Thomas Hooker Hop Meadow IPA

Brewed by Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Bloomfield, Connecticut USA

Pours deep copper, one of the darkest IPAs I’ve seen, with a small off-white head that dissipates to a collar quickly leaving sporadic lacing. Aroma is earthy, grassy and pine smells, with a hint of citrus hops. There is a big caramel malt presence in the nose as well. Taste has a strong citrus hop presence up front before the caramel malts kick in. The finish has a bit of pine hop bitterness with a hint of earthy spice as well. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sticky with the lingering pine hops. Despite the decent hop presence, I would term this as a balanced, fairly malt-forward IPA. Enjoyable.

Bottle thanks to JJPM74! This IPA poured a decidedly dark copper and frothed up upon the pour. A solid, well structured frothy head that leaves tonnes of lace. The nose is quite caramel forward with bread crust, dark fruit, spices, a bit of pine and grapefruit like hops. Piney, grapefruit pith like hop flavours are upfront, with floral spices, but not too assertive, as this IPA focuses more on the caramel malts and fruitcake like flavours. Alcoholic and well structured. Seems like an ESA to me. Thanks for the beer John, as well as the new state! :)

Nose is a full malt, some good orange/pine hops as well, copper, small tan head. Taste is profiled by a decent malt, hops add an orangeness too. Light bodied, well balanced, sweet malt, countered with a good kick from those west coast hops. Quite a nice offering. Thank You Torontoblue.

Bottle @ Bonobo Portland ME with Janie 07. Citrus and cut grass nose. Sweet malts sit behind brutal tounge scorching hops. Pure bitterness.

A dark amber ale with a thin off white head, and huge flocculation of solids. In aroma, pleasant floral hops, fruity, caramel. In mouth, a rather harsh hoppy IPA, piny and viscous, a bit over the top. Medium bodied. Tasted May 2007.

Bottle. Fairly dark amber body, off-white head, caramel nose. Some bitterness, mostly crystal malts, some spicy hop character.

Bottle and served in standard pint glass: A rich caramel hue topped by a fading frothy head which left some spotty lace upon the glass. The aroma has notes of piney and citric hops, clove and pepper, caramel and bready malts, mineral water and a hint of DMS. The taste provides the right amount of balance between refreshment and flavor (eat me AB). Nice bitterness over a layer of caramel malt sweetness supported by a moderate hop spice and mineral twang. The mouth feel is sharp and lively, quite refreshing and goes down very easy. This is one well crafted American IPA, hoppy enough but does not scrap the enamel from your teeth. Mikey Likey!

Bottle from jjpm. Thanks! Pours reddish brown with a thin head that went away rather quickly. A decent amount of caramel malt in the aroma accompanied by floral and citrus hops that create a nice fruity effect. The flavor has notes of medium sweet caramel, floral and citrus rinds, a touch of fruit punch. Nice and drinkable. A little lingering spicy hops but more balanced than anything. Decent stuff. Probably a lot better fresh, but I’m not complaining.