Hop Slayer
Hog’s Head Brewing Company

Hop SlayerHop Slayer
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From:
Hog’s Head Brewing Company
 
Alberta, Canada
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.29 | pDev: 12.77%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
20
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 22, 2016
Added:
Feb 15, 2013
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.82 by mikebu from Canada (AB)

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.1 by Slongie from Canada (AB)

Mar 06, 2015
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Rated by RandyFlameThrower from Canada (AB)

2.29/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Can't get a decent pour out of the bottle. Massive head, more than 4 fingers. Find the taste bizarre for an IPA. Not for me.
Feb 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by joemcgrath27 from Canada (AB)

Dec 26, 2014
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Reviewed by Mlkluther from Canada (AB)

3.49/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A more complex IPA than some.

I have had several problems with Hog's Head quality with their bottled beers as I've had two bad batches of six packs. I've emailed them regarding this and I did not get a response. I can't purchase their beer with any confidence and will no longer do so. I'd like to support a local brewery but they need to up their quality control.
Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 2.25 by R_Kole from Canada (AB)

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Jul 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by rogerdandy from Canada (AB)

Jun 09, 2014
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Reviewed by CalgaryFMC from Canada (AB)

3.51/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Sampled on tap at Calgary Beer Fest 2014 and also tried in the bottle on a number of other occasions. Extremely dark color for the style, amber brown much like a Belgian dubbel, nice frothy rich beige head though. Aroma is similarly dark and rich, molasses and roast barley followed by burnt pot resin and pine. This is far too malty in my view, burnt toffee and molasses flavors managing to trump hops that one can tell are trying really hard to provide an ultra-aggressive west coast assault. I can detect some pineapple syrup and raspberry notes buried in the murk and the beer is indeed bitter as fuck. They nailed the pine/spruce aspect but the dark malts mask the more nuanced hop flavors, which is a shame. Semi-thick body with low to moderate carbonation and a fiercely medicinal finish. As I recollect the beer is similar in the bottle, perhaps a shade more piney.
May 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by artemh from Canada (AB)

Mar 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Ianleesrivette from Canada (AB)

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kmat10 from Canada (AB)

Oct 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by dalehihn from Canada (AB)

Sep 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by schnarr84 from Canada (AB)

Sep 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by FadetoBock from Canada (AB)

Aug 18, 2013
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Reviewed by mattsander from Canada (AB)

2.74/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
A: Brown, medium clarity, overcarbonated. Doesn't look anything like an IPA to me.

S: Brown sugar, toffee, metallic bitterness. Ugh.

T: Big and sweet malt with a long lingering bitterness. Some hop flavor but no indication of the varieties listed on the label. Very disappointing.

M: Medium bodied and overcarbonated. All 6 of my bottles gushed out of the glass I served them in.

Nothing about this beer seems 'IPA' to me. If they did use Citra/Columbus/Cascade/Falconers on this beer it was a huge waste.
Jul 22, 2013
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Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

3.72/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - Pours a hazy copper brown with two fingers of frothy head. Nice lacing.

Smell - Piney/earthy hops, pine resin, tropical fruit, caramalts.

Taste - Nice earthy/piney hops, tropical fruit and caramalt flavours. Not as crazy bitter as a DIPA should be, but still good.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall - Excited to try this new brewing company here in Alberta. For their first entry in making a DIPA, it was a valiant first run. It is a bit subdued in regards to bitterness, but still has excellent flavours.
Apr 28, 2013
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Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.52/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle poured into tulip 24/4/13

A hazy unfiltered looks brown on the table but has a nice amber glow when held to the light, lots of sediment but just a couple slow moving bubbles but they pump out a two finger beige foam that hangs around long enough to leave some random lace

S some citrus and cereal with some brown sugar and lots of sweet malt and caramels, smells malty for a 100+IBU DIPA, some spruce, and a little coco that seems out of place

T more of the same really, its OK but I'd expect more of a hop kick, tastes like its old but I don't think that's the case, leafy, and herbal with some faint grapefruit rind

M thick and syrupy with just a little heat, more bubbles then I could see, has a bitter snap to it but almost slimy after the fact, slick for sure

O not a bad beer but could use some tweaks, perhaps an old bottle but I'm pretty sure its a new release, I'll try again if i see it on tap

Good to see another brewer in my home Province but this one didn't give me the best first impression, worth trying but nothing spectacular
Apr 24, 2013
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Reviewed by Muhly from Canada (AB)

3.61/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into a brandy snifter.

A-A dark amber with brown highlights. A good two fingers of tan head with a vigorous pour. Head drops relatively quickly, but leaves a nice solid layer on top. Thin wall of lacing gives way to bands and islands. Maybe a tad dark for an IPA...

S-A healthy dose of grapefruit rind citrus complemented by some dark malts. Maybe getting a bit of wet cardboard in here too.

T-Malt sweetness gives way to citrus and floral hoppiness. The bitterness is contained

M-Pretty creamy and smooth. Full mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Maybe just a hint of alcohol warmth. Finish is mildly astringent, but some sweetness lingers on the tongue.

O-A nicely balanced and complex beer. The malt and hop balance is excellent and makes me want more. Maybe it's just me, but it could use some cleaning up.
Mar 05, 2013
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Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

3.61/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
20oz old-school English pint at Cha Island, my first visit to this little south seas oasis in snow bound February 'round here.

This beer pours a hazy dark bronzed amber hue, with one skinny finger of wispy beige head, which leaves a low berm of painted lace around the glass as it quickly gives in to basic physics.

It smells of mild, somewhat watery citrus rind and pine needle, equally tame bready caramel malt, a soft indistinct mustiness, and a twinge of metallic alcohol. The taste is fairly bitter pithy citrus, mushy, pine-tinged forest-floor detritus, a slight perfumed essence, and an edgy, tho restrained flinty booziness.

The carbonation is adequately supportive, the body a sturdy medium weight, and a tad clammy in its otherwise plain smoothness. It finishes well off-dry, but with an unhealthy dose of caramel clamminess, rather than the expected crisp hoppiness.

An ok DIPA, bitter enough to clear the mean for the style, but lacking the clean character associated therein. The flavours are all present, sure, but its in the accounting for where things go off the rails a bit. A little more cohesion, and these Capital City upstarts will have something of a prize horse in their stable.
Feb 15, 2013
Hop Slayer from Hog’s Head Brewing Company
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 20 ratings