Hopago IPA - Citra
Papago Brewing

 

Hoppy suds foaming up from a semi-hard pour out of the growler. Copper color. Fresh mix of grassy and citrusy hops on the nose. Little bit of carmel malty sweetness.

Orangey/piney hops up front with a sweet malt flavor. Some astringent peppery bitterness on the finish. Dry with a pretty clean IPA flavor. I feel like there is a decent amount of simcoe in this one. Pretty nice, I would dial back the crystal malt in this one and it would be even better.

Are there adjuncts in this?

Poured fresh from the tap at Papago and served in a standard pint glass.

Looks: a clear reddish gold with a creamy, cream-colored head about one finger thick that hangs out for quite a while and leaves super-sticky full walls of foam.

Smells: bright. This is a great display of simcoe hops, with aromas of pine, grapefruit, strawberry and mango. There's a grassy, hoppy bite in the background.

Tastes: bitter! This isn't a beer; it's a hop delivery engine. Orange pith, tangerines, grapefruit. A pale malt backbone is bent to the extreme under the weight of the hops.

Feels: foamy. A high carbonation does battle with the taste buds, fizzing up slightly as it moves to other parts of the mouth. A medium-light body improves just a bit as the beer warms up.

Drinks: like a pretty average IPA. I dig the use of Simcoe hops, and the bitterness is held in check just enough to not become overpowering. Hopago could use a bit more balance, but if you're seeking a hop recharge, it delivers.

Another stellar brew from Papago. This is a hop monster. Aroma is full of hops, no malt, citrus type aroma which makes sense since it is 100% citra hops so similar aroma to Sierra Nevada's Torpedo IPA. Beer was a light golden color and crystal clear. Average size white head. Flavor is dominated by the citrus-tropical type hops and is very bitter. Much more bitter than a lot of double IPA'S out there but they are calling it an IPA. Very dry and refreshing to drink. Hopheads would love this beer.

Pale orange, leaning towards golden. White foam pours about an inch on the first go. Retention is good, with some lacing remaining. The nose is lead by hops, pretty citric, with enough pale malt to keep it in the ballpark. Really only one note, though.

The flavor is similarly hoppy: bright, citric hops mostly, with a strong dash of pepper. Malts just aren't assertive whatsoever, just a hint of pale malt, almost bubblegum sweetness. Notes of brew salts. Finishes bitter and long; once again, the malts don't stand up. Mouthfeel is a bit watery and thin, but given the prevalence of hops, it's not a blowout. Not too bad, I love a good hop vehicle, but this is definitely not for fans of "balance".