Watch City Hops Explosion IPA

Brewed by Watch City Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Waltham, Massachusetts USA

January 2005 draught at the brewery. Bright golden-yellow, with some copper and very light amber hues playing about. Firm, medium white head that lasts. Aroma of spicy hops, light citrus fruits mixed with soft caramel and honey. Flavor strikes possibly the truest hops note I have ever experienced. Pure hops. Not overly bitter, not overly dry, just juicy, flavorful and wonderful. Moderate caramel malt keeps the hops honest and adds just the right amount of balance. For someone who dosent care for hoppy beers, this is fanatastic. Phenomenally balanced and easygoing, but ever so flavorful. Boring, if you are a hophead, but if you support brewers not overusing hops, this is a prime example of hops used right.
On cask, 6/29/2005 Having this really affirms my rating above. This IS an awesome IPA. Incredible on cask, as well. The beer has dropped bright, which is good to see that it is in good condition. No oxidation, plenty of white, thick head, with sheets of lacing and wonderful retention. The aroma smells of fresh citrus, and hints of pineapple, pine and mangoes. Must be cascades and then also perhaps Amarillo? Not sure but damned if it dosent smell wonderfully hoppy. This style of American IPA has the really fruity, juicy American hops up front, with a lighter pale malt, but a very good backbone of it. I think I like that more than the thicker, caramelier versions. I don’t mind when the focus is on the hops, when it’s the hops flavor that is focused on and not the bitterness. Lightly oily mouthfeel, very low carbonation, moderately creamy as well, on the end. Tasty, very tasty!

Pint at the pub. Light golden, a bit cloudy, small firm creamy head. Nice apricot-fruity nose, with some pungent barnyardy notes as it warms. Nicely bitter (but not overpowering) throughout, full-bodied, fairly sweet. This is really pretty boring when served (too cold), but warmed up it brings out vanilla, apricot and citrus flavors. Good but for me not mindblowing or anything.

Golden in color with a thin white head.Hoppy,with a long lingering bitterness.

Has a nice amber color and a floral/hop smell. Taste is of hops and finishes with a pretty strong bitterness. Overall it was not a bad IPA, but not the best.

Draft at brewpub. Mild fruit nose. Nice orange amber color. Citrus hops tasting through out. Finishes fruity sweet. Makes me think of Berkshire lost sailor ipa. Got better when warmed up. Very drinkable

Deepest amber I’ve ever seen an IPA. The bitter hops were in full force. Made me drousy while watching game one of the World Series. Could be a function of both the beer and the slow game.

Medium amber in color, small white head, diminishing to a long lasting, clingy lace. Aroma is floral, citrus, pine - all about the hops. Initially has a small malt sweetness, followed by a good and long last hoppy attack.

2/23/02 pint at the brewpub: I'm totally replacing the numbers from my old rating. (+1.0) Hazy orange with nice lacing. Huge citrus hops with some pine in there. Full bodied and big, starts very bitter and is only pretty bitter by the end. A very nice east coast IPA. Old rating: Boston Beer Summit '02: Almost a brown color and a watery palate. I couldn't disagree with the brewers description more. The British have made hoppier beers to survive the trip to Ireland.