Tag Archives: IPA

Orpheus Transmigration of Souls

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orpheous-transmigration-of-souls

Orpheus, of Atlanta, Georgia, is really good at hoppy beers. I mean, really good. and Transmigration of Souls may be one of their best. It’s a double-IPA that Orpheus calls “overpowering” but it isn’t overpoweringly bitter; it just has huge flavor. The nose has lemon and orange. The middle has orange, grapefruit, pineapple and butter. The finish is smooth, without a lot of change in the flavor though a bit more grapefruit comes out and a tiny hint of pine resin right at the end. The body is medium-heavy to heavy, and the alcohol is 10% ABV and quite subdued.

I give it a 4.8 out of 5.

Tarrapin Hi-5 IPA

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terrapin-hi-5-ipa

Tarrapin calls this a California style IPA, which I take to mean West Coast. However, I’d call this more of a traditional American IPA with some tropical notes. The nose has orange and lemon, and some floral overtones. The middle is more citrus and some pineapple. There’s a bit of pine and a bit of peach in the finish. The body is medium and the alcohol is a pleasantly light-ish 5.9% ABV. It wasn’t exactly what I expected, but that doesn’t take a way from what is a very nice, unique beer.

I give it a 4.4 out of 5.

Ballast Point Sculpin

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ballast-point-sculpin

By Ballast Point Brewing Company of San Diego, Sculpin is one of the best West Coast IPAs out there. The head is sticky and hangs around, the nose is of grapefruit, honeysuckle and floral. The middle is sharply hoppy with clean pine fading to grapefruit, then to apricot and lemon in the end. Mango and peach are also advertised notes in this brew, but I’m not getting them, at least not in this bottle. No matter though…It’s excellent as is. One of my all time favorites for sure. The body is medium-ish, and the alcohol is a respectable but not overpowering 7.0% ABV.

I give it a 4.9 out of 5.

Monday Night Slap Fight IPA

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monday-night-slap-fight

Slap Fight India Pale Ale from Monday Night Brewing of Atlanta, Georgia is a lovely little American IPA. There’s lemon on the nose, more lemon and some pine in the middle giving it quite a bit of bitterness, and a bit of grapefruit in the finish. There’s not a lot of complexity here, but for hopheads like me who enjoy a nice bitter IPA, this really hits the spot. The body is light to medium and the alcohol is a nice summer-weight 5.8% ABV.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Terrapin Krunkles Down Under IPA

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terrapin-krunkles

Terrapin calls Krunkles a “South Pacific” style IPA, and I think I would agree that it lives up to the moniker. The hopiness that we know, love, and expect from our IPAs is here, and the twist is that it’s very nicely balanced with notes of tropical fruit. The nose has apricot and mango, the middle is spicy and smooth with mango, papaya, and a bit of coconut. There’s a bit of pine in the finish, but it isn’t particularly bitter until right at the very end. The body is light to medium and the alcohol is a lovely 6.6% ABV. This is a fun, unique take on an IPA and I’m really enjoying it.

I give it a 4.3 out of 5.

Terrapin Hopsecutioner

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terrapin-hopsecutioner

Hopsecutioner is an American IPA, and a rather big one, from Terrapin Beer Co out of Athens, Georgia. While it’s styled as an IPA, to my senses, its closer to what I’d identify as as Imperial IPA than a standard IPA. It is heavily hopped (with 6 varieties) but balanced, so lots of malty goodness as well which gives it that strong resemblance to an Imperial. The foam is light and full, but dissipates quickly. The nose has strong orange notes, a bit of caramel, and some licorice. The middle has some slight piney bitterness, balanced with sweet bread dough, orange and some lemon. The lemon comes on more strongly in the finish. The body is medium to heavy and the alcohol is moderate 7.3% ABV. An interesting beer with the alcohol of an IPA, but the complexion of a DIPA.

I give it 3.7 out of 5.

Reformation Atlas IPA

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reformation-atlas

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Georgia for the past year, and as that time comes to a close, I’m going to try to review a few more local Georgia beers before I lose access. Today is Atlas IPA, from Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, GA. It’s am American IPA with lemon and a bit of bread and pine in the nose. The middle is peppery, with lemon and orange, and some orange and pine in the finish. A really nice, well done IPA that doesn’t stand out from the crowd and is an easy drinker. The body is medium, and the alcohol is 6.8% ABV.

I give it a 3.9 out of 5.

Green Flash Le Freak

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green-flash-le-freak

On the bottle, Le Freak is described as a “Belgian Imperial IPA.” The Green Flash website expands a bit, explaining that it’s a hybrid of a Belgian Tripel and an American Imperial IPA. Interesting. The head is beautiful. Big and velvety, and it lasts for minutes. The nose is distinctively Belgian, with loads of fruit. The hybrid nature comes through in the middle with something I might describe as a battle between the sweet and complex Belgian, which is definitely here in full force, and the strong bitter west-coast style IPA that Green Flash is known for, which is just as present. There are spices, cherry, plum, pine, orange and grapefruit all mingling and alternately coming to the fore. The finish has some bitter citrus rind from the IPA, but is more Belgian in character with marmalade and a bit of licorice. The body is quite full and heavy, and the alcohol is 9.2% ABV, about what you’d expect for this style of ale. It’s probably not the next big thing, but it’s a fun mix, certainly enjoyable if you like the component styles, and well executed.

I give it a 4.2 out of 5.

Orpheus Life.Death.Life.Truth.

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orpheous-life-death-life-truth

Orpheus Brewing in Atlanta makes some killer IPAs, and this is one of them. Life.Death.Life.Truth is an American IPA that is bursting with fruit, primarily of the citrus varieties.  The nose has orange and lemon, the middle has a huge hit of grapefruit and is fairly bitter, fading to a sweet finish of sugary orange and sticky pineapple, with another tiny hit of dry bitterness right at the very tail. The body is medium and the alcohol is a robust 7.2% ABV and it’s nicely hidden. I love Orpheus beer, and this is a particularly good one.

I give it a 4.7 out of 5

 

Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

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dogfish-head-120-minute-ipa

I’ve finally gotten my hands on a 120 Minute IPA. It’s immediately apparent that it’s big, with nose full of honey and molasses and lemon. The body is heavy, with a strong alcohol presence and the middle is punchy with the huge quantities of hops and malt required for this brew. There’s more honey, as well pear, apricot, pine and pepper making an appearance here. The finish is sticky and sweet, with orange and honey predominant. This is an interesting beer with an interesting niche. It’s not what you would expect of a typical Imperial IPA, more like a barleywine or Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but far hoppier than either of those styles. It may actually be a beer that appeals to whisky or fortified wine fans more than a fan of typical beer styles. It’s certainly got enough alcohol for that, at ~20% ABV. (Variable for each batch.) I’m very impressed with the construction. This is really a special beer.

I give it a 4.7 out of 5.