Halcyon
Thornbridge Brewery

HalcyonHalcyon
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From:
Thornbridge Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,724
ABV:
7.4%
Score:
89
Ranked #11,627
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 9.05%
Reviews:
87
Ratings:
252
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 19, 2022
Added:
Mar 30, 2009
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  25
Light gold in colour, Halcyon is brimming with intense pineapple, grapefruit, lemon zest and piney hop flavours.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by johnnnniee:
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On cask at Nerax North
Pours a light clear golden color with a thinnish white head that actually shows some retention. Smells of hops, yeah! Fruity bready honey malts back us up, but this one is firmly rooted in the hop camp. Taste is barely bready and sweet with fruity citrus and earthy hop flavors all screaming for attention. 7.7% abv is nowhere to be found. Medium body and level of carbonation with a slick resinous mouthfeel. This might be my favorite beer from the fest, or maybe it isn't, but its certainly in the running.
Nov 12, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.79 by HopBelT from Belgium

May 19, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.11/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy golden colour, large white head. Lovely and strong aroma of various tropical fruits, also fir trees. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, with plenty of tropical fruits and pine needles, but the bitterness is hardly what an American would call "Imperial". Still a very enjoyable beer, clearly the "big brother" of Jaipur and Kipling.
Jun 07, 2021
 
Rated: 4.38 by Goity from Scotland

Apr 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.54 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Apr 01, 2019
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L- Pale yellow, pours with thin white head that clears to lacing.
S- Manages to smell fruity/floral and sour all at once.
T- I was expecting a 'contemporary hop-bomb' (hipster style), but no this isn't like that it's way more balanced. I get fruit notes, perhaps grapefruit, but within a quite high ABV% rich warmth which gives it balance.
M- It manages to be refreshing whilst being fulfilling in depth of flavour, and does so in a strikingly balanced way. The 7.4% ABV leaves you in no doubt this beer means business.
O- This works out at £3.95/UK-pint, but as a 7.4% and a very slick example of an Imperial IPA given a sensitive comporary angle IPA fans might find it good value. I'm not a born IPA drinker, but I would very happily buy and drink this one again.
£2.29 from Waitrose London/330ml bottle. BB: 15/02/2020
Mar 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by igl from Russian Federation

Feb 23, 2019
Photo of MichaelGennings
Reviewed by MichaelGennings from Canada (ON)

3.66/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Halcyon Imperial IPA from Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, UK. 7.4% alc.

Virtually no head on this beer. The beer itself is a cloudy juice-like yellow.

The aroma contains faint grapefruit citrus notes.

The taste is grapefruit. The beer is medium bodied. The mouthfeel is prickly and yet sort of smooth.

The finish is tart and dry.

While I was disappointed in the lack of aroma the flavour is quite nice.

I recommend trying if you like this style.
Jan 19, 2019
Photo of JonnyGoldsbrough
Reviewed by JonnyGoldsbrough from England

4.14/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thornbridge Halcyon 7.4% in bottle

Jaipur on steroids.

L3 - Light Amber, poor head
S3.5 - slight hoppy notes
T4.5 - redeemed, very similar to Jaipur but with a slight extra kick
O4 a great tasting IPA let down by insipid appearance. Jaipur still my favourite from thornbridge.

* Also do a pink grapefruit version which is a really interesting well balanced beer
Sep 20, 2018
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.09/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Single from LCBO In Hamilton. Pours a somewhat hazy golden yellow with scant white head. Aroma of over ripe pineapple, grapefruit, slightly oniony/sweaty with pine in back. Taste opens with sweet caramel malt but then hits with bitter pine resin, grapefruit rind, mango. Significant bitterness lingers very nicely on a full bodied finish in a subtlely carbonated well balanced IPA.
Sep 01, 2018
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap. Lemon, dry grass, and spring spice notes lead in smell and taste. Taste you get more tropical fruits as well, but everything is a bit more muddled compared to the purity of the smell. Body is hoppy and bready then slightly watery, weird transition on palate. A fine dipa, but can't help feeling it has potential to be more with some tweaks.
Aug 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.09 by kier from Canada (ON)

Jul 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Jun 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jun 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by yancot from Canada (ON)

Jun 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.59 by georgeanthorpe from England

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 123321123321 from Alabama

Dec 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by khmel from Ukraine

Nov 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by JavierGC from Spain

Sep 17, 2017
Photo of saboliver
Reviewed by saboliver from England

4.34/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Slightly hazy, light gold glow. Very thin ephemeral head. Really potent citrus and tropical notes on the nose, giving an impression of sweet juiciness. Peach mixed with grapefruit. The taste follows the smell with balanced warmth and roundness under the bitter tang or tropical flavours. Thornbridge make some seriously good ales. For me, a pleasingly limited level of carbonation, allowing the flavours to sing through. Delicious.
Sep 16, 2017
Halcyon from Thornbridge Brewery
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 252 ratings