 SamGamgee (706), La Selva Beach, California, USA
Feb 23, 2008 Updated: Sep 5, 2008
22oz bottle. Beer pours amber with a sticky head. Aroma of lots of mint, grapefruit, and a light malt sweetness. A ton of hops. The flavor is straight hops as well. There is some light malt sweetness, but the boat load of hops steam rolls it. Mostly piney, but some citrus and tropical fruit come in too. Not even in the neighborhood of balance. The mouthfeel is full and prickly. This was a good exercise in the power of the hop, but the lack of balance felt unrefined and left me wanting. I missed the malt depth that I think can highlight good hop flavor even more than simply a dump-truck of hops. (3.3) <br /> Rerate: Another bomber. I’ve grown to like hops a lot more in the last half year or so since I first experienced Hopsickle. At the first go-around, I thought it to be completely out of balance and bitter to the point of being barely drinkable. Even at that time though, I saw a certain appeal in this hop-centric balance of flavors. Well, damn if it isn’t as bitter and hoppy as ever. The aroma impressed me more this time; so much hop character comes jumping out at you that you might just fall over. A freshly opened bag of pellet hops barely smells this hoppy. The flavor is certainly unbalanced, but the full character of the malts, though remaining quite dry and clean, gives you plenty to chew on as well. I appreciate how well the hops are showcased. Overly sweet malts or sharp alcohol never get in the way of the hop flavor, which is pretty impressive for a beer of this strength. I guess that a little less bitterness would make this easier to drink, but then it wouldn’t be Hopsickle. this isn’t the kind of beer that you casually drink whenever; you have to want it.
DrnkMcDermott (1616), Downers Grove, Illinois, USA
Jan 7, 2009 22 oz. bomber. Gotta break this habit of cellaring IPAs until the hop goodness is gone. Well, this is 6 months old, so should still be do-able. Pours a bubbly, hazy amber under a big IPA type head. Smell is a little light, but with piney hops, cut grass and a tiny hint of spearmint. Yeah, really. Taste is where the big hop load waits. Still kind of fresh, resiny, frothy, grapefruitty, and a bit minty. In other words, hoppy, hoppy hoppy. Some sweet sticky malts are in the background, too, but mostly as window dressing. Very warming alcohol finish. A great beer, and available at a nice price, even as far out as Illinois.
jujubeast6000 (589), Houston, Texas, USA
Jan 6, 2009 Reviewed 12/27/2008 (bottle):
Pours a pretty clear darkish orange colored body, with a huge foamy off-white head, very lasting. Very hoppy grapefruity aroma, fresh citrus. Not piney or drying. Almost subtle, not too strong. Hoppy bitter taste with a dry bitter malty aftertaste. Sweet tasting. Very fresh tasting hops, very bitter.
LearninBeer (142), Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA
Jan 3, 2009 The aroma is very hoppy! Citrus kinda grapefruit with a little flower smell. The head was creamy, white, good lacing and mostly diminishing. The body was cloudy and orange. The flavor was bitter and lasted long. The body was medium, creamy with soft carbonation. A very good beer..
Dmalone102 (128), Denver, Colorado, USA
Jan 1, 2009 Great IIPA. It has a nice amber clarity, even when chilled. The aroma and taste exude hoppy floral aroma. Buy this if you have a chance.
KimJohansen (5207), Copenhagen V, Denmark
Dec 31, 2008 Clear amber with medium beige head. Hoppy aroma with piney and citric notes. Sweet flavour with loads of hops, pine and grapefruit notes. Solid bitter finish.
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