Hop Manna (bottle) - 4.3

Hop Manna
India Pale Ale
Shmaltz Brewing Company
Saratoga Springs, NY
ABV: 6.8%

Jon:
More goodness from Shmaltz. Their foray into the IPA world is a massive success in my book. Heavy on grapefruit and rye flavors, which is right up my alley. As is printed on all He'brew bottles, L'Chaim!

4.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 5/5 9/10 5/5 4/5 9/10

Mark:
Amazing aroma. The Cascade, Amarillo, and Warrior hops really come through. Fantastic flavor profile--bitter grapefruit with a slightly floral aftertaste.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
My first kosher IPA. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have known the difference. I will definitely need to sample some more from this brewery since this is some good stuff.

4.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 4/5 8/10 5/5 4/5 9/10

5-Day IPA (bottle) - 4.0

5-Day IPA
India Pale Ale
O'Fallon Brewery
O'Fallon, MO
ABV: 6.1%

Jon:
Unfiltered and hazy. Smells of caramel and fresh grains. Hoppy on the tongue but wonderfully balanced. Honey, malty sweetness is singing next to the citrus hops. Definitely one of the best beers I've tried in recent months.

4.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 5/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 9/10

Mark:
Wonderfully fragrant pour. Unfiltered, amber color, with little to no head. There's a bright sweetness to start with a slightly grainy mouthfeel, followed by a nice hop bitterness with just a touch of bee pollen and floralness.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 8/10

Jere:
Still wondering what the "5 days" are from, perhaps the website will explain. Whatever the reason, it's definitely tasty. I could even drink another, given the opportunity, and we may have to try some more from this brewery.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Mystic Bridge IPA (bottle) - 3.4

Mystic Bridge IPA
India Pale Ale
Cottrell Brewing Company
Pawcatuck, CT
ABV: ?

Jon:
Reddish hue, foamy head. Sweet floral flavors, reminding me of some seafoam honey I once had at a farmer's market. Sweet middle, bitter tea finish, and the transition between the two makes this feel a tad watery. The bitterness becomes less pleasant as the beer warms up.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 3/5 6/10

Mark:
Slightly sweet aroma, like dark unfiltered honey. Sweet start followed by a floral hop kick. Medium dark amber color with a silky mouthfeel.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Jere:
No sweetness detected here, in fact no descriptive words are coming to mind at all. It isn't displeasing in any way, just not terribly expressive.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Tremont Freedom Trail IPA (bottle) - 2.5

Freedom Trail IPA
India Pale Ale
Shipyard Brewing Company
Portland, ME
ABV: 6.4%

Jon:
I'm not too big on British-style IPAs, but this one strays even farther from my usual tastes. There's a cloying sweetness and a Britishy bitterness that just don't balance each other out.

2.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 2/5 5/10 5/5 4/5 4/10

Mark:
Little head with little lacing. Not bad to start with a burst of floral hops, but finishes oddly sweet with a dandelion bitterness.

2.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 2/5 3/10 3/5 4/5 4/10

Jere:
Port! That's the first thing that came to mind on the first taste, but after subsequent sips I've revised my impression: bitter port.

2.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 4/10 2/5 4/10 3/5 4/5 3/10

400 Pound Monkey (bottle) - 3.4

400 Pound Monkey
India Pale Ale
Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, CO
ABV: 7%

Jon:
Really fizzy, sudsy head. Slightly sweet, spiced nose; malty brown sugar notes. The flavor is subdued. I thought that this was some really heavy-handed stuff at the Keystone Beer Fest, but it's not nearly as complex in the bottle. Very acidic mouthfeel, which I don't mind. Awesome bottle art!

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 2/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
Creamy, clumpy head with little lacing. Toasty English malt with a strange bitter coppery metallic aftertaste.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 6/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
I don't really care for the taste of alcohol in my beer, and this one is pretty strong in that department. On the bright side, that's the sort of problem that goes away once you get to the second pint!

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 2/5 4/5 6/10

Ranger IPA (bottle) - 3.9

Ranger IPA
India Pale Ale
New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, CO
ABV: 6.5%

Jon:
Light-colored and fizzy, foamy head. I love the flavor: herby, fairly bitter, with a pleasantly lingering bitterness and just a hint of sweetness. This is the kind of IPA that bridges the gap between easy-drinking and heavy-duty; it's complex and full-flavored, but not overwhelming.

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
I love this IPA! It really seems to be a departure from the malty/toasty characteristic of many New Belgium beers. Very balanced, citrusy, floral nose, with a slightly bitter finish.

4.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 4/5 9/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Jere:
Not having had the benefit of trying this on tap (like Mark and Jon got to on its first weekend out), I think it's still right in New Belgium's wheelhouse. Quite hoppy, with an average bitter aftertaste; I do like how it goes down. Will have to try the draft version someday soon.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Lucky U IPA (bottle) - 3.2

Lucky U IPA
India Pale Ale
Breckenridge Brewery
Denver, CO
ABV: 6.2%

Jon:
This is a nice, easy-drinking IPA. Very subtle nose, with just a hint of citrus and tea leaf. There is a bit of sourness here - not enough to be detrimental - but it still doesn't seem to fit with the other flavors. If this were cheaper it might replace Long Hammer as my pick for best value IPA.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Mark:
Slightly sweet to start with a bitter, sour finish. Almost non-existent head and very little aroma. I liked the second one better than the first.

2.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Jere:
It's very average to me, but in a good way. After finishing over half, I barely feel like I've had any at all. Perhaps I'll feel differently after another.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Wild Goose IPA (bottle) - 3.2

Wild Goose IPA
India Pale Ale
Wild Goose Brewery
Frederick, MD
ABV: 5.9%

Jon:
From Beer of the Month Club. Copper and foamy. Doesn't smell much like an IPA, the nose is very mellow and kind of sweet. But there's some huge bitterness on first sip, not too describable, just the absence of sweet. The more I drink, the sweeter it gets. Long aftertaste, otherwise quite crisp and refreshing.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 5/10 3/5 5/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
This reminds of an uber-hopped amber ale. Slightly toasty and mellow with a splash of floral hops and a bittersweet, honey-mead finish.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 4/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
My first taste of mail-order beer; not too bad if I do say so myself. The aroma is a tad nondescript, but nothing that would negatively affect the overall experience.

2.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 4/10 4/5 5/10 4/5 3/5 6/10

JimBrew 2.0 IPA (bottle) - 3.9

JimBrew 2.0
India Pale Ale
Arvada, CO
ABV: 5.4%

You won't find this one in stores... partly because we already drank all of it, and partly because it was never in stores to begin with. Our friend Jim has started brewing his own beer, and he sent a few bottles of his first IPA our way.

Jon:
Cloudy and dark. Citrus and caramel aroma. Smooth up front then considerable lingering bitterness on the end. Quite malty for an IPA, but that's a big part of what makes this really unique. The nose and finish are a bit contrasting for me, but I think things would've started to match up had I tried it more than twice. Extra point for home brewing!

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 8/10 3/5 8/10 5/5 3/5 9/10

Mark:
I'm very impressed with Jim's foray into home brewing. This IPA has a malty, slightly dark chocolate feel with a very bitter, dark aftertaste. Get job! I'm going to have to get the recipe!

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 7/10 5/5 3/5 9/10

Jere:
I've had this twice before, and if anything it's gotten better with age. Considering it was a homebrew, I appreciate it even more. Kudos to the brew meister!

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 6/10 5/5 4/5 9/10

Alaskan IPA (bottle) - 3.7

Alaskan IPA
India Pale Ale
Alaskan Brewing Company
Juneau, AK
ABV: 6.2%

Jon:
Lovely citrus nose, but has a strange herb/sage quality on first sip. Feels bright and fizzy on the tongue. Loses pretty much any distinctiveness after saturation. A good buy when on sale.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 3/5 6/10

Mark:
This is my economy IPA, as it's been on sale for a long time at my local liquor store. Bright carbonated mouthfeel with a lemon peel bitterness.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 5/5 4/5 7/10

Jere:
It's different, but a good different. Perhaps the 2° Below I had prior to this is coloring my judgement, but for now I don't mind. We'll see how I feel after I finish it I guess...

4.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 4/5 8/10

Modus Hoperandi (can) - 3.5

Modus Hoperandi
India Pale Ale
Ska Brewing Company
Durango, CO
ABV: 7%

Jon:
Copper complexion, sweet orange hoppy nose. The aroma didn't prepare me for the mouth-puckering bitterness -- somehow the sweetness I smelled just doesn't transfer to the tongue. Unique and tastes good, but unexpectedly harsh for me.

3.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 6/10 2/5 4/5 7/10

Mark:
I really like this IPA. Full palate, slightly toasty with bitter floral notes. I can definitely taste the 7% ABV.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 5/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Jere:
Canned IPA -- WTH? Actually not that bad, considering... Not sure if I'll have another though.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 3/5 6/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Southampton IPA (bottle) - 3.6

Southampton IPA
India Pale Ale
Southampton Publick House
Southampton, NY
ABV: 6.2%

Jon:
A serious amount of roasty/caramel flavors for an IPA, quite unexpected. Very sweet and somewhat bitter but doesn't quite strike a balance. It's sweet, then bitter. With a gummy aftertaste. Same aftertaste as after drinking a sweet and sour margarita. Very unique, but not a favorite.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Mark:
I'm not sure what to say about this one. It's a golden caramel color with an eggshell head. The bottle claims that "balance" is their difference. Not so hopped as an American-style IPA, closer to an English IPA. Slightly bitter, toasty with a strange lemon rind / sour skittles aftertaste. It's definitely a quality brew, but I'm not crazy about it.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
Not bad for a 6.2%. The Mexican Mojito I had beforehand may have clouded my judgement, though... Hopefully it won't be another long while before I try one again.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

American Dream IPA (growler) - 3.9

American Dream
India Pale Ale
Rock Bottom Westminster
Westminster, CO
ABV: 7.2%

Jon:
Very floral nose mixed with grapefruit. Soothing mouthfeel with a little alcohol heat on the finish. The floral notes are a bit too pervasive on the tongue, otherwise a great brew.

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 9/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 8/10

Mark:
Tasty. The first thing you taste are the floral notes followed quickly by a white grapefruit sweetness, fading to a bitter finish. I would say this was the best beer that I've had at Rock Bottom except that I just tried their recently released Naked Hop Bomb--amazing!

4.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 5/5 8/10 3/5 5/5 8/10

Jere:
I like. Definitely one of the better brews I've had in a while. If I remember it next time I'm at Rock Bottom, I'll be sure to revisit.

3.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 8/10 4/5 7/10 2/5 4/5 7/10

Hoppy Boy (bottle) - 3.2

Hoppy Boy
India Pale Ale
Twisted Pine Brewing Company
Boulder, CO
ABV: ?

Jon:
Sweet orangey nose, followed by a real bitter taste that's harsh on the tongue at first, mellowing into a slightly unpleasant aftertaste. The right flavors are in there, and they're good, but there is some imbalance that takes a toll on this brew's drinkability.

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 2/5 5/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
This starts with a sweet caramel, NutraSweet taste and ends with a big pine flavor. Very flavorful and very different, but I'm not too fond of the Pine-Sol bitterness.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 4/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
This ain't bad. I usually like the Twisted Pine line, and this one's no exception. Not quite sure what the aroma is but it's not offensive by any means.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 2/5 4/10 3/5 4/5 7/10

Upslope IPA (can) - 3.0

Upslope IPA
India Pale Ale
Upslope Brewing Company
Boulder, CO
ABV: 7.2%

Jon:
Doesn't look like an IPA. Doesn't really taste like an IPA. Soooo bitter, like black tea. No citrusy goodness to speak of here. Just a bitter punch in the mouth.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 8/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
First impression: "That's a weird color!" Except for the high alcohol content, it seems more like a crazy bitter amber or a weird stout. Very, very bitter with a floral quality and a hint of coffee and pine. Sort of tastes like dandelions.

3.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 5/5 6/10

Jere:
Can you can an IPA? Upslope seems to think so, but I'm afraid I disagree. Worth a try just to say I tried it though.

2.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 2/5 6/10 3/5 2/5 5/10

Single-Wide IPA (bottle) - 3.0

Single-Wide IPA
India Pale Ale
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO
ABV: 5.7%

Jon:
Foamy to a fault... I don't even really understand how it's possible. Smells like a beer fest (in a good way). Good drinkability without overpowering your palate or sacrificing too much hop flavor.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 2/5 5/10 4/5 8/10 5/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Really foamy, I poured it very carefully and it looked like I topped it off with spray foam insulation. Also, I'm allergic to this beer. Pretty good other than that. I wonder where I put my EpiPen...

3.8	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 7/10 3/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 8/10

Jere:
Foamy like the wolf... Too "alcohol-ey" for my tastes, once the foam finally dissipated.

1.7	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 1/5 4/10 2/5 2/10 2/5 3/5 3/10

Revisited! Mojo (growler) - 5.0

Mark and Jon have been spending a bit of time over at the Boulder Beer Company's bar lately, so it's once again time to shower our favorite brew with some love...


Mojo
India Pale Ale
Boulder Beer Company
Boulder, CO
ABV: 6.8%

Jon:
Huge orange flavor, some subtle pine notes, and the most amazing bitterness on the finish. Sweeter on tap than in the bottle, but it adds to the depth of flavor and smells heavenly. $9 for a growler! This is the standard by which all IPAs should be judged.

5.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 10/10 5/5 5/5 10/10

Mark:
Liquid perfection! Definitely my favorite beer, and it's even better on tap! Crisp, clean... It hits you with a hoppy bitterness reminiscent of white grapefruit with floral hints and a clean mineral effervescence, followed by a bitter alcohol finish. Bravo!

5.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 10/10 5/5 10/10 5/5 5/5 10/10

Red Truck IPA (bottle) - 3.0

Red Truck IPA
India Pale Ale
Palisade Brewery
Palisade, CO
ABV: ?

Jon:
Woah. There are some crazy sorts of bitterness going on here. It's very herbal; reminds me of some of the bitter flavors found in Cynar. Marks for complexity, but it's ultimately an unfortunate comparison because Cynar is one amazingly toxic drink.

3.4	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 8/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
Fairly balanced for an IPA. Not quite the hops for me, but with an oddly watered-down bitter flavor. Not bad at all, definitely good quality, but the $9 price tag turned me off a little bit.

3.0	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 6/10 2/5 3/5 7/10

Jere:
Red Truck stands for bitter--too much for my tastes unfortunately. Not that I won't finish what I've started, mind you, but I can't say I'll enjoy it all that much.

2.5	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 6/10 3/5 4/10 3/5 2/5 3/10

Power Outage IPA (growler) - 3.8

Power Outage IPA
India Pale Ale
Rock Bottom Westminster
Westminster, CO
ABV: 6.5%

Jon:
Piney, very subtle. Interesting flavors if you give it a chance, but not hoppy enough at the first sip.

3.6	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 7/10 4/5 7/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Mark:
This IPA kind of sneaks on you. At first it's a nice pleasant, mellow pale ale, then the hops hit you - bam! And you realize "it's an IPA!" Hooray! Nice hoppy aftertaste.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 4/5 8/10 4/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 8/10

Jere:
This one sneaks up on ya, since it's not quite as bold as our usual IPA selection. I think I could get used to it though. Too bad it's not more widely available.

3.9	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 5/5 9/10 3/5 8/10 4/5 3/5 7/10

Third Eye P.A. (bottle) - 2.9

Third Eye
India Pale Ale
Steamworks Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
ABV: 6.6%

Jon:
Fizzy and mild, a hint of sweetness prevails. Enough hops, but not shining through. Still decent.

3.3	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 7/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Mark:
Not very strong-flavored for an IPA. The hops are there and the alcohol content but it almost tastes watered down. There's definitely an odd aftertaste--almost metallic. Maybe it has something to do with the naked, floating green lady on the label...

3.2	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 6/10 3/5 7/10 3/5 4/5 6/10

Jere:
Not terribly impressed, in case the rating weren't obvious enough... The naked lady on the box didn't really help bring up the rating either, sadly enough. A very zinc-y, mineral-y aftertaste.

2.1	Appearance Aroma Palate Flavor Price Buzz Overall 3/5 5/10 2/5 3/10 2/5 2/5 4/10