Sierra Nevada 'Hop Bullet' Double IPA Spring Seasonal. 8% abv. 60 IBU. Pale straw color. Slightly hazy. Thin, white, bubbly head that quickly drops to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Moderate retention, good lacing. Nose of ample herbal-floral hops, pine, bright spice. Aroma subsides significantly as the temp rises and the head recedes.

Front taste is cypress, cloves, bitter herbal hops, with a dry finish. Aftertaste is bitter herbal hop bundle, hop resin, faint flowers. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, carby, resiny.

This is a solid beer for fans of DIPAs that lean heavily toward hops over malt. The aroma is a hop head's dream, with a ton of spicy, bitter, herbal hops supported by floral tones. However, that wonderful nose falls greatly as the head dissipates, something that happens quickly with this beer. Within a few minutes, its tall, distinguishable aroma is nearly absent. Good news is that the lupulin-infused flavor profile is persistent throughout, as is the notes of pine an overall hop expression. 

This beer promises hops and it gives you hops aplenty. Just make sure you don't linger too long, as this beer is not designed for a leisurely stroll across the palate. Enjoy it within ten minutes for an optimum hop experience. Recommended.


From the brewery:

"Brewed with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust. Hops are the name of the game with a Double IPA, but we knew we had to take it one step further. With Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops."
[source: sierranevada.com]

"Hop Bullet Double IPA features a new technique: we're hitting the beer with a double-barreled slug of Magnum hops and lupulin dust - the source of hop flavor  and aroma - right into the fermenter for a ballistic burst of aggressive hop character."
[source: bottle]

Duvel 'Tripel Hop' Special Edition Belgian Golden Ale 2014. 9.5% abv. Pale lemon color. Hazy. Two fingers of bubbly head. Good retention, fair lace. Nose of bright tropical, pineapple, grapefruit, floral spice notes. Front taste of pine, abundant floral hops, bitter citrus rind. Aftertaste is tall bitter floral hops, grapefruit, white bread, white wine, dry finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, juicy, resiny, tangy, hop sting on the back of the tongue.

This is a wonderful little big beer, a golden ale with a bushel of floral citrus hops in every sip. The aroma is an overflowing garden of flowers, tropical fruits, and fresh hops. The taste is juicy and bittersweet throughout, with the hop bill leading you every moment.

I had the 2014 special edition, a full two years from its bottling. Hoppy brews are normally not meant to be aged, and so I'm curious how this would taste closer to birth. Nevertheless, it was an excellent beer all around, one that makes me want to try the younger years. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"For this 2014 edition, our brewers have selected Mosaic. This new U.S. hop variety enhances the beer with a tangerine sweetness, hints of tropical fruit, and an interesting blueberry flavor."

[source: bottle]

"Duvel is traditionally brewed with two hop varieties. Duvel Tripel Hop is brewed with three hop varieties and each year the third hop is changed to provide its own unique taste and aroma. This keeps the final flavor profile surprisingly exciting for any true beer lover. For 2016 our brewers selected HBC 291 from the Yakima Valley in the USA. By using three instead of two hop varieties to brew, we obtain additional hop aromas and an increased bitterness. The typical Duvel palate is enriched with HBC 291 hops providing fresh notes of citrus, black pepper, lavender and roses. HBC 291 hops are added again during ‘dry-hopping’, extracting additional hop aromas into the beer. The higher aromatic intensity rounds out the beer, backing the final alcohol content of 9.5%."

[source: duvel.com]

Lagunitas Brewing 'Hop Stoopid' Imperial IPA. 8% abv. 102 IBU. Golden-Amber color. Two fingers of foamy white head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose of bright citrus, fruity hop bouquet, pine resin, tropical fruit, spicy herbal. Front taste of sweet light malt, floral, pineapple, ample bitter fruity hops, faint banana on the back. Aftertaste of citrus rind, bittersweet light fruit, spicy herbal. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, sticky, clingy on the back of the tongue.

This is an outstanding beer. The bitter hops are tall yet balanced perfectly with the malt, producing light fruit flavors and background herbs. The aroma is complex with many mixed yet distinct scents. The mouthfeel is perfect, actually complementing the fruit-pine resin smell and taste. I was very impressed with this beer. Grab a bomber, especially if you live balanced hoppy brews. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A double barrel dose of malt and hops. The beer with a guarantee built right into the name, this one is destined to blast through the flavors from the night before. Massively dry-hopped for your aromatic pleasure... When the time came that hoppy beers jumped the shark with brewers everywhere trying to make the most bitter beer ever, we went more toward the flavor and aromas in the beer and used hop extract for our bittering addition to keep the beer huge on the flavor, letting the malt keep up with the bitterness to make you want another. And another. And another. Then you get stoopid."
[source: lagunitas.com]

Unita Brewing 'Hop Nosh' IPA. 7.3% abv. 82 IBU. Hazy honey color. Two fingers of creamy white head. Superb retention and lace. Nose of caramel malt, sweet citrus. Front taste of bittersweet light fruit, faint orange, toasty, biscuit. Aftertaste is bitter fruity hops, faint pine, light toasted malt, grapefruit ribs on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, tangy, creamy.

This is an excellent IPA, one that nearly tastes like an Imperial IPA. The sweet bready malt profile is forward while the ample fruity hops are bright and tall, particularly in the aftertaste. The rich, creamy head last long and leaves a wonderful lace. A delicious, well-crafted beer, one that makes me wants to explore the rest of their line-up. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Bold and refreshing, this IPA combines an abundance of hops with a smooth malt profile. Embracing our inner foodie, Hop Nosh is so big in hop character that it is literally a hoppy snack."

[source: uintabrewing.com]

Rich, creamy head had wonderful retention and lace.

Drake's Brewing 'Hopocalypse' Double IPA. 9.3% abv. 100 IBU. Golden color with two fingers of thick white head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose is sweet floral hop bouquet, light malt, white bread. Front taste of bright fruity hops, grapefruit rind, flowers. Aftertaste is floral bitter hop, mild sweet malt, citrus peel. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, medicinal, slightly carbed.

This is an outstanding DIPA. With a bold hop profile that stands tall without overpowering and a malty backbone that is slightly sweet but lighter than you might expect, this brew strikes an impressive balance of flavors. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our seasonal Double IPA threatens all notions of what is “hoppy” with a clean malt base and imposing quantities of American hops. Maddening hop aromas of grapefruit, guava, and dank pine saturate the palate as a touch of balancing malt and spicy Rye keeps the sharp clean bitterness in line. Drink fresh and remember, #TheEndIsBeer."

[source: drinkdrakes.com]

"Green tinted clouds of hop dust engulf the brewery, and the brewers eyes gleam with manic intent upon their creation, The Hopocalypse. This Double IPA of unhinged proportions threatens to annihilate all notions of what is 'hoppy' with a clean malt base and imposing quantities of American hops. Maddening hop aromas of grapefruit, guava, and dank pine saturate the palate as a touch of balancing malt and spicy Rye keeps the sharp clean bitterness in line. Drink fresh and remember, The End is Beer."

[source: bottle]

Sierra Nevada 'Estate Ale' Homegrown Wet Hop IPA. 6.7% abv. 67 IBU. Red-copper color. Finger of white head that sticks around. Excellent retention and outstanding lace. Nose of sweet malt, herbal, earthy. Front taste of toasted malt, toffee, sweet bread, warm sugar backing. Aftertaste of fresh bitter hops, flowery, caramel. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, round, small bead carb.

This is an outstanding beer. A perfect balance of sweet malt and bitter hop bite, with fresh herbal flavors throughout. Excellent taste. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our handmade Estate Ale highlights the flavors of home. From the sun-drenched fields of California’s North Valley comes our Estate Ale. It’s rich with the flavors of the valley—hops with earthy, grapefruit-like flavors and layered spicy aromas, and barley with mild sweetness and smooth, toasted flavors. Enjoy this remarkable homegrown ale, made with organic wet hops and barley grown at our brewery in Chico, and one of the few estate-made ales produced anywhere in the world. Together, these crops grow alongside the brewery to make a truly unique brew."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Enjoying the wonderful Estate Ale at Peeve's Public House with Mario Gutierrez of Sierra Nevada. Thanks for the good company and great beer Mario!

House of Pendragon 'Overzealous' Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout. 6.5% abv. 42 IBU. Black in color. Finger of creamy tan head. Excellent retention and lacing. Nose of roasted malt, ample fresh ground coffee. Front taste of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit on the back. Aftertaste of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, earthy, faint nutty. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is silky, creamy, rich, warm.

This is a wonderful coffee beer, a bigger, bolder version of their excellent 'Zealous'. The espresso tastes very fresh and compliments the roasted malt. The oatmeal serves the beer well, adding a big body and smooth mouthfeel, making a bold yet easy-drinking beer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Many of you have had Zealous in the past. Zealous is an Oatmeal Stout that has been aged with coffee. We have recently teamed up with the Sierra Nut House acquire all our coffee for our beers. Sierra Nut House is well known for their Dried fruits and Nuts, but also roasts their own coffee beans locally here in Fresno. We found after tasting many blends that the Espresso roast was perfect for Zealous. Cheers!"

Sierra Nevada 'Hop Hunter' IPA. 6.2% abv. 60 IBU. Golden color. Bubbly white head with good retention and outstanding lace. Nose sweet light malt, floral hop bouquet. Front taste of bittersweet hops, biscuit, flowers, malt. Aftertaste of smooth bitter hops, light fruit notes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is slightly thick, small carb, warm at the back.

This is an excellent IPA, with abundant bright hop flavor, a balanced bitter taste that is surprisingly easy to drink, and sweet notes that do not detract from the features hop oils. Highly recommended if you enjoy a well made IPA.

From the brewery:

"Intense wet hop flavor year round. Hop Hunter IPA harnesses the complex flavors of just-picked hops through an all-new method of steam distilling wet hops before they even leave the fields. This revolutionary technique captures and intensifies the natural flavors, creating a unique and intensely aromatic beer. Our custom process gathers pure hop oil which, when combined with traditional whole-cone hops in the brew kettle and in our Hop Torpedo, makes for an incredible IPA experience."

I was fortunate to enjoy this beer from a firkin at Peeve's Public House. A good beer made even better.

House of Pendragon 'Bors' Brown Ale. 7.2% abv. 62 IBU. Dark brown color with nearly two fingers of head. Great retention and lacing. Aroma of malt and floral hops. Front taste is toasty-nutty malt, bright hops, notes of dark chocolate. Aftertaste lingers with herbal mix of hops, roasted grain, toffee, some light fruit on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, not as sticky on the tongue as some browns.

This is an excellent beer, a fine example of a hopped up American brown. If your tastes in beer lie directly between malty and hoppy, look forward to this beer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"When people think of brown ales they usually do not put them in the hoppy category. Bors Brown will change your thinking of the style. Slightly sweet with a light roastyness gives this beer malt complexity which leads you to a citrus and pine flavor and aroma."

As with all of HoP's beers, the Bors Brown has great head, lace, and retention.

The first time I had Bors Brown was when House of Pendragon was still raising funds for their taproom. I enjoyed a pint at Peeve's Public House.

Sierra Nevada 'Celebration' Ale 2014. 6.8% abv. 65 IBU. Fresh hop IPA. Copper-orange color with two fingers of ivory bubbly head that falls to a thick sustaining line. Good retention and nice lacing throughout. Aroma of floral hops, mild sweet bread, faint citrus and pine notes. Front taste of bright hops, biscuits, citrus rind. Aftertaste is ample hop bitter that lingers, lightly sweet malt, evergreen notes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, somewhat creamy, herbal.

This is a great winter brew that uses abundant fresh hops in place of spices. The aftertaste is bitter, bright, balanced. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"Festive fresh hop holiday fun. The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada."

Off the pour, the head was thick and bubbly with large bubbles throughout.

The thick head fell to a half-finger collar that remained to the end.

Bear Republic 'Hop Rod Rye' Specialty Ale. 8% abv. 80 IBU. Dark brown color. Lots of sediment floating in this unfiltered brew, which may or may not be to your liking (it is to mine). Nose is dominant rye grain, sweet, with ample malt and hop notes. Pours a thick rich head with excellent retention and lacing. Front taste is rich malt, grain, abundant bitter hops. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, thick, sticky, astringent. Aftertaste is where the rye shines, dominating the flavor profile, along with the onslaught of hops, nicely balanced in its bitterness, plus a creamy carb that coats the tongue well.

This is an excellent Specialty Ale. The rye is surely present in the aroma and aftertaste, and the malty backbone is balanced well with the hop bitter. Highly recommended, especially if you like rye beers.

From the brewery:

"At Bear Republic, hops take center stage. But, it's not just about being a hop head. It's about understanding how hops work to make a beer special. Oils. Lupulin. Terroir. Every one of our beers begin with a recipe, quality ingredients and hand-selected hops. (Hop Rod Rye is) a high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt. Hop Rod Rye has a floral hop aroma and subtle caramel notes with a slightly earthy and spicy rye character."