Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA

Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Boonville, California USA

Redish tangerine color. Very full flavor--a good stong hop sting and a honey-malt flavor (don’t worry, no actual honey in it). Very smooth, almost syrupy. Honey taste a bit cloying if served over 55. [Compared with a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale] What strikes me the most is how rich and smooth the Hop Ottin is compared with the cleansing spicy-tasting Sierra. [Lagunitas Kill Ugly Radio] The Hop Ottin is richer, darker, fuller flavor. The Ugly Radio seems more focused on grass taste; the Hop Ottin has that but with a lot of other powerful honey-drenched flavors.

poured from a 22oz. bomber into a tulip snifter glass, thanks to my buddy Jeepers A: Pours a rich mahogany shade of burnt siena/orange, with a very luscious, thick off-white head, which immediately begins to leave sticky lacing. Lots of tiny bubbles rise to the surface from what looks to be a semi-cloudy carbonation. S: Bam! Smells wonderfully balanced, strong NW hop aroma, some definite grapefruit & piney zest coupled with a nice underlying biscuity maltiness. T/M: Big, and I do mean BIG hoppy bitterness smacks your palate upside the head right from the get-go, and it is gooooood. But lest you think this guy is one-dimensional, think again. Though the flavoring is far more juniper & pine than the scent, and the maltiness is far more subdued, this is a deliciously refreshing beer. Feels perfectly oily swirling around on the tongue as well. D: I only knocked this down a peg for the massive hoppiness; it would most likely make ME not want to put back a ton of these in a sitting. But the beer is very good and in a pinch, it wouldn’t be hard to do so.

A very nice IPA. Intensely hoppy aroma and flavor. Nice malt backbone and strangely balanced and smooth.

Nice head and overall appearance. Some floral aroma and strong citrus. Flavor is sweet citrus with a solid dry-bitter bite in the finish. Well made and dynamic IPA.

An admirable feat to mix such a strong hop kick with such a pleasurable finish. The amber color and pungent aroma are enough, but the complexity and finish of the beer are superior.

Had this from the tap, but have enjoyed it from the bottle in the past. A really nice beer, especially on draft...Great floral aroma, orange color, white lacy head, and superior balance. If a person is not so sure about IPA’s, give them one of these as an intro to the style. They won’t be disappointed.

12 oz bottle...very malty aroma with sweet qualities...creamy body...almost reminds me of a hefty english ale. or amber ale esque?..the hops are well balanced with the malts...but the malt is a bit more present...dark amber color... good.

Best looking IPA I’ve seen in a while. Pours a very nice amber with a white buttery head. Sweet, fruity aroma gives way to a strong hoppy flavor that almost crosses the line into overwhelming but falls just short of it. Dry lingering aftertaste is crisp and leaves you reaching for another quickly. Be careful though, the alcohol is very well hidden.