Hop Shovel
Bear Republic Brewing Co.

RB transfer

I got a 4pck of cans of this beer from a beer store in Mount Vernon, Illinois. It poured a hazy copper with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had bright pine notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with fresh pine resin presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a great beer.

Bb 11/28/21 consumed 9/19/21 so plenty fresh I reckon. Overall ok but not worth seeking out from my side
L: drinking from the can and it’s sharp
S: not a strong aroma. Bit of citrus not much more.
T: not so great. Hoppy bitterness but not much else. Not getting much of those hop flavors beyond the bitterness.
F: ok feels fine but not special
O: wanted to like it more than I do. Calls itself big-n-juicy but I’m not feelin it.

Raul is a pretty nice guy. Even though Bear Republic has dwindled like a snowman in the sun over the years, Raul still decided to give this fresh offering a try. Verdict? I wish I hadn’t. Looked fine enough, but there is just a pretty nasty sweet/syrup in the end that is made more for pancakes, not Raul’s pint glass. Forget it.

I’m outta here.

Wish I had a few more to savor.

 

 

Had this at the Bistro's 19th annual ipa festival held April 9, 2016. Haven't managed to pick up a 6 pack of this, would try it again despite it not making the strongest impression when sampled on tap.

Yellow pour, thin white head 1/5". Aroma backs up the commercial tug job Mosaic reference. Had a dank to the point of suspecting Nelsons thing going on. I like when I can't tell if Mosaic or Nelson, really pushes that humid tropical note in that regard.

Taste was leaning more on the Denali and whatever the other hop was, seemingly for bittering. Came off similar to Simcoe with a solid bitter, dry and pine soap kind of lasting effect. Mouth feel was fine, carbonation was appropriate, body of beer was light two row and pale malt kind of familiarity. What smells tropical finishes older school grapefruit like bitterness. Light hop and alcohol burn. Wouldn't say this one hides the alcohol well, its there, but its also not all you get either. Does seem like they did a hybrid ipa with some alterno grains outside the flaked wheat/oats wheelhouse.

Looked great, smelled good, taste was terrible. Very hop forward but the malty after taste does not work well with the beer. Disappointed.

 

 

 

Despite the hops used, this beer is really a west coast ipa with a lot of citrus and pine resine. The malt base is quite nice and brings balance. Nice one

 

July 28th, 2015 - Stinky, like sweat or body odor, and with a waft of some redolent tropical flower, this is a foul smelling beer. Not because it's bad or soured or spoiled, but it is raw and offers a potent musk. The palate is thinner and less carbonated than the other Bear Republic beers from today, with some pineapple and orange juice, a little like a tiki beer. On that note, I much prefer the taste to the smell.