Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale AleHoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale
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From:
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 11.2%
Reviews:
117
Ratings:
300
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 15, 2021
Added:
May 24, 2009
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  68
32 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by clockwerk:
Photo of clockwerk
Reviewed by clockwerk from Canada (ON)

3.36/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm breaking form on this review, because this beer really pissed me off. Frankly, it symbolized everything that is wrong with Ontario brewers. Why? Well, because it's a pretty good beer. It's also quite boring in my opinion.

Off the bat, the packaging had me intrigued. Excellent catchy phrases and bright colours adorned the bottle and box. Once, poured, it showed good head formation and was a nice clear copper. It looked quite the winner.

Then it all started to go wrong. I couldn't help it, try as I might, but the smell and taste reminded me of a craft brewed version of Bohemian. That same smell and flavour, just better brewed. There's simply nothing interesting here. Almost Pale Ale? Come on guys. The brewers obviously have skill, and the beer is really quite good, just unexceptional. There's nothing here to capture my interest, or convince me to pay a premium for it. When I can get 6's of DFH or Rogue Dead Guy, why would I choose this? If I'm the type of drinker who is looking for something on the "easy drinking" side, I'm going to save my money and buy a 12 of Bohemian instead. It hurts to say this, because the beer is very well brewed, just boring.

The mouthfeel and drinkability were spot on however.

The bottom line for me, is that despite the flashy packaging, the beer is anything but flashy or interesting. If you're going to talk about illusions and magic, you'd better back it up with something that surprises me.
Nov 25, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.99 by Danzifer from Ohio

Jul 15, 2021
Photo of InspectorHound
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

3.82/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Pours a dark copper with brown undertones. Like throwing 4 orange pekoe teas in a pot but hazy. Thick rocky 2 finger orange/white head, with substancial retention.

Smell: Malty and biscuity, with some subtle floral notes.

Taste: This is malty and soft and light. Very English Mild like in my opinion. Caramel, malt, and dry grass all mixed together with a dryish finish.

Feel: Pretty light bodied, with a sweet dry finish.

Given the name I was expecting a lot more hops, and was surpised by what is on offer. A good beer though. It earns a B+ in my book.
May 15, 2021
Photo of Larryfunnell
Reviewed by Larryfunnell from Canada (ON)

4.09/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The beer pours out with a nice caramel colour and a somewhat darkish head, that dissipates. Enough head for character, not too much that pouring it is a problem. The beer is not high on the bitterness scale, with citrous notes, going down very smooth. Overall quite nice, and I like the 5%, so it is not too strong that one needs to watch one's intake if doing demanding tasks.
Jan 22, 2021
Photo of davidward
Rated by davidward from Florida

3/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
An average ale.
Dec 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.63 by SteveWeiler from Canada (ON)

Mar 11, 2020
Photo of eberesford
Reviewed by eberesford from Canada (ON)

3.59/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aroma - gentle notes of floral, citrus grapefruit and pine. The flavour too is quite light - bready malts balanced by the floral hops. Overall lighter and lest distinctive than I expected.
Jun 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by madhungarian90 from Canada (ON)

Apr 19, 2019
Photo of Jesterr44
Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)

3.74/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This score may be a touch higher than this beer deserves as an APA, but it's got a special place in my heart as one of my gateway IPAs which led me to discover the truly fabulous IPAs available to me during my North American travels, and even with some places closer to home. Definitely some decent hop flavour, somewhat gentler & more smooth than Smashbomb, but the full complex hop flavours provided by a fine APA/IPA aren't quite there.
Feb 14, 2019
Photo of rapayn01
Reviewed by rapayn01 from Kentucky

3.69/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a Canadian tall boy can (473 ml). It was OK, but it was very mild in flavor and lacked a notable hop profile. This makes it a suitable session ale for poker, perhaps, but I wouldn't seek it out.
Sep 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by tottel from Netherlands

Jun 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by Jangle_bojangle from Canada (ON)

Apr 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.04 by shivtim from Georgia

Apr 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.38 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

Mar 31, 2018
 
Rated: 3.74 by BillT916 from California

Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.87 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.64 by spokenwheels from Canada (BC)

Dec 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.72 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Nov 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by sineone from Canada (ON)

Aug 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by Juiposa from Canada (ON)

Aug 09, 2017
Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 300 ratings