Cold Hop British-Style Ale
Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

Cold Hop British-Style AleCold Hop British-Style Ale
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From:
Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
English IPA
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 11.64%
Reviews:
303
Ratings:
473
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 05, 2017
Added:
Apr 22, 2007
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  17
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by udubdawg:
Photo of udubdawg
Reviewed by udubdawg from Kansas

4.36/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Wow, my experience was almost the opposite as the last review. But that's one of the things I love about this place.

22 oz bomber.

I shared a bomber of this that I really enjoyed, so I bought 3 of my own to try this weekend. In my anxiousness to taste this beer I poured my initial bottle way too cold - straight out of an ice-cold fridge, the beer could only be called harsh. The nose was a mix of weird indescribable malt aroma, alcohol, and floral and bittering hops that seemed artificial and solvent-like. Harsh was the first word I thought of, and the same went for the flavor, and indeed for the mouthfeel - the initial carbonation, bitterness, and alcohol...blech. Then I had it again...

I have rarely had a beer that I enjoyed so much more at a warmer temperature. Pulled from a 54 degree beer fridge the pour was a light copper with excellent clarity. Head was big, frothy, off-white and after quickly subsiding to a cap left a pleasing spotty lace.

Once warmer the complexities of the aroma come out and subdue the harsh beast I noted earlier. None of the sweet fruitiness I am noticing was evident earlier. The alcohol has especially become muted (or rather the other aromas are less muted), but still makes itself known. Toasted malts are very evident. I'm not sure I'll ever love this aroma, but it is growing on me rapidly.

Caramel, and lots of it - interesting that this was nearly hidden when cold...or maybe I was too busy scrunching up my nose from the unpleasant experience to note the flavor - whatever. Floral nature hides behind the ample sweetness, which is a complete switch from my previous experience. Nice complexity. I'd call this fruity, though I'm not sure I could identify anything in particular. Finish is a short-lived and refreshing bitter with some piney hops also present. Basically "blech" has become "mmm, sweet and kinda spicy!"

Mouthfeel after a couple minutes of settling is a light bodied smooth crispness, the nicely bitter finish just adding to the drinkable nature. I find this beer incredibly refreshing and at $2.99 per 22 oz, I just bought a case. Not nearly as lethal as Mojo Risin, and (IMO) similarly tasty. I enjoyed a bottle tonite while making pasta...a less than ideal food pairing, you say? And is it really an English IPA? Who cares - I like this beer. I hope you do too.
I'm not sure how this one will do over time. I wouldn't quite call it balanced, but there is a lot of malt that makes itself known in this brew. If the hops should fade over time, I may find the sweet fruitiness not as unpleasant, and could grow to dislike the malty aroma if the hops wasn't as present. But I doubt I'll have trouble finishing my bottles while fresh.
May 31, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.72 by Jodio from Texas

Feb 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.64 by Gerred from Missouri

Dec 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.09 by ffshore545 from Illinois

Dec 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by moundbz from North Dakota

Dec 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.22 by rangerred from Tennessee

Aug 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.76 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Jul 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by mountaincoffee from Kansas

Jun 13, 2016
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
as much an esb as an english ipa to me, insofar as we can appreciate a difference in a beer like this that really flirts with that line and muddles the distinction. i smell and taste maris otter malt in this, which i intimately associate with esb, so thats what i am calling it. is its pleasantly hoppy too though, more than just bitter, and the grain isnt sweet like they can sometimes be, balanced but not over balanced in that way, nicely measured there. malt driven though as much as the hops, that kind of balance. the yeast is very subtle, almost too subtle to be english, at least in the way i look for these styles to be, but its there, maybe a hint of tang from a burton strain or something, but likely fermented cool enough to keep it from being super influential. fruity notes in the middle here, some brown sugar too maybe, good and not overbearing though. carbonated quite well, and overall a safe but drinkable brew. i think it could probably stand to be a little hoppier overall, especially considering its name, i wanted a little more of that element, but this is still one of the better boulder beers i have had in a little while. english styles dont get enough love from the colorado craft brewers i dont reckon...
May 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania

May 08, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Dark yellow to light orange, 1/3" off white head. Aroma drops the earthy old world hops and toffee malt.

Taste is the usual bitterness without hop mouthfeel, a warming sensation of alcohol with the bitterness. Achieves balance. Takes on a woody feel downbottle. A stronger than average English ipa.
May 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.39 by tiitomireles from Texas

Apr 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.49 by casapy from Idaho

Sep 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.35 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by fossage78 from Massachusetts

Jul 31, 2015
Photo of drpimento
Rated by drpimento from Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
With this kind of hop usage, I don't quite see it as a Brit style. More like kinda, maybe, sorta. Otherwise not bad.
Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by informaticsDoc from Pennsylvania

Jul 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.87 by GOINBaCKWARDS from Minnesota

Jul 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.76 by ALLISON01 from Pennsylvania

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by JayRichter44 from Pennsylvania

Jun 19, 2015
Cold Hop British-Style Ale from Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 473 ratings