Top of the Hill Rams Head IPA

Brewed by Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA

I found this one at the Knoxville Brewer’s Jam 10/04. Beautiful looking beer. Deep clear copper color, stiff, off-white head that lasts like it was made of merengue. Floral, citrusy hop aroma. The flavor starts with a burst of sweet maltyness that quickly fades to a smooth long lasting slightly bitter dryness that really is a pleasure to experience. Very nice IPA.

From a can, pours a clear, deep red with a foamy white head that lasts pretty well. Aromas of cherry, hop pellets, and malt extract. Tastes slightly hoppy to begin with, as well as some cherry, and finishes pleasantly hoppy. Really a different tasting IPA, but quite good.

12 oz. can. Mostly clear, darkish copper with a four-finger head that settles to a lasting half inch of creamy foam. Earthy resin, molasses and grain aroma. Dirty molasses, toasted pecan, and orange-grapefruit hop on the front. Slowly builds up a wave of pecan-resin-citrus on top, right on through to the bitter end. Light-medium body is smooth and a good balance of thirst-quenching wateriness vs. sticky malt goodness, and finishes slightly dry.

On-tap at Top of the Hill Brewpub. Appearance: Pours a clear, dark copper body with a foamy, lush white head. Smell: Pale and caramel malts with an effusive citrusy, piney hop scent. Taste: Pale malts with a medium caramel sweetness. Citrus and, to a lesser degree, earthy pine hop flavors. Medium bitterness. Finishes clean. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: A fine IPA, definitely worth a try.

I had this one at the brewpub before watching my Wake Forest Demon Deacons beat the heels in football. Golden amber color with a pretty citrus aroma. Good hoppy beer. Not overzealous on the head like some IPA’s, worth a try

"Ram’s Head" can. Pours a rusty orange color with a thick tan head. The nose is predominantly of oranges and orange peels with some grapefruit and pine too. Nicely medium-bodied and pretty smooth. Starts with some sweet caramel and a little citrus. Finishes with some sizable graininess along with a big bitterness that lingers quite a long time. This is very piney and sticky. Definitely as good as, if not better than, a can of Dale’s Pale Ale.

Brownish copper, small thin head. Very nice floral hop aroma. Crisp, full and bitter. Piney, earthy hop throughout. Nice, sticky aftertaste. Nice IPA. Sampled at 2004 Knoxville Brewer’s Jam.

Top of the Hill’s signature beer in my opinion. Pours a copper color with a large head. Aromas of molasses and pecans. Flavor and aftertaste is only slightly bitter for an IPA, which I like. Good stuff.