Velocihoptor Guardian IPA
Ninkasi Brewing Company

Tropical aroma along with citrus and a bit of yeast, different aroma. The taste is slight bitterness from what tastes like citrus rind. The hops a more on the mild side with mild bitterness. There is also a slight sweetness. Almost to much going on though it is a decent beer. Not one of the better beers from Ninkasi. Appearance is golden orange with a nice 1finger head that stays for a while. Rated 5-19-2021

Hazy and bitter. Odd aroma of something like leaf mold with old oranges in the nose. The flavor starts out with fruit and citrus and then becomes so bitter and grapefruit pith tasting. This is not undrinkable but I would not call it a pleasure. Sudsy mouthfeel is about the only positive. From the tall can dated 06/05/23 purchased at the supermarket for $3.99.

 

Pour the paleish golden color with a half finger head.

Smells of citrus and pine. Some strawberry undertones.

Very fruity right front, a mild hop bite going into the mid, All culminating in a very hop buddy flavor for the finish.

 

new one to me, part of the mixed four pack of pint cans, an interesting idea for a package, these are all solid beers. this one is cool, an only light hazy and glowing orange brew under an inch of receding white head, neat art on the can. i wish they old us what the hops are on the can but i dont see it, really pretty distinctive to me, an el dorado sort of melon thing up front, mandarin oranges from the can, a little bitter citrus too, and some honey sweetness, summery to me, sturdy too though with some grain oomph even if its pale, and what appears to be a clean ferment, modern and fresh. i get some mango along with the mandarins in the flavor, and it ends up being more of a fruity sweetness than a grainy one in the taste, in fact there is very little sweetness at all, kind of neat. the hops also hit with a floral layer and light bitterness, orange candy, and some gin botanicals as it warms, more and more bitterness then too which i like in a beer like this, not bitey but not nothing at the end either. good carbonation, soft feel, pretty decent body on it, and a long finish, but really fresh through the whole thing and the hop profile is great. nice to see some new stuff from ninkasi starting to come around. im keen to drink more of this one, very tasty and cool for the summer.

19.2oz tall can of Ninkasi's "new" Velocihoptor "Guardian" IPA. Served in a pint glass, beer looks extremely hazy, almost completely opaque. Big white pillowy head. Fresh fruit aroma with orange blossom and papaya. The nose implies a lot of sweet fruit punch flavors. The taste is a bit more balanced, with Mosaic alpha hop bitterness counteracting the fruit punch flavor profile and bringing a clean finish, if not particularly complex one. A bit fizzy and lacking in depth, but the initial fruit flavors are there and are quite enjoyable.

Note that the 2021+ Velocihoptor Guardian IPA really has nothing to do with Ninkasi's 2016-era Velocihoptor.

Review 1719
Velocihoptor
Ninkasi Brewing
New England IPA
Date: 07/21/2021
Oh dear, this beer is old. I committed the sin of not checking the dates at the store. This beer is past the freshness date; I hope this is still drinkable. I used a tulip glass and served it around 40 degrees. A frothy and creamy bright white head was created with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left gobs of lacing on the glass. The color charts around SRM 6, a golden yellow hue and cloudy.
The hops aroma is bright; I smell mangos, pineapple, mandarin oranges, a touch of floral, and some grassiness. Nosing the glass, I noticed sweet light malts, biscuits, crackers, and subtle dankness. I do not perceive any cardboard or oxidation.
I taste melon, pineapple, pears, peaches, orange peel, a hint of grapefruit, and some grassiness for the hop profile. The malts are soft, lightly toasted, and biscuity.
The mouthfeel is somewhat tannic. The body is medium-plus, has a medium carbonation, and lasting finish.
The beer did show a tiny amount of age. The hops are not as fresh, yet the beer is enjoyable. I just learned about Azacca Hops; they are potent, the beer showcases the hops beautifully. I love the fact the hops are not fighting. I enjoyed this beer, I would not necessarily say it is a New England IPA, just a hoppy murk bomb.

 

19.2oz can dated 6/1/21 poured into a Teku on 7/16/21.

Pours 1/2" of white head. Opaque, hazy orange color.

Aromas of lemon and orange citrus, and not much else.

Flavors of melon, guava, and orange citrus. A kick of hop bitterness in the finish that has a sweet, honey taste at the middle.

Astringent and effervescent. A sticky oily feeling in a medium body.

A tasty IPA that approaches Double IPA in flavor and mouthfeel. Heavy on citrus aroma and flavor with a bittersweet hoppy flavor.

 

Can poured into a pint glass

A: Pours hazy golden amber with a frothy off white head that settles to a thin layer and laces nicely.

S: Like sticking your nose in a bag of candy, sweet citrus, tropical, and stone fruit, vanilla cream, faint pine and floral notes, biscuity bready malt, and caramel honey sweetness.

T: Tropical and stone fruit, guava, papaya, peach, apricot, pineapple, grape, mango, and a hint of melon, candied citrus, lemon lime, tangerine, and a touch of grapefruit, surprising hit of vanilla cream, some pine, slight herbal and floral notes, biscuity slightly bready malt, and caramel honey sweetness.

M: Medium body, sits soft on the palate, a bit on the lighter side of moderate carbonation.

O: Stumbled on this can out of the blue in the store and had to try it. That vanilla from the Lotus stands out and gives the rest of the flavors an interesting more candied twist. Kinda reminds me of pink Starburst and Sprite, in a good way. Super unique and fun to try, but it does sit a bit on the sweet side.

Good head production and OK retention. Somewhat hazy, but certainly not pulpy.

Aroma is overall mild, with an emphasis on citrus hop tones, along with a bit of bright herbs.

Flavor is, like the appearance, overall OK. An inoffensive blend of citrus, tropical, and mildly dank hop tones, with little else going on. Mouthfeel is good, with a slightly bigger, creamier body than the 6.6% ABV would suggest. Flavors of orange, parsley, lemon, and peach.

This beer is just missing ... something. I don't know exactly what. The hop profile is a bit confused, and while it's overall pleasant, it's a one-and-done for me.

2 week old can. This thing needs some bitterness. Too much sweetness is not something I'm drawn to for my palate and preferences. I definitely won't repeat.

L: nice apricot colour, a bit cloudy. not hazy.
S: hops & malt. love the malty nose.
T: papaya & melon maybe. not getting orange. is dry. subtle?
F: mouthfeel is decent.
could use a higher IBU. is only 50
opened 4/14 can says drink by: 7/6

19.2 oz stove pipe can from Safeway in West Salem.
This is not the same beer as the Velocihopter IIPA from years past.
$3.00
Pours a hay /apricot flesh coloured body, with a lovely proportioned and long lasting frothy white head.
Aroma is very weirdly weak..some floral hops and bready malts. Very strange indeed.
Taste weak also..looked at date on bottom. Best By 05/28/21..this is probably t months old at least. Weak but not bad tasting.
Mouth feel is fine ..if not a bit boring and sticky.
Aged IPA..not terrible but a disgrace none-the-less.