Hop Bullet | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
California, United States
sierranevada.com
Style: American Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.00%
Availability: Spring
Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust.
Hops are the name of the game with a Double IPA, but we knew we had to take it one step further. With Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a double-barreled blast of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops.
BEGINNING GRAVITY: 17.6° plato
ENDING GRAVITY: 2.4° plato
BITTERNESS UNITS: 60
YEAST: Ale yeast
BITTERING HOPS: Magnum
FINISHING HOPS: Centennial, Cascade, Chinook, Magnum, Crystal
MALTS: Two-row Pale, Wheat, Dextrine, Chocolate, Acidulated
Added by jeff1973 on 07-12-2017
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 802 | Reviews: 266
4.29/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The slightly hazy but almost clear yellow colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1” off-white head that slowly recedes to a thin irregular island of foam on the surface and a ring around the glass while leaving a web of patches and legs of lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates lots of scattered small patches of lacing, many of which slide back down to the liquid.
The aromas are light and full of citric zest and some light pine resin. There’s also a bit of floral and herbal character showing and in the background there’s some rich bready/crackery malt.
The flavors are similar to what is expected from the nose but the firmly present citric zest has some orange character and the noticeable pine resin is both present and persistent. The bitterness is noticeable but not intense and the sweetness from the bready/crackery malt provides a nice balance so that neither the malt sweetness nor the bitterness are in charge.
The mouth feel is medium bodied and lightly crisp with the moderate carbonation. The finish begins as all the flavors begin to recede but with the pine resin bitterness receding more slowly into the dry ending.
Overall this is both enjoyable and drinkable and I’ll be happy to have it again and again and again, etc. As we expect from Sierra Nevada it’s a solid, enjoyable beer that offers both some complexity while also being enjoyable. It is a full flavored Imperial IPA in which both the malt and the hops play an equal role. Both are firmly, noticeably present but the bitterness does not rasp and the malt sweetness does not cloy. Time to get some more.
1,631 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The slightly hazy but almost clear yellow colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1” off-white head that slowly recedes to a thin irregular island of foam on the surface and a ring around the glass while leaving a web of patches and legs of lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates lots of scattered small patches of lacing, many of which slide back down to the liquid.
The aromas are light and full of citric zest and some light pine resin. There’s also a bit of floral and herbal character showing and in the background there’s some rich bready/crackery malt.
The flavors are similar to what is expected from the nose but the firmly present citric zest has some orange character and the noticeable pine resin is both present and persistent. The bitterness is noticeable but not intense and the sweetness from the bready/crackery malt provides a nice balance so that neither the malt sweetness nor the bitterness are in charge.
The mouth feel is medium bodied and lightly crisp with the moderate carbonation. The finish begins as all the flavors begin to recede but with the pine resin bitterness receding more slowly into the dry ending.
Overall this is both enjoyable and drinkable and I’ll be happy to have it again and again and again, etc. As we expect from Sierra Nevada it’s a solid, enjoyable beer that offers both some complexity while also being enjoyable. It is a full flavored Imperial IPA in which both the malt and the hops play an equal role. Both are firmly, noticeably present but the bitterness does not rasp and the malt sweetness does not cloy. Time to get some more.
1,631 characters
3.49/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.33/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a generic pint glass. Golden-straw colored (the beer, not glass). Soft smell. Inoffensive mouthfeel. No aftertaste.
I expected this to be aggressively hopped, but it's very much not. You can tell it's high-gravity (8%!), but it's still subtle. Will buy again. Would be nice if it said 8% on the box, so I knew what I was getting into.
355 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a generic pint glass. Golden-straw colored (the beer, not glass). Soft smell. Inoffensive mouthfeel. No aftertaste.
I expected this to be aggressively hopped, but it's very much not. You can tell it's high-gravity (8%!), but it's still subtle. Will buy again. Would be nice if it said 8% on the box, so I knew what I was getting into.
355 characters
4.4/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Good beer. Bought a sample pack from Costco. Not overly bitter and actually quiet smooth for an IPA. Crisp going down and clean aftertaste. Hard to believe 8% ABV.
166 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Good beer. Bought a sample pack from Costco. Not overly bitter and actually quiet smooth for an IPA. Crisp going down and clean aftertaste. Hard to believe 8% ABV.
166 characters
3.91/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.04/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.58/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Prefer Sierra Nevada Torpedo to this one. It is called hop bullet but lacks the hop taste of Torpedo although contains more alcohol per serving.
144 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Prefer Sierra Nevada Torpedo to this one. It is called hop bullet but lacks the hop taste of Torpedo although contains more alcohol per serving.
144 characters
3.97/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Packaged on 08/24/18 stamped on bottom of 12. oz. can:
Pours slightly hazed golden with a thin white head that dissipates to barely a wisp. Little lacing sticks.
The smell is of citric and tropical fruits with a touch of pine. SN house character comes through (a good thing).
The taste is of citrus with pine mixed in. Just a bit of alcohol warmth. Some bready backing. Fairly long finish.
It's not quite full-bodied for the style, but close enough. Works well here - Good carbonation level. Very smooth.
Another winner for Sierra Nevada! Might not be quite as "big" as some other shining examples of the style, but is well-made and very enjoyable. Very easy to drink for an 8% abv brew.
I bought to individual cans, but at some point, I plan on getting the whole 12-pack. It's price point (in line with their other brews) and availability add to the value of the beer, IMO.
880 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Packaged on 08/24/18 stamped on bottom of 12. oz. can:
Pours slightly hazed golden with a thin white head that dissipates to barely a wisp. Little lacing sticks.
The smell is of citric and tropical fruits with a touch of pine. SN house character comes through (a good thing).
The taste is of citrus with pine mixed in. Just a bit of alcohol warmth. Some bready backing. Fairly long finish.
It's not quite full-bodied for the style, but close enough. Works well here - Good carbonation level. Very smooth.
Another winner for Sierra Nevada! Might not be quite as "big" as some other shining examples of the style, but is well-made and very enjoyable. Very easy to drink for an 8% abv brew.
I bought to individual cans, but at some point, I plan on getting the whole 12-pack. It's price point (in line with their other brews) and availability add to the value of the beer, IMO.
880 characters
2.46/5 rDev -38%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
They should call this a 1/2 ipa. Pours yellow gold. Smells faintly of citrus. Tastes faintly of dank hops. If you've ever had hop torpedo, this is much more tame. Only 60 ibu but the perceived ibu is much lower. I'll pass, would not buy again. I don't buy a double ipa for a mellow hop experience, and that's what this is. Mellow, and quaffable. But not what i want when i buy a double ipa. Weak tea
399 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
They should call this a 1/2 ipa. Pours yellow gold. Smells faintly of citrus. Tastes faintly of dank hops. If you've ever had hop torpedo, this is much more tame. Only 60 ibu but the perceived ibu is much lower. I'll pass, would not buy again. I don't buy a double ipa for a mellow hop experience, and that's what this is. Mellow, and quaffable. But not what i want when i buy a double ipa. Weak tea
399 characters
4.34/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Golden clear with white head
Tropical fruit citrus floral hop scent
Feel is moderately bitter with dry finish medium carbonation throughout
Tangy citrus grapefruit and herbal hop flavors dominate with mild malt and alcohol
This is a quality IPA with substantial hop aroma flavor and sufficient alcohol for th he style
318 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Golden clear with white head
Tropical fruit citrus floral hop scent
Feel is moderately bitter with dry finish medium carbonation throughout
Tangy citrus grapefruit and herbal hop flavors dominate with mild malt and alcohol
This is a quality IPA with substantial hop aroma flavor and sufficient alcohol for th he style
318 characters
3.61/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a good beer, but not remarkable in any way. It’s not a true western DIPA, and seems thin. And it not a malty DIPA either. It’s just an ok beer, nothing here to get excited about.
190 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is a good beer, but not remarkable in any way. It’s not a true western DIPA, and seems thin. And it not a malty DIPA either. It’s just an ok beer, nothing here to get excited about.
190 characters
4.02/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.12/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.5/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Hop Bullet from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
3.97 out of
5 with
802 ratings
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