Existential Hopwine
New Holland Brewing Company

Existential HopwineExistential Hopwine
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From:
New Holland Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 13.6%
Reviews:
137
Ratings:
142
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 03, 2014
Added:
Jan 04, 2007
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by UA8:
Photo of UA8
Reviewed by UA8 from Washington

3.89/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A- Pour a rich amber color with nearly no head and a bit of white foam.

S- Nose starts with hints of citrus hops and then moves on to warm alcohol

T- Combination of bitter hops and sweet malts dominate the flavor, finishes with alcohol warmth.

M- A bit on the thin side, alcohol warmth dominates.

D- Something that you could do maybe one of in a night, not a session beer. Pretty nice example of a barley wine. However there maybe better examples of the style out there for less money.
Jun 16, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by mcallister from Ohio

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by jawzman from Minnesota

Dec 11, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by imperialking from Illinois

Dec 01, 2011
Photo of ColdPoncho
Reviewed by ColdPoncho from Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I do not know when this was made. We shall see shortly.

A - clouded deep amber, with a tight and thin white head. Nice color.

S - This is the old one! Very malty, but a nice hop presence like an American barleywine, so I'm going to consider it more on the "wine" part than the "hop" part. caramel and toffee malts, and some light piney hops.

T - Malt forward for sure, nice caramel and toffee profile, a touch of chocolate even. A very light hop bitterness at the end. Not as hoppy as I'd hoped, but it's actually quite subtle and complex. Definitely more along the lines of the "wine" thing.

M - Quite smooth, medium-full body. Not bad, but perhaps a touch thin. For a DIPA, it'd be fine, but for a Barleywine, it's a bit thin.

O - This is a 4-year old DIPA that is tasting like a pretty good barleywine. It's kind of impressive. I just wish it were hoppier! But what can you expect.
Aug 24, 2011
Photo of movingtrain
Reviewed by movingtrain from Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a somewhat cloudy/murky brownish-red color. Not a lot of head retention here, though this would be due to the growler, also.

In the aroma are tart cherries, dark honey, ripe citrus, raspberry, wet wood, and hard candy. It is rich, almost syrupy in the aroma. On the way toward the palate, some big malt characteristics come forward, filled with oats and caramel.

The flavor here is a strong balance between the malty and the hoppy. The initial taste is quite sweet, providing caramel, ginger, brown sugar, molasses, and honey notes. As the beer progresses, it becomes more bitter, though not overly so. The hops are present, but not dominant, allowing a slight hop character to play beneath a fine chorus of toasty malt flavors.

Overall, this beer is rich, dense, and packs quite a punch. It has some interesting characteristics, and gives a refreshing and unique take on the "barleywine" style, calling it "hopwine." Both the Double IPA big hop character, and the Barleywine malty sweet characteristics are here, and the final product is, well, somewhat similar to the name.
Aug 21, 2011
Photo of robwestcott
Reviewed by robwestcott from Indiana

3.92/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
thanks to arvjunk and the barleywine BIF for this one.

poured cold and aggressively from the bottle to a dogfish head shaped pint glass a semi-tranlucent copper with a big bubbled off white, short lasting head leaving hints of spotty lace after each sip.

nice hearty aroma of earthy hops and thick sticky sweet malts.

this one is grassy / earthy hops forward, but its a subtle king of forward, not a bitter type of forward. sneaking up on you hot with a nice candy finish.

medium bodied, creamy smooth, low carbonation. hot. no bitter to speak of.

drinkable - a bomber or so.

overall - a very interesting style crusher.
Apr 26, 2011
Photo of beerman207
Reviewed by beerman207 from Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Found this at Party Town in Florence, KY. thought it was mislabeled but after confirmation, we learned this was not the case.

A: Dark copper an d a head that doesn't hang around very long - some lace left in the glass

S: Wow - smell is of caramel and malt, apples, some hops

T: Bitterness up front for the hops but the malt takes over almost immediately. has some fruit and some sweetness ff.

M: Medium, easy drinker. Good beer

D: Even though it's 10.5%, this is one that I wouldn't mind having again. Good thing I have a Growler that I'm splitting with my wife.
Nov 14, 2010
Photo of BeerAndBourbon
Reviewed by BeerAndBourbon from Ohio

3.86/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A. Pours a hazy orange with a small white head.

S. A bit of hops, but mostly caramel malt. It smells like the backbone of a good DIPA without the upfront hops.

T. The earthy/grassy hop flavor is still present, but not pervasive; I can only imagine what this was like fresh. Flavor is mostly caramel with some bread and yeast contributions.

M. Smooth medium body.

D. Good drinkability. This drinks very well for a 10.5%. I'm not sure what this was like fresh, but it's quite interesting now.
Nov 07, 2010
Photo of TheHoppiest
Reviewed by TheHoppiest from Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22 oz bottle into an oversized wine glass. Pours a beautiful ruby-amber with minimal bubbly soapy white head. There's a decent amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

Smell is intense, yeasty, boozy; like a barleywine gone mad. No real hop presence in the smell.

Taste is smoother than it smells; leather, oak, and leafy tastes start it out; followed by a malty yeastiness simmering in woody alcohol; ending with a faint hop echo toward the back of the mouth. As I drink more, some honey and floral notes also present.

Mouthfeel is thick, almost buttery, with a bit of sharpness.

Drinkable? Well, hard to say. I've got 22 oz to go through, and I kind of wish it was 12, so I guess that answers that.
Sep 11, 2010
Photo of mondegreen
Reviewed by mondegreen from Georgia

2.73/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
22oz Bottle into a New Holland Tulip.

A: Rather clear copper/orange color. Thin whiteish head that fades quickly. Leaves just a tough of lacing.

S: Smells sweet and hot. Not at all what I expect from a DIPA. I'm picking up all kinds of alcohol and heavy malts, no hops to speak of.

T: Very sweet up front. Starts like an English Barleywine. Finish is a distinct floral heat with a touch of spice. Unique, but not in a good way. It seems like New Holland was attempting a style bender with this brew, but ultimately it's a mess. Aftertaste is slightly bitter with a lingering burn.

M: Very heavy with light carbonation. This might be the heaviest beer I've ever had, which does work to its favor.

D: The floral/spice aftertaste is rather tiresome. I love breweries that push the style envelope, and this beer appears to be a cross between a DIPA and an English Barleywine. Ultimately, the flavors clash and the hoppiness, if there ever was any, is lost in the crossfire.
Jul 23, 2010
Photo of RJUGA03
Reviewed by RJUGA03 from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Midnight black rising carbonated body with a country off white head that held 3/4".
S-Sweet, toasted malts, tad bit of yeast, and fruity.
T-On the draw it was very sweet with slight hop tingle and on the way down it was heavy in the alcohol esters, but yet very smooth.
M-Like syrup initially followed by a dry and hop-laden after-taste.
D- It is extremely drinkable and I am sorry to say that I wasn't at the pub for their stout marinated burger, but it was purchased for me and I love it.
May 04, 2010
Photo of meatyard
Reviewed by meatyard from Florida

3.25/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Thanks to AltBock, this is one of his many generous gifts before being re-stationed in Okinawa.

Pours a hazy, amber/orange with a short, off-white head that has little retention and very slight lacing.
The smell is mostly sweet malt and little else.
The taste is very different from the aroma. The malt is the same but there is a grassy hop flavor and a bitterness that lingers.
Mouthfeel is full but with no carbonation.
Drinkability is not so hot in my estimation, it's definitely not in the East or West coast style for a DIPA. I don't think it's old, but how do you tell if there's no bottled on date?
May 02, 2010
Photo of PretzelCity
Reviewed by PretzelCity from California

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to sefus12 for the chance to try this one. Poured out a deep amber, like unfiltered honey, with a fluffy one inch white head that quickly recedes to lacing around the edge of glass. The nose upfront is a hop and malt blend, not like what I expected. It reminds me more of a hoppy barleywine then a DIPA. Whatever it is, I like it. The taste is the same, lots of hops take on a resin quality, well blended with a heavy amount of malt. Sweet and syrupy like honey with a bit of a bite in the finish. Slight alcohol in the finish as well but not enough to be distracting or take away from the beer. Medium body, this beer really coats the mouth and makes it's presence known. Pretty drinkable considering the 10.5% ABV. Hopwine is the perfect name in my opinion. This one seems like it could really hold up well in storage and turn into something interesting.
Feb 22, 2010
Photo of adamette
Reviewed by adamette from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes. Poured from tap at Ballantines in Willoughby during "craft beer night" 1 27 10 into a 10 oz. snifter at a cost of $3.

A Opaque light brown/yellow body udner a nice light brown creamy head. Very good look indeed. 4.5

S Earthy hops with some malt background. Smell is inviting, interesting and more balanced than most barleywines that I have encountered. 4.0

T Big hops presence with a moderate malt presence in a beer with a lot of depth to it. To drink this beer in is to enter into an adventure of taste with earthy bitter hops and warming alcohol with a backdrop of sweet malt. 4.5

M Thick with that great depth that is akin to liquid wheat thins with an earthy, grainy feel. 4.5

D Fair with the huge ABV but repeated sips were easy to do. 3.5

Notes: Really good on tap, especially for the price there at Ballantines.
Jan 29, 2010
Photo of darklordlager
Reviewed by darklordlager from Wisconsin

4.34/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Had on-tap at the Muddy Pig in St. Paul on 1/10/09.

A: Pours a light garnet with a thin coating of head. Nothing too impressive.

S: Very sweet aroma--licorice, bubblegum, sweet citrus, caramel.

T: Sweet caramel layers, fading into intense dark fruit. Honey graham cracker, sugar cookie. Sweet citrus from the hops pairs well, hiding the alcohol and blending with the malts nicely.

M: Low-medium carbonation and slightly syrupy body.

D: Great beer from New Holland. The hop profile covers the alcohol like a champ. Well done.
Jan 11, 2010
Photo of becktone
Reviewed by becktone from Ohio

2.63/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
From notes 6-20-09

Eye: Terrible head formation and terrible retention, well there is none. Color is amber hued copper. Nice overall. Clarity on this beer is unbelievable, like none that I've ever seen. I mean it diffuses my sight when looked through but I can pick up minute details of what I'm looking at throgh the glass...simply amazing. This is either a great thing or a bad thing. There is some spotty lacing.

Nose: A burst of hops once the cap has been popped but then it quickly fades. Barley any CO2 escapes once the seal is released. Big on hops in the nose, malt is very strong, from about a foot away this thing smells much more like a barley wine. Hops are floral but have very little grapefruit quality to them. Not sure what to make of this. It smells, to me, more like a barley wine. Malt presence is just too forward for a DIPA, that or there aren't enough hops to hide it. Just a bit off for what I'd consider to be correct for the style.

Tongue: Wow, not what I was expecting. Real herbal and grassy, freshly cut herbs and grass, very green taste. Not at all to my liking. Least that the hops are here are much more prevalent than in the aroma. Alcohol is apparent. Maybe a bit piney too. This is just not an IPA for me. It does nothing and I'm thinking that I'm glad I didn't pay for it. Its not well rounded enough. Too angular, almost like its unfinished, it lacks something. It lacks the balance of a malt backbone. I mean there's alcohol and hops and bitterness, not really any malt to compliment either though. Besides I think that the hops that are here don't blend well with the malt that is there, not to mention they only help to showcase the alcohol and to show off their obnoxious selves. Not one for me.

Feel and Drinkability: Medium-heavy on the palate with fine carbonation that works for the beer but in my opinion should be a tad higher. It would give the impression that this is a lighter beer and therefore increase its drinkability. Its not poorly done, its just something that I really don't care for. Everything works together, though I think the end product could use some work, in the end it works out to being okay. I'll drink the rest of it, but thats about it. I won't be coming back to this one.
Oct 18, 2009
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22oz. bottle, split, and poured into an imperial pint glass. No visible bottled date.

(A)- Pours a clear orange amber with a respectable white foamy head, but dissipated rather quickly down to a layer of bubbles. Minimal lacing present.

(S)- Massive pineapple citrus with a laid-back hop and malt aroma. Just huge pineapple juice character with a touch of sugary honey.

(T)- Ample hop and pine presence with obvious pineapple citrus. Sugary sweet honey-lemon fruit and light caramel-ish malt.

(M)- Good carbonation level with ample sugary sweetness with great pineapple. But once again, the sugary sweetness overpowers all the great nuances this beer has to offer.

(D)- Serious sugary sweetness with pineapple and honey. . . . New Holland could be a really great brewery with their High Gravity series, but most, if not all of them are way too sugary sweet; it really ruins what could be superb styles of unique and interesting beers, instead just super sweet/super high abvs.
Sep 12, 2009
Existential Hopwine from New Holland Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 142 ratings