Alpha Centauri Binary IPA | Hop Valley Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Hop Valley Brewing Company
Oregon, United States
hopvalleybrewing.com
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
100 IBU
Added by John_M on 07-23-2010
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 302 | Reviews: 64
3.94/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
3.75/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a brilliantly clear burnt orange, almost copper color; the liquid is capped by a full three fingers and the retention is excellent; webs of lacing cling
Smell: Big waft of caramel and pine; all of those 100 IBUs penetrate
Taste: Caramel forward and caramel underpinning; through the middle, the piney bitterness builds and builds, shredding the tastebuds, after the swallow; both the malt and the hops linger in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: This is a beer of its time; in 2010, I am certain I would have rated this beer somewhat higher but we have passed into a new phase with DIPAs that this one cannot enter; it is like reuniting with a childhood crush when time has done neither of you any favors
771 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a brilliantly clear burnt orange, almost copper color; the liquid is capped by a full three fingers and the retention is excellent; webs of lacing cling
Smell: Big waft of caramel and pine; all of those 100 IBUs penetrate
Taste: Caramel forward and caramel underpinning; through the middle, the piney bitterness builds and builds, shredding the tastebuds, after the swallow; both the malt and the hops linger in the aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation
Overall: This is a beer of its time; in 2010, I am certain I would have rated this beer somewhat higher but we have passed into a new phase with DIPAs that this one cannot enter; it is like reuniting with a childhood crush when time has done neither of you any favors
771 characters
3.84/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.5/5 rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a soft semi-hazy bronzed orange color. No head nor lacing appeared. The smell started off with sweet onion running into a floral to grassy to citrus hoppiness. The taste was mainly bitter with a light sweetness from the onion part. The grassiness comes back slightly sweet and damp. Lingering sweet onion to floral grassiness starts in the aftertaste and runs into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light and leads to a damp smoothness to it. Overall, a bit different to me for a DIPA, what may lack in appearance (no head nor lacing) makes up in smell and taste. I’d probably have again.
742 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a tulip. The appearance was a soft semi-hazy bronzed orange color. No head nor lacing appeared. The smell started off with sweet onion running into a floral to grassy to citrus hoppiness. The taste was mainly bitter with a light sweetness from the onion part. The grassiness comes back slightly sweet and damp. Lingering sweet onion to floral grassiness starts in the aftertaste and runs into the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light and leads to a damp smoothness to it. Overall, a bit different to me for a DIPA, what may lack in appearance (no head nor lacing) makes up in smell and taste. I’d probably have again.
742 characters
3.63/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
06/16/2017
10 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
06/16/2017
10 characters
3.46/5 rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours clear light copper gold with a big pillowy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is sweet bready caramel malt with piney resiny hops and a little fruit.
The flavor is sweet caramel malt with some fruit and lots of bitter resiny hops that are slightly harsh. The mouthfeel is medium to fill bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, a fairly well balanced DIPA.
409 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours clear light copper gold with a big pillowy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is sweet bready caramel malt with piney resiny hops and a little fruit.
The flavor is sweet caramel malt with some fruit and lots of bitter resiny hops that are slightly harsh. The mouthfeel is medium to fill bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, a fairly well balanced DIPA.
409 characters
4.05/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
If New England IPA gets to be a beer category, NW IPA should be considered one as well, or at least West Coast. As Bridgeport likes to put it: "Where the revolution began." That big, resinous, citrus & pine flavor. This hazy, orange beer definitely resembles that. Along with some spice, and herbal notes. Some bread malt to balance things out. Aroma follows suit. A bit of alcohol vapor. Could be a bit smoother, but nonetheless, always a good bargain for a 22 oz bottle.
479 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
If New England IPA gets to be a beer category, NW IPA should be considered one as well, or at least West Coast. As Bridgeport likes to put it: "Where the revolution began." That big, resinous, citrus & pine flavor. This hazy, orange beer definitely resembles that. Along with some spice, and herbal notes. Some bread malt to balance things out. Aroma follows suit. A bit of alcohol vapor. Could be a bit smoother, but nonetheless, always a good bargain for a 22 oz bottle.
479 characters
3.96/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.1/5 rDev -23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Alpha Centauri reminds me of what a double IPA wants to be like, without actually being it. It has accents of quality but lacks anything significant to define it as unique. It is a quality beverage for the price, and definitely worth drinking if available, but does not stand out among the other double IPA's on the market (i.e. it would not stand out in a line-up).
Look: A strong amber color, that is clear but a little bit too bubbly.
Smell: Hoppy, but not very strong, a slight hint of citrus.
Taste: Balanced, but not distinct, carries a typical hoppy experience that is a little bitter at the finish.
Feel: FIzzy, did not sit well on the tongue at first taste, but was tolerable overall.
Overall: Worth a try, but not recommended as one to keep on hand
761 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Alpha Centauri reminds me of what a double IPA wants to be like, without actually being it. It has accents of quality but lacks anything significant to define it as unique. It is a quality beverage for the price, and definitely worth drinking if available, but does not stand out among the other double IPA's on the market (i.e. it would not stand out in a line-up).
Look: A strong amber color, that is clear but a little bit too bubbly.
Smell: Hoppy, but not very strong, a slight hint of citrus.
Taste: Balanced, but not distinct, carries a typical hoppy experience that is a little bitter at the finish.
Feel: FIzzy, did not sit well on the tongue at first taste, but was tolerable overall.
Overall: Worth a try, but not recommended as one to keep on hand
761 characters
4.16/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Small wispy head leaves behind lacing after each drink. Smells tropical. Taste is very hop forward as you woulf expect. Tropical notes through and a bitterness that lingers on the palate. A solid beer.
201 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Small wispy head leaves behind lacing after each drink. Smells tropical. Taste is very hop forward as you woulf expect. Tropical notes through and a bitterness that lingers on the palate. A solid beer.
201 characters
4.21/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Maybe I'm a little biased since I got this on vacation to Portland but I know Oregon is hop central of the US and I mean bitter tasty hops. So that's what I expected when I picked this up and that's what it delivered. That's your regional flavor entirely and if you like NW US hops this is your beer. I usually favor the milder DIPA types but expecting a piney bitter brew this nailed it. Just wish I could pick it up in Houston...
435 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Maybe I'm a little biased since I got this on vacation to Portland but I know Oregon is hop central of the US and I mean bitter tasty hops. So that's what I expected when I picked this up and that's what it delivered. That's your regional flavor entirely and if you like NW US hops this is your beer. I usually favor the milder DIPA types but expecting a piney bitter brew this nailed it. Just wish I could pick it up in Houston...
435 characters
3.53/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks Adam. Orange body with a bone white, foamy head. Aromas of grain, hops, earthy malts. Some herbal tones in the flavor along with resinous pine. What I describe as a balanced IPA. Medium bodied with medium high bitterness. Lingering grainy notes, resinous hops, and mild warming alcohol. Ok.
298 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks Adam. Orange body with a bone white, foamy head. Aromas of grain, hops, earthy malts. Some herbal tones in the flavor along with resinous pine. What I describe as a balanced IPA. Medium bodied with medium high bitterness. Lingering grainy notes, resinous hops, and mild warming alcohol. Ok.
298 characters
3.34/5 rDev -17.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Rating from notes taken Zwanze Day 2014:
B- / WORTHY
53 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Rating from notes taken Zwanze Day 2014:
B- / WORTHY
53 characters
Alpha Centauri Binary IPA from Hop Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85.8% out of
100 with
302 ratings
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4