Sucker-Punch IPA
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

Beer Geek Stats
From:
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.16 | pDev: 6.49%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
4
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 17, 2005
Added:
Dec 31, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of hopsaplenty
Reviewed by hopsaplenty from District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The Sucker Punch was served on cask the night I visited. It was pulled with a short bone white head of tine bubbles that left fantastic lacing. The color of clouded amber, with dull copper highlights, it looks beautiful in the glass. The smell is strongly of fruity hops, but they have been softened with hints of biscuit. I am rewarded with a wonderful mouthful of hops and enough malt to balance, but to still leave the hops in the forefront. The medium bodied beer is incredibly smooth and almost creamy from the cask. The hops finish bold, and linger for a short while to remind you of your selection. Highly drinkable and recommended.
Dec 17, 2005
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

3.8/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Orange in color with a 2" head. Light lacing develops. Aroma is of citrus and piney hops. The flavors do follow the nose as grapefruit, pine needle bitterness, caramel, and sweet malt is nicely balanced.

Very crisp mouthfeel. Dry finish. Citrus and bitterness ride the tongue for a while after swallowing. Nicely drinkable, just don't feel this is an American double IPA - closer to a regular American IPA.
Feb 28, 2005
Photo of warmstorage
Reviewed by warmstorage from California

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A very nice beer, slightly cloudy and dark copper in appearance, with a great floral nose after it warms up a bit (I had four pints over the course of two visits in one day; all were served too damn cold).

It begins with a fresh floral hoppiness, a full mouth of almost spicy hop presence, hinting at the high IBU count (87 IBU advertised). The middle taste is full of fresh, citrus, floral hoppiness, but surprisingly balanced: all without being overpowering, but just... delicious.

The finish is solidly hoppy, and the huge hop bill really overpowers the grain presence here. Wonderful.

I don't know if it's a double IPA per se, as I don't recall the alcohol content, and don't know if it's really powerful enough for "double" status: but it's either everything a standard IPA should be, or a good, medium-level example of double IPA.

I'd drink it again and again, if it was on. It was probably the single best local, fresh beer I had in D.C. in the course of going to every brewpub except rockbottom.
Feb 25, 2005
Photo of sideshowrob
Reviewed by sideshowrob from Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this one both on-tap and on-cask at the DC John Harvard's.

Brew poured absolutely opaque, a lovely golden-amber hue. No filtering here! Bright, sharp and strongly piney hop aromas were quite evident on the nose. Brewer says that Cascade hops were used in the boil, with dry-hopping being done with Columbus hops. Very nice Combo.

Taste was excellent - very good hop character, well blended and harmonious. Beer clocks in at about 87 IBU's. Very refreshing.

Mouthfeel was rather nice, but not outstanding. Beer was quite drinkable for the style and hoppiness.

A lovely pint of ale. Hopefully it will return often.
Dec 31, 2004
Sucker-Punch IPA from John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
Beer rating: 4.16 out of 5 with 4 ratings