Drakes Hopocalypse

Strong sweet citrus notes dominate. Great hop flavor, and low bitterness for the hop flavor. Could be much dryer, and a point or two more ABV. Overall an excellent use of hops.

On tap at PP Carlsbad: Pours a transparent bright orange bronze with a well-lacing dense froth of white head. Aroma of sweet pale malts with a touch of caramel and lots of resiny piny hops. body starts very sticky and hoppy bitter with a decent balance of malty sweetness before a citrusy, crisp finish. A pretty good IIPA, but could use a more well-rounded hop profile.

On tap at Toronado SD. Pours with a slightly cloudy amber body topped by a medium thick to thick head with a good amount of lacing left on the glass. It is slightly sweet yet bitter with nice grapefruit notes and a little underlying malt. Full bodied, smooth and a touch warming.

Tap @ Toronado San Diego. Pours hazy orange-gold with a ring of white bubbles and an oily top. Sweet, fresh-picked pink grapefruit and oranges with a lot of pine in the nose. More of an earthy character than perfume. Heavier mouthfeel, slick and oily, with light carbonation. Lovely resin-and-grapefruit taste. Flows well with the pine oil and hints of oranges and pineapple. Normal caramel malt to balance it, without making the beer "candied" in terms of the citrus. No biscuits, a fair amount of booze. Lovely, hope they bottle this one.

On-tap at PP C Bad. Pours cloudy amber with a moderate, off-white head, spider web lace. Smells sweet citrusy and slightly floral hoppy with some caramel malts as well. Tastes very astringent hoppy with some big citrus and grass hop flavors. Good bit of booze as well. Not that great. Full body, vibrant carbobnation.

Draft. Rich amber beer with an off-white head. Sweet caramel aroma with pine. Caramel, pine and grapefruit flavor with some fruity peach backing. Medium-plus bodied. Decent hop bitterness, but expected more. Pine and grapefruit linger. The beer shows Josh’s San Diego roots and has a bit more caramel sweetness - it ended up making me miss Rodger’s IIPAs.

Drakes does IIPA’s as many as most out there. Awesome pine and citrus hops with mellow malt lingering. Same with the flavor, with a coating mouthfeel.

Draft @ Toronado SD, labeled as Hopocalypse Now. Pours a dense, pulpy orange-amber color; off-white head with fine-bubbled lacing; solid pour. Lots of orange hop character, earthiness, and pulpy fruit bitterness in the aroma; resiny and dense and minimal astringency. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: intense, chewy orange and zesty citrus hop bitterness upfront; hugely dense, moderately bitter, oily and resiny hop oils; huge, generous, orange-dominated hop bomb that reminds me of the best Willimantic brews; slightest warmth. Very good. Lengthy finish: bitter oranges, candy sugar, and lasting hop character.