Fresh Hop Double IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- IPA - Imperial
Ranked #2,189 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #15,426 - Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 6.39%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 27, 2021
- Added:
- Nov 03, 2017
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 17
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
None
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.16 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota on Nov 27, 2021
3.12/5 rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
by elNopalero from California
Enjoyed fresh.
This pours a surprisingly dark auburn amber color with a cap of foam. Light aroma, opens slightly as it warms. Taste is off--off balanced, stickly bitter, with an overpowering caramel malt backing drowning out the hops. More of a malty imperial red than a dipa.
Nov 28, 2019
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
by elNopalero from California
Enjoyed fresh.
This pours a surprisingly dark auburn amber color with a cap of foam. Light aroma, opens slightly as it warms. Taste is off--off balanced, stickly bitter, with an overpowering caramel malt backing drowning out the hops. More of a malty imperial red than a dipa.
Nov 28, 2019
3.15/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
by macrosmatic from Florida
Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from a 12 oz. can into a Cycle Brewing goblet.
A: Pours a moderately hazy dark bronze to almost brown - surprisingly dark for style. Forms a half-finger of off-white head that lasts well. Not an ugly beer, but quite odd for style.
S: Bready malts with a bit of caramel sweetness. A modest grapefruit and rind with some resin and pine. And that’s about all I can find. This might be the most dull-smelling DIPA that I’ve had for a long time. Not “off”, but a low aroma you’ve got to dig for anything. And there's nothing exciting, nor "fresh-hoppy", about it.
T: Bready malts again, with a mild toast and modest caramel. Grapefruit rind, resinous pine, and mild tropical fruit hops. More sweet malts in the middle, and the bitterest grapefruit pith and some Stone-esque naked alpha bitterness in the hang. Just a hint of grassiness on the exhale suggests anything like a fresh hop being used.
M: An average body for style. The alcohol presence seems well-hidden for style, though it is a quite-modest ABV listed on the can. Average carbonation sensation.
O: I found this to be disappointing. This can would have been on the dark side for a Red Ale. So I was kinda hoping there was something wrong with the first can - not like an infection or anything, but it seems old, or mis-stored by the distributor. But since the other cans were indeed similar, perhaps it was just ill-conceived. It's not undrinkable or anything, but there’s nothing here that would warrant a drink at all. I was looking forward to this one, and I love me some fresh-hopped beers. But this was a huge letdown.
Aug 03, 2019
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
by macrosmatic from Florida
Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from a 12 oz. can into a Cycle Brewing goblet.
A: Pours a moderately hazy dark bronze to almost brown - surprisingly dark for style. Forms a half-finger of off-white head that lasts well. Not an ugly beer, but quite odd for style.
S: Bready malts with a bit of caramel sweetness. A modest grapefruit and rind with some resin and pine. And that’s about all I can find. This might be the most dull-smelling DIPA that I’ve had for a long time. Not “off”, but a low aroma you’ve got to dig for anything. And there's nothing exciting, nor "fresh-hoppy", about it.
T: Bready malts again, with a mild toast and modest caramel. Grapefruit rind, resinous pine, and mild tropical fruit hops. More sweet malts in the middle, and the bitterest grapefruit pith and some Stone-esque naked alpha bitterness in the hang. Just a hint of grassiness on the exhale suggests anything like a fresh hop being used.
M: An average body for style. The alcohol presence seems well-hidden for style, though it is a quite-modest ABV listed on the can. Average carbonation sensation.
O: I found this to be disappointing. This can would have been on the dark side for a Red Ale. So I was kinda hoping there was something wrong with the first can - not like an infection or anything, but it seems old, or mis-stored by the distributor. But since the other cans were indeed similar, perhaps it was just ill-conceived. It's not undrinkable or anything, but there’s nothing here that would warrant a drink at all. I was looking forward to this one, and I love me some fresh-hopped beers. But this was a huge letdown.
Aug 03, 2019
4.16/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Darkmagus82 from Texas
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a deep golden amber color with a one finger head of pure white foam. The head has an amazing level of retention very slowly fading over time to leave a great sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is huge of a sweet tropical fruit smell of tangerine, pineapple, papaya, and mango. Along with these aromas comes some grapefruit hop and a little bit of grass and herb. Overall, big and desirous smelling,
Taste – The taste doesn’t start out like I would have expected. It begins with a malty and bready taste that has some tropical fruit flavors of tangerine and papaya and a decent hit of grapefruit hop, but the sweet fruit tastes, while heavy in the nose, are slightly lighter on the tongue. As the taste advances however, the sweeter fruit tastes get stronger with some other fruit tastes of mango and pineapple joining the increasing tangerine and papaya. This sweetness in the taste increases quite a bit, but all the while the grapefruit citrus hop, as well as some decently strong pine and herbal hop tastes come to the tongue, leaving one with a quite rich but smooth and still (dangerously) easy drinking taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the average side in terms of thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is rather low. For the style, tastes, and abv., the feel is dangerously good, and with the lack of alcohol flavor, this makes it an almost too drinkable brew.
Overall – This was an awesome brew overall. Very flavorful, easy drinking, nicely balanced, and very smooth. Awesome!!
Apr 26, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Darkmagus82 from Texas
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a deep golden amber color with a one finger head of pure white foam. The head has an amazing level of retention very slowly fading over time to leave a great sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is huge of a sweet tropical fruit smell of tangerine, pineapple, papaya, and mango. Along with these aromas comes some grapefruit hop and a little bit of grass and herb. Overall, big and desirous smelling,
Taste – The taste doesn’t start out like I would have expected. It begins with a malty and bready taste that has some tropical fruit flavors of tangerine and papaya and a decent hit of grapefruit hop, but the sweet fruit tastes, while heavy in the nose, are slightly lighter on the tongue. As the taste advances however, the sweeter fruit tastes get stronger with some other fruit tastes of mango and pineapple joining the increasing tangerine and papaya. This sweetness in the taste increases quite a bit, but all the while the grapefruit citrus hop, as well as some decently strong pine and herbal hop tastes come to the tongue, leaving one with a quite rich but smooth and still (dangerously) easy drinking taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the average side in terms of thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is rather low. For the style, tastes, and abv., the feel is dangerously good, and with the lack of alcohol flavor, this makes it an almost too drinkable brew.
Overall – This was an awesome brew overall. Very flavorful, easy drinking, nicely balanced, and very smooth. Awesome!!
Apr 26, 2019
3.67/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass.
L---Clear, darkish golden color. HUGE, slightly off-white head. Head was long lasting and coated the sides of the glass. This one is a real looker.
S---Lighter aroma than expected from a DIPA that advertises it's hops in its name. Light pine & citrus with a slight floral scent in the background.
T---Maltier than expected. A strong, bready backbone. Hops are not as much in the forefront as expected. No hint of alcohol. Pine & citrus (orange, grapefruit & lemon) are most noticeable. Maltiness provides an unexpected balance for the beer, quite nice.
F---Feels chuggable, which would be a mistake at the ABV. Fresh & slightly juicy.
O---Not what I was expecting on a couple of fronts, but still a damn nice beer by an excellent brewery. I'd get this one again.
Mar 24, 2019
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass.
L---Clear, darkish golden color. HUGE, slightly off-white head. Head was long lasting and coated the sides of the glass. This one is a real looker.
S---Lighter aroma than expected from a DIPA that advertises it's hops in its name. Light pine & citrus with a slight floral scent in the background.
T---Maltier than expected. A strong, bready backbone. Hops are not as much in the forefront as expected. No hint of alcohol. Pine & citrus (orange, grapefruit & lemon) are most noticeable. Maltiness provides an unexpected balance for the beer, quite nice.
F---Feels chuggable, which would be a mistake at the ABV. Fresh & slightly juicy.
O---Not what I was expecting on a couple of fronts, but still a damn nice beer by an excellent brewery. I'd get this one again.
Mar 24, 2019
4.1 by Hurl4bru from Massachusetts on Mar 13, 2019
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by zeff80 from Missouri
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a good-sized, off-white head of foam. It smelled of pine, orange peel and toasted caramel. Sweet citrus taste with strong roasted malt and a sharp bitterness.
Mar 03, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by zeff80 from Missouri
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a good-sized, off-white head of foam. It smelled of pine, orange peel and toasted caramel. Sweet citrus taste with strong roasted malt and a sharp bitterness.
Mar 03, 2019
3.96 by Navin-Johnson from Texas on Feb 22, 2019
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
Intense hop flavor, definitely a West Coast IPA. Thought the beer would be more complex than single fresh hop IPA, but it was actually less so. If you've got to choose, go with the single.
Feb 18, 2019
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey
Intense hop flavor, definitely a West Coast IPA. Thought the beer would be more complex than single fresh hop IPA, but it was actually less so. If you've got to choose, go with the single.
Feb 18, 2019
4 by jkn09 from Texas on Jan 29, 2019
3.92 by RDW from Nebraska on Jan 27, 2019
3.73 by RBorsato from Virginia on Jan 23, 2019
3.97/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Act25 from New Jersey
SN fresh and bright efforts lately, where Resilience kills it, this one very good also.
a) Clear dark amber with 2+ fingers of pearly foamy head w decent retention & nice lacing. Always.
s) Too faint but piney, grassy, damp fall earth cousin to Resilience.
t) Fills your mouth with bready, grassy, herbal, pine. Slightly catty, dry, but agree with BAer who wrote finished minty.
f) Always a mouth pleaser, ticklely, right weighted, balanced, dry clean finish.
o) Alway the best large brewer and never a bore or also ran.
Jan 23, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Act25 from New Jersey
SN fresh and bright efforts lately, where Resilience kills it, this one very good also.
a) Clear dark amber with 2+ fingers of pearly foamy head w decent retention & nice lacing. Always.
s) Too faint but piney, grassy, damp fall earth cousin to Resilience.
t) Fills your mouth with bready, grassy, herbal, pine. Slightly catty, dry, but agree with BAer who wrote finished minty.
f) Always a mouth pleaser, ticklely, right weighted, balanced, dry clean finish.
o) Alway the best large brewer and never a bore or also ran.
Jan 23, 2019
3.85/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
Look - copper color with a good sticky white lacing
Smell - citrus slight lemon and pine
Taste - a lot like the scent but lacing a lot of the taste and more bitterness
Feel - medium full body with a lighter crisp carbonation
Overall - just ok
Jan 07, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
Look - copper color with a good sticky white lacing
Smell - citrus slight lemon and pine
Taste - a lot like the scent but lacing a lot of the taste and more bitterness
Feel - medium full body with a lighter crisp carbonation
Overall - just ok
Jan 07, 2019
4.08 by runlikeakenyan from Indiana on Jan 06, 2019
3.9 by inbierveritas from Minnesota on Jan 06, 2019
4.06 by BeardedWalrus from North Carolina on Dec 31, 2018
3.99 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado on Dec 30, 2018
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Nephilium from Ohio
Big clean hop aroma, pours a clear amber with a full white head. Lively carbonation, with a medium body. Slightly sweet to begin with which quickly fades to grapefruit and pine hops and a bitter finish. This is a solid IIPA.
Dec 28, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Nephilium from Ohio
Big clean hop aroma, pours a clear amber with a full white head. Lively carbonation, with a medium body. Slightly sweet to begin with which quickly fades to grapefruit and pine hops and a bitter finish. This is a solid IIPA.
Dec 28, 2018
4.25 by brewnme from Maine on Dec 04, 2018
3.75 by Pro_Magnon from Texas on Nov 24, 2018
3.9 by kjkinsey from Texas on Oct 19, 2018
4.94/5 rDev +26.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by Cburchell from Florida
Great taste and feel. Very creamy and smooth. Great hoppy/citrusy smell. Good amber color. Overall nice and smooth IPA.
May 31, 2018
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by Cburchell from Florida
Great taste and feel. Very creamy and smooth. Great hoppy/citrusy smell. Good amber color. Overall nice and smooth IPA.
May 31, 2018
3.89/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by teromous from Virginia
From the bottom of the can: "PKGD 101917C09:22"
Appearance: The beer looks gorgeous in a glass. The head is this thick, off-white tan, with a creamy texture and pockmarked rocky top. The body is a beautiful shade of tea-like brown. It's picture perfect.
Aroma: There is a light floral aroma and it has this wet wood, oak scent. The longer the nose lingers at the cap the more spicy the aroma becomes. It has a bit of a peppery character which is interesting.
Taste: It has this perfect balance of malt and hop character. There is this slightly sweet malt, toasted, sweet alcohol, woody flavor. There is also this earthy, somewhat minty, slightly pine-like flavor. It's just packed full of flavors that draw you back to the beer because you think you've tasted something and want to double check, only to discover another flavor and get derailed.
Mouthfeel: This beer is more of a moderate sipper. Some of that has to do with the amount of flavor the beer has, and some of it has to do with the slow, earthy bitterness it delivers that also lingers in the aftertaste.
Overall: It is a flavor explorer's dream. There is a lot going on in this beer but it hides itself so well within the confines of other flavors. I don't know if this beer was aged on wood or not, but it has a lot of character that is often found in wood-aged beers. I would recommend it and I would drink it again.
Apr 21, 2018
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by teromous from Virginia
From the bottom of the can: "PKGD 101917C09:22"
Appearance: The beer looks gorgeous in a glass. The head is this thick, off-white tan, with a creamy texture and pockmarked rocky top. The body is a beautiful shade of tea-like brown. It's picture perfect.
Aroma: There is a light floral aroma and it has this wet wood, oak scent. The longer the nose lingers at the cap the more spicy the aroma becomes. It has a bit of a peppery character which is interesting.
Taste: It has this perfect balance of malt and hop character. There is this slightly sweet malt, toasted, sweet alcohol, woody flavor. There is also this earthy, somewhat minty, slightly pine-like flavor. It's just packed full of flavors that draw you back to the beer because you think you've tasted something and want to double check, only to discover another flavor and get derailed.
Mouthfeel: This beer is more of a moderate sipper. Some of that has to do with the amount of flavor the beer has, and some of it has to do with the slow, earthy bitterness it delivers that also lingers in the aftertaste.
Overall: It is a flavor explorer's dream. There is a lot going on in this beer but it hides itself so well within the confines of other flavors. I don't know if this beer was aged on wood or not, but it has a lot of character that is often found in wood-aged beers. I would recommend it and I would drink it again.
Apr 21, 2018
3.81/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by arizcards from North Carolina
Picked up at the Craft Beer Hop Stop 11-24-17 for $1.50. Canned on 10-19-17 and stored in the beer fridge since purchase.
Beer poured orange with a nice white head that had some good hang time.
Nose is bready with some citrus.
Taste has a bready malt base with grapefruit and orange. Finish is well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and refreshing for a bigger beer.
Overall a solid brew, the hops are definitely muted. I perceived this more as an APA given the breadyness and the balance.
Mar 15, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by arizcards from North Carolina
Picked up at the Craft Beer Hop Stop 11-24-17 for $1.50. Canned on 10-19-17 and stored in the beer fridge since purchase.
Beer poured orange with a nice white head that had some good hang time.
Nose is bready with some citrus.
Taste has a bready malt base with grapefruit and orange. Finish is well balanced.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and refreshing for a bigger beer.
Overall a solid brew, the hops are definitely muted. I perceived this more as an APA given the breadyness and the balance.
Mar 15, 2018
3.2 by Seanecy from Virginia on Mar 02, 2018
4.25 by jtransel from Illinois on Feb 17, 2018
4.5 by Bark0707 from Ohio on Feb 13, 2018
3.88 by sanitarium16 from New Jersey on Feb 12, 2018
4.02 by InfernoBoss from California on Feb 04, 2018
3.75 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania on Feb 02, 2018
3.75 by Ronl12 from Massachusetts on Jan 27, 2018
4.04/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by russpowell from Arkansas
Pours an effervescent amber with 2+ fingers of pearl colored head. Above average head retention & nice lacing
S: Piney, grassy, wet hay once warm along wih other catty aromas
T: Bready, grassy, minty, hints of lemon up front. Catty, a little dry, more mintyness as this warm. Finishes minty with a little lemon and dryness, a little apricot and Mandarin orange as well
MF: Medium body, crisp carbonation, nice balance
Solid DIPA, not a world beater, but very drinkable
Jan 27, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by russpowell from Arkansas
Pours an effervescent amber with 2+ fingers of pearl colored head. Above average head retention & nice lacing
S: Piney, grassy, wet hay once warm along wih other catty aromas
T: Bready, grassy, minty, hints of lemon up front. Catty, a little dry, more mintyness as this warm. Finishes minty with a little lemon and dryness, a little apricot and Mandarin orange as well
MF: Medium body, crisp carbonation, nice balance
Solid DIPA, not a world beater, but very drinkable
Jan 27, 2018
4.19 by DCHritz from Pennsylvania on Jan 26, 2018
3.73 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania on Jan 25, 2018
4.24/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Bitterbill from Wyoming
Canned October 25th 2017.
Pours a clear reddish colour, not unlike Celebration in appearance. Same awesome head of foam and lacing.
Pine, grapefruit, toasted malt with some sweet notes smell.
Grapefruit and pine hoppines, toasted malt is very evident, sweet caramel, some bread on the back end.
Medium body with medium carbonation. Smooth to the palate.
Well executed Double IPA.
Jan 24, 2018
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Bitterbill from Wyoming
Canned October 25th 2017.
Pours a clear reddish colour, not unlike Celebration in appearance. Same awesome head of foam and lacing.
Pine, grapefruit, toasted malt with some sweet notes smell.
Grapefruit and pine hoppines, toasted malt is very evident, sweet caramel, some bread on the back end.
Medium body with medium carbonation. Smooth to the palate.
Well executed Double IPA.
Jan 24, 2018
3.98 by mikerieder from South Dakota on Jan 24, 2018
3.88 by pirmannt1 from Illinois on Jan 05, 2018
4.23 by GeorgiaBeerMoose from Georgia on Jan 03, 2018
4 by godawgs from Louisiana on Jan 01, 2018
Fresh Hop Double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
134 ratings