Clipper City Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Draft at Federal in Durham, NC. Poured a clear medium orange color. Head was thick and off white with a yellow tint. Retention and lacing were above average. Very attractive aroma of citrusy/resiny hops and malty caramel in equal proportions. Slightly sweet on the tongue with moderate hop bitterness of about 5-6 out of 10. The flavor profile was a perfect balance of malt and hops; again caramel and grapefruit. There was also an occasional sweaty note. The alcohol flavor was present, but subdued. This is amongst the best IPA’s I’ve ever had.

On tap at RFD during RBSG 2006. Lots of hops. Maybe Hops cubed. The priority is on aroma and flavor and not bitterness. Hop aroma that you can chew. The hop oils climb into the olfactory lobes and scream their alpha. Good lacing from a off-white head that clings to the glass. Dark gold beer in color. I could drink a bathtub full of this.

Golden orange pour, small white head. Citrus and spicy hops hit the nose. Some pine notes are evident as well. Flavor is juicy, hoppy, and has some great malt. This is a very good beer.

Bottle. Slightly hazy rich amber beer with a light tan head. Light grapefruit and light caramel aroma. Caramel and grapefruit flavor with light summer fruits. Medium bodied. Lower bitterness for an IPA. Caramel lingers with grapefruit and light pine.

Clear golden body with a thin white head. Aroma of assertive fruity hops, it feels like pineapple. Flavor of assertive fruity hops, again pineapples, with a strong bitter finish. Light body with a dry mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Bottle. Grapefruit hops aroma with hints of orange and pineapple. Medium amber color with small head. Taste primarily slightly sweet grapefruit hops with bitterness lingering long after swallowing. Definitely a hops lover beer.

Cask at Coles/Mr. Goodbar Fest. Hugely hoppy citrus nose, hazy burnt orange, tiny off-white head. Flavour is assertively orange, some pine notes, and a big backbone of good malt. Medium bodied, very well balanced, given all those hops, taste bud zinging. Great.

Thanks go to Darkover for the trade. Bright copper color with a medium thin soap-suds white head. Thin stringy lacing. The aroma is floral hops and citrusy. Medium-bodied with a fresh hops character. Caramel, fruit and piney hops interact well in the flavor. The finish is nicely bitter hops with a good malt undertone. This beer doesn’t go overboard (ha) with the hops like most IIPAs, and while I tend to like them that way this beer stands up pretty well by its own merits.