IPA
Nashoba Valley Brewery

IPAIPA
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From:
Nashoba Valley Brewery
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English IPA
ABV:
5.24%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.36 | pDev: 18.15%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
28
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 24, 2018
Added:
May 01, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by BattleRoadBrewer:
Photo of BattleRoadBrewer
Reviewed by BattleRoadBrewer from Massachusetts

2.76/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Served cool from 12 oz brown bottle into a Boston Lager glass.

Started a normal pour, but it was extremely fizzy, so stopped and took a break to let the 95% head subside. Came back to it and poured gently, a light orange, hazy brew with a foamy off-white head that looked like a sponge.

Nice hoppy bite right at the bottle mouth and again right after the pour, but it subsided and nose was indistinct and woody by halfway through the glass. Also some grassiness and biscuity aroma.

Flavor is woody, musty and astringent. Mouthfeel has appropriate bitterness, but finishes poorly due to the astringency.

Drinkability overall is pretty poor. Poured it down--wasted calories to finish it.
Jun 01, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.11 by smaddock from Massachusetts

Jul 24, 2018
Photo of schoolboy
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This IPA is pretty good for being over the hill. It doesn't taste quite like an English nor like an AIPA.

It pours cloudy yellow with a little fizz. The aroma is junked up and weak - a fault of the several month old sample, maybe. The taste is intact except maybe the hop profile, and it may have been really good. Now it's kind of malty. I was pretty generous trying to compensate for the fact that these were purchased for me as a gift several months ago.

I can't recommend because of the sample.
Dec 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by Cgraham

Jul 17, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by TheBeerSipper from Massachusetts

Nov 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by msondel from Massachusetts

May 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by rab53 from Washington

Dec 02, 2011
Photo of jondeelee
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Nashoba's IPA bears a highly hoppy nose, replete with grapefruit and pine notes, and bearing the sugary rosewater scent that sometimes accompanies intensive dry-hopping. Light toasted grains lie beneath these hops, but are mostly occluded by their presence.

On the tongue, the beer is immediately hoppy, though not as intensely as the nose would hint. Instead, the hops--while still decently bitter--present a far more nuanced and flavorful profile, with layers of grapefruit, pine, and sugary rosewater lapping at the tongue. Strong fruit flavors such as lychee nut, apricot, and orange accompany the bright citrus notes, joined by more subtle hints of toasted Grape Nuts cereal-like grains. Late in the mouthful the sugars die off, and a more pure, raw, grapefruit rind hop flavor is exposed. This flavor lasts throughout the aftertaste, which carries on for a good while. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is medium-light.

Overall, this is a good-quality IPA, with finely nuanced and bright flavors, and a good balance between sugars and bitters. As with all Nashoba beers, however, if you don't live within a few miles of Boston, this one probably won't be found on the shelves of your local beer store.
Aug 01, 2011
Photo of gdrydenc
Reviewed by gdrydenc from Massachusetts

3.87/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz bottle purchased from the winery into my tulip.

A - When I open it, it starts overflowing. Because of this, I anticipated a lot of head, but it actually only had about 1 finger of white head. The color is slightly odd: medium brown with some mahogany highlights.

S - Lots of fresh fruit at first. Well, I suppose that's really all that's there. Pretty much just nice, juicy fruit. No real hints of resin.

T - However, in the taste, that's where the resin kicks in. It's certainly a hoppy beer. Very bitter, without much malt to balance it out. The fruit is still present, but overwhelmed by the bitterness.

M - Mouthfeel is pretty standard. It's moderately carbonated, and it fits the beer perfectly. There isn't much residual bitterness after the swallow, which I like.

Overall, a solid IPA. If you're looking for a bitter hop-bomb, this is certainly a beer to check out.
Jun 29, 2011
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.41/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Wow, at least this one has some carbonation! The three I just had before this didn't!

It rises a very light 1/4 finger bubbly head over hazy orange-red color. Again all the friggen beers have the same look!

Nose is... actually not bad. Lots of Cascade hops, perhaps Centennial, some light grassy, light pine, light fruits, a little citrus, touch of musty hop resin. With that a hint of malty sweetness. A big surprise compared to the last three beers I just had from Nashoba.

Taste is pretty much all hops. Very light malt to give a base, but otherwise just hops. The hops are very fresh too, almost like I'm chewing on a fresh hop flower. The hops are nice, a little pine, some light citrus, light earthy tastes, even some fresh hop resinous flavors. Pretty bitter, but not overly. Touch of fruits, little tangerine and even a hint of an apricot like fruit. Finishes a little drier with a long lingering bitterness, with some lingering fresh hop resinous flavors and light pine. Way on the back end of the palate is a hint of those U.K. style bittering herbal hops I'm not a huge fan of, hedgerow style hops I believe.

The mouth is lighter bodied, with very low carbonation, but at least it has some.

Drinkability is decent, with a decent dry finish, some lingering hop bitterness. The hops start to gang up on my mouth quite a bit as it goes and gets quite bitter, but I likes it that way.

OK, so I finally found a beer by Nashoba that is halfway decent, other than the Bourbon Barrel Porter.
Oct 29, 2010
Photo of AndyAvalanche
Reviewed by AndyAvalanche from Massachusetts

3.86/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle purchased at the winery/brewery poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass. Orangey/copper/amber in color that comes out hazy. There is a crazy thick white head that sticks around for quite awhile, gets excellent lacing.

Smell is pretty good, not very strong though. Slight floral/herbal hoppy notes. Slight bit of a vanilla/oakey scent, but again not very strong, a little malty.

I like the taste, very good for an English IPA. Pine hops with an oakey flavor to it. Well malted as too. Caramel with a hint of vanilla to it. A good combination of flavors and very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is good, full bodied overall. Good carbonation balance, smooth, slightly buttery with a clean bitter finish slightly dry, very good. Very good drinkability. This is a very good English style IPA.
Oct 25, 2010
Photo of jbertsch
Reviewed by jbertsch from Massachusetts

3.67/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
So I've come to not like everything from Nashoba. SOme of their brews just seem amateur, but I did like their Summer stout.

Anyway, thought i'd give the IPA a try.

Appearance is a hazy orangy-red. Plenty of yeast from bottle fermentation was hanging out - surprised to see that from Nashoba. It looked great, better than most of their other beers.

Aroma was definitely hoppy for their relatively low ABV. There's also very noticeable caramel sweetness in there and a touch of leafy aromas.

The hops came though on the palate, but there's definitely some sweet malts (caramel, brown sugar) underlying it all. I think it's balanced quite nicely, despite other reviews on here. .

Mouthfeel is properly carbonated and crisp, but has substantial enough weight.

Drinkability is just fine.

Out of the 4 or 5 Nashoba's I've tried, this is 2nd best after their summer stout. Reminds me of the ipswich IPA toned down a bit. Give it a shot.
Sep 30, 2010
Photo of hga2009
Reviewed by hga2009 from Massachusetts

4.34/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
enjoyed a trip to the brewery in Bolton recently. Fantastic place that the ba's should check out. Great opperation going on there. I read some reviews about this ipa on this site and they were not that good. But took a flyer and tried a 6 pack, I am glad I did. This ipa is very enjoyable. The nose in it is great, a considerBle amount of hoping going on in this one. Clear yellow golden color. Complex hop character with a good malt to balance it out. Now that this brewery is close to my house, I will with out a doubt be picking more of this one up. For fresh beer, you can't get much better local beer. Check out this brewery. I can't say I enjoyed all of their beers, but the heron ale, summer stout, imperial stout and ipa were excellent.
May 10, 2010
Photo of taez555
Reviewed by taez555 from Vermont

3.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Reviewed from notes, tasted 10/2/08

This beer poured a bright ruby tan clear dark body with a bright white head.

Nose is soft and subtle with only very mild hints of citrus or caramel.

Taste is medium bodied with a HUGE hard hop bitter flavor. A very compressed leafy, dirty leaf, dark hop. Did I mention a dark compressed dark bitterness. Black, moldy citrus, leafy hops. It has a surprisingly strong caramel backbone. Some caramel shines through a bit. Ends with a long lingering hop bitterness.

A good beer, but very much out of balance. Overly hoppy, could definitely use some more malt to balance it out.
Nov 24, 2008
Photo of JasonA
Reviewed by JasonA from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
Pours a crystal clear amber carmel. Not much visible carbonation, though head does appear. Remarkable lacing considering carbonation level.

Smells hoppy fresh. I doubt this has been sitting long (no born on date on bottle ;)). Not a standard hop, maybe not as powerfull, but a nice floral example. Citrus/tangerine, is that maple or is it vanilla?

Cold, subtle, not a hop bomb. There is something with these hops. I dont think ive had hops like this before. Doesnt make it awesome or not, different yet the same. The citrus is in there, though not as a flavor. Interesting. Not a heavy beer. Its cold and Christmas Eve Eve now, I bet this would be an excellent choice on a hot summer day.

Not heavy, yet not light. 5+ ABV is masked well. There is something in the mouth that doesnt taste natural, I cant quite place it though. I dont want to say metal, though I cant get away from the comparison. Not horrible, it just takes away from mouthy.

Overall I really like this beer. I dont know how the other votes are so bad. Maybe all reviewers are looking for bombs and if they dont get them, they whine and complain. Well ... as I take a sip of this wonderful IPA example, I say NAY!! NAY TO YOU ALL!! NAY NAY NAY!!

lol

Merry xmas
Dec 23, 2007
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

2.72/5  rDev -19%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours hazy amber with a thin, wispy patch.

The smell is of a vague spicy floral fruitiness with a subtle caramelish background.

The taste is of brown sugar sweetness upfront, with some caramel. Some raw alcohol recveals itself early on (just a bit too much for relatively modest abv.) An herbal, floral, slightly citric taste comes in too balance out sweetness. Not really enough hops for the style. The malt and the hops don't really seem to go together as well as I would like. An assertive bready yeast gives it an unneeded doughy character. Chalky finish.

There is an overdose of carbonation that gives it a prickly feel despite fuller side of medium body. The taste comes back in the aftertaste depite the body not being very coating.

Not bad enough for me not to have finished, but nothing I would look forward to having again. Seems pretty lame, (and overly balanced?) for the style, IMO.
Mar 31, 2007
Photo of Mkgrenwel
Reviewed by Mkgrenwel from Maine

1.31/5  rDev -61%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
I don’t know what the hell happened to this beer. It tastes like it was fermented at like 100 degrees.

Appearance: Golden/copper and very hazy from all the yeast. Very big, fluffy head

Smell: Very yeasty. Actually smells like a wheat yeast (banana and clove)

Taste: Esters absolutely dominate the flavor. I can’t get any malt or hops through these clouds of yeasty flavors. Almost wine like. Banana and clove, like a hefe, plus belgian-like esters. Peach, apple, raspberry. Like a nasty apple cider.

Mouthfeel: Full on the palate but opressively so. Too thick for the style.

Drinkability: Pretty low. It is really tough to make it through a glass of this stuff.
Sep 30, 2006
Photo of bjohnson
Reviewed by bjohnson from Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
A: Pours a cloudy amber color with a frothy one finger white head. Nice rolling cloud like retention. Good looking lace.
S: Floral and citrus notes hit the head first with a good malty undertone.
T/M: Citrus and floral notes first, but then a cardboard like bitter finish that leaves the mouth very dry. Bitter hop notes can be noticed in the dryness. This actually tastes like my first ipa homebrew. Not a very good mouthfeel. Sharp with a crisp carbonation doesn't make me want to finish this. Chalky in the end also.
D: Starts out ok, but finishes with a thud. Doesn't seem like an English IPA as the malt and hops are balanced with a bit more hop presence I would say. Wouldn't pick this up again.
Aug 12, 2006
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.47/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
While I know this one is retired, today (Aug 5, 2006) I had an IPA.

The look is awesome: clear golden color with a great head and excellent lace.

The first smell I detected was soap. The typical hop aroma was missing, nearly unnoticable.

For the style, this is a malty. The hop shows up here, but it is milder than the style would suggest--more like an American Pale Ale. Also, this beer has good body, which is unusual for Nashoba's beers. The carbonation is good as well.

I like this beer very much...it IS very drinkable, but as a Pale Ale. This won't disappoint if you don't have a preconceived expectation.
Aug 06, 2006
Photo of Prufrock
Reviewed by Prufrock from Massachusetts

3.47/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
on tap into a pint glass.

clear copper with a thick off-white head that leaves tons of lace.

some floral and grassy hops, but with a balancing caramel malt sweetness. much more malt than most IPAs.

creamier and smoother than most other IPAs as well. a defined caramel backbone with a floral, leafy hop finish. too much malt balance for hopheads, but it's a nicely put together brew.
May 01, 2006
IPA from Nashoba Valley Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 28 ratings