HopDevil: It’s Menacingly Tasty

HopDevil: It’s Menacingly Tasty

India Pale Ale            6.7% ABV

Brewed by Victory  Brewing Co. Downington, Pennsylvania

Notes: 68 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Amarillo and Goldings East Kent hops.

Background: Victory Brewing was founded in 1996 in an old Pepperidge Farm bakery. It has since grown to a nationally recognized brewery distributed in more than 30 states. A lot is owed to HopDevil, as it is one of their flagship beers.

Appearance: It pours a hazy orange/amber color. It has a nice off white head.

Aroma: The first smell is that of citrus and hops. You do get a hint of the malts and grains in the background.

Taste: The first taste has been described as a “hop assault on the palate”. Very hop heavy up front. It is very tasty. You do taste a little more of the grain  and malts in this which can be rare for an IPA. Mostly though, you are getting hops, hops, and some more hops.

Overall: I would rate this beer a 95/100. This has become a staple IPA at my house. One of my all-time favorites. Victory is a fantastic brewery and sure knows how to use their hops. This coupled with their Victory StormDevil are two fantastic beers. 

-Braden & Jon

Enjoy By IPA: It’s Devastatingly Fresh

Enjoy By IPA: It’s Devastatingly Fresh

Double IPA    9.4% ABV

Brewed by Stone  Brewing Co. Escondido, California

Notes: 88 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Simcoe, Delta, Amarillo, Citra, Cascade, and Motueka hops.

Background: The idea behind this beer from Stone, was to guarantee that the consumer is getting the freshest beer possible. As freshness is a huge component of not only beer in general, but specifically big IPA’s, they brewed and bottled this beer specifically NOT to last. The name “Enjoy by 04.01.13” is the date stores are required to take it off their shelves because they can no longer guarantee its freshness.

Appearance: It pours a medium level gold color. With a very nice white head. It has great head retention throughout.

Aroma: The aroma is very hop heavy up front. It definitely has some citrus and floral notes as well. You do not smell the grains or malts used to brew the beer.

Taste: You get hops from beginning to end with each sip. It also has a certain sweetness to it. You get a taste of some orange and grapefruit in the beer. Taste is almost draft like. A very smooth and very fresh beer.

Overall: I would rate this beer a 98/100. This beer is darn near perfect. It is one of the best, smoothest Double IPAs I have ever had. The idea behind this beer is fantastic, as we have all gone to the store before and grabbed a six pack that was not at its peak freshness. Well, that is not a problem here. Stone has done a great job with the Enjoy by series, and I will definitely be picking up the next one to enjoy before 04.20.13.  

-Braden & Jon

Half Court IPA: From Doooowntown…Bloomington

India Pale Ale            6.3% ABV

Brewed by Cutters Brewing Co. Bloomington, Indiana

Background: Cutters is a new, upstart brewery located in Bloomington, IN. They are looking to expand into other areas around Indianapolis. This is one of their 4 year round beers.

Appearance: It pours a deep amber color. This bear has about 1 inch of creamy white head. Solid head retention throughout the drinking process.

Aroma: Sort of a grassy, earthy aroma. Hints of citrus and hops are mixed in.

Taste: Very fruity and citrusy up front. Very different for an IPA. The hops aren’t overly profound in this beer; not too bitter. It drinks pretty smooth, and it has a pretty dry finish.

Overall: I would rate this beer a 70/100.  This is not one of my favorite beers that I have reviewed so far. It is not a bad beer, just not what I was expecting out of an IPA. It was very fruity up front, where as with a typical IPA you get the hops up front. It is more of a hoppy fruit beer than an IPA in my opinion. This is a beer I could enjoy out around the pool, but I would not personally classify it as an IPA. 

-Braden

Cane and Ebel: A Hopped Up Red Rye Ale

Red Rye Ale 7% ABV

Brewed by Two Brothers Brewing Co. Warrenville, Illinois

Notes: 68 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Summit, Columbus, and Simcoe hops. Brewed with Rye Malts which is unique, also brewed with Thai palm sugar. Which is also very unique to this beer.

Background: This is a hopped up Red Rye Ale.  Two Brothers wanted to branch out and try something new, and this is what they came up with.

Appearance: It pours a clear mahogany color. A very smooth red. Solid head retention for the duration of the beer.

Aroma: Not an overly hoppy aroma for a beer with 68 IBUS. You definitely can smell the sweetness of the Thai palm sugar. Also, a slight citrus scent.  

Taste: As I said, this is a hopped up red rye beer. So you get a lot of flavors of other red beers with an extra hop kick. A very smooth, sweet beer. You get the hop taste up front, then it progresses to a citrusy rye flavor, finishing off smooth and sweet.

Overall: I would rate this beer an 88/100. This is a great beer in a pretty limited category. I wish more breweries would do hopped up Reds. Very smooth beer for the higher IBU rating. The 7% ABV is masked pretty well. Definitely a beer everyone should try at least once.

-Braden & Jon

Breckenridge 471 Double IPA: Hoppy? Brother, 471 IPA Redefines Hoppy

Double IPA 9.2% ABV

Brewed by Breckenridge Brewery, Denver, Colorado

Notes: 70 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, Fuggles hops.

Background: 471 is a small batch, limited edition ale that was created by the Breckenridge 

Brewmaster to separate the weak from the strong.

Appearance: It pours a clear copper color with about a ¼ inch of head. Pretty good head retention throughout the beer.  

Aroma: Pretty strong hop aroma. You get a hint of orange citrus in the scent. Overall a pretty balanced aroma.

Taste: You get a huge kick of hop up front. After the original hoppiness, you get a pretty sweet finish. There is also a hint of citrus. Overall a pretty well balanced flavor. Very smooth for the high ABV and IBU.

Overall: I would rate this beer an 80/100. It’s a pretty good beer overall. Very smooth and sweet to mask the high ABV. At first sample it’s hard to tell it is a Double IPA. I would drink it again, however, it would not be my first choice in Double IPA’s. 

-Braden & Jon

Left Handed Fade to Black: WELCOME TO FADE TO BLACK VOLUME 4

Rocky Mountain Black Ale 6.5%

Brewed by Left Handed Brewery, Longmont, Colorado

Notes: 64 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Centennial and Columbus hops.

Background: Fade to Black Volume 4 is a seasonal created for the time where light fades away. This winter seasonal, is a hoppy Black Ale.

Appearance: It pours a pitch black color with about a half inch of a caramel white head. Fantastic head retention for this beer.  

Aroma: Strong hop profile. Hints of chocolate. Pretty strong malt scent.

Taste: Very hoppy up front. The hops are very pronounced. They stay on the tongue for quite some time. Tastes much like a regular IPA up front. The finish is very smooth, almost like a Chocolate Stout. 

  

Overall: I would rate this beer an 85/100. This is definitely a beer I would drink again. It is much hoppier than I originally expected. This is a good, well balanced beer. If you are a stout drinker trying to get into IPAs or vice versa, this is a great beer for you.

-Braden & Jon

Alpha King: The King of Pale Ales

American Pale Ale    6.66% ABV

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Co. Munster, Indiana

Notes: 66 IBUs (International Bittering Unit). Brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and Warrior hops.

Background: This is Three Floyd’s flagship beer. They label  it as a BIG American Pale Ale.

Appearance: It pours a deep amber color. It has a solid 1 inch of creamy white head.

Aroma: Pretty strong hop aroma. Hints of citrus and floral aromas.

Taste: Alpha King is a fantastic Pale Ale. It has a crisp, hoppy flavor. Pretty hoppy taste as far as Pale Ales go. Very smooth all around. If you are a hophead you will definitely enjoy this beer. The hops, malt, and citrus blends very well together.

Overall: I would rate this beer a 95/100. This is hands down one of my favorite beers, if I see it on tap, I order it. Not your typical Pale Ale as there is a much higher hop flavor than expected. Three Floyd’s is one of the best breweries around, and there aren't many better beers to hang your hat on than Alpha King.

-Braden