Spyhopper Honey Brown
Vancouver Island Brewing

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From:
Vancouver Island Brewing
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
English Brown Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 10.68%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
17
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 17, 2014
Added:
May 26, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  2
"Spyhopping” is the playful activity in which the orca will vertically pop out of the water in order to check out their surroundings or to examine prey. Spyhopper Honey Brown is a light amber coloured ale that has a sweet malt flavour combined with an excellent balance of hop character. Spyhopper is handcrafted using honey malt and a signature blend of Hallertauer and Saaz hops. This combination united with a delicate twist of locally produced wildflower honey creates a beer with a mild hop impression, smooth, full body and honey sweet finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.5 by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

Jun 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by CWVegas from Nevada

Jul 31, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Braz from Washington

Jul 12, 2013
Photo of maclean25
Reviewed by maclean25 from Canada (BC)

3.99/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The last in my sampler pod pack. I've never been a fan of honey in beer but I do like this English Brown Ale style.

It pours with a creamy off-white head and an orange-gold clear (slight haze) body. I get a dominant peach aroma with some wheat and honey. The taste, though, is more malty with wildflower and caramel sweetness. Its medium bodied with perfect carbonation. Overall, definately worth a try but ultimately I've had better brown ales. It was probably the honey that I didn't care for.
Jan 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by KalanM from Canada (BC)

Nov 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by BigGruntyThirst from Canada (ON)

Aug 24, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

Mar 25, 2012
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.62/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle poured into pint glass 28/1/12

A clear golden copper with plenty of tiny bubbles feeding a short lived finger of tan foam that leaves no lace

S lots of real smelling honey with some peanut brittle but without the peanuts, quite floral and a solid but simple nose

T still decent but a little toned down from from the smell, not as much of the floral honey that I liked in the nose

M for how sweet it is I thought it would be sticker on the lips, medium bodied with a slick slippery feeling left behind

O another decent but not overly impressive beer, I wont have problems drinking my other two any ways

I think I might have drank the best beer first out of my mixed pack. Not a bad buy though but with all the other BC goodies I've yet to try this might have been my first and last mixer from these guys
Jan 28, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Jan 19, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by fizzyted from Canada (ON)

Dec 21, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by papawu76 from Canada (BC)

Dec 02, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by EskimoDave from Canada (BC)

Dec 01, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by kelvarnsen from Canada (ON)

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of lespaulrocker
Reviewed by lespaulrocker from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the Bard and Banker pub in downtown Victoria.

A: Beautiful amber color. Small white head, minimal to no lacing.

S: Honey, sweet, hints of hops.

T: Very herby and flowery at first. Gives way to more honey and butter notes. Maybe hints of some caramel, but not overwhelming. Not too bitter finish, but the hops are there.

M: Moderate carbonation, light bodied. Very drinkable.

This was a really solid beer. I was impressed with Vancouver Island Brewery while in Victoria, their beers were all pretty solid. I will seek this out again next time I visit the island.
Jun 20, 2011
Photo of IllNate
Reviewed by IllNate from Canada (BC)

3.82/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - Very clear medium straw, one of the lighter honey browns I've seen. Finger of fizzy white head. Poor retention.

S - Light biscuit malt and light hop aroma. Appealing.

T - Light malt and hop and a bit sweet. Enjoyable, but again on the light side of the honey brown style.

M - Continuing with the light theme, it's a bit thin.

O - Not bad, one of the better offerings by Vancouver Island.
Apr 09, 2011
Photo of Graham5161986
Reviewed by Graham5161986 from Canada (BC)

3.99/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Well penderite, this beer is now available in Vancouver!

Appearance is a brilliantly clear amber gold with a minimal, fizzy white head that almost completely disappears and leave no trace of lace.

Smell is of honey, herbs, butte, bread and just a slight hint of hops.

Taste is really herbaceous and floral up front with nice buttery, honey, caramel and bread notes coming through mid-sip and, again, just a slight bitter profile from the hops showing up on the finish. A bit of minerality on the linger as well.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and slightly creamy. Carbonation is at a good level, making it quite smooth as the beer goes down. Slightly oily on the finish.

As for this beer's drinkability, I can't complain. This would, indeed, make for a great session beer. Simple and effective. A nice overall package. Glad to have it here on the mainland.
Apr 30, 2010
Photo of penderite
Reviewed by penderite from Canada (BC)

4.45/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
This is one of my favourite craft beers. It won Bronze Medal - 2009 World Beer Championships even though it is a fairly new offering. My American non beer drinking friends became beer drinkers after their first pint of this one. Too bad it is only available on Vancouver Island.
Dec 12, 2009
Spyhopper Honey Brown from Vancouver Island Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 17 ratings