Tag Archives: usa

2 - Maybe (likely wouldn't buy, might drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, USA

Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop IPA

Tuesday, 12 January 2016 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 6.8%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: 65 IBUs. Malts – Two-row Pale and Caramel. Hops – Chinook, Centennial and Cascade.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We first brewed Celebration IPA in the winter of 1981. Each year, we use only the first fresh hops of the growing season to create this complex and robust ale. Layered pine and citrus hop aromas balance delicately against rich, malt sweetness to shape this bold wintertime classic.

My rating: 2
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.11
My ratebeer.com rating: 3

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a packaged date of 19th October 2015. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear dark copper colour with a two finger cream coloured head that had great retention and left lots of nice lacing.
Aroma: Citrusy lemon, apple, piney hops and sweet but slight biscuit malts. There was also some herbal and spice here and there.
Taste: Light citrus and hop bitterness before it kicks in with some strong maltiness and surprising booze but nice spice.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was definitely more malty and boozy than I expected (and not in a good way). However, I will retry this again to make sure, but at the moment, I definitely prefer Hop Hunter and Torpedo IPA over this.

5 - Excellent (must buy), American IPA, Ballast Point Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, USA

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin

Thursday, 31 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 7%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: 70 IBUs. India Pale Ale with natural grapefruit flavors.

Brewer Description: (from website) Our award-winning IPA, with a citrus twist. Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin’s unique flavour, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA’s citrusy hop character. Grapefruit’s a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.6
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.5

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a bottled code date of 15225 (I think… as it is a little bit ineligible) which means 13th August 2015, and poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear golden and slightly orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly but left nice lacing.
Aroma: Wow… a wonderful fresh pink grapefruit aroma coupled with some light tropical fruit.
Taste: Strong grapefruit bitterness with hints of citrus lemon and light sweet bready caramel malts in the background.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium but prickly carbonation.
Overall: Much like the original Sculpin, this grapefruit version was also really good. The aromas were especially good, like fresh grapefruit. Taste was nice as well, but could be slightly improved with more fruitiness. Having said that, although Grapefruit Sculpin falls under my must buy list, I do prefer the original Sculpin just a tad bit more.

4 - Good (buy), American Pale Ale, Ballast Point Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, USA

Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale

Thursday, 31 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 5.5%
Style: American Pale Ale
Other Notes: 35 IBUs. Hoppy Pale Ale.

Brewer Description: (from website) A new Pale Ale where hops run the show. Our Grunion Pale Ale wasn’t born on a beach, but in a backyard. Originating from an employee-only home brew contest, this award-winning hoppy pale ale is named after the tiny local fish known for late night frolics on shore. A pair of new hop varieties lend strong yet balanced summer melon aromas and herbal flavors, while a soft caramel malt sweetness holds it all together.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.36
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.3

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with a bottled code date of 15217 which means 5th August 2015, and poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving nice lacing.
Aroma: Lots of tropical fruits in the aromas with mango and passionfruit as well as some citrus grapefruit in the background.
Taste: Much like the aromas the tropical fruit is strong, mainly mango, passionfruit and pineapple. In the background, is some light citrus grapefruit and biscuity, bready malts with a tea like finish.
Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: A very tasty and crisp APA with a wonderful tropicalness to it.

5 - Excellent (must buy), American Double IPA, Beer Reviews, USA, Victory Brewing Company

Victory DirtWolf Double IPA

Wednesday, 30 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 8.7%
Style: American Double IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Imported two-row malts. Hops – Whole flower Citra, Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Darkly heroic, Humulus Lupulus (hops) have empowered brews with bite and character since the 11th century. DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with voracity of a ‘wolf among sheep.’ Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best US varieties of hops, in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf. Cheers.

My rating: 5
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with an enjoy by date of 26th January 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a slightly hazy golden straw colour with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly leaving some nice lacing.
Aroma: Very nice tropical and citrus aromas with mango, pineapple and grapefruit taking centre stage. Some light pine and citrus peel in the background.
Taste: Grapefruit, orange and pine but the lasting taste is a sweet candy orange with some light bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with mid to high carbonation.
Overall: A very nice Double IPA that I would love to be able to try super fresh. I would definitely buy this one again.

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), American IPA, Beer Reviews, USA, Victory Brewing Company

Victory HopDevil IPA

Tuesday, 29 December 2015 kitch Leave a comment

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company
Country: USA
ABV: 6.7%
Style: American IPA
Other Notes: Malts – Imported 2 row German malts. Hops – Whole flower American hops.

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The mythical HopDevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He’s the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our hopback and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.78
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 12 fl oz bottle with an enjoy by date of 14th January 2016, poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper orange colour with an off white one finger head that dissipated quickly but left nice stringy lacing.
Aroma: Citrus orange and lemon, pine with hints of tropical fruits and light caramel malt.
Taste: Grapefruit and pine bitterness with quite a strong malt sweetness backbone. The finish is a nice lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
Overall: A nice IPA with good bitterness but maybe slightly too much malt sweetness.

words of another dreamy traveller