Oggis Hop Whompus

Formerly brewed at Left Coast/Oggis Pizza and Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Del Mar, California USA

[At GABF 2004] A hazy copper colored beer with a beutiful orange head. The aroma is sweet and grassy-hoppy. The flavor is like eating fresh hops ie. extremely hoppy, and also extremely bitter, leaving You with a dry end. I think this is one of the most bitter beers I’ve tasted - nice.

Sampled draught at Oggi’s, Vista.
Clear pale brown. Lovely strong hop aroma with licorice, grapefruit and lychee. Loads of cookie malt backs the hops. It is sweet with soft, bold mouthfeel and a lingering very bitter finish.

Clear copper body with beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, caramel, grapefruit, some pine. Taste is medium sweet, grapefruit, caramel, medium alcohol (that does not overwhel), pine. Full body, with some syrup. FWIW, I understand that this is a fairly new batch, and my rating, ONLY a 3.9, may reflect variance across batches. Still, very enjoyable beer.

On tap @ the San Diego Strong Ale Fest Day 2. I tried to order this on Day 1 and it wasn’t there. I was worried I would miss my 1 chance of sampling this beer. Luckily, I was able to attend Day 2 for a short period of time and this was 1st on my list. Poured a dark and hazy amber color with an averaged sized white head. Stronger piney aroma with some floral touches. Hops and more hops (which is not a bad thing for me!). Even with the all the hops, there is a nice malt balance present. Very good!

Creamy off-white head is affected on a dark amber hue. Enormously aromatic nose bring a hop galore to the nostrils, but there’s this pleasant candy and caramel cookieish malt base that pushes it to a world-class aroma. Very resiny, but almost as much grapefruity, floral, leafy and minty. In mouth though, an unpredictable graininess contrasts with the globally spicy nature and sprucey cedar, reminding us that we’re basically dealing with an amber ale, which was not necessary. Generous malt and restrained alcohol were not what I expected from this beer, but this was necessary to work in the neighbourhood of those hops. Medium to full bodied, mineral creamy and powdery mouthfeel, rather dry.

Poured from a fresh growler courtesy of cquiroga. Clear dark mahogany copper brown with a frothy cream-colored and finely-lacing head. Aroma boasts pure piney grapefruit and hop resin with lightly toasted sweet caramel malt. Body starts full, sticky, thick, and intensely sweet and hoppy with incredible balance. Has a touch of gritty carbonation to accompany the loads of malt and hops to help mask the alcohol. Lots of toffee and hop juice lead to a nice, very well rounded complexity. This is really reminiscent of Dreadnaught on tap. Many thanks Chris!

Handbottled. Pours an deep orange colour. Quite unclear. Huge beige dense and creamy head. Aroma is dense. Pines, light liqourice, fruits, caramel and spices. Quite intense. Flavour as well is intenese. Loads of liqourice, spices, pineneedles, caramel, fruits and some light alcoholnotes. Is a bit soapy and citric. Full bodied and dry. Ends on a vigourous herbal bitterness that last loooooooooooooooooong. Very good one obtained thru trade, that made the trip over the pond in very good shape. Would love to try this fresh one day. My beer no. 400 from the US btw.

GABF 2004 - Bubblegum and citrus hop stenches punch the nose, has an incredible strong mossy red malt aroma and flavor, with an unbelievably smooth, creamy texture.. sweet oranges and citrus everywhere, prickly on the tongue. Red body with a creamy tan head sitting atop. A favorite of the festival.