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Halcyon
Thornbridge Brewery
- From:
- Thornbridge Brewery
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,724 - ABV:
- 7.4%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,623 - Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 9.05%
- Reviews:
- 87
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 19, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 30, 2009
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 25
Light gold in colour, Halcyon is brimming with intense pineapple, grapefruit, lemon zest and piney hop flavours.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drpimento:
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin
4.78/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.78/5 rDev +20.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Fantabulous! Poured at a good temperature with a mammoth, foamy, frothy, fluffy, sudsy, off-white head that settled after a bit and lots of clingy lace. Color is a clear amber yellow with some bubble trails. Aroma is great, somewhat simple, but balanced and still interesting - sweet zone between resin and citrus with a hint of weed. Flavor's like nose, but more complex: sweet up front is quickly dominated by bitter and accented by tang; flavor's being again, like nose plus yeast, apricot,- malt, grain. Body/carbonation are perfect. Finish has a bit of an off-flavor, longish, and is quite drinkable with only a suggestion of alcohol. True to style. Killer beer.
Sep 25, 2013More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.11/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy golden colour, large white head. Lovely and strong aroma of various tropical fruits, also fir trees. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, with plenty of tropical fruits and pine needles, but the bitterness is hardly what an American would call "Imperial". Still a very enjoyable beer, clearly the "big brother" of Jaipur and Kipling.
Jun 07, 2021Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L- Pale yellow, pours with thin white head that clears to lacing.
S- Manages to smell fruity/floral and sour all at once.
T- I was expecting a 'contemporary hop-bomb' (hipster style), but no this isn't like that it's way more balanced. I get fruit notes, perhaps grapefruit, but within a quite high ABV% rich warmth which gives it balance.
M- It manages to be refreshing whilst being fulfilling in depth of flavour, and does so in a strikingly balanced way. The 7.4% ABV leaves you in no doubt this beer means business.
O- This works out at £3.95/UK-pint, but as a 7.4% and a very slick example of an Imperial IPA given a sensitive comporary angle IPA fans might find it good value. I'm not a born IPA drinker, but I would very happily buy and drink this one again.
£2.29 from Waitrose London/330ml bottle. BB: 15/02/2020
Mar 24, 2019S- Manages to smell fruity/floral and sour all at once.
T- I was expecting a 'contemporary hop-bomb' (hipster style), but no this isn't like that it's way more balanced. I get fruit notes, perhaps grapefruit, but within a quite high ABV% rich warmth which gives it balance.
M- It manages to be refreshing whilst being fulfilling in depth of flavour, and does so in a strikingly balanced way. The 7.4% ABV leaves you in no doubt this beer means business.
O- This works out at £3.95/UK-pint, but as a 7.4% and a very slick example of an Imperial IPA given a sensitive comporary angle IPA fans might find it good value. I'm not a born IPA drinker, but I would very happily buy and drink this one again.
£2.29 from Waitrose London/330ml bottle. BB: 15/02/2020
Reviewed by MichaelGennings from Canada (ON)
3.66/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.66/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Halcyon Imperial IPA from Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, UK. 7.4% alc.
Virtually no head on this beer. The beer itself is a cloudy juice-like yellow.
The aroma contains faint grapefruit citrus notes.
The taste is grapefruit. The beer is medium bodied. The mouthfeel is prickly and yet sort of smooth.
The finish is tart and dry.
While I was disappointed in the lack of aroma the flavour is quite nice.
I recommend trying if you like this style.
Jan 19, 2019Virtually no head on this beer. The beer itself is a cloudy juice-like yellow.
The aroma contains faint grapefruit citrus notes.
The taste is grapefruit. The beer is medium bodied. The mouthfeel is prickly and yet sort of smooth.
The finish is tart and dry.
While I was disappointed in the lack of aroma the flavour is quite nice.
I recommend trying if you like this style.
Reviewed by JonnyGoldsbrough from England
4.14/5 rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.14/5 rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thornbridge Halcyon 7.4% in bottle
Jaipur on steroids.
L3 - Light Amber, poor head
S3.5 - slight hoppy notes
T4.5 - redeemed, very similar to Jaipur but with a slight extra kick
O4 a great tasting IPA let down by insipid appearance. Jaipur still my favourite from thornbridge.
* Also do a pink grapefruit version which is a really interesting well balanced beer
Sep 20, 2018Jaipur on steroids.
L3 - Light Amber, poor head
S3.5 - slight hoppy notes
T4.5 - redeemed, very similar to Jaipur but with a slight extra kick
O4 a great tasting IPA let down by insipid appearance. Jaipur still my favourite from thornbridge.
* Also do a pink grapefruit version which is a really interesting well balanced beer
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)
4.09/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Single from LCBO In Hamilton. Pours a somewhat hazy golden yellow with scant white head. Aroma of over ripe pineapple, grapefruit, slightly oniony/sweaty with pine in back. Taste opens with sweet caramel malt but then hits with bitter pine resin, grapefruit rind, mango. Significant bitterness lingers very nicely on a full bodied finish in a subtlely carbonated well balanced IPA.
Sep 01, 2018Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.83/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap. Lemon, dry grass, and spring spice notes lead in smell and taste. Taste you get more tropical fruits as well, but everything is a bit more muddled compared to the purity of the smell. Body is hoppy and bready then slightly watery, weird transition on palate. A fine dipa, but can't help feeling it has potential to be more with some tweaks.
Aug 30, 2018Reviewed by saboliver from England
4.34/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Slightly hazy, light gold glow. Very thin ephemeral head. Really potent citrus and tropical notes on the nose, giving an impression of sweet juiciness. Peach mixed with grapefruit. The taste follows the smell with balanced warmth and roundness under the bitter tang or tropical flavours. Thornbridge make some seriously good ales. For me, a pleasingly limited level of carbonation, allowing the flavours to sing through. Delicious.
Sep 16, 2017
Halcyon from Thornbridge Brewery
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
252 ratings
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