grain character phase in and out. Finish is long, bitter and hoppy with a light coating of oils.

This is a really solid IPA, great hop character from nose to tongue, just enough malt to get by, drinkable as hell. Cheers to Mike @ Bruisin' Ales for recommending that I pick this up, noting that it was freshly canned.

Serving type: can

07-20-2010 21:18:12 | More by Walken

drabmuh

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Beer is amber and clear with a big head and mod carb.

Super pine aroma. Nice.

Medium body, chewy hops, nice bitterness. Wow, I am impressed. This is probably the best IPA from a can I've ever had. Its definitely of the piny variety but simcoe is a good hop too. Well done ska.

Serving type: can

09-18-2010 01:16:28 | More by drabmuh

NefariousR

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz. aluminum can into a tulip pint glass.

A - Deep orange amber with a frothy, off-white head that stuck around for ages. Slightly hazy.

S - Very floral hops, sweet citrus fruit, and pine. Malt is noticeable, not in the fore or background, but just sort of "there."

T - Follows through from the smell. One of the most genuinely "citrusy" IPAs I've had. Grapefruit rounded out with bitter hops and a brief sweet malt influence. Slightly bready aftertaste.

M - Medium-bodied with a decent bit of stickiness. Flavors remain in the mouth for a quite a while after swallowing. Slight warming alcohol in the stomach.

D - A great IPA that was a bit of a surprise. This is the first beer I've had from Ska, and the (somewhat gimmicky) name didn't have me expecting much, but this is a fantastically drinkable IPA. Highly recommended.

Serving type: can

12-12-2010 04:05:19 | More by NefariousR

rarbring

Sweden

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is nearly clear copper toned amber, a large fluffy off-white head that leaves lots of lacing.

Smelling of sweetened pressed grape-fruit juice, sunny pine needles. Nice!

Upfront toffee sweetness, then grape-fruit: fresh juice, peel and crushed seeds.

Medium carbonation, medium sized bubbles, a smooth texture and big body, a nice lingering dryness.

A canonical welldone AIPA!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 17:04:54 | More by rarbring

MammothBrew

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my trusty tulip.

A: Pours a cloudy deep amber/caramel color with an eggshell white head that measures one finger. Sticky lacing and excellent retention!

S: Hoppy, piney, citrusy goodness! Some malt and floral notes in there as well.

T: Hoppy, piney, and grapefruit. Yum.

M: Thinner body with medium carbonation. Pine and grapefruit resin that clings to tongue.

O: I wasn't expecting much from this but turned out to be a pleasant surprise!

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 12:49:59 | More by MammothBrew

yemenmocha

Arizona

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

Pours bright amber with nice contrasting white head.

Nose is stunning with big juicy grapefruit, hop resins, and fresh pine.

On the palate the medium to light body delivers a rather dry hoppy profile with some caramel and/or biscuit malt to round it out just a little. Very, very bitter and how delightful it is.

Serving type: can

04-19-2009 22:41:50 | More by yemenmocha