SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

Brewed by SKA Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Durango, Colorado USA

12oz Can. Thanks James! Aroma bristles with green pine cones, some rubbed sage leaves, and a bit of bay. Definitely on the resiny side of the hop character spectrum. Pours a very clear plain copper, with a nice tall head in off-white. Soapy. Flavor is immediately rich and fulfilling. Some eucalyptus, turpentine, and balsam fir jump out over a vanilla inflected candy sugar and a base of light fruity malt character. Alcohols add depth and are just right. Balance is rather impeccable, with a fantastic drying character for the hop bitterness in the backend. Beefy. This is a solid, edging west coast style IPA, done cleanly and very well, with great flavor. Could use some more hop flavor juiciness and a bit more forward aroma, but otherwise, solid.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with bu11zeye (thanks!). Poured a medium and slightly hazy amber color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, pine and floral hoppiness. Tastes of the same floral hops, citrus and ended in a peppery spiciness. Some lacing left on the glass.

12oz can courtesy of theisti. Pours a a clear dark golden really light amber color with a nice off white head. Nose is thick on the juicy hop resin with some citrus and slight malty notes. Nice prickly hop bitterness and carbonation up front that goes into some sweet citrus and light biscuit flavors and then. Sweetness lingers a bit and then into dry hoppiness. What a great canned IPA that I would drink the shit out of if I could buy locally. Thanks Tim!

Pours slightly hazy amber with a big beige head. Strong pine and floral citrus aroma. Taste is very well balanced strong hop and malt. Not as many IBU’s as other hop bombs but I will say this definitely is one, plus it is only a regular IPA.

beautiful pale copper, small, quickly diminishing head. Light lacing. good hop aroma is marred by some funky rubber smell. Flavor starts off sweet and bitter fruity and gets really bitter and hoppy. Character is bright and fun. In spite of the strong flavor, the finish is pretty clean.

Another can from Tim. Pouirs dark orange with a sticky white head. There’s some fine particles floating around here. The nose is ripe citrus fruit, chewy bubble gum, and a bit of pine cleaner. Mmmmm, I needed this tonight. This thing says "You want the hops? You can’t handle the hops". Wow. This a hoppy bitter bitch. Some days this may be a bit much, but I needed smacked up side the head today. Thanks Ska.

Clear copper pour with a nice white head. Good retention and lacing. Beer looks great. The expected citrus and pine on the nose, a little spice. Mostly hops on the tongue with a lasting bitterness. Could go for a little more malt either at the beginning or middle. Medium body with moderate carbonation. Nicely done. I’ll take this next time i’m up in the mountains.

Bottle. Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of earth, citrus. Tastes of dry malt, some citrus, resin, spice, peppery.