Tag: #hops

Brew Review #35

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Dust Bowl Brewing Co. Canal Surfer Grapefruit Citrus IPA 

Bottled on 5/24/17 (reviewed 8/1/17). ABV 7.3% IBUs 75

Color: Hazy, Amber, Finger Width Head

Smell: Malty, Slight Grapefruit

Taste: Sour, Light Body, Malty

Aftermath: Dry Mouth, Hints of Grapefruit, Slight Citrus (Sour Taste?)

Experience: I have had a handful of beers from this brewery. I would consider it a “local” brewery even though it is over an hour away from Fresno. I was looking for a beer to review and the label caught my eye. I thought grapefruit IPA, I am in! I really enjoy grapefruit and blood orange in my IPAs. I think they are a great balance within the beer. I was excited to try this beer as I said before I have had many of their beers and they are awesome. The minute I smelled this beer and got malt on the nose I was not happy. I don’t know if it was because the beer was “older” or because of the ABV is higher than the alcohol taste is more malt. Not sure. My experience when I smell malt I end up not liking the beer. I was correct. I wanted more flavor or hops or something from this beer. I got the dryness I like from IPAs but that was about it. Grade 3.2/5.

Brew Review #34

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Mission Brewery Mandarin IPA 

Bottled. No Date. ABV 5%

Color: Hazy, Tangerine Juice, Finger Width Head

Smell: Orange Peel, Slight Malt, Hops

Taste: Tangerine, Sweet, Light Body

Aftermath: Hoppy, Dry Mouth

Experience: This is the second special release that I got from this brewery at work. The first one was a green tea something and was very unique but good (there is a photo on Instagram). Really good IPA that I needed tonight a low ABV so I can just enjoy and not have it send me over the edge. It was cool to see that after I made my notes I looked at the back of the bottle and what I tasted was the notes I should have tasted. Not saying my palate is great but getting better. Still, some things I am not sure how to describe or know what I am tasting. But that is part of this process. Grade 4.8/5.

Brew Review #27

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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House of Pendragon Force Ghost NE Style IPA 

Bottled. Released 7/22/17 (Reviewed 7/24/17). ABV 6.8%

Color: Hazy, Tangerine Juice, Half Finger Width Head

Smell: Pineapple, Mango, Tropical Fruits

Taste: Grapefruit, Pineapple, Juice, Hops

Aftermath: Mango Pineapple Juice

Experience: I am loving the special releases the House of Pendragon (HOP) is putting out. The tap room is only 3 minutes from my house! So that makes it even better. They have been doing such a great job with these hazy New England style IPAs. Makes me dig this style of IPA a lot. Compared to their last release this one has no alcohol taste at the end. Like I have said before I am new to the hazy style IPAs so I am all about them and they are a great introduction to people who may not like IPAs. The only criticism about this beer is I wish there were a little more hop profile to it. But other than that great beer! Going to try and pick up another bottle or two for myself and brother in-law. Grade 4.8/5.

Brew Review #26

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Port Brewing Co. High Tide IPA 

Canned. No Date. ABV 6.5%

Color: Hazy, Amber, Gold, Finger Width Head

Smell: Pineapple, Citrus

Taste: Hop Forward, Citrus

Aftermath: Floral Back

Experience: I had this beer a couple days ago and my notes are not the best. I do remember this beer being very good just like their Mongo DIPA that I reviewed last week. These two IPAs were an awesome find and I would like to try more from this brewery but had the hardest time finding any information on them online. Grade 4.6/5.

Brew Review #25

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Port Brewing Co. Mongo DIPA 

Canned. Fresh by 5/7/17 (Reviewed on7/21/17). ABV 8.5%

Color: Amber, Two Finger Head

Smell: Mango, Oranges, Papaya

Taste: Hop Forward, Spices, Grapefruit

Aftermath: Dry Mouth, Orange Peel

Experience: This is my first beer from Port Brewing Co. The can alone sold me. Great beer, tropical notes, hoppy on the palate but wish I got some dank notes. But overall this was a good IPA. Looking forward to trying different beers from this brewery. Grade 4.5/5.

Brew Review #24

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Epic Brewing Co. Hopulent IPA (DIPA) 

Elevated Series. Release #165 SLC #3743. Bottled. No Date. ABV 8.7% IBUs 62

Color: Hazy, Amber, Half Finger Head

Smell: Citrus

Taste: Hop Forward, Malt (blend and light), Orange Peel

Aftermath: Sweet, Hoppy, Slight Dryness

Experience: Overall this was a good traditional IPA that I was introduced to back in the day. It was complex with great hops. I have had a few beers from Epic and they do some great things. This was another great experience from them. Grade 4.8/5.

Brew Review #21

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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SLO Brew Wave Wrangler Session IPA 

Canned. No Date. ABV 4.8% IBUs 45

Color: Gold, Apple Juice, Finger Width Head

Smell: Dank, Citrus

Taste: Sweet, Hoppy, Floral (light)

Aftermath: Hop Finish, Not Dry

Experience: This was my first beer from SLO Brew and it will not be my last. This beer had great flavor and perfect for the summer (especially here in Fresno). It had a lot of characteristics of a west coast IPA for a session with lower IBUs. I could drink this all day! I wish it was colder but that was my fault because I was so excited to try this beer. Grade 4.8/5.

Brew Review #20

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Peak Organic Brewing Co. The Juice Pale Ale 

Canned on 5/12/17 (reviewed on 7/13/17). ABV 5.6%

Color: Pineapple Juice, Hazy, Finger Width Head

Smell: Mango, Guava, Pineapple, Peach, Tropical Fruits

Taste: Floral, Hops

Aftermath: Dry Mouth

Experience: I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it (name that movie)! No, but really this beer is effing amazing! This is my summer time beer all day. The nose on this beer is ridiculous and the taste is so well balanced. I would think that this beer is an IPA but it is not and I have to say officially this is my favorite all time Pale Ale! I am just so blown away. We have many cases left at work and it is not really selling and that’s okay because that means more for me! Ha. Grade 5/5! First perfect score!

Brew Review #19

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Ninkasi Brewing Co. Total Domination IPA 

Bottled. No Date. ABV 6.7% IBU 81

Color: Hazy, Half Finger Head, Amber, Bronze

Smell: Green Tea (Arizona Green Tea)

Taste: Hop Forward, Little Malt, Floral

Aftermath: Dry Mouth, Pine Cone

Experience: This was such a new and unique IPA. The smell and taste were so new and flavorful to my palate. I have had a few beers from this brewery but do not have any notes on them. This is why I took a deliberate approach to tasting beers and recording my journey. Grade 4.7/5.

Brew Review #18

Posted on by Sean M. Chamberlain, MA

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Mammoth Brewing Co. IPA 395 (DIPA)

Bottled. No Date. ABV 8% IBUs 70

Color: Hazy, Half Finger Head, Amber, Red

Smell: Malt, Herb, Earth

Taste: Sage, Sweet, Toffee, Hazelnut

Aftermath: Dessert Cake (but not sweet)

Experience: This IPA has been brewed with juniper berries and sage. I was having a hard time identifying one thing on the nose and one thing on the taste. I don’t know what a juniper berry taste like so could be that. This makes me want to explore my pallet outside of beer so I can better relate what I smell and taste to other foods. Early this week I reviewed the Epic IPA and I liked that one overall better than this one. A lot of flavor in this IPA that I need to develop and appreciate. Grade 4/5.