Baby Back Hops
Hog’s Head Brewing Company

Baby Back HopsBaby Back Hops
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From:
Hog’s Head Brewing Company
 
Alberta, Canada
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.34 | pDev: 22.75%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
12
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 22, 2016
Added:
Nov 27, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by biboergosum:
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.56/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A 16oz pint at the Underground in downtown Edmonton. My second offering from Alberta's newest, and most welcome addition to the brewing scene. Strangely dubbed a 'Red IPA', so I suppose this is meant to be the proper definition for all those hopped up, Yankee-style red ales of late.

This beer appears a quite hazy, very dark bronzed amber hue, with two fingers of fluffy, shiny, tacky tan head, which leaves a wall of Swiss cheese lace around the glass as it slowly seeps away.

It smells of bready, doughy caramel malt, citrus cream, a bit of pine needle bitterness, and further lemony, floral hops. The taste is wet cracker, sourdough, and grainy malt, sharp citrus fruitiness, some leafy, green forest floor detritus, and a bit of lemon furniture cleanser.

The bubbles are quite well sublimated, the body medium-light in weight, yet a bit weirdly watery in its otherwise acceptable smoothness. It finishes just on the sweet side, the bready malt and increasingly neutered fruity hops lingering amongst themselves.

A decent enough IPA, that is, if you're into nice. Me, I prefer an acerbic smack across the palate, and an entreaty to beg for more. But maybe that's just me. However, these are early days for this newborn, and avowedly hop-crazy brewery, and as such, Baby Back Hops is a solidly agreeable start.
Nov 27, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.88 by mikebu from Canada (AB)

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.46 by Sathanas from Canada (AB)

Nov 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by BigBry from Canada (AB)

Jun 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.27 by Mlkluther from Canada (AB)

Dec 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.4 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Nov 22, 2014
Photo of davebeerta
Reviewed by davebeerta from Canada (AB)

1/5  rDev -70.1%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Poured from a 341ml bottle, part of a variety pack containing other wonders such as Hops Slayer (as in too much rye malt, can't taste enough hops), Whole Lotta Rosie (whole lotta astringent over spicing with coriander), and Boss Hogg Oatmeal IPA (possibly the most drinkable beer they've managed to make, not saying much!)

Knew something was up when the appearance was cloudy with yeast and hops particulate. Not very malty in body, but hard to get past the muddied taste and overly bitter hops bite from hops pellet pieces landing on your tongue. Filtration malfunction or racked extremely poorly. This should not have entered a bottle, let alone landed on store shelves.
Oct 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by artemh from Canada (AB)

May 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by FadetoBock from Canada (AB)

Dec 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by dalehihn from Canada (AB)

Sep 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by IanSpindler from Canada (AB)

Aug 11, 2013
Photo of Olek4374
Reviewed by Olek4374 from Canada (AB)

3.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
My store was doing a demo of this beer a few days ago, so I picked up a sample after my shift. Ideally, doing a proper review from a sample cup is not ideal, but I thought I'd just write my initial thoughts and come back to do a proper review once I buy a 6 pack of this beer.

The beer pours a great orange colour that resembles many other craft IPAs - the standard sort of thing. It pours with a gentle head and smells very one-dimensional, unfortunately. It smells nicely hopped, but I didn't pick up many other smells. This may be due to the small sample size, so I'll have to edit this likely.

The taste was very hoppy, and it is quite pleasant to taste since they advertised "hops" about a hundred times on the box, therefore it would have been a letdown if this beer was anything but very hoppy. For a non-double or imperial IPA, it is indeed rich in hoppy taste. The mouthfeel was very refreshing, and not thick at all. A little body is nice with an IPA, although these more "watery" ones (in texture, not taste) do have their merit - they are more appropriate for a hot day and are easier to consume in general.

Overall it's a decent beer that really delivers on hoppy taste and is easy to drink. If you're thinking this is just like Keith's - stay away. This is a seriously pungent beer that will taste very harsh to someone not used to craft beers. Keep this in mind.

If you're from Edmonton and Area, do give this a go. Drinking local is great.
Jun 08, 2013
Baby Back Hops from Hog’s Head Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 12 ratings