Deschutes Hop Henge Imperial IPA

Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Bend, Oregon USA

Orange with a very big head and lacing. Strong hop scent settles down and seems hard to find mid-glass. Hops land on your tongue and then explodes throughout your mouth. bit of a dark eucalyptus quality.

Sampled from 22-oz bomber and shared during Surly D-Day. Pours a semi-clear copper amber brew with a thick off-white head that has some nice retention and sticky lacing. Aroma of grapefruit and citrus hops, a touch of caramel and toffee. Taste is expected bitter, medium bodied, with flavors of grapefruit, roasted nuts, caramel and some bread dough. Finish continues its lingering grapefruit aftertaste that changes to a caramel and toffee flavor.

7-27-08 bottle shared with lb4lb thanks to ditmier
Medium red orange amber color with a good cream colored head and a nice ring of lacing. Smell is very subtle and a bit underplayed, or rather: muted floral hops with a more obvious presence of dough. Flavor is mild hops as well with some more doughiness. Mouthfeel is low to medium carbonation. Not very bold, but decent overall and drinkable.

This ale pours a nice copper color with a nice head. The nose is of citrus, fresh hops,and slightly nutty. Flavor is very nice. Fresh hop flavor with a nice dry finish. Another great beer from Deschutes.

Getting notebook online. Bottle. Pours a nice copper color. Plenty of floral hops on the nose. Grapefruit and toffee flavors. Loads of good hops! Good bitterness. Pretty good beer.

So I might have to rethink what an IIPA looks like...this brew its probably the best looking beer I’ve ever seen (the liquid part that is, the head is good but is a yellowish color and just doesn’t look as pure, but since the liquid looks so amazing, its a 5). Perfectly clear golden amber. First initial smell was banana, citrus hops and slightly malty...2nd and 3rd smells I can’t smell the banana anymore. Flavor is hops of citrus and earth, malts of bread, caramel and spiciness. Very clean tasting brew that has a slight bitterness and a warm mouth feel. I really could drink this all day and night.

22oz Bomber Best by: 8/6/08 Yet another brew received in a trade with russpowell, thanks Russ! Hop Henge pours a beautiful clear copper without any visible carbonation. The head is bright white and two fingers tall on the pour. The head fell rather quickly to a skimming but left thin sheet lacing on its way with fingers toward the top of the glass. There’s not a lot of aroma right upfront but each swirl brings out the layered hop complexity. A good deal of slightly overripe pineapple is the first that comes to mind followed by lightly sweetened grapefruit and a peppery spiciness that is reminiscent of plantains. An interesting hoppiness grows on me the more I smell. All of this has a light drizzling of caramel and a mild booziness that accentuates the hop profile. The hop profile comes together more singularly in the flavor then the aroma. The caramel maltiness lays a solid foundation. The pineapple isn’t as bold as the nose suggested nor is the grapefruit. Caramel rides all the way through with the hops flashing here and there showing characteristics of each flavor described. The plantain does show itself on the swallow with a slight spiciness that the alcohol fumes intensify. Hop Henge is very unique IIPA that I’m really enjoying. The body upfront is medium but as it works through has a slight stick on the swallow. I can appreciate this kind of stick in a big IIPA. The hop profile leaves a lingering bitterness that tends to grow with each successive sip. I’m teetering between 4-4.5 so I’ll stick with the 4. This is an easy one to put away, especially when the abv is taken into account. I can already feel my cheeks warming up but it drinks as easily as I less alcoholic brew. I really appreciate Deschutes beers and this is no exception. The deeper I dive into this one the more I like the uniqueness. Hop Henge is brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and a yet to be named variety that I’m guessing adds the spiciness. Hopefully this unnamed hop gets used in other brews along the way because it’s out of the ordinary and I’d like to get to know it a little better. 5/25/08

22 oz. bottle. Clear, ruby color. Large, light tan head. Rich, malty aroma compliments the grassy hops. Moderate lacing. Flavor is a nice mixture of earthy hops and a chewy, bready malt. Finish is slightly hoppy with a touch of warming alcohol. Nice beer.