Orion
Horseheads Brewing Inc.

OrionOrion
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From:
Horseheads Brewing Inc.
 
New York, United States
Style:
Belgian IPA
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 8.48%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
22
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 26, 2018
Added:
Mar 16, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
The beer formally known as "Nebula", is a Belgian-style dark IPA. The focus is not only on the yeast used during the brewing process, but also on the hops and dark grains. The yeast imparts a fruity and spicy flavor/aroma to the beer, followed by a sharp bite from the hops, then late in the finish you enjoy the flavor of the dark grains. Our version has no added fruit or spice.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ppoitras:
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22oz bottle purchased as a single from Byrne Dairy in Syracuse by the fairgrounds.

Poured into a CCB pub glass, formed a 1/4" tan head over the clear reddish brown brew. Head collapses slowly, with average but lasting lace. Aroma is spicy with a malty depth.

Taste starts moderately sweet, spicy with a touch of pine in the middle, and closes bitter with a lingering slight numbness. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is pretty good too. Ok offering, but again as I have found from Horseheads, not something I would make a special trip for.
Jul 27, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: The beer is hazy dark brown in color—too hazy to see if there is any visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high dark beige head that died down but has good retention properties and consistently left a short head covering the surface.
S: Moderate aromas of clumps of yeast are present in the nose along with some associated hints of dark fruits.
T: The taste follows the smell, but has additional flavors of grainy malts and a light amount of hop bitterness. The hops also seem to contribute faint bits of spices.
M: It feels medium-bodied and faintly crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a hard beer to classify within a particular style because it is rather unique. The brewery calls it a "Belgian-style Dark IPA" so I guess you could consider this to be a hybrid between a Belgian Dark Ale and a Belgian IPA. It is quite drinkable given the amount of flavors due to the balance provided by the hops.

Serving type: bottle
Apr 26, 2018
Photo of KTCamm
Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
8/11...pours dark brown, chocolate colored, tan foam layers and sits. Brown sugar and nutty nose. Taste is a sweet and bitter combo, disjointed mishmash. Like a hoppy nut brown ale. Not quite put together.
Aug 27, 2015
Photo of generallee
Reviewed by generallee from Virginia

4.3/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 1 pint 6 oz bottle into a tulip glass. The label doesn’t list the abv.

Appearance: The body has a dark reddish brown color with good clarity. The head is tall thick and hangs on well. It makes lots of cool lacing on the glass.

Smell: The aroma is interesting. It has deep layers of earthy and toasted barley maltiness.

Taste / Palate: This one brings loads of deep earthy notes, leather and spicy tobacco notes. The finish has dark toasted bready notes with a firm bitterness slowly fading from the tongue. The feel is solid and nicely carbonated.
Jun 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by Ultra-Plinian from Connecticut

Jun 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by smithj4 from New York

Apr 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.7 by Lucoli from New York

Mar 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by Huffs from New York

Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by tabhill from New York

Nov 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by chalkda01 from New York

Sep 21, 2014
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.69/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bomber bottle, w/o any sort of freshness or bottling date info.

Pours very dark amber, darker khaki head that stays a short while, before leaving some moderate low sheeting.

Ripe fruits on the nose.

Tasty dark IPA. Not exactly where the "Belgian" style is supposed to be coming from. I get dark malts, medium hopping, and some chocolate notes. Perhaps a hint of some Belgian yeasty notes is what they are hanging there hats on.

Balance, flavorful and enjoyable brew. Worth a try fo sho
Apr 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Mar 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by ColForbinBC from New Jersey

Oct 21, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Cooker_stp from New York

Aug 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by BushwyckCraft from New York

Aug 15, 2013
Photo of utopiajane
Reviewed by utopiajane from New York

3.54/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours deep brown with a ruby hue. Plenty of soft beige foam that fell to a thin ring and clinging lace. Nose is lazy and terrific with soft dark fruits, plums & dates. Yeast, a hint of pine and way in back some spice notes of coriander and nutmeg. Malt is dark and deep. Carmel and cookie with buttery bread. Hops and malt great the palate together with a smooth sip of mellow roasted malt, a light touch of hops bitter and some pepper. A little too much pepper and carbonation on the back palate . It tries for creamy but it’s too thin. It is smooth but the the alcohol is a tad sharp in the aftertaste and the hop bitter doesn’t get to the palate until it’s a surprise. The malt is very well done as it leans toward toasted bitter but stays sweet and round even into the finish. It mellows as it drinks and I found it to be a quiet little Belgian dark ale that was worth a taste.
Jun 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

Jun 01, 2013
Photo of tviz33
Reviewed by tviz33 from New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a bomber in to a tulip glass.

A- Pours a dark brown with some red tones with three fingers of soapy off-white head that quickly fades leaving spotty lacing.

S- The nose all spicy Belgian yeast with some dark fruit undertones. Definitely makes me want a sip.

T- I'm no expert on the style, but I can say that this beer is incredibly balanced. Slightly sweet, a light hops presence, spicy yeast presence, and hints of dark fruit all come together nicely.

M- Spot on mouthfeel. Creamy and smooth. Very drinkable.

O- Yet another solid Horseheads offering. Pick one up and see for yourself.
Feb 25, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by THECPJ from Delaware

Jun 17, 2012
Photo of CaptDavyJones
Reviewed by CaptDavyJones from New York

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a hazy dark brown color with dark ruby red hues from a 22 oz bomber.
One finger off-white head that dissipated fairly quickly.
Aroma is everything you could ask from a Belgian ale; with lots of dark fruits like cherries, plums and dates upfront. The hop presence is not as noticeable, although there are hints.
However, the hops are more prevalent in the taste. Sharp hop bitterness upfront followed by a neutralizing sweetness which is typical of a Belgian with a nice dry finish.
Every sip made me want to have more. Good drinkablility and mouthfeel on this one.
Definitely worth a try and comes recommended.
So far I have not been disappointed by any of the Horseheads beers.
Apr 21, 2012
Orion from Horseheads Brewing Inc.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 22 ratings