Samuel Adams Lattitude 48 IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Massachusetts
ABV: 6.0%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Deep amber color, clear, decent head with nice lacing

Smell: 8.5
Bready malts, toffee, earthly hops, mild citrus

Taste: 9
Up Front: Sweet malt, bright hoppy flavor. Finish: Caramel, and spicy hops

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body, slightly sticky, well carbonated

Drinkability:9
Goes down easy. Leaves you wanting more

Overall Score: 8.7
Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.60

Overall Impression:
Samuel Adams is no longer held in high regard by most beer geeks. Perhaps they are just viewed as a Macro-brewer? I don't care, and don't get hung up on stupid shit like that. If the beer is good; it's good! And that IS the case with this beer. Latitude 48 is incredibly well balanced - great malt backbone with the right amount of hops to balance it all the way through. It is not overly grapefruity like just about every American IPA out there, but there is a touch of citrus in there, so I would not classify it as an English IPA. Regardless of classification, if you are looking for a great IPA without breaking the bank, look no further!

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon

Reviewed By: Herr Mike

Style: American IPA
State/Country: Maryland
ABV: 7.25%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8
Light amber color, nice fluffy head, light lacing

Smell: 7.5
Light notes of citrus, bread and honey

Taste: 9

Up Front: Grapefruit, malt, caramel, spice. Finish: Bread, pepper, maple syrup

Mouthfeel: 8
Clean and sweet

Drinkability: 9

Good quaffer on a hot summer day! I would love to try this one on tap one day!

Overall Score: 8.3

Value: 10

Cost/12 oz serving: $1.60

Overall Impression:
This is the beer that turned Crazy Gurl into a little “Hop Head”! It’s not as hoppy as a west coast IPA, but it’s a good starter beer for people new to the style.

Terrapin Hopsecutioner

Reviewed By: Herr Mike

Style: American IPA
State/Country: Georgia
ABV: 7.2%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Medium amber color, big fluffy head, good lacing

Smell: 8.5
Grapefruit, pine, bread, honey

Taste: 9

Up Front: Citrus, pine, grass, toast, wood. Finish: Spicy with a sweet finish

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Creamy and sticky

Drinkability: 9

This is a refreshing beer! Definitely a session beer for me.

Overall Score: 8.8

Value: 10

Cost/12 oz serving: $1.52

Overall Impression:
This is a solid IPA. I liked it better than the Rye Pale Ale. The picture on the label reminds me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! And just like the comic, this beer kicks ass!

Heartland Brewery Indiana Pale Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American IPA
State/Country: New York
ABV: 5.9%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Heartland Brewery

Look: 8.5
Golden orange color, clear, medium head with decent retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Floral hops, sweet & bready malts

Taste: 8.5

Up Front: Grainy & bready. Finish: Citrus, caramel, sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 8
Medium body and carbonation, slightly cloying finish

Drinkability: 8.5

I could have 2-3 of these

Overall Score: 8.4

Value: 7.5

Cost/12 oz serving: $5.50 - Hey, it was NYC

Overall Impression:
It's a pretty good IPA. If you are ever in NYC, check it out in any of their locations

Boulder Mojo IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American IPA
State/Country: Colorado
ABV: 7.2%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Bright golden color, clear, thick white head with good retention & lacing

Smell: 8.5
Herbal hop aroma, bready malt

Taste: 9

Up Front: Orange/citrus
Finish: Malt, pine, hop bitterness

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body & carbonation, smooth

Drinkability: 9

I've never had a problem with my Mojo

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 9

Cost/12 oz serving: $1.69

Overall Impression:
This IPA has replaces some of the usual grapefruit flavor with some orange, making it more palatable to Newbeez and those that don't care much grapefruit. It also has a little more sweetness, but I feel that the hops balance it out rather well. Recommended!

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Maryland
ABV: 7.1%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Amber color, medium white head, decent retention and lacing

Smell: 8
Floral hops, some citrus

Taste: 7.5
Up Front: Sweet malt
Finish: Floral hops


Mouthfeel: 8
Medium body & carbonation, slightly sticky

Drinkability: 8.5
Smooth and easy to drink

Overall Score: 8.1

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.60

Overall Impression:
Not a bad IPA, and it's not a bad value. Certainly worth trying out

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick

Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Bright golden/amber color, clear, thick white head with very good retention & uber good lacing!

Smell: 9.5
Pungent pine hop aroma, grapefruit, apricot

Taste: 10

Up Front: Follows the smell, with the addition of biscuit malt. Finish: A touch of sweetness in the middle, and a very long hoppy finish - YUM!!!!!

Mouthfeel: 9.5
Light/medium body with crisp carbonation and a dry finish

Drinkability: 10

It could not be better!

Overall Score: 9.7

Value: 6

Cost/12 oz serving: $7.59 - I bought this in Philly, so I feel like I was price gouged. I'm not sure what the going rate is for this limited release, but I'm sure you can get it for less than $13 plus tax

Overall Impression:
This is the best American IPA I've ever had! It's what West Coast (San Diego) IPA is all about. If only it were more readily available and affordable.

Bell's 2 Hearted Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 7.1%
Serving Type: On Cask @ Sidecar Bar & Grille

Look: 9
Deep golden honey color, clear, thick head with great retention & good lacing

Smell: 9
Pronounced citrus, nice floral aroma

Taste: 9
Up Front: Pine, citrus. Finish: Tropical fruit, sweet malt

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body with light carbonation - super creamy!

Drinkability: 9
I could pound this cask ale down all day!

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $6.00

Overall Impression:
This beer may have benefited from me drinking the Firestone Walker Double Jack right before it. It was a very enjoyable IPA served on cask; what's not to love about that?

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 6.8%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Deep orange color, fluffy head, good lacing

Smell: 9
Hops, citrus, a little earthy, malty

Taste: 9
Up Front: Hops, pine, grapefruit, grass
Finish: Spicy with a little sweetness at the end

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Smooth and dry, slightly sticky

Drinkability: 9
At 6.8 ABV, this one satisfies, and is a nice winter session beer

Overall Score: 8.9

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.43

Overall Impression:
This is one of my favorite Christmas brews and it gives me a nice “Hop fix” in the cold of winter. Hop Heads rejoice!

New Holland Mad Hatter IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Mike
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Michigan
ABV: 5.8%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 8.5
Golden orange color, nice fluffy head, good lacing

Smell: 8
Hoppy, sweet, floral

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Hops, pine, grapefruit. Finish: Orange, spice, malt, slight bitterness

Mouthfeel: 8
Light and dry

Drinkability: 8
Not the hoppiest IPA out there, but it has good balance between the hops and malt. At 5.8 abv, this is a session beer and a step up the hop ladder for Newbeez.

Overall Score: 8.2

Value: 8.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.79

Overall Impression:
This is a solid brew from New Holland. Nicely hopped, although a little light in body. I’m actually drinking this beer with a hat on my head - heehee! It didn’t take me to “Wonderland” but, I’ll have another…..PLEASE!

21st Amendment IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Can

Look: 9.5
Light copper color, thick head that hung out with uber-good lacing!

Smell: 9
Huge citrus hop aroma, light malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Very malty, orange. Finish: Less malt, slight graininess, lemon

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body with low carbonation, a little cloying at the end

Drinkability: 8
Smooth and mellow

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.78

Overall Impression:
I like the beer, but I felt it was a bit unbalanced; leaning too much to the malty side, and that also led to the cloying finish. Still it was quite tasty, and I think Newbeez might enjoy this one a lot

Bear Republic Hot Rod Rye

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA - with Rye
State/Country: California
ABV: 7.5%
Serving Type: 22 oz Bottle

Look: 10
Dark amber, clear, big fluffy head with staying power, and excellent lacing (the camera made it look brown, but it's not)

Smell: 9.5
Huge hop aroma! Mostly pine with some citrus, and bready malt

Taste: 9
Up Front: Pine, orange rind, sweet malty goodness
Finish: Pepper (from the rye), lingering malt, and hop bitterness

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium body, creamy with medium carbonation

Drinkability: 7.5
Resinous astringency character in the finish.

Overall Score: 9

Value: 7.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $3.20

Overall Impression:
Rye just ain't my thing. Luckily this is way more like an IPA than a Rye beer, and I love IPA's. At 8% ABV this one is close to being a Double IPA, which is one of my favorite styles. This one is just a little too astringent and bitter in the finish for my palate, but overall it was outstanding!

Bear Republic Racer 5

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 7%
Serving Type: On Tap @ Devil's Den


Look: 9.5
Amber orange, clear, with thick head and excellent lacing


Smell: 9
Citrus and pine - very floral!

Taste: 9.5
Up Front: Sweet malt, citrus. particularly orange. Finish: Apricot, tropical fruit, and nice malt backbone

Mouthfeel: 9
Medium carbonation with a creamy and smooth body

Drinkability: 9
Malty, fruity, and not too hoppy. Very easy to drink

Overall Score: 9.2

Value: 9
Cost/12 oz serving: $2.50 for happy hour! In bottles for home consumption it would be approx $1.96

Overall Impression:
This is an excellent IPA from California! This beer should go over well with Newbeez that do not have an aversion to hops.

Victory Hop Devil

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: Pennsylvania
ABV: 6.7%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9.5
Deep copper, slightly hazy, with medium a head, and good lacing

Smell: 8.5
Pine, citrus, and sweet malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Sweet malt, and tropical fruit
Finish: Hops, then an assertive hop bitterness

Mouthfeel: 8.5
Medium body and carbonation

Drinkability: 8.5
Refreshing easy to drink

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 10
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.43

Overall Impression:
Hop Devil is a damn fine beer. This beer may not go over too well with Newbeez due to the bitter finish. Hop Headz will definitely enjoy it though!

SEE COMMENTS for much more on this beer

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Reviewed By: Herr Rick
Style: American IPA
State/Country: California
ABV: 7.2%
Serving Type: 12 oz Bottle

Look: 9
Clear, bright copper with a thick, white head. Great lacing

Smell: 9
Citrus and a pine characters dominate - very floral. Slight malt

Taste: 8.5
Up Front: Grapefruit, pine
Finish: Nice caramel malt backbone

Mouthfeel: 8
Medium body, smooth with good carbonation. Nice long finish

Drinkability: 9
Another winner from Sierra Nevada. Nice IPA - they do know how to use hopz effectively!

Overall Score: 8.7

Value: 9.5
Cost/12 oz serving: $1.60

Overall Impression:
A nice malty ale, that is very easy to drink, and a great value! Definitely Recommended! Newbeez may want to start out with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale first