Big Hop
East End Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- East End Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- IPA - American
Ranked #2,985 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #20,574 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 11.05%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 05, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 07, 2004
- Wants:
- 10
- Gots:
- 51
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
The first of the brews from Pittsburghs newest and MICRO-est microbrewery to hit the streets. Truly, a hopped-up American IPA with loads of Centennial and Cascade hops, and just barely enough malt backbone to balance it out. Our flagship brew
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4 by florisj135 from Virginia on May 05, 2022
3.27/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
Thanks to Pinz412 for this one, from NBS BIF #13. 12oz can (dated 8/17/20) Poured into 14oz teku. Poured a cloudy and dense dark amber color with over 3 inches (it was a very active brew) of light khaki head that had loads of retention, and light-moderate lacing.
The aroma had a some citrus hops at the front, with a solid malt base.
Pretty similar on the tongue. The hops tasted a bit musty, but that happens with time. The malt flavors weren't as sweet as the aroma had led me to expect.
The body was solidly medium, smooth, and led to a medium finish.
Drinkability was OK, but was probably better fresh.
Overall, a decent brew, I'd like to try a fresh one, because I think beer has much more going on than what I saw here.
Apr 01, 2021
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
Thanks to Pinz412 for this one, from NBS BIF #13. 12oz can (dated 8/17/20) Poured into 14oz teku. Poured a cloudy and dense dark amber color with over 3 inches (it was a very active brew) of light khaki head that had loads of retention, and light-moderate lacing.
The aroma had a some citrus hops at the front, with a solid malt base.
Pretty similar on the tongue. The hops tasted a bit musty, but that happens with time. The malt flavors weren't as sweet as the aroma had led me to expect.
The body was solidly medium, smooth, and led to a medium finish.
Drinkability was OK, but was probably better fresh.
Overall, a decent brew, I'd like to try a fresh one, because I think beer has much more going on than what I saw here.
Apr 01, 2021
2.55/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
12 fl oz pull-tab can:
Label is about as basic as it gets.
Pale malt and caramalt. Floral hop flavour. Tastes like a mid-1990s homebrew IPA. Soulless and inspired.
C- / BELOW AVERAGE
***
12/04/20 can brought to me by my good friend Zed - thanks, man!
"American Ale." 5.8% ABV.
Can is green and generic looking...as if a homebrewer suddenly acquired a labeller.
Served cold into a stemless wine glass.
Resin. Floral hop flavour. Pale malt. Crystal and/or caramalt. Wow, this is forgettable and generic.
Why brew this?
Low C- / BELOW AVERAGE
Nov 14, 2020
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
12 fl oz pull-tab can:
Label is about as basic as it gets.
Pale malt and caramalt. Floral hop flavour. Tastes like a mid-1990s homebrew IPA. Soulless and inspired.
C- / BELOW AVERAGE
***
12/04/20 can brought to me by my good friend Zed - thanks, man!
"American Ale." 5.8% ABV.
Can is green and generic looking...as if a homebrewer suddenly acquired a labeller.
Served cold into a stemless wine glass.
Resin. Floral hop flavour. Pale malt. Crystal and/or caramalt. Wow, this is forgettable and generic.
Why brew this?
Low C- / BELOW AVERAGE
Nov 14, 2020
3.97 by StanleysCup from Maryland on Aug 27, 2020
3.72 by TheCakePounder from Pennsylvania on Aug 22, 2020
4.02/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by beergoot from Colorado
Deep amber colored body topped with a thick and frothy head. Strong aroma of sweet caramel and pine resin. Bold malt background highlighting caramel and mild toffee flavors; resinous hop bitterness develops midway through and lingers through the finish. Medium body; warm and crisp on the palate; sticky.
Per the data on the can bottom, this beer is nearly 2 1/2 months old (canned 04/27/20), yet it still packs a nice malt and hop bitterness flavor. It seems to me like a amped up English-style IPA. Well, if this tastes great after this amount of time, I'd love to try a fresher version. Perhaps I will someday...
Jul 17, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by beergoot from Colorado
Deep amber colored body topped with a thick and frothy head. Strong aroma of sweet caramel and pine resin. Bold malt background highlighting caramel and mild toffee flavors; resinous hop bitterness develops midway through and lingers through the finish. Medium body; warm and crisp on the palate; sticky.
Per the data on the can bottom, this beer is nearly 2 1/2 months old (canned 04/27/20), yet it still packs a nice malt and hop bitterness flavor. It seems to me like a amped up English-style IPA. Well, if this tastes great after this amount of time, I'd love to try a fresher version. Perhaps I will someday...
Jul 17, 2020
3.79/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by FBarber from Illinois
Pours a dark orange-tinged amber color. Somewhat cloudy with a thin weak white head. Aroma is mild, but very nice as hints of orange and pine along with some caramel malts come across the nose. The flavor of this is really nice - its balanced yet flavorful with notes of orange, pine, lemongrass and some herbal-earthy hop notes. The bitterness is initially moderate, but builds on itself as the beer is consumed leaving a bitter aftertaste on the finish. Feel is crisp, easy drinking, with some bright carbonation. Overall its not the best beer Ive ever had, but its a damn good really enjoyable IPA.
May 17, 2020
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by FBarber from Illinois
Pours a dark orange-tinged amber color. Somewhat cloudy with a thin weak white head. Aroma is mild, but very nice as hints of orange and pine along with some caramel malts come across the nose. The flavor of this is really nice - its balanced yet flavorful with notes of orange, pine, lemongrass and some herbal-earthy hop notes. The bitterness is initially moderate, but builds on itself as the beer is consumed leaving a bitter aftertaste on the finish. Feel is crisp, easy drinking, with some bright carbonation. Overall its not the best beer Ive ever had, but its a damn good really enjoyable IPA.
May 17, 2020
3.54/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by 2beerdogs from California
An amber tinged copper colored liquid capped with a off-white head.
Aroma is caramel malts, pine, and slight grass.
Taste follows the nose faithfully with additions of lemon and a slight herbal note.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated.
May 12, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by 2beerdogs from California
An amber tinged copper colored liquid capped with a off-white head.
Aroma is caramel malts, pine, and slight grass.
Taste follows the nose faithfully with additions of lemon and a slight herbal note.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated.
May 12, 2020
3.51/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by Sabtos from Ohio
Inconsistent shades of foggy brown with a tall poofy khaki head leaving some spikey lacing on the glass.
Old. School.
This puppy is malty enough to almost come across like a hoppy brown. It's semi-bitter, a little woody, and toasty, even giving off hints of pumpernickel, with accents of orange rind and tangy apple.
Mar 22, 2020
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by Sabtos from Ohio
Inconsistent shades of foggy brown with a tall poofy khaki head leaving some spikey lacing on the glass.
Old. School.
This puppy is malty enough to almost come across like a hoppy brown. It's semi-bitter, a little woody, and toasty, even giving off hints of pumpernickel, with accents of orange rind and tangy apple.
Mar 22, 2020
3.8 by BWM-PGH from Pennsylvania on Jan 22, 2020
3.25 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania on Oct 26, 2019
4 by bigred89 from Maryland on Oct 20, 2019
3.25 by BdM from Netherlands on Aug 05, 2019
3.5 by guzzleacoldone from Ohio on Aug 04, 2019
3.38 by JDizzle from Indiana on Jul 04, 2019
4.05 by Pens1967 from Louisiana on Jan 30, 2019
4/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Reggie_Dunlop from Pennsylvania
It is rather inconsistent . But I will say when its good its a 4
Nov 24, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Reggie_Dunlop from Pennsylvania
It is rather inconsistent . But I will say when its good its a 4
Nov 24, 2018
3.9 by chebode2 from Germany on Oct 30, 2018
3.82 by lastmango from Pennsylvania on Sep 26, 2018
3.93 by curlybird from Pennsylvania on Sep 15, 2018
3.93 by George2744 from Pennsylvania on Jul 06, 2018
3.85 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania on Jul 01, 2018
3.54/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by EMV from Pennsylvania
Poured from a 12 oz can into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Hazy caramel copper pour with 2 fingers of foamy white head. Solid lacing.
S: Caramel malts.. grainy... light piney hops.
T/F: Follows the nose... fairly malty, caramel and toasted grains. Pine/evergreen hop presence.. herbal... not much in the way of citrus. Reasonably bitter. Light bodied but thicker than expected. Well carbonated.
O: A solid IPA... more malt forward than I tend to prefer but good bitterness for balance. Pretty easy drinking at 5.8%. Decent beer... no reason to seek it out.
Apr 17, 2018
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by EMV from Pennsylvania
Poured from a 12 oz can into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Hazy caramel copper pour with 2 fingers of foamy white head. Solid lacing.
S: Caramel malts.. grainy... light piney hops.
T/F: Follows the nose... fairly malty, caramel and toasted grains. Pine/evergreen hop presence.. herbal... not much in the way of citrus. Reasonably bitter. Light bodied but thicker than expected. Well carbonated.
O: A solid IPA... more malt forward than I tend to prefer but good bitterness for balance. Pretty easy drinking at 5.8%. Decent beer... no reason to seek it out.
Apr 17, 2018
3.92/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by VoxRationis from New York
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) can into a custom Samuel Adams glass; canned 1/15/18.
A: Pour a hazy dark amber to light copper color with robust head formation and a one inch, foamy, light tan head, excellent retention and rings and rings of foamy lacing all the way down the glass.
S: Aromas of caramel, melon, papaya, and licorice. A smokey note. A little grassy and slightly peppery.
T: Bitter hoppiness does hit you like a ton a bricks up front, but caramel/molasses, cocoa, strong black tea, black licorice and pine flavors unmistakable. Strong bitterness extends beyond consumption.
M: Light to medium bodied with excellent retention of carbonation.
O: Obviously very hoppy, but different, drinkable and enjoyable. Can see it complementing Mexican or Thai food very well.
Apr 15, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by VoxRationis from New York
Decanted from a 12 oz (355 ml) can into a custom Samuel Adams glass; canned 1/15/18.
A: Pour a hazy dark amber to light copper color with robust head formation and a one inch, foamy, light tan head, excellent retention and rings and rings of foamy lacing all the way down the glass.
S: Aromas of caramel, melon, papaya, and licorice. A smokey note. A little grassy and slightly peppery.
T: Bitter hoppiness does hit you like a ton a bricks up front, but caramel/molasses, cocoa, strong black tea, black licorice and pine flavors unmistakable. Strong bitterness extends beyond consumption.
M: Light to medium bodied with excellent retention of carbonation.
O: Obviously very hoppy, but different, drinkable and enjoyable. Can see it complementing Mexican or Thai food very well.
Apr 15, 2018
3.58/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by thebeers from Pennsylvania
Hazed amber with a finger of dense light-tan head that has good retention and leaves rings of lacing. Sweet malt and orange hops in the nose; maybe a touch of butter as well. Fairly strong, piney bitterness gets added to the mix in the taste. Medium bodied with solid carbonation. A middle-of-the-road, old-school bitter IPA.
Mar 26, 2018
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by thebeers from Pennsylvania
Hazed amber with a finger of dense light-tan head that has good retention and leaves rings of lacing. Sweet malt and orange hops in the nose; maybe a touch of butter as well. Fairly strong, piney bitterness gets added to the mix in the taste. Medium bodied with solid carbonation. A middle-of-the-road, old-school bitter IPA.
Mar 26, 2018
3.46 by dcbeers from District of Columbia on Mar 12, 2018
3.75 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania on Dec 18, 2017
3.91 by classixIII from Pennsylvania on Nov 04, 2017
3.59/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Tsar_Riga from Indiana
Hazy copper brown color, persistent off white head, lots of lacing. Nose is quiet lemon hop, and the flavor is similar, with a malty core, and a steeped tea bitterness in the finish. Chalky feel. Old school American IPA, which is fine, but not really inspiring.
Oct 26, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Tsar_Riga from Indiana
Hazy copper brown color, persistent off white head, lots of lacing. Nose is quiet lemon hop, and the flavor is similar, with a malty core, and a steeped tea bitterness in the finish. Chalky feel. Old school American IPA, which is fine, but not really inspiring.
Oct 26, 2017
3.53/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
$ 11.66 (Including tax)/six pack ($ 0.162/oz) at The House of Brews, Robinson Township, PA.
Canned 7/26/17. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Peppery hops
Head – Large (Maximum 7.8 cm, aggressive pour), low density froth, good retention, slowly diminishing to an irregular frothy eight to 15 mm ring and a frothy partial layer.
Lacing – Good. Wide bands of tiny to medium bubbles which slowly break into lacey curtains.
Body – Orangish, hazy.
Flavor – The pepper from the nose does not translate to the flavor. This begins moderately bitter and chalky. Allowing it to warm in my mouth smooths out the hoppiness whilst allowing a little of the malt backbone to peep through. No alcohol, no diacetyl. Ends slightly chalky with a short hang time.
Palate – Moderate, watery, soft carbonation.
Impression: An IPA that walks on the mild side. Very easy drinking – not going to win any awards but more of a not-so-pale ale that you could drink all day.
Appearance 4, Aroma 3.5, Flavor 3.5, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.5.
Oct 07, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
$ 11.66 (Including tax)/six pack ($ 0.162/oz) at The House of Brews, Robinson Township, PA.
Canned 7/26/17. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Aroma – Peppery hops
Head – Large (Maximum 7.8 cm, aggressive pour), low density froth, good retention, slowly diminishing to an irregular frothy eight to 15 mm ring and a frothy partial layer.
Lacing – Good. Wide bands of tiny to medium bubbles which slowly break into lacey curtains.
Body – Orangish, hazy.
Flavor – The pepper from the nose does not translate to the flavor. This begins moderately bitter and chalky. Allowing it to warm in my mouth smooths out the hoppiness whilst allowing a little of the malt backbone to peep through. No alcohol, no diacetyl. Ends slightly chalky with a short hang time.
Palate – Moderate, watery, soft carbonation.
Impression: An IPA that walks on the mild side. Very easy drinking – not going to win any awards but more of a not-so-pale ale that you could drink all day.
Appearance 4, Aroma 3.5, Flavor 3.5, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.5.
Oct 07, 2017
3.42/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by omahawk from Nebraska
Passing through Pennsylvania and tried this out. Solid old-fashioned pale ale, along the lines of a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Copper colored, bitter forward. Lacks some malt depth and late hop flavor, but is drinkable. Not great, but a good pale ale.
Sep 21, 2017
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by omahawk from Nebraska
Passing through Pennsylvania and tried this out. Solid old-fashioned pale ale, along the lines of a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Copper colored, bitter forward. Lacks some malt depth and late hop flavor, but is drinkable. Not great, but a good pale ale.
Sep 21, 2017
4.06 by MKrauss from Pennsylvania on Sep 17, 2017
3.75 by caahare from West Virginia on Aug 24, 2017
4.24/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by IronLover from Pennsylvania
Dark, weathered copper orange on color with a murky, unfiltered appearance. Poured with a tall, rich, frothy off-white foam with excellent retention. Medium spicy hop aromas with with notes of fresh pine lemon zest. Medium malt and caramel malt flavors. Medium bodied with soft medium carbonation. Pleasant, creamy smooth feel through the middle with light warmth near the finish. Medium high fresh pine hoppiness up front that turns spicy and herbal. Medium high spicy hop bitterness through the middle. Medium malty backbone throughout with light caramel notes. Herbal and spicy flavors on the back end. Finished dryly with a lager-like cleanness followed by pleasant herbal, spicy hoppiness. If this beer has been in the line up for over 10 yrs, it's a beer before its time IMO. Like many non-west coast IPAs it is not a tropical fruit bomb. It is also not dank and incredibly bitter. It features an unfiltered hoppy pineness up front (NE style) with great hop character and a fabulous finish. Great feel and drinkability. A unique brew for the IPA connoisseur.
Aug 05, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by IronLover from Pennsylvania
Dark, weathered copper orange on color with a murky, unfiltered appearance. Poured with a tall, rich, frothy off-white foam with excellent retention. Medium spicy hop aromas with with notes of fresh pine lemon zest. Medium malt and caramel malt flavors. Medium bodied with soft medium carbonation. Pleasant, creamy smooth feel through the middle with light warmth near the finish. Medium high fresh pine hoppiness up front that turns spicy and herbal. Medium high spicy hop bitterness through the middle. Medium malty backbone throughout with light caramel notes. Herbal and spicy flavors on the back end. Finished dryly with a lager-like cleanness followed by pleasant herbal, spicy hoppiness. If this beer has been in the line up for over 10 yrs, it's a beer before its time IMO. Like many non-west coast IPAs it is not a tropical fruit bomb. It is also not dank and incredibly bitter. It features an unfiltered hoppy pineness up front (NE style) with great hop character and a fabulous finish. Great feel and drinkability. A unique brew for the IPA connoisseur.
Aug 05, 2017
3.72 by krbrevard from Virginia on Jul 21, 2017
3.92 by Bluescooter from North Carolina on Jul 20, 2017
3.17/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
by GreesyFizeek from New York
On tap at Primanti Bros in Pittsburgh, PA.
This one pours a dark-ish amber, with a small head and a good bit of lacing.
The name is Big Hop but that seems like a misnomer. I get mostly malt on the nose, bready and caramelly, with stale hops fighting in the background.
The taste is the same. Don't call a beer Big Hop if it's neither Big nor Hoppy. It's mainly just malty with astringent bitterness.
This is medium bodied, with a good level of carbonation.
This is fairly disappointing.
Jul 16, 2017
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
by GreesyFizeek from New York
On tap at Primanti Bros in Pittsburgh, PA.
This one pours a dark-ish amber, with a small head and a good bit of lacing.
The name is Big Hop but that seems like a misnomer. I get mostly malt on the nose, bready and caramelly, with stale hops fighting in the background.
The taste is the same. Don't call a beer Big Hop if it's neither Big nor Hoppy. It's mainly just malty with astringent bitterness.
This is medium bodied, with a good level of carbonation.
This is fairly disappointing.
Jul 16, 2017
3.54 by LarryMyers from Pennsylvania on Jul 12, 2017
3.91 by Raphaellima from Ohio on Jun 24, 2017
3.82/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by Blackop555 from Michigan
Pours light haze. Foamy, short, off white head that fades fast. Light lacing.
Smells caramel malt, light toasted malt and pine.
Tastes malty. Pine and light citrus peel with herbal hints. Finish is dry with pine and light earthiness. Medium body and creamy medium carbonation.
This was 3 weeks old in can so i guess it's always malty.
Jun 15, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by Blackop555 from Michigan
Pours light haze. Foamy, short, off white head that fades fast. Light lacing.
Smells caramel malt, light toasted malt and pine.
Tastes malty. Pine and light citrus peel with herbal hints. Finish is dry with pine and light earthiness. Medium body and creamy medium carbonation.
This was 3 weeks old in can so i guess it's always malty.
Jun 15, 2017
Big Hop from East End Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
302 ratings