 grant (753), Martinez, California, USA
Nov 2, 2006
Sampled many times, including during a blind IIPA tasting. I’ve mentally rated this higher during other times than the blind tasting, so I’m going to go with these impressions. I suspect the beer may have been a bit cold during the blind tasting, which would have quelled its killer aroma. Hazy dull brown, wan head. Aroma has a big hop presence (tangerine, light flowers), and a sizeable dollop of malt as well (chocolate, toffee, dough). Ever-so-slight whiff of diacetyl, which I like. Nutty, biscuity maltiness in flavor, fresh citrus notes carry on from aroma. High level of bitterness, yet at the same time quite smooth. Oranges figure prominently in the finish. I love this stuff.
gottalottaibu (235), charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Aug 20, 2008 golden orange with a big head. big aroma of pine and citrus. smells as sticky as it tastes. chewy hop flavors with a nice malt sweetness floating throughout. finish was was definately bitter but not as harsh as expected. none the less, love the over the top flavor but definately did a job on my palate. wish I could get it here.
chronictonic (349), Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 19, 2008 dark orange gold color with a sticky, rocky white head. resiny sweet aroma with major pine sap. Hop bite is very astringent - bitter, piney and VERY long lasting. Almost unpleasantly long lasting. Maybe my palate is getting tired of these big beers, but this is not a 99. It’s like death metal from Norway - there’s nothing subtle about it.
BrotherGrendel (47), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Appearance is a crystal clear mild orange with a big sticky head that sustains and moderate lacing. Aroma is out of this world, the freshest of pine resin, swaths of citrus (lemon zest and grapefruit), and a backbone of pale and caramel malts. Flavor is initially bitter pine hops balanced out with sweet caramel and bread malts, opens up to sour grapefruit and light bubblegum, finishes bitter with moderate alcohol warming. Palate is thick and chewy with moderate carbonation. This is paradise for hopheads, plenty of dry and bitter to last the night, tons of flavor, the aroma is out of this world. This is from a super fresh batch and just can’t get over how good it tastes!
Beaver (471), Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Aug 18, 2008 22 oz bottle. Pours a hazy golden orange with a smallish creamy white head that laces the glass some.
The aroma is sweet caramel malts, some melon, piney hops and alcohol.
The flavor is hops, hops and more hops. There’s a little sweet malt and maybe a touch of fruit initially. That is quickly taken over by harsh, resiny, charred hop bitterness that lingers throughout the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and slightly syrupy.
Overall, this is the biggest hop bomb I’ve ever had. It’s completely unbalanced towards the hops. Unfortunately, I didn’t really care for the flavor profile. It seems like overall bitterness was targeted and it’s not that great to me - just a charred bitterness with none of the fruits or pine that I normally like.
WinoInTraining (25), Longmont, Colorado, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Oh yeah, Hop Syrup. Clean and clear color, golden caramel. Ample head, sweet, piny nose. super hop. Creamy and soft texture, but with a quite bitter finish. Definately pine resin, bitter, bitter. Lingering. Hop heads unite!
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