SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

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

update/re-rate: Having tried this brew a few more times, I came back to increase the score a little. Most of what I said previously is still accurate, however I might have been too harsh. This brew fills a niche in the IPA world by providing a unique example of the style, focusing mostly on the grassy, herbal qualities of some hops. It can be perfect if that’s what you’re in the mood for. Try it. older rating: Sampled both can and bottle versions -- this rating is for the canned one. Pours clear copper with a big off-white head. The bubbles are rather large. As the head recedes, clumps of bubbles stick to the glass in random and artless forms. Aroma of rustic farm bread, combined with various woodsy, leafy, and herbal hops characteristics. Small hints of citrus. The flavor of this brew is very green. There is pronounced hoppy bitterness, long-lasting astringency, and a lingering aftertaste that has a back-of-the-tongue saliva inducing effect. Basically what you would expect from 70 IBUs. Malt flavors are pretty far in the background and play a neutral, supportive role for the hops. Unfortunately, in today’s world of many IPA choices, this product lacks the refined and dignified hop flavors needed to achieve a top spot in its style category. The taste is rough around the edges, almost prickly, and definitely immature. Finally, for the palate: just a little too thin and watery for my tastes. However, this is a decent brew, one of Ska’s best, and I give it a couple extra points for being available in cans.

Can from the Maproom, Chicago. Very good IPA IMO. Amber orange pour. Piney hop aromas. Taste is spot on balance between piney hops & malts. A good beer that i wish they had in stock at Binny’s when I was there

Can from mj. Pour is beautiful, the body is a lightly hazy orange copper, glowing color. A thick, rich, foamy head, just dying to expand sits on top. As it fades it leaves a thick trail of lacing on the sides of the glass. An aroma of mainly piny hops and just a touch of sweet candied hops. Taste is much less piny and has more sweet hops with a long sweet hops aftertaste. A nice medium bitterness throughout the beer. Slightly dry after the sweetness passes. IPA, fresh, clean, and hoppy, it don’t take a rocket scientist. I like the cans, before this nothing from SKA has impressed me..
12oz can, Bells tulip glass.

Easily the best canned beer I have ever had. A really good west coast IPA. Aroma of grassy and citrus hops. Color is a nice golden color with a good white head. Flavor was rich and had huge hop flavor. Great job at balance. If you can find this beer buy it. Fantastic. My new personal favorite.

Bottled. Copper/amber color. Medium density to the head. Aroma is pine. Flavor is pine. There’s some citrus but not much. A little herbal at the end. Eh.

12 ounce can shared with soccer290. I will be honest here... the only reason that I bought this brew was because it was an IPA in a can! I actually was impressed after pouring this beer. It had a nice copper pour with a one finger width white frothy head. It stuck around through the duration of the beer and left nice lacing on the side of my glass. The aroma was very nice also. It consisted of strong hops with some citrus and pine in the background. The taste was a bit bland though; watery hop character with a hint of pine. Overall, this was a decent IPA. Nothing special, but good for what it was... and it is in a can!

12 oz can shared with General66. I thought Bobby was an idiot getting this, so we will see. Pours a copper color with a finger high white head that is thick and stays. Smells of a ton of hops, some pine, citrus, and a bit malt. Tastes of hops, and that is it. Very light bodied, and the smell is deceiving. Interesting, and great for the novelty of the can, but I don’t think I would get it (Bobby: "It’s a beer in a can!")

Poured from a can. Hazy deep amber pour with a foamy lasting and lacing head. Lots of pine and citrus hops in the aroma, along with sweet caramel malt. Lots of fresh hop in the flavor as well, with a good malt backbone. Fairly thick and sticky on the palate. A nice brew.