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Hops and Robbers IPA
- markaberrant
- Seasoned Drinker
- Posts: 1664
- Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2007 4:28 pm
- Location: Regina, SK
Hops and Robbers IPA
Another new entry to the Alberta market, this can has a BB of Nov 9, so assuming reasonably fresh.
Aroma is mild malt, somewhat reminiscent of a quality english bitter. Pleasant enough.
Hop flavour is again quite restrained, but instead of rich malt backbone, it comes off a little watery/bland.
I have trouble agreeing with the claim on the can that this is "Canada's most sessionable IPA," whatever the hell that means. I also don't pick up any lemon or pineapple notes as mentioned on the can. There is a bit of english hops in a supporting role, but that's about it.
This is just an average English IPA/ESB, there is no reason why this needs to be 5.7%, it certainly doesn't come across as robust. I'd rather drink a Fullers, or better yet a Jaipur IPA, but this is still drinkable.
This would be cutting edge stuff if it was 1992. Very much an old school Canadian craft beer.
Aroma is mild malt, somewhat reminiscent of a quality english bitter. Pleasant enough.
Hop flavour is again quite restrained, but instead of rich malt backbone, it comes off a little watery/bland.
I have trouble agreeing with the claim on the can that this is "Canada's most sessionable IPA," whatever the hell that means. I also don't pick up any lemon or pineapple notes as mentioned on the can. There is a bit of english hops in a supporting role, but that's about it.
This is just an average English IPA/ESB, there is no reason why this needs to be 5.7%, it certainly doesn't come across as robust. I'd rather drink a Fullers, or better yet a Jaipur IPA, but this is still drinkable.
This would be cutting edge stuff if it was 1992. Very much an old school Canadian craft beer.
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- Beer Superstar
- Posts: 2584
- Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2010 3:40 pm
- Location: Mississauga
- Contact:
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- Posts: 358
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:32 pm
+1 love me some boneshaker!GregClow wrote:Not to mention Boneshaker...Malcolm wrote:Wrong. I'll take Headstock over Mad Tom any day. And I "need" Hop Addict as well.atomeyes wrote:yep. that's about right.
Mad Tom's probably the best ON IPA with Smashbomb being a close second.
the rest?who needs 'em.
I completely agree... but I did really like it.markaberrant wrote: This would be cutting edge stuff if it was 1992. Very much an old school Canadian craft beer.
Sort of a west-coast ESB by today's standards. Very little malt backbone and nicely attenuated, as an IPA should be. I actually think a session IPA is a descent descriptor.
Not as hoppy or 'sessionable' as a Crazy Canuck, but a very pleasant brew.
the amarillo nose jumps out really nicely.TheSevenDuffs wrote:You find Witchshark floral???? Really?atomeyes wrote:idunno....
depends what you dig from IPAs. i need that insane/lovely floral hit. that's why i dig Witchshark so very much. great bouquet:bitter ratio.
i also drink it closer to room temp, so who knows.
- cratez
- Beer Superstar
- Posts: 2284
- Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:29 pm
- Location: Brantford, Ontario
- Contact:
I've been saying this all along, and judged as a North American-style ESB (read: a dry-hopped English ESB with amped up levels of British and American hops and slightly higher IBUs), it's a very solid beer. I find it to be ridiculously sessionable, yet flavouful and nuanced enough to keep things interesting. It's just unfortunate that they went with the IPA label, rather than educating consumers on a fairly new and developing style (see: Three Floyds, Rogue, Central City, Southern Tier, Goose Island, Yards, Al's Cask Ale, etc).Derek wrote: I completely agree...but I did really like it. Sort of a west-coast ESB by today's standards.
"Bar people do not live as long as vegan joggers. However, they have more fun." - Bruce Elliott
Witchshark to me is just pine-city. Kind of one dimensional actuallyatomeyes wrote:the amarillo nose jumps out really nicely.TheSevenDuffs wrote:You find Witchshark floral???? Really?atomeyes wrote:idunno....
depends what you dig from IPAs. i need that insane/lovely floral hit. that's why i dig Witchshark so very much. great bouquet:bitter ratio.
i also drink it closer to room temp, so who knows.