Operation Vacation
Hop Valley Brewing Company

Operation VacationOperation Vacation
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From:
Hop Valley Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #926
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,070
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 7.12%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
31
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 03, 2024
Added:
Mar 09, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.66/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
i like this, but like, its clean and tight and i dont totally get it. the name implies tropical, but its simcoe hops that hit perhaps only a little more vibrant than they usually do, but there is grapefruit pith and pine sap and weed to it, which i guess could be vacation, but like, vacation in the woods in the northwest, not vacation like on a beach, which kind of seems to be how its marketed, a tad confusing, like is this supposed to be a tropical juice bomb or something? its not. also drinks like a pale to me, as malt balance is in tact and hop bitterness is moderate at best, not complaining, not at all, just saying, it walks the line even though the can says ipa. 6% abv is listed too, must have evolved over time, and this has some grainy meat to it, which i think the hop oiliness clings to, and ill concede a mango and stone fruit thing, but its pine and weed ahead of that in flavor for sure, especially as it warms. its kind of muted overall though, tight and simple, not as exotic as i think i was hoping for, but also good, like most hop valley hoppy stuff, just maybe more safe than anticipated. medium body, soft, some sweetness lingering which is becoming a theme with their hoppy beers. no matter what they call it and what the ingredients are, they have a formula and they stick to it, like early beatles songs, the pattern works so why deviate, and they definitely dont here. the carbonation falls out a little and the last half feels a touch flat and watery. not a vacation beer or profile, but a good one nevertheless. warms up poorly, less good later, well, warms up nice for a bit, but like, half an hour later is basically useless. a slightly different side of simcoe i will concede, the cryo obviously showing up, drinkable and solid, dont let me undersell it...
Mar 03, 2024
Photo of Scotchboy
Reviewed by Scotchboy from Idaho

3.64/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Listed as a pale ale in some places and a NE IPA in others - pours light gold with minor haze and a creamy white head. Fairly fruity, citrusy and tropical, with notes of pear and peach. Decent crusher at 5.5% abv.
Apr 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.48 by arini10 from Oregon

Jul 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Jul 24, 2020
Photo of Spikester
Reviewed by Spikester from Oregon

4.02/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It is difficult to review a Pale Ale following an IPA but let's give a go.
Lightly hazed gold with three fingers of white craggy head. Rings of lace as the head drops.
Smell is fruity hops some orange zest. Good amount of bready malt.
Taste is fruity orange hops with a good bready malt backbone. Mouthfeel is light to medium with good carbonation.
The finish is lightly dry and balanced.
Overall a tasty session Pale Ale. Easy drinking and tasty.
Jul 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.82 by Giangio from Italy

Feb 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by JavierGC from Spain

Jun 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by killcore from Russian Federation

Dec 19, 2015
Photo of Jerseyislandbeer
Reviewed by Jerseyislandbeer from Jersey

3.74/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a golden colour with a fast disappearing white head. Aromas of caramel, fruit & malt. Tastes of some spice mixed with caramel & fruit. A very moderate bitterness leading to a dry aftertaste. Overall a enjoyable beer without setting the world alight.
Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.67 by GeorgeAKeim from Oregon

Oct 25, 2015
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Almost clear golden color with white head. Aroma is malty with some kind of herbal, earthy hops. Taste starts bitter up-front, with some earthy, resiny hops. Aftertaste lingers with a pretty intense bitterness. Body is quite heavy for a pale ale. Overall it's a good beer but nothing really special.
Sep 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by WDJersey from Colorado

Sep 04, 2015
Photo of JackieKu
Reviewed by JackieKu from Taiwan

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
12 fl.oz. bottle. Bottled on 12/2014. Poured into tulip.

A: Hazy orange. The foam sank soon.
S: Earthy and grassy. Somewhat citrus.
T: Earthy and grassy. Moderate bitterness. Dry.
M: Light bodied. Medium- carbonation.
O: This bottle disappointed me. Perhaps I drank it too later.
Aug 25, 2015
Photo of UmanCog
Rated by UmanCog from Belgium

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Powerful note. Suite long bitterness
Aug 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by twelveinches from Washington

Jul 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.91 by tylerstravis from Colorado

Jul 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by sharpski from Canada (BC)

Jul 09, 2015
Photo of vkv822
Reviewed by vkv822 from Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a lightly hazy, golden orange with a foamy white head.

Lightly spicy, fruity, floral hop character in the aroma and taste.

A well done pale ale, a pleasant, some what unique flavor profile.
Jul 03, 2015
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy medium coppery amber with a thin white head that dissipates to patches, leaving light lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, tropical fruit, lemon and grapefruit citrus. Flavor starts with an abrupt light burst of hop bitterness, almost medicinal that reveals piney and woody hop flavors with a light caramel malt base. Finishes with lingering lemony citrus hops. Medium bodied with a touch of creaminess. A citrusy hopped pale ale that is long in hop bitterness, and barely balanced by light citrus fruit and malt flavor. The hops are nice, but left me hoping for more interesting flavors to support them. A drier finish than normal for a pale ale, which actually fit the rest of the flavor palette and resulted in a satisfying finish. The woody element leaves this a bit unbalanced.
Jun 30, 2015
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.21/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours out with a nice medium golden body, small creamy head, fair amount of lacing. A bit mild for a pale, aroma favors the malt bill. Even hops are on the lighter side, but do come off as crisp and dry. Judging by the name, this a summer APA, and the lighter nature bears that out as well.
Jun 24, 2015
Operation Vacation from Hop Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 31 ratings