Torrey Pines IPA
Left Coast Brewing Company

Torrey Pines IPATorrey Pines IPA
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From:
Left Coast Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 20%
Reviews:
30
Ratings:
34
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 25, 2014
Added:
Jun 29, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cjgator3:
Photo of cjgator3
Reviewed by cjgator3 from Florida

2.44/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
22oz bottle

A- Pours a slightly hazy golden orangish color with an off-white head.

S- The aroma is on the faint side for an IPA and pretty unimpressive. Most IPAs you can smell the hop aroma in the glass from a few feet away. This one definitely leaves you searching for things to pinpoint in the aroma.

T- The taste is better than the aroma, but it still leaves a lot to be desired out of a West-coast IPA. There is some malt but not a lot, with some piney hops in the finish. Not horrible, but the flavors just seem to clash with each other and the alcohol comes out way too much for a brew with such little strength.

M- Okay mouthfeel, nothing special though. Light bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation.

D- The alcohol really comes through in the taste. 6.9%? This one drinks like it is a lot closer to 10%./

Overall, I am not impressed with this IPA. Along with Hop Juice, Torrey Pines is the second IPA that I have had from Left Coast and have not been particularly impressed with either offering. Save your money, there are many better IPAs out there.
Aug 31, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by Eustisfirestone from Arizona

Jan 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by dozier77 from Arizona

Nov 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by wooddogg922 from California

Nov 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by beerpadawan from California

Aug 27, 2012
Photo of u2carew
Reviewed by u2carew from Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22oz bomber
A) Pours with a finger thick head that leaves a sticking lacing as it settles. Slightly hazy body with visible sediment. Bronze in color.
S) Not a very strong aroma. Subtle vanilla notes. Hints of pine.
T) Aggressive hops that are complimented by the malt base. The hops stay strong until the end and into the finish. Caramel. Spruce.
M) Creamy. Medium Body. Bold tannins in the finish
O) A solid IPA. I'd drink another one.
Apr 24, 2012
Photo of armock
Reviewed by armock from New York

3.65/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from South Bay Drugs in San Diego, CA

A - Poured a light copper color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Good bit of malt sweetness with citrus hops

T - Lots of citrus hops upfront with light malt sweetness

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - I enjoyed this beer it has a good balanced flavor that was easy to drink worth getting to try if you see it around
Aug 18, 2011
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Arrives at the bar wearing a modest cap that tops the amber colored liquid and leaves a reasonable amount of lace behind

Smell: Modest aromatics here with just hints of pith and pine

Taste: What the beer lacks on the nose it more than makes up for on the tongue - after a touch of pale malt, loads of pithy/piney hop flavors provide a nice jolt for the hophead with just a hint of caramel sweetness arriving after mid-palate; the finish is bitter and consistent

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Nothing remarkable, just a decent example of a west coast IPA
Jun 16, 2011
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

3.52/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber into a pint glass, the beer foamed right out of the bottle as soon as I popped it. As such, I was not surprised when the head shot right up and filled 90% of the glass. This one took quite a while to pour, but when all was said and done, the beer was hazy to the point of being opaque, and is a bright orange-brown coloring. The beer does leave a great lacing on the glass while you drink it. Aromas are a pretty even keel of hops and citrus notes, both sweet and slightly sour. The beer is overly bitter on initial taste, with the sweetness from the citrus flavors coming in underneath to help balance. Very smooth, and the citrus seems to be a blend of grapefruit and tangerine type flavors. Peppery notes towards the end of the tasting and on the finish. Slightly musty and sour aftertaste, with some hoppy characteristics lingering through, as well. Finish is a little long for the flavors it is carrying. This one didn't have a bottled on date, so I'm wondering how fresh it really was. I'd be interested to try this on-tap at some point.
Mar 30, 2011
Photo of kiddynamite920
Reviewed by kiddynamite920 from Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A: Fairly clear orange color with a very white head. Head looks a bit soapy and is not lasting.

S: Biscuity malts upfront with some citrusy hops underneath. A strange toffee, burnt sugar thing going on here. Seems very out of place. Not a whole lot going on here. Hops are fruity but have an earthy musk to them as well.

T: Lots of citrus with hops that finish very bitter, not very pleasant. Has a very bitter, resinous quality. A little sweetness that is followed by aggressive, mouth-attacking bitterness. Not even a good bitter hop, just bitter. Has a minty flavor as well.

M: I certainly like my hops, but this is something beyond that. Somehow reached a level that the bitterness isn't even recognized as coming from hops anymore. Leaves you feeling like you just licked the pith of an orange.

D: This is very close to a drain pour for me. Not sure how an IPA could get this out of hand, but this one is just bizarre. Settle down Left Coast.
Dec 19, 2010
Photo of meeekyh
Reviewed by meeekyh from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I choose my slightly-modified Fin Du Monde glass for this ale. Rather a pretty pale golden colored ale topped with a healthy off-white head. The beer has good clarity and the head is fluffy with decent retention and a good bit of lacing.

The smell is quite pleasing, with big warm malts and toffee notes. There is a bit of citrus to indicate the hops but malts take center-stage in the nose.

Taste is sweet and tangy with the toffee notes in the finish but not so much up front. There is a nice tang and the balance is good. The flavor is much more IPA than the smell would indicate with the hops in the front and finish of the beer.

The body occupies the middle ground with good carbonation and a dry finish.

Drinkability is good with the enticing sweetness in the nose and the balance and dryness in the taste, also the price is more reasonable than many other bombers (I neglected to mention this beer came in a 22oz bottle). I would recommend this beer to anybody who doesn't know what 'malt' tastes like in an IPA.

Slainte.
Nov 21, 2010
Photo of cdizinno
Reviewed by cdizinno from South Carolina

3.76/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Slightly golden amber. Mild head and lacing.

S: Mild hops, fruity, not much citrus, nice sweetness.

T&M: Flavor is better than the aroma and appearance would have you believe. It's nicely bittered but not a super-fresh hoppy character. Good malt backbone with caramel and amber toasted malt. After a few sips, the flavor mellows and it seems to be lacking intensity.
Medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Overall a good IPA but not spectacular. Decent but unfortunately, this one, while good, just doesn't cut it.
Jul 12, 2010
Photo of GilGarp
Reviewed by GilGarp from Colorado

3.83/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bomber served cold into a goblet, Torrey Pines has a amber color with good clarity and thin white head. The lace is very nice.

Aroma is hoppy like a good Pac NW IPA. Fruity, not much citrus, nice sweetness.

Flavor is a bit less special than the aroma and appearance would have you believe. It's nicely bittered but not a super-fresh hoppy character. Good malt backbone with caramel and amber toasted malt. After a few sips, the flavor mellows and it seems to be lacking intensity.

Mouthfeel is appropriate for the style - medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Overall a good IPA but not spectacular. I think of homebrew competitions and consider what categories are most difficult to win. The market is flush with IPAs and so many of them are fantastic that it takes something pretty special to stand out in the crowd. Unfortunately, this one, while good, just doesn't cut it.
May 31, 2010
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance is hazy strawberry blonde with a fluffy dense off-white head with long last, leaving thick foamy lace.

Smell is sweet malt and citrusy hops, honey.

Taste is pretty fruity, citrusy hops, a light bready malt backbone, moderately light bitterness, lingering blast of hops on the aftertaste. Classic big ass cali IPA.

Mouthfeel is dry, resinous, sticky, medium bodied. The creaminess of carbonation from the appearance carries through to the mouthfeel as well.

Drinkability is good if you're a fan of this style, which I am. Not for amateurs, a solid west coast IPA. I'd love to try this on fresh draft, considering my bomber was from the warm shelving of an LA Bevmo...
Apr 16, 2010
Photo of chickencoop
Reviewed by chickencoop from California

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Very excited to try this, I love the Hop Juice, but in the end, I was a bit dissapointed. Big hop notes, which are great, but it was almost a off-tasting dry finish that didn't do it for me. It was well made, big mouthfeel, strong full bodied beer, but almost unbalanced in my lowly opinion. Love these guys and tell everybody I know about the Hop Juice, but this was not my jam.
Dec 05, 2009
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A pint glass served at Al's of Hampden.

A: The IPA is a paler color, a golden straw color that retains a transparent body, nothing hiding in this one. A half a finger of head lingered for a few sips.

S: The nose is more malty than hoppy, with caramel and pale malts driving a mildly chewy body. A clean line of hoppiness is present but it doesn't stand out.

T: Unlike the nose, the taste reveals a little more in the way of hops. The citrusy bite has a touch of pine and delivers a nice punch. Overall though, I was expecting a little more from the hops. A decent pint, but not one that I'd want in my fridge on a regular basis.

M: The mouthfeel is dominated by pale malts with hops popping up in fits and spurts.

D: This is IPA-lite, packing enough of a hop presence to keep me interested but not enough to come back for more.
Nov 21, 2009
Photo of ocelot2500
Reviewed by ocelot2500 from Maryland

2.98/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a clear golden with a ragged white head. Little lacing on the glass.

Smells of some light hoppiness.

Tastes of some light hop flavor upfront followed by pale malts. Not really an IPA overall, not assertive in the hops and the pale malts would lead me to think Pale Ale. The hops have herbal taste that I do not expect from these west coast IPAs.

Mouthfeel is alright, thinner than I want, but still has some body to it.
Oct 28, 2009
Photo of BeerPhan86
Reviewed by BeerPhan86 from New York

3.25/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
I was not at all impressed with the Hop Juice DIPA from these guys. But I still have to drink this, not very excited after the double though.

A - Pours a hazy golden color with a 2 finger foamy white head. Noticeable sediment floating in this one. Strange, because I didn't see any in the DIPA.

S - Smells like sourdough bread to be honest. Slightly hoppy and malty, smells a bit of citrus hops. Dull for the most part.

T - Pretty dull for an IPA. Slightly hoppy, touch of bitterness. Grapefruit tasting hops and a sweet malt biscuity backbone, but overall tastes pretty tame and watered down. Would make a good pale ale but just not as hoppy and flavorful as I was expecting. Tastes slightly of mango or pineapple but mostly of sourdough bread, and certainly isn't a good representation of the style. Not sure what they were going for here.

M - Medium bodied and a bit flat. Could use more carbonation in my opinion.

D - Pretty sessionable but if you found this at a bar you would likely move onto something else in a hurry.

Overall, about as dull and uninspiring as I figured it was going to be. I am not going to be purchasing any more of this breweries beers. What a letdown for a west coast brewery with pretty decent bottle designs and styles to choose from.
Oct 10, 2009
Photo of GRG1313
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

4.27/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Hazy amber orange but with a fantastic firm and thick white head and thick beautiful lacing.

Nose is perfumed fresh white bread, assertive and very inviting-one just can't wait to grab a bite of this beer.

Mouthfeel is full and rich with a light creamy character, nice medium carbonation and a quality feel to it.

Flavors are good and follow the nose with a nice "yeasty" character and taste really nicely integrated with a "hit" of sweet lemon bitter hops, yeast and malt undertones.

A nice finish to medium bitter lemon/grapefruit.

This is a very consumer friendly IPA for those that like an IPA but don't like the huge bitter of a hop head type beer. Nice effort all around and very drinkable.
Oct 04, 2009
Photo of JoeyBeerBelly
Reviewed by JoeyBeerBelly from New York

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

Clear golden yellow color with a nice sized white head that left lots of sticky lacing all over the glass.
Aroma is citrus hops, grapefruit rind with a bit of earthiness as well.
Hops are what the taste is all about, citrusy sweet and pretty darn good.
Medium bodied with a good level of carbonation.
Easy to drink.
Oct 03, 2009
Torrey Pines IPA from Left Coast Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 34 ratings