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Firewater India Pale Ale
Catawba Brewing Co.
- From:
- Catawba Brewing Co.
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.49 | pDev: 12.32%
- Reviews:
- 77
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 03, 2018
- Added:
- Mar 15, 2003
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 41
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.51/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
From the car, it pours a hazy amber with a moderate head that lasts a while. Very light scent, my pathetic nose worked hard to smell it. Pleasantly bitter in the mouth. Nice.
May 20, 2016Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland
3.4/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I had this years ago on tap at Barley's in Asheville and remember it being pretty good but I'm also usually a little loopy when in Asheville if you know what I mean. Straw gold color with nice head that doesn't last and medium lace. Nose is grainy with only the barest scent of citrus.
Not as assertive on the hop end as I remember. There is definitely some citrus up front and the English hops are also present. Decent malt balance but a little watery and thin for an American version. Solid session English IPA, American not so much.
Apr 25, 2016Not as assertive on the hop end as I remember. There is definitely some citrus up front and the English hops are also present. Decent malt balance but a little watery and thin for an American version. Solid session English IPA, American not so much.
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada
3.51/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.51/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: pours an orange color with a 1" head that lasts a while.
Smell: very little aroma as only some soft citrus tones come through.
Taste: caramel, mango, pear, orange, and a mild floral bitterness are the main flavors.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp from start to finish.
Overall: an easy drinking IPA that is more citrus and fruit centric than hoppy. Not bad.
Apr 10, 2016Smell: very little aroma as only some soft citrus tones come through.
Taste: caramel, mango, pear, orange, and a mild floral bitterness are the main flavors.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp from start to finish.
Overall: an easy drinking IPA that is more citrus and fruit centric than hoppy. Not bad.
Reviewed by StoneTSR from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
APPEARANCE: This beer looks great. The large, egg shell-white, fluffy head puffs up to about two fingers and then lingers. The orange beer below is crystal clear with a good stream of tiny bubbles rising from the etching on the bottom of the glass. That flow of bubbles is impressive, it keeps the head alive for the duration of consumption with a mound of bubbles in the middle.
SMELL: Not a ton going on in the nose. A mild, citrus aroma is detectable with orange and lemon peel, but it is faint.
TASTE: Bready malt provides a solid base and fairly blank slate for some mild hop flavors to dance around on top. Pleasant citrus notes along with hints of pear and pine and a touch of earthiness. For being as light as it is, this is a pretty bitter beer, and I mean that in a positive sense.
MOUTHFEEL: The body is very light and it remains dry throughout with just a touch of malt balance. The carbonation is strong with a nice sparkle.
OVERALL: Most of the reviews I have seen beneath mine are clearly not taking into account that this is an English-style IPA. The can says it’s an English style with an American twist, and I think that is quite accurate. It is not as in-your-face-hoppy as most American IPAs, but it is certainly more bitter than your typical English-style IPA. Honestly, if I have any criticism of this beer, it is that the “American twist” of more bittering hops may be the reason the aroma is difficult to detect. Otherwise, I think this beer hits the mark and it is a highly enjoyable, easy to drink, 6% IPA.
Mar 01, 2016SMELL: Not a ton going on in the nose. A mild, citrus aroma is detectable with orange and lemon peel, but it is faint.
TASTE: Bready malt provides a solid base and fairly blank slate for some mild hop flavors to dance around on top. Pleasant citrus notes along with hints of pear and pine and a touch of earthiness. For being as light as it is, this is a pretty bitter beer, and I mean that in a positive sense.
MOUTHFEEL: The body is very light and it remains dry throughout with just a touch of malt balance. The carbonation is strong with a nice sparkle.
OVERALL: Most of the reviews I have seen beneath mine are clearly not taking into account that this is an English-style IPA. The can says it’s an English style with an American twist, and I think that is quite accurate. It is not as in-your-face-hoppy as most American IPAs, but it is certainly more bitter than your typical English-style IPA. Honestly, if I have any criticism of this beer, it is that the “American twist” of more bittering hops may be the reason the aroma is difficult to detect. Otherwise, I think this beer hits the mark and it is a highly enjoyable, easy to drink, 6% IPA.
Firewater India Pale Ale from Catawba Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
241 ratings
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