Hoppin Frog Mean Manalishi

Brewed by Hoppin Frog
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Akron, Ohio USA

My third Hoppin Frog brew. Shared with some buddies during the Superbowl. Had to compromise and poured into a foam cup. Had this right after a Great Divide Double Hercules... a much stronger and aggressive brew, noticeable straight away. This brew however might be an all around better beer.. much more sessionable and enjoyable. Florals, citrus, bitter, and caramel malt backing. Nice offering from a top notch brewery.

Bottle purchased over the holidays. Color is a bright orange hue with tones of amber; thick offwhite head persists; slightly cloudy. Nose is resin, citrus, grass, bread, alcohol. Flavor is west coast citrus and resin hop flavors up front with a very stiff and burning alcohol presence, transitions to some smoother rich malts with hints of toast, caramel and toffee, finishes sweet with high bitterness and alcohol presence. Full body, thick texture, mild carbonation. An intense DIPA that is difficult to drink due to the high gravity and abv, this feels much higher than the 8% advertised, would like to see this recipe softened up and not be so "mean".

An insanely creamy, cream-colored head falls with the heaviness of rain-laden cumulus clouds. A honeycomb of lace forebodes like a sticky wasp’s nest against the glass... then struggles away. A dense, copper/amber body joins the fight with an ambitious squadron of particulate-sized minions. Aroma reaches the nose somewhat aged – dirt-laden tea combines with lemon-heavy, alcoholic perfumes, while a sticky sweetness holds them back. Flavor shows no divergence from the expected: resinous/citric/alcoholic onslaught, slightly held back by malts which realize they have lost their control. Failure? Success? Did I enjoy this? Yes. Did I think too much on it? Yes. Will YOU think too much on it? I hope so. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A gift for my 41st birthday, thanks Ben.

Bottle, 1st Quarter of Super Bowl XLIV. Big time orange-citrus aroma, hinting at a resiny monster. Indeed, this beer delivers a solid sappiness, rich with acidic hoppiness. Nicely put together. (#3836, 2/7/2010)

Bottled 650ml. Really strong on the grapefruit component. Rerate pending (hopefully). Overall impression: Very nice.

650ml bottle from DK. Pours a hazy dark amber with minimal bits of beige head. Nose is appealing, with notes of citrus hops and carmel. Body is thick, with some mild malts and caramel sweetness trying to come through the massive hit of resinous hop bitterness. The finish is long and lasting and a bit astringent and unpleasant for my palate.

0.65 L bottle from Systembolaget, Nordstan. A hazy, orange-amber beer with lacing, offwhite head. Robust hop aroma; resinous, with pine cones, yellow grapefruit and grass. A whiff of caramel and all-spice. Taste is dominated by a piny hop bitterness, added by notes of citrus and grass. Caramelly, light biscuity malts is lurking under. Mid-bodied. Slick in the mouth. Bitterness lingers in the finish. Nut fully balanced, but overall a powerfull and tasty IIPA.

650 ml bottle sampled@RBNAG 2009, Vatlandsvåg. Hazy, dark orange body with a big beige head. Very nice and fruity aroma dominated by grapefruit. Flavor is fruity, caramel and quite bitter. Nice balance with a long and bitter finish.