Weyerbacher Hops Infusion

2004 Bottle. Pours a translucent orange amber with a large off white foamy head. Aroma of pine, caramel and some slight grapefruit. A bit light on the aroma side. Flavor is dry hopped, pine, not as much citrus. I like a bit of citrus in the flavor of my IPA’s. Decent but nothing groundbreaking. 5-4-6-3-12 Re-rate. 2006 bottle fresh from the brewery. They have changed the recipe around a good bit since the last time I had it. Pours an orange amber with an average off white lacing head. Aroma of pine, grapefruit, caramel. A nice hop and malt balance in the aroma. Flavors of the same...more bitter than I remember the original. But still has a nice malt balance. 7-4-7-4-15 Decided to average my numbers for this beer for the most part.

Bottle. Pours a dark hazy amber with a large frothy white head. Lots of bubble action going on. Aroma of fresh citrus hops and a slight sweet fruit smell. The taste, which is delicious, is predominently citrus hops. Starts fruity and ends quite bitter. Not much malt to speak of but I don’t care, it tastes great. Goes down smooth, no harsh hop bitterness aftertaste. One of the better balanced "Hophead" beers.

Rind-like and herbal hop aroma, which is a bit subtle for my IPA liking. Grapefruit and orange in the nose as well, with a biscuit like and caramel drenched malt aromatics to, but nothing exciting or vibrant. Bright copper color. Spicy and fruity hop flavor, which accents various peaches and tangerines, with a weedy, floral hop finish. Nice body, yet slightly watery. Dry. Interesting malt flavor, which doesn’t begin until the finish. I love Weyerbacher, but not this.

[bottle] Pours a very clear, dark-amber color. Aroma is of sweet pine and alcohol. Tastes very piney, plenty of citrus hops. Finishes dry and sort of earthy. Malts provide a nice background, but are certainly overpowered. A bit sharp, but still a nice drinkable IPA.

Aroma is heavy of appley fruit, caramel malt and spicy hops, though maybe not as heavily as I expected. On second examination there is a mild peat scent. Appearance is also a bit disappointing. Color is a nice dark, dark amber, but head is minimal and soapy... disappearing quickly. Flavor is heavy of malt and syrupy, but I don’t see how this is the heavily hopped IPA marvel that it is made out to be. Reminded me more of Samuel Smith’s India Ale than any of the American IPA’s that I’ve had recently. Retaste: This one has a much better hops presence... pine, citrus and the like, but tastes a bit watered down. Much better than the last go round, but still a little disappointing.

Almost no head on the pour... always a dissappointment with a PA. Aroms was nice and hoppy, though not much citrus which is what I’d expect from an american PA. The taste was surprising though: much more malty than I expected, with the hops I feel acting as a backburner to the maltiness. The balance was way off, though it evened out as it warmed. Bitterness was still prevelent though, which is a shame when so many different kinds of hops should be exhibiting themselves.

Nice dark amber color. White head that does not keep with the beer long. Taste is definitely heavy on the hops as advertised! Some citrus aftertaste, but the beer is all about the hops.

Bottle foamed over, which suprised me. Orange amber color with a white smooth head that quickly diminishes to nice lacing and thin white film on top. Aroma is mild for the amount of hops that are supposed to be present. I know others have spoken of huge aromas, but I am just not getting that. Flavor is well balanced and despite the amount of hops is very smooth and easy to drink. The hops are smoothed out by a nice malt presence. I like the way the flavors meld together. Palate is smooth up front with just a touch of hop resin as you let it linger on the tongue. Overall a very nicely done IPA.