 OldMrCrow (1179), Seattle, Washington, USA
Dec 29, 2007 2007 bottle.
I usually laugh at Sam Adams; I passed up the 2005 version of this beer as a stupid marketing gimmick the one time that I saw it, and after reading the ratings on here, I’ve been kicking myself in the ass for doing so for the last two years. I was glad to see the 2007 release, and picked up the bottle that I’m drinking now.
It pours a hazy orange amber with a big white head that fades, leaving behind a bubbly lacing. Despite pouring it at refrigerator temperatures, the aroma is lively and all hop-bomb, lots of citrus and not as grassy as I had expected. Flavor is intense hop oils and not all that much else. A little bit of cookie dough malt, a little bit of spice from the yeast, some alcohol, but it’s really all about the lemon and grapefruit-pith hops. In the mouth it’s both sticky and quite abundantly carbonated, falling just short of prickly, with a bit of alcohol heat coming through even when cold. The problem is that as this one warms, all of the flaws come to the fore. Approaching room temperature, the hops are still there of course, but I keep getting caught up in the fact that it’s sticky, unbalanced, chemical, grainy.
When I’m in the mood for a hop bomb, I think I’d rather drink a good IPA; when I’m not in the mood for a hop bomb, this beer is out of the question. But this really ain’t bad.
TheSponge (269), Lynnwood, Washington, USA
Dec 27, 2007 VERY hoppy (which is a major plus in my book). Some citrus notes, and I can still tasted some of the yeast.
/An excellent beer, IMHO.
RCL (1443), Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
Dec 24, 2007 Pine and lemon explosion in the aroma. Lasting hop bitterness for minutes on the aftertaste. I like a little more malt sweetness to balance out my hop bombs.
DMRz (218), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Dec 24, 2007 Very distinctive green hops aroma with nice fruit and a touch of yeast. Flavor is as expected, with intense bitterness and pleasant fruitiness. An interesting find...
CamdenD (606), Madrid, Spain
Dec 24, 2007 I didn’t realize I’d be giving this beer such high praise, but it’s worth it. I know that wimpy yellowish (non-IIPA) beers should not get 4+s, but this is one incredible beer. Wonderful hoppy yet slightly spiced aroma comes cruising out the glass, followed by some alcohol. Color is a shady gold. I see this much different from the 24oz version I had earlier this year -- this one being much fuller and a truly world-class beer. Buy and drink this one, and do it quickly. No, do it now.
beerking99 (199), USA
Dec 24, 2007 Pours an intense orange-amber, but very cloudy, with a big head that lasts very long. Aroma is all hops, and lots of them. So much hops it is very hard to tell they are hallertauer. Flavor is intensely hoppy, as promised, almost too much so. Alcohol is very apparent, and there are faint hints of malt. Mouthfeel is very dry, hoppy, and slightly oily. Truly a beer only for hopheads, it seems a little out of balance to me.
franksnbeans (265), Columbus, Maryland, USA
Dec 23, 2007 Pours out a cloudy golden with an orange hue. Big rocky white head that laces globs as it dies. Smell is very earthy, piney, big hops and a little sweet. Taste is big on hops, bittering, again earthy and piney. Sweet malt provides a nice balance. Full but crisp in the mouth and an outstanding drinkability. ABV is not obvious. A big bitter, hoppy delight. Try it!
badbeer (432), Iowa, USA
Dec 23, 2007 Poured a copper orange color with about a half inch of rich creamy head. Rich smell of Hallertauer hops mixed with various floral accents, even a grassiness to it. Taste is almost a hop explosion with piney and grassy flavors, bitter but not cloyingly so. Beer is heavy in your mouth and is medium to full bodied and moderate carbonation levels. Was a nice treat, and I would get more but it’s not something I could have everyday.
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