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Mayhem
Epic Brewing Company
- From:
- Epic Brewing Company
- New Zealand
- Style:
- American Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 6.2%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 11.17%
- Reviews:
- 36
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 21, 2015
- Added:
- May 06, 2009
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 1
This isn't your ordinary beer du jour. It is so packed with hop-fuelled flavour and aroma that it will invigorate even the hardest hop-head. Brewed as our special festival beer, only available for a limited time, Mayhem will alter your beer reality forever. Enjoy this road to hoppyness with caution.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TubaManJack:
Reviewed by TubaManJack from District of Columbia
3.63/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.63/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500ml bottle- B/B date of 16.01.10 (Jan '10). Winner of Best in Class @ Brew NZ 2006 as stated on the label.
Appearance: An IPA-style orange body with a full head. Good recension and lacing.
Smell: Hops, from the brewer I'd expect nothing less. The nose is of the traditional grapefruit and pine, but also oranges and sweetened cherries.
Taste: A great deal of hops, so I am confused as to why this is considered a Strong Ale, a bit of sweet malt to counteract the piney resin.
Mouthfeel:A nice resiny piney finish, similar to West Coast IPAs with the style of hopping and their presence. A slight dryness and residual feeling on the tongue.
Drinkability: I agree this is Epic's Pale Ale on roids. and I love them for it. Seek it out but be aware of its ~$10NZ per 500ml price.
Jun 11, 2009Appearance: An IPA-style orange body with a full head. Good recension and lacing.
Smell: Hops, from the brewer I'd expect nothing less. The nose is of the traditional grapefruit and pine, but also oranges and sweetened cherries.
Taste: A great deal of hops, so I am confused as to why this is considered a Strong Ale, a bit of sweet malt to counteract the piney resin.
Mouthfeel:A nice resiny piney finish, similar to West Coast IPAs with the style of hopping and their presence. A slight dryness and residual feeling on the tongue.
Drinkability: I agree this is Epic's Pale Ale on roids. and I love them for it. Seek it out but be aware of its ~$10NZ per 500ml price.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
2.61/5 rDev -32.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
2.61/5 rDev -32.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
330ml bottle poured into monsanto mug
This tastes like an IPA without the hops. Well, a little bit, but mostly malt here. Not my bag
Interesting to try, but very spendy for what it is
Apr 08, 2014This tastes like an IPA without the hops. Well, a little bit, but mostly malt here. Not my bag
Interesting to try, but very spendy for what it is
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England
3.59/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A 500ml bottle with an illegible BB date, though I'm pretty certain this is well past its best. Purchased ages ago from a webshop and stored in my garage. Here's hoping it's still alright. The label describes it as a limited edition festival beer brewed with a ton of hops.
Poured into a Duvel tulip. A clear coppery-orange hue with good carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy off-white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of caramel malt with notes of pine resin, weed, barley sugar, earthy yeast, stewed hops and mild cardboard. Due to its age there is a lack of finesse, but it still smells decent.
Tastes of intensely resinous pine with a powerful bitter finish. Notes of pine resin, dank weed, caramel malt, faint grain, stewed hops, earthy yeast and subtle cardboard. A slight malty sweetness and a twinge of booze in the background. A strident, spicy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with effervescent carbonation and decent body. Somewhat astringent, followed by an aftertaste of pine resin, stewed hops and caramel malt.
Pretty good despite the age of the bottle. Looks alright - the colour is great. Aroma and flavour are dominated by piny hops and caramel malt, with some mild off-notes lurking in the background. Body is OK. Overall, the hop character of this brew has faded and lost its breadth and subtlety - all that remains are the most dominant notes. However, it retains balance and enough flavour to make it enjoyable. I dare say this is superb when fresh - give it a whirl if you come across it.
Nov 22, 2013Poured into a Duvel tulip. A clear coppery-orange hue with good carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy off-white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of caramel malt with notes of pine resin, weed, barley sugar, earthy yeast, stewed hops and mild cardboard. Due to its age there is a lack of finesse, but it still smells decent.
Tastes of intensely resinous pine with a powerful bitter finish. Notes of pine resin, dank weed, caramel malt, faint grain, stewed hops, earthy yeast and subtle cardboard. A slight malty sweetness and a twinge of booze in the background. A strident, spicy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with effervescent carbonation and decent body. Somewhat astringent, followed by an aftertaste of pine resin, stewed hops and caramel malt.
Pretty good despite the age of the bottle. Looks alright - the colour is great. Aroma and flavour are dominated by piny hops and caramel malt, with some mild off-notes lurking in the background. Body is OK. Overall, the hop character of this brew has faded and lost its breadth and subtlety - all that remains are the most dominant notes. However, it retains balance and enough flavour to make it enjoyable. I dare say this is superb when fresh - give it a whirl if you come across it.
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire
3.64/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a three-finger off-white head that fades very slowly to a thin layer leaving a good lace. Crystal clear amber/copper color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Resin/bready nose. Flavor is malty, bready, some caramel like an IPA without the hops. $8.92 for a 500ml bottle from Tully’s Beer & Wine Wells, ME.
Jan 04, 2013Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina
3.85/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.85/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a crystal clear medium to dark copper in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation and some amber highlights. The beer has a finger tall sudsy beige head that reduces to a medium sized patch of large bubbles with a very thin film covering the remainder of the surface and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: There is a light to moderate amount of toffee malt sweetness with stronger aromas of pine/resin, earthy, and citrus/grapefruit/orange hops that have just a touch of bitterness and alcohol.
T: Upfront there is a moderate amount of malts with some caramel and toffee sweetness. Following the malt sweetness there is a moderate to strong flavor of the hops - pine/resin, citrus/grapefruit/orange, and earthy hops are present in the taste. Light amounts of alcohol are also present near the finish along with a light to moderate amount of lingering bitterness.
M: Just shy of medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin with light amounts of dryness in the finish.
O: This is a very interesting blend of styles - American Strong Ale with a decent amount of hops to it which is more like an IPA. Unfortunately it is not the easiest to drink as the alcohol could be a little more well hidden and the mouthfeel is just slightly off (for me).
Dec 03, 2012S: There is a light to moderate amount of toffee malt sweetness with stronger aromas of pine/resin, earthy, and citrus/grapefruit/orange hops that have just a touch of bitterness and alcohol.
T: Upfront there is a moderate amount of malts with some caramel and toffee sweetness. Following the malt sweetness there is a moderate to strong flavor of the hops - pine/resin, citrus/grapefruit/orange, and earthy hops are present in the taste. Light amounts of alcohol are also present near the finish along with a light to moderate amount of lingering bitterness.
M: Just shy of medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin with light amounts of dryness in the finish.
O: This is a very interesting blend of styles - American Strong Ale with a decent amount of hops to it which is more like an IPA. Unfortunately it is not the easiest to drink as the alcohol could be a little more well hidden and the mouthfeel is just slightly off (for me).
Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts
4.2/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a clear amber-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.
S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, tropical, citrus, and floral hops with some sweet caramel malts.
T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit and other tropical hops, some bitterness, and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some floral and piney hops come through with some more bitterness and some bready malts. The finish is a mix of pineapple, grapefruit, and pine hops with some sweet bready malts.
M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and bitter finish.
D - Very drinkable. Good hop and malt balance with some good bitterness and body for overall balance.
Sep 01, 2012S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, tropical, citrus, and floral hops with some sweet caramel malts.
T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit and other tropical hops, some bitterness, and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some floral and piney hops come through with some more bitterness and some bready malts. The finish is a mix of pineapple, grapefruit, and pine hops with some sweet bready malts.
M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and bitter finish.
D - Very drinkable. Good hop and malt balance with some good bitterness and body for overall balance.
Reviewed by GONZALOYANNA from Spain
3.91/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml bottle. Tumbler glass. Enjoyed on may´12. Deep amber color, crystal clear appearance. Off-white, creamy froth. Lasting & spotty head. Flowers, yeast & mildy malts to the nose. Gentle maltiness at first sip followed by dry bitter hoppiness. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Some astringency & quince notes into the finish. Resiny aftertaste. Refreshing & nice drinkability.
May 29, 2012Reviewed by Offa from California
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber, small off-white head soon thins to ring.
Aroma is caramelized brandy, candied orange and grapefruit.
Taste is dry caramelized bread crust, candied orange and grapefruit, juicy yeastiness, light mineral. It is lightly bitter and spicy, nicely balanced. It is like a good English IPA, with plenty of yeasty and hoppy character but balanced bitterness.
May 16, 2012Aroma is caramelized brandy, candied orange and grapefruit.
Taste is dry caramelized bread crust, candied orange and grapefruit, juicy yeastiness, light mineral. It is lightly bitter and spicy, nicely balanced. It is like a good English IPA, with plenty of yeasty and hoppy character but balanced bitterness.
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland
3.85/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Clear amber & a foamy, centimetre thick and foamy white head with good retention.
Lots of bitterness upfront along with a sweet pine and strong hops smell. There is also a little vanilla and dark malts but the hops dominate along with a general bittersweet aroma.
Hops and pine kick things off here, along with some piney bitterness and a good malt presence. There is a little citrus and some summer fruits along with a lingering bitterness.
Light in body and as mentioned before there is tonnes of hops in this one. The feel is a semi-smooth one with medium carbonation and a lingering bitter finish.
Very hoppy and quite like an IPA is a some nice pine hops and a few malts thrown in for good measure as well. The taste is surprisingly refreshing and nicer than I had imagined.
1001 Beers To Try Before You Die:
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Apr 09, 2012Lots of bitterness upfront along with a sweet pine and strong hops smell. There is also a little vanilla and dark malts but the hops dominate along with a general bittersweet aroma.
Hops and pine kick things off here, along with some piney bitterness and a good malt presence. There is a little citrus and some summer fruits along with a lingering bitterness.
Light in body and as mentioned before there is tonnes of hops in this one. The feel is a semi-smooth one with medium carbonation and a lingering bitter finish.
Very hoppy and quite like an IPA is a some nice pine hops and a few malts thrown in for good measure as well. The taste is surprisingly refreshing and nicer than I had imagined.
1001 Beers To Try Before You Die:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com
Mayhem from Epic Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
53 ratings
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