Haandbryggeriet India Pale Ale

Brewed by Haandbryggeriet (Norway)
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Drammen, Norway

1pt .9oz bottle labeled batch #77, Brewed May ’07 and best bef May ’10 (not sure if I would want an IPA aged!). Poured a medium to deeper and hazy amaber color with a larger sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, some herbalness, and a little earthy. Tastes of citrus, fruity, toasted malts, and light caramel. This was OK, but not worth the $10 I had to pay for it!

50cl bottle from Vinmonopolet, batch 39. It poured an amber orange colour with a big white creamy head that settled down fast in the glass. Aroma is fruity and hoppy with notes of apricots and a hint of yeast. The flavor is slightly acidious and bitter and tastes of apricots, hops, and peppers. It has a lingering aftertaste. 50cl bottle from Vinmonopolet. Batch 138. Brewed 2008-02. Best before 2010-02. Re-rate from batch 39. Appearance is the same as before. The aroma in this batch is much weaker and smells mostly of old wood and faint hints of yeast. The flavour is also a bit off compared to the old batch. Some bitterness, but not much. A bit hoppy and notes of apricots. It has a short aftertaste. This batch is not their best. I’ll leave the ratings for the old batch.

Bottle from Julio’s liquor in Mass. Pours iwht an amber body topped by a thick head with a good amount of lacing. It’s slightly sweeet yet bitter and floral with a slight nutty note. medium bodied, slightly dry and smooth.

Super deep and hazy amber coloured body with brown highlights and a very dense tan head - looks perfect for the style! Aroma of fresh, clean malt, a small set of caramalised sugars, apricots and some dry hops - nothing too potent at all. Full-bodied; Deep yeastie and malt flavour almost like a belgian dubbel or tripel with fading hops up front. After that a bit of effervescence settles in along with some alcohol and metal. Aftertaste shows some complexity with a bit of grapefruity hops, some nuts and a tiny bit of fruits. Overall, a good IPA - not a ’true’ US styled beer, but this isn’t from the USA. Good, but a bit lacking in each of the characteristics - definitely worth trying if you can find it though. I sampled this 50 cL bottle purchased from West LakeView Liquors in Chicago, Illinois on 30-January-2008.

lovely IPA, with c-hop aroma and taste. Pours nice white head. 65 IBU is above average, piney, resiney and not overpowering like a double. Minty and drying aftertaste. Very drinkable. A very good American style IPA.

Dark amber color with a pine and orange peel hop nose. Those flavors continue in the taste profile with some sweet caramel. The finish is dominated by the almost raw hops.

Hazy orange, very large head with good lacing and retention. Aroma is spicy grassy hops, some caramel. Medium bodied, moderate to low bitterness. Interesting hop choices, but not a great IPA.

Pours a clear orange color with a very thin white head. Aroma of citrusy hops and malt. Flavor of citrusy hops with malt and a bitter finish. The body is light with a creamy texture and soft carbonation.