Edenton Big Boss IPA
Edenton Brewing Company

Edenton Big Boss IPAEdenton Big Boss IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Edenton Brewing Company
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 8.59%
Reviews:
67
Ratings:
68
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 22, 2012
Added:
May 03, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by numenor1:
Photo of numenor1
Reviewed by numenor1 from North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Pours a slightly hazed golden light orange. A moderate head, reducing quickly to a collar. A good dose of hop bitterness on the nose with some citrus pith and pine and a very slight hint of caramel malt. Loads of pithy bitterness up front, in the middle and drying in the finish. About midglass some of the citrus and pine emerges, but in no way challenges the bitterness for supremacy. A lightly sweet bready, slightly caramelish malt backbone is evident, but continues to lurk beneath the hop onslaught. After the initial shock of bitterness, and nearing the end of the glass, the malts and hop flavor become quite a bit more pronounced. I'll bet the next one will be glorious. Mouthfeel is solid medium with good medium carbonation, a nice creamy texture. Poundable, if you can handle the bitterness. In some ways very similar to Bell's Two Hearted, at least that's what this brings to mind for me, but far more upfront brusque hop bitterness. A thorough assault on the palate.

Not sure why I never picked up any of this before now. This may well become a staple, especially at this price.
Oct 11, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by carrollmel7 from North Carolina

May 22, 2012
Photo of cracgor
Reviewed by cracgor from Texas

3.36/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
It pours out a golden beer with a nice thick and frothy off white head. Smells kind of like almonds. Has a dry nutty taste with a bitter hop that just doesn't taste that great to me. It's not a bad beer, it's just not very exceptional and is only slightly better than average.
Aug 05, 2007
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to limesmut for sending this my way. Poured from a 12oz. brown bottle into my nonic Imperial pint glass. Appears a hazy golden amber color with about two fingers of off-white foam. Smells of sweet caramel malts, apples, and fruity hops. Tastes of citrus fruits such as orange and grapefruit, followed by a nice, just-right, sweetness from the malts. Nicely balanced. Medium in both body and carbonation. A rather tasty IPA. Well done.
Jun 26, 2007
Photo of WAP
Reviewed by WAP from Alabama

4.19/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a slightly hazy copper with a thin, quickly fading head that leaves slight lacing. The smell of this brew is wonderful - a sweet caramel-apple scent complemented by a hint of floral hops. The taste has a nice caramel sweetness up front that is not sugary or cloying followed by big bittering hops. This is a more hoppy than balanced beer, but I like all of the flavors here. Mouthfeel is nice and smooth and drinkability is very good. A very nice effort.
Mar 18, 2007
Photo of granite
Reviewed by granite from New Hampshire

3.47/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into pint glass.

A---It poured hazy Golden with a huge white head.

S---Caramel, honey and citrus hops.

T---A little medicinal and plastic flavored at first. Malt and hops shine in the aftertaste. It was very balanced.

M---Medium bodied.

D---If it wasn't for the off flavors, this would be a great IPA. I'm sure that I just had a bad bottle so hopefully I'll get to try it again someday. Best label I've ever seen
Feb 16, 2007
Photo of BlindPig
Reviewed by BlindPig from Nevada

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A- Thin white head on a light cloudy dark orange body.
S- Big grapefruit aroma, light orange, hint of lemon also. Very light malt in the back and big citrus hops up front.
T- Big hop flavor. Grapefruit comes out pretty big. Nice bitterness comes through right away and lingers on the tongue with a light grapefruit and light malt flavor. Nice complex hop flavor, nothing that is over powering in one flavor but a nice blend between all of them.
M- Medium body and medium carbonation
D- It is a nice IPA. Has a nice complex hop flavor to it. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it but if I saw it I might pick one up.
Jan 16, 2007
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
IPA night continues with this beer that was acquired via trade from phisig137, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light amber color, with a short white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is sweet with citrus with a good hops character in the background.

T: The taste is well-balanced. A decent hops burst comes out first and is quickly followed up and complimented by a sweet citrus flavor and a healthy malt background. The after-taste goes back to the floral hops bitterness.

M: Crisp & smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Tasty, goes down easy, good kick and a nice representation of style, this a very good beer and is one worth sticking with for an evening.
Jan 14, 2007
Photo of ncbrewerbun
Reviewed by ncbrewerbun from North Carolina

4.27/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Another enjoyable Christmas present.

This beer poured a hazy golden orange color with a one finger white head that collapsed to lace.

Aroma is one of inviting hops -- citrus esters (grapefruit) and a hint of pine. Nice American hops. A bit of toastiness indicates some malt in the background.

Great hop taste, matching the aroma pretty well with grapefruit and some pine and even some pineapple. Balance is definitely favoring hops, but there is enough malt to provide a good balanced beer. Finishes rather dry.

Medium body with good carbonation.

A very nice IPA. A beer for hop lovers. Quite enjoyable. I'll have another very soon.
Dec 26, 2006
Photo of ByTor2112
Reviewed by ByTor2112 from North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Very carbonated, poured a beautiful amber orange color. Nice head that closely matches the color of the beer. Killer hoppy aroma with piney and floral hop aromas, I smell a healthy dose of cascade. Nice mouthfeel, hops dominant at first then a nice pale malt flavor is present. Hops get aggressive towards the finish-nice! Tastes like there are many different hop varieties layered throughout. Great IPA, and I would bet it is excellent on tap.
Nov 23, 2006
Photo of HopasaurusRex
Reviewed by HopasaurusRex from New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Hazy golden orange hue with lasting foam stand. Well-carbonated.

Notes of spicy pine and citrus in nose. Clear American hop character.

Aggressive peach/apricot/orange hop flavor up front subsides into a prickly bitterness. Malt character is a lttle thin.

Overall, decent and eminently drinkable West Coast style IPA. Hard to believe that this is over 6% ABV.

Cheers to brentk56 for sharing this North Carolina treat!
Nov 19, 2006
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dispensed from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. A large, white foamy head forms on top of a slightly sediment filled, dark straw colored beer.

Aroms is quite hoppy and quite delicious. Grapefruit and citrus type hops flood the nose like any good american IPA should. There is also a clear malt backbone present in the way of a bready caramel. Even some fruit aromas such as lemon and even strawberry. Quite an appealing aroma, this one has.

Taste is hoppy and fruity. The malt doesnt quite shine through as much as I would have thought. What malt comes through is still a nice touch. Some caramel and breadiness. Kind of amber ale-ish. Still a pretty balanced beer. The alcohol is slightly noticeable.

This is a solid IPA from a local NC brewer. NC is becoming a nice beer state in its own right with Highland and Duck Rabbit and some others. Definitely worth a try.
Nov 09, 2006
Photo of bjohnson
Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to ChuckCook for the chance to try this offering.

A: Pours a cloudy amber peachish color with an initial one finger head. Slight retention around the edges of the glass. Nice lacing.
S: Simcoe hops dominate the nose--grapefruit, orange peel, and slight pine notes.
T/M: Pine, grapefruit, lemon, and orange peel hop notes Bitterness is sharp at the beginning but peters out towards the finish. Extra dry aftertaste with leftover bitter hop notes. Good level of carbonation with a medium body. Buttery at first, but drys up in the aftertaste.
D: Easy drinking IPA. Solid and tasty. Glad I had the chance to try this brew. Higher abv goes unnoticed, but is a good plus on this American IPA.
Nov 06, 2006
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Hazy amber orange color with a small ring of head.

S: Grapefruit nose that also has hints of biscuity malts.

T: Flavor is a citrus explosion. Grapefruit flavors are abundant and really shine. Finish is long and the hops remain the centerpiece well after the sip is gone.

M: The hops are bold and strong, giving the beer a very enjoyable taste.

D: A very drinkable ale, even with a higher 6.8% abv. Well worth checking out.
Sep 25, 2006
Photo of jcdiflorio
Reviewed by jcdiflorio from West Virginia

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into pint glass,creamy white head about an inch,stayed through the beer ,clung to the glass.Reddish-orange color,sediment at bottom of bottle.Nice citrusy aroma,slight smell of yeast.Well carbinated,clean,refreshing taste,nice sharp grapefriuty aftertaste.Light mouthfeel,makes your mouthwater for more,very good I.P.A.
Sep 20, 2006
Photo of atsprings
Reviewed by atsprings from North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
I have now had this beer on draft at the Raleigh Flying Saucer, out of a 6 pack from Peace St. Market, and out of a growler re-fill from the Edenton Brewery tavern and all three were great. This is what an IPA is supposed to be. Edenton wasted no time after NC raised the 6% limit and put this beer at 6.8%, that combined with the added hop flavor makes this one of the truest IPA's I've had recently. I recently tried Rouge's new Integrity IPA at Village Draft House as their John's Locker Stock and by comparison, it's hard to believe I can find a better IPA brewed in my hometown than by Rouge Brewing. I guess that just goes to show how much I enjoyed this beer.
Sep 16, 2006
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Like the gorilla in the business suit portrait on the label.. Big Boss rolls into my glass with a mighty white head that almost forces a cascade. Color is medium reddish brown that's not quite bright enough for copper. Nose is crystal malt with a splice of bitter. Other sugars and whiff of fruit also feature.

Alcoholic IPA with bitter kick of loaded hops following a healthy dose of carbonation. Mouthfeel is a little oily which only partially hides the hint of astringence in the taste.

Thiis is an original, hopheavy, locally produced IPA with some definiite good attributes. It's not quite to my taste, but it's definitely well made and worth trying if you like hop assaults and gorilla labels.
Aug 26, 2006
Photo of wedge
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Slightly hazed caramel color with a feathery, fluffy head with decent retention as a creamy beige top. Broken lacing. Tenacious, juicy citrus hop aroma with sticky sweet malts on backup. Awesome, satisfying hoppy flavor: bright, oily citrus bitterness with a beautiful rich malt balance. Goes down with a sugary finish...medium mouthfeel and solidly bitter.

Yeah baby...I already found a top-notch local IPA! If you like loads of "C" hops and loads of balance, this is for you.
Aug 26, 2006
Photo of tastybeer
Reviewed by tastybeer from North Carolina

4.37/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Orange mahogany color and a light tan head. Nice sheety lace and a healthy layer of retention. Smells like a yummy treat. Various aromas fill my head with happiness. Among the thick gluey resiny, leafy, grapefruit, melon, (there are certainly more) hop aromas there's a good amount of sweet malts to hold a balance. Taste has all of the above with a good quality mouthfeel. Nice hop bitterness. Not overpowering but delicious. Drinkability is sweet.

I need to pick this up again.
Aug 25, 2006
Photo of BeerRun13
Reviewed by BeerRun13 from California

3.96/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very clear golden amber. A thick and fluffy eggshell colored head provides a touch of lace.
Sweet malty emphasis with a earthy, citrus hop touch to it.
Hop forward. Kind of earthy hop flavor with a citrusy bitterness in the back.
Medium bodied and well carbonated. Somewhat smooth. The flavor washes over the whole palate.
This is a good IPA and well worth a try.
Aug 03, 2006
Edenton Big Boss IPA from Edenton Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 68 ratings