John Harvards HOPpopotamus

Tap. Light malt note of light bread, heavy hop aromas of pine and grapefruity/lemon, light yeast of earth and mustiness with wood and sulfur in the background. Head is frothy white, with good lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is a hazy red/brown. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly acidic and moderately bitter. Palate is medium, between watery and oily, and the carbonation is soft. It finishes lightly astringent and dry. A good drinker but not much balance, simple hop character, and not enough complexity throughout. This might have been a little old as this was served on tap, not in it’s usual on cask. Needs a re-rate.

On tap at the brewpub on 9/14/07: Pours a clear dark bronze copper with a wispy-lacing white head. Aroma of citrusy grapefruity hops and light caramel malt. Body starts fairly full, sticky and bittersweet with big grapefruity flavor and light toffee. A decent IIPA.

On cask at the brew-pub tonnight...this beer is really great on cask! Very smooth and creamy Imperial IPA - well-balanced, somewhat earthy. Very herbal and despite the alcohol content, this is a nice warmer weather beer. Nice.

Fresh on cask @ brewpub. Larry, Joe, you guys need to drink this fresh. Had this yesterday, with the beautiful weather and the half price appetizers. Very beautiful pour, all cloudy and muddy, with a foamy head. Can’t see nothing in this beer (I know its a double negative, live with it). Color is dark amber. Aroma is just sooo hoppy fresh with citrus and full of re-energizing, life powering, crop freshness. Its not resinous and its not oily. Taste is similarly fresh with light caramel sweetness. On the lighter side of moderate bitterness that works very well here. The cask does wonders for this beer. Makes it seem fuller but not heavier. Pillow-y mouthfeel all over and subdued carbonation. No alcohol at all, so quaffable, and by far a too session-able of a DIPA.