Buzzsaw - Sequoia Brewing Company

JDizzle

Indiana

4/5  rDev +5.8%

02-26-2013 23:39:16 | More by JDizzle

ThreeWiseMen

California

2.65/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Sampled this at the Champlain & Perrin location back on June 2nd. Following review based on notes taken at that time. I don't review beers much anymore, but this was one of my personal white whales.

Served in an American pint glass.

Appearance: Crystal clear amber body with deep shades of red. A thin, off-white halo sits atop for the entire session, occasionally leaving splotchy lacing on the glass walls.

Smell: Fresh-cut pine (apropos), moist vegetation, caramel, and alcohol. Smells fine, but certainly lacks character.

Taste: Loads of pine and fusel alcohol, which strengthens as it warms. A thick layer of crystal malt doesn't add much in terms of flavor, but seems to give the beer a thicker feel. Little to no fruit in this flavor profile; it's all about the pine and earth. Tons of bitterness. Harsh.

Mouthfeel: Mildly sweet, very full, hot, dry, and bitter. Buckle up!

Overall: If you're looking for a real kick in the pants, this might be a good beer for you. Buzzsaw will cut straight through your tastebuds and warm your belly. Don't expect much in the ways of complexity or balance. Not impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 03:56:13 | More by ThreeWiseMen

nj111579

California

3.55/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This review is for the 2012 version. Been going to Sequoia Brewery since 2006 and this is the first I had heard of this beer. Apparently it has bee around since 2006 at least. This review speaks only to the current version.

Appearance: Dark gold color. Typical DIPA color.

Smell: Lots of hops. Typical DIPA hops smell

Taste: Claims 150 IBU's but really nothing more bitter than a Stone Ruination IPA. Not sure I believe the 150 IBU claim, but I am far from an expert. Really hoppy, lots of hop resin. Definite malt backbone, but I would like to see more sweetness. This is where I think this beer can really improve.

Mouthfeel: Heavy. At 11% this should not be a surprise. Full bodied is an understatement. Not as big as a Port Brewing Hop-15 but big none the less.

Overall: Can't taste the alcohol even at 11% and near room temperature. Overall a good attempt at a DIPA for a small brewery that really doesn't cater to the experimental/hop forward crowd. Not my favorite DIPA by a longshot, but I did buy a liter to go of this beer (mostly because it's not here year round and I need more bottle capacity for home brewing). Keep it up Sequoia.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 05:05:38 | More by nj111579

emeline

Rhode Island

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Just a sampler, so not sure I can do it justice.
Appearance: nice easy lacing with a light head, lively, golden color.
Aroma: subtle, floral and a little bit hoppy
Taste: tart bold, full of later but not the usual flavors. I need another try...
Mouth feel: tangy like IPA, but sweet too, like honey?
finish: mildly dry, but pleasant.

After a sampler, I know I would need a full pint to make a good decision.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 23:22:36 | More by emeline

DovaliHops

California

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I went into this with so much excitement...had no idea they would have their DIPA on the menu. Pours a cloudy orangish-amber color with a very small white foam head. The smell is A TON of hops and very sweet! You also get some citrus notes as well. The taste is EXTREMELY bitter with hops (which I like), followed by a lot of candy sugar sweetness...but then trailed by A LOT of alcohol. The booziness just gets worse and worse as the beer warms up. I love booziness in certain beers (Imperial Stouts, anything barrel-aged), but not this much in my DIPAs. The alcohol overpowers all other flavors, and thats just not right. The mouthfeel is quite lovely, but I'm sad to say that I could probably only have one of these in a sitting. This beer isn't necessarily bad...it just doesn't stand up to other high ABV DIPAs (Younger, MaharJa, Dreadnaught, Hopslam). Good for an attempt from a local brewery from our shitty town though!

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2010 07:02:11 | More by DovaliHops

BradBLR

California

4.6/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This review is for the 2007 edition of this beer.

The beer poured from a growler poured a slightly dark amber color with the very slightest hint of red. The head was white and very thick, lasting the entire beer with an insane amount of lacing. I have only seen a head like this in Bear Republic beers, and I was very impressed. The smell was very strong floral/citrus smell that I could smell on the other side of the kitchen. A tart aroma of grapefruit with a floral component.

The taste was all hops, a very bitter beer with a off balance sweetness from the malt. But the off balance was nice because you could really get a strong hop flavor that was very good. Very bitter at the end with a fairly strong hint of alcohol. The mouthfeel was very good, with the CO2 being perfect and the thickness being just right.

Such a difference for me from last years edition. This is a must try beer for any HopHead. If you are in the Fresno area, stop by and give it a try.

Serving type: growler

04-23-2007 19:31:33 | More by BradBLR

ReDave

California

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brought this wonderful ale to a small party, and wish i had gotten two growlers.

First! this is a very strong beer. Seems slightly darker than the Mineral King IPA. When poured fast, it almost performs the "show" [the three layers of beer, swirling bubbles, and head, -like a nitro beer] incredibly sticky lace all the way down.
Hops that coat your tongue. But with a balanced malty flavor.
At 11% you can feel the alcohol heat at the back of your throat, but is a very drinkable double IPA. [everybody enjoyed this, more than i thought they would, and is why i had brought more]

I look forward to this every year, and wish i could get it more often.

Serving type: growler

06-01-2006 03:33:09 | More by ReDave