Hophead Imperial IPA
Bend Brewing Company

Hophead Imperial IPAHophead Imperial IPA
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From:
Bend Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,122
ABV:
9.2%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,195
Avg:
4.12 | pDev: 10.19%
Reviews:
36
Ratings:
86
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 06, 2023
Added:
Oct 01, 2005
Wants:
  27
Gots:
  8
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Derek:
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Clear, golden bronze with a white head, thin ring of retention, some nice lace.

S: Big citrus & pine aroma, somewhat grassy and floral.

T: Quite hop-forward with a pleasant (not over-bearing) bitterness. Some alcohol warmth, but I wouldn't have guessed it was this strong. Pine, tangerine and nectarine... definitely some Amarillo here. Hints of underlying biscuit and toffee from the malt. Really great stuff.

M: Well attenuated, moderate body has a slight hop acidity with a crisp finish.

D/O: I could session this and SERIOUSLY regret it. Personally, I'd cut back on the booze a bit, but to have a brew of this strength so balanced, flavourful and drinkable is an art.
Sep 14, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of gefinley
Rated by gefinley from California

4.12/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canned 1/5/23.
May 06, 2023
Photo of TheBricenator
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Nearly clear light orange and the pour brings forth a vigorous white head that builds quickly, holds, and slowly settles to a pillow, leaving sheets of lacing behind
Aroma: Tangerines, lemon-lime, Cannabis, pine sap, ruby-red grapefruit, fir needles, raspberries, sweet bread, malt, and light onion
Taste: Resinous and sappy conifer notes and pithy citrus fruits join forces for the first punch and it’s a good one that immediately signals that this beer has high IBUs. Raspberries and Cannabis follow suit and onion weaves in and out during the middle part but the mainly pine-led conifer and citrus battle for superiority and does so through the close along with a huge bite
Mouthfeel: Full, slick, medium-high carbonation, and dry on the finish
Overall: This is awesome stuff. This was the first Bend beer I tried almost 15 years ago at their pub during the DIPA IBU wars time period in craft beer and was loving it then and doing so again now as it’s a throwback DIPA with plenty of malt and bitterness to boot. A tasty citrus/conifer combo with lots of depth and well hidden ABV make this beer a winner and a delicious one at that
Mar 05, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Draft at brewery. Mild haze, bright orange/golden with ring of head, streaky lacing. Grapefruit citrus aroma, not as strong as you would think. Taste kicks it up a notch, almost juicy. Lots if citrus notes build to a bitter crescendo. #1001beers
Aug 04, 2021
Photo of Beaver13
Reviewed by Beaver13 from Colorado

2.36/5  rDev -42.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
16 oz can. Pours hazy golden yellow with a big frothy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet fruity caramel malts with some green floral hops.

The flavor is sweet caramel apples with a big harsh floral hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, kind of flawed.
Sep 05, 2020
Photo of BenDorigan
Reviewed by BenDorigan from Oregon

5/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is my favorite beer in the world right now, and has been for some time. It is an ideal imperial IPA. It is consummate. It is beyond delicious and satisfying. It is magical. 2 will definitely make you think it's magical, just don't try to drive a car. (It's not that magical.) I have given no other beer all 5s. Whether you get it in a pint can or are lucky enough to get it on tap at the brewery, try this brew if you are a fan of the imperial IPA.
Jul 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.12 by InfernoBoss from California

Dec 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.22 by jakecattleco from California

May 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by einman from Minnesota

Apr 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by CPAles from Illinois

Jun 23, 2017
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.81/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Clear golden amber color with a rapidly dissipating foam in the Ciney snifter. Lovely aroma of peach. Some prickle on the tongue, but less carbonated than most beers. Medium body and a little sticky. Some fumes of alcohol but not overly hot.

Malty and a little sweet. Apricot flavor, and tart-edged ripe peach. Moderate bitter aftertaste at first that gets more intense as you sip. A clean, strong hoppy brew with wonderful aromatics. It would benefit from more spritz. From the 500 ml bottle purchased at Platypus in Bend. This current version is 9.00%.
Jun 13, 2017
Photo of Skrumpy
Reviewed by Skrumpy from Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Golden amber in color. Mostly clear with a bubbly white head. Minimal lacing. Aroma is stone fruit, pine, grapefruit and caramel malt. The flavor is hop forward. Citrus and pine. Very resinous. Heavy hops bitterness in the finish. A little hint of alcohol vapor present as well. A decent beer overall.
Feb 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.26 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Oct 27, 2016
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.85/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Bailey's Taproom, Portland, OR

A: The beer is somewhat hazy yellow in color and has some hints of amber hues—it is too hazy to see if there is any visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface and a thick collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of floral, citrus, and piney hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, except that there is a little more pineyness along with hints of caramel malts. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather drinkable for a Double IPA as it does a very good job at hiding its alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap
Sep 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.24 by NWHopinator from Oregon

Mar 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by jeff1973 from California

Nov 06, 2015
Photo of BadAxeBeer
Rated by BadAxeBeer from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Very light for an imperial. Hops come in later in the aftertaste. 89/100
Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by sharpski from Canada (BC)

Jul 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by cherche from Washington

Jun 28, 2015
Photo of MtOrion
Rated by MtOrion from Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It was a true Imperial IPA. Well Balanced, full flavor. The Bitter did not over throw as many do, the malt sat side by side. Balance balance balance.
May 19, 2015
Hophead Imperial IPA from Bend Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 86 ratings