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Space Pope
Cigar City Brewing
- From:
- Cigar City Brewing
- Florida, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #1,104 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,487 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 7.02%
- Reviews:
- 72
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 22, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 30, 2016
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 34
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Is the Space Pope reptilian? That question remains to be answered, but in the meantime, we have his eponymous IPA to consider. Brewed with an astronomical amount of Mosaic, Citra, CTZ and (what else?) Galaxy hops that lend notes of passionfruit and melon to the clean flavors of base malt and a touch of crystal malt for depth of character. When your ecclesiastical jurisdiction encompasses the entire universe, only Cigar City's Space Pope IPA will do!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by IPAs_for_days_13 from Texas
3.73/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L: Pours an opaque amber in color with a decent off-white head.
S: Smells rich of citrus, pine resin, earth, faint amount of malts.
T: Follows the nose, the malts show up way more in the taste which is nice.
F: Medium-bodied, high carbonation, crisp, biting.
O: Not shabby, I would buy again.
Jun 09, 2021S: Smells rich of citrus, pine resin, earth, faint amount of malts.
T: Follows the nose, the malts show up way more in the taste which is nice.
F: Medium-bodied, high carbonation, crisp, biting.
O: Not shabby, I would buy again.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
355 ml can, from Vinmonopolet (Kvadrat or Nettbutikken). ABV is 7.2%, IBUs 45. Hops are Mosaic, Citra, Hallertau Blanc and Galaxy. Moderately hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of tropical fruits and crushed grapes, hints of sweat. Flavour of citrus, tropical fruits and pine needles, decent bittering hops.
May 17, 2021
Reviewed by Zythophile from Washington
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can Date: 2/24/21
Palate Contaminants: peppery pasta and a chocolate chip cookie
Moderately opaque with a really nice amber color. Good amount of very fine white head, as well as a moderate amount of lacing. Pretty much what I think a nice IPA should look like.
On the nose, sharp pine resin. Moderately acidic and very sweet pineapple. Very light lactose. Could stand to be a bit stronger.
Taste is like a forest floor. Mossy/grassy, with some bark flavor. As it warms up, there's more wood. Fruit taste is buried pretty well, and yeah, it's still citrus, but I can't tell which one. Bitterness is moderate.
Aftertaste is about the same as the taste, although the bitter character is stronger. Alcohol is detectable, and it would be fine if the fruit flavor or something else were there to compete. Carbonation is fine and smooth.
May 08, 2021Palate Contaminants: peppery pasta and a chocolate chip cookie
Moderately opaque with a really nice amber color. Good amount of very fine white head, as well as a moderate amount of lacing. Pretty much what I think a nice IPA should look like.
On the nose, sharp pine resin. Moderately acidic and very sweet pineapple. Very light lactose. Could stand to be a bit stronger.
Taste is like a forest floor. Mossy/grassy, with some bark flavor. As it warms up, there's more wood. Fruit taste is buried pretty well, and yeah, it's still citrus, but I can't tell which one. Bitterness is moderate.
Aftertaste is about the same as the taste, although the bitter character is stronger. Alcohol is detectable, and it would be fine if the fruit flavor or something else were there to compete. Carbonation is fine and smooth.
Rated by PSanger from Connecticut
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had on draft at cigar city
Apr 30, 2021
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
CAN
Hazy pale amber with crusty white head that speckles; weed, papaya, lemon creme + blueberry nose; grapefruit, white melon, diesel, white pine, mild scallion, white pepper; crisp, chalky, lt-med.
4 4 3.75 3.75 3.75
Citra, Mosaic, CTZ, Galaxy
Mar 10 canning - 5 wks, which is remarkably fresh for a Transatlantic import. Unfortunately, that doesn’t equal big hop flavour, nor does it match the ABV or the hop bill. Hops are the mean side of Citra + the savoury side of Mosaic, all sharp edges.
This is the light malt, low bitterness (45 IBUs), fruity, + strong school of IPAs, a la Voodoo Ranger, but that only works if you bring the buds. As it is, there is nothing else going on, especially in the body, which is dangerously thin.
I’m especially not sure what Galaxy is bringing here because this could actually use the big, blousy tropical notes that usually make this hop so overpowering.
Reviews as recently as last year mention Hallertau Blanc - did this recipe change?
If so, based on previous reviews, it’s for the worse.
Apr 18, 2021Hazy pale amber with crusty white head that speckles; weed, papaya, lemon creme + blueberry nose; grapefruit, white melon, diesel, white pine, mild scallion, white pepper; crisp, chalky, lt-med.
4 4 3.75 3.75 3.75
Citra, Mosaic, CTZ, Galaxy
Mar 10 canning - 5 wks, which is remarkably fresh for a Transatlantic import. Unfortunately, that doesn’t equal big hop flavour, nor does it match the ABV or the hop bill. Hops are the mean side of Citra + the savoury side of Mosaic, all sharp edges.
This is the light malt, low bitterness (45 IBUs), fruity, + strong school of IPAs, a la Voodoo Ranger, but that only works if you bring the buds. As it is, there is nothing else going on, especially in the body, which is dangerously thin.
I’m especially not sure what Galaxy is bringing here because this could actually use the big, blousy tropical notes that usually make this hop so overpowering.
Reviews as recently as last year mention Hallertau Blanc - did this recipe change?
If so, based on previous reviews, it’s for the worse.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.19/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
With a hop combination that's simply not fair, Cigar City resists the haze and embraces the bitter. With a base taste that circulates around the Columbus-Tomahawk-Zeus hop combination, they also employ the international cheat code of Citra-Mosaic- Galaxy for a beer that's out of this world.
Bright in a golden pour, the modestly hazy Space Pope builds a creamy ivory froth before hitting the senses with a fruity, tropical, citrusy scent laced with herb and pine. A crisp malt sweetness introduces to the palate with hints of honey, light caramel and gently toasted wafer.
But the stars of its taste are the hops that share a generous fruitiness of orange, lime and grapefruit with a more tropical lead of passionfruit, pineapple and green papaya. As hints of berry, lemon and wine ebb and flow throughout the session, there's always that backdrop of bitter resins that add a piney, peppery and grassy bitterness that only grows as the session closes.
Medium bodied and trending dry, the work of alcohol and hop resins only aid the bitterness and crispness in a way that's seldom seen in the contemporary beer aisle. It finishes earthy, dank, grassy and sprucy with a refreshing, off-clean hop spice and a long linger of pithy resins. It's a classic American IPA with a modern tilt and is simply a beer that's both heavenly and out of this world.
Mar 23, 2021Bright in a golden pour, the modestly hazy Space Pope builds a creamy ivory froth before hitting the senses with a fruity, tropical, citrusy scent laced with herb and pine. A crisp malt sweetness introduces to the palate with hints of honey, light caramel and gently toasted wafer.
But the stars of its taste are the hops that share a generous fruitiness of orange, lime and grapefruit with a more tropical lead of passionfruit, pineapple and green papaya. As hints of berry, lemon and wine ebb and flow throughout the session, there's always that backdrop of bitter resins that add a piney, peppery and grassy bitterness that only grows as the session closes.
Medium bodied and trending dry, the work of alcohol and hop resins only aid the bitterness and crispness in a way that's seldom seen in the contemporary beer aisle. It finishes earthy, dank, grassy and sprucy with a refreshing, off-clean hop spice and a long linger of pithy resins. It's a classic American IPA with a modern tilt and is simply a beer that's both heavenly and out of this world.
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4.28/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Attractive clear amber appearance, large white head, good lacing. Hop-centric aroma striking notes of citrus, soft fruit and tropical fruit. Settles nicely on the taste buds, bitter but not in a way that is off-putting. Citrus stays firmly in control well into the aftertaste. Dry, acerbic, lasting finish.
Mar 16, 2021
Rated by Winzlow from Florida
4.34/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very good... Found it in 6ers at Total Wine - previously, only seen in the variety 12er.
Feb 13, 2021
Space Pope from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
241 ratings
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