Bottle from Wild Oats (also RIP) in Portland, OR--Poured a mild amber-copper hue with a thick white head. Steaming with hop character. Grapefruit and pine nose. Lots of malt in the body. Well balanced. With a name like Hopzilla, I would have expected a bigger beer, but the hops are huge. Finished bitter sticky and piny.

The color is a light amber with some copper or yellowish glows when held to the light. There is some chill haze and some sediment that made its way into the glass. The nose is strong in hops. But there is a strong sweet malt that is just as prominent in the nose. Both are evenly noted and very distinguishable. Pretty impressive. A pine smell to the hops. The taste is a little of a surprise. At the top there is a little bit of a bite and more noticeable is an oily taste. Not a big fan of oily tasting beers. The malt comes quickly to back it and really does its own job of dominating the taste. Actually it covers up some of the aroma hops. The aftertaste brings that hop bite back but is masked in the oil and sweeter malt. The body is more on the medium side. Limited carbonation but still good. Overall I thought it was a unique IPA which is good, but I think less bittering (or oily taste) and more of a floral taste and you have a monster of a beer.

Had this beer on 2/13/2005. Aroma is light with a fresh hop scent. Color is a pale hazy gold with very light carbonation and almost no head. I am a bit worried about this low carbonation, I have had a few beer that would have been much better if the carbonation would have been right. Taste is very hoppy and nicely crisp. Starting with a medium body it goes down with a mildly sweet malt flavor and a crisp feel. Finish comes on strong with a full round of hop flavors, this starts with a bright bitterness and a nice citrusy flavor, then ends with a fresh yet mild hop flavor. This all is blended evenly making it one of the best IPA’s I have had in a while. Overall its excellent, this is what a Pale Ale is all about. I had this beer a few years back at GABF, but I think it may have been a bit hoppier and not as balanced as this one.

Pours with a frost-hazed amber body, well-carbonated, under an off-white head of wet cream which holds on as a thick film. Any robust, aromatic hopping which was present in the past has dissipated, allowing a strong, fruity/candied malt presence to come forward. Mouthwatering with mild florals amidst caramel, cherry and peaches although a whiff of pine breaks through if I inhale deeply enough. Actually quite delicious as these same aromas translate sweetly into its flavor. Pine makes a better showing here than earlier and balances the palate before things become too sweet. One of those strange beers that does little to quench my thirst as I salivate after taking each sip. <br /><br /><font size=-4>Purchased at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/sycamore/lundeen%92s-discount-liquor/4828.htm><u>Lundeen’s Discount Liquors</u></a>, Sycamore, IL 60178</font><br />

<b>Date:</b> 07/20/2005<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Bottle<br /> <b>Source:</b> Tasting<br /> <br /> <b>Appearance:</b> clear light amber, whispy head, <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> sweet piney hop aroma, <br /> <b>Flavor:</b> sweet malt flavor, lots of pine, good lingering bitterness, <br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 9/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 5/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 7/10; <b>Palate:</b> 5/10; <b>Overall:</b> 16/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.8/5.0<br /><b>Score:</b> **4<br /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <i>The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.</i><br />