40 Mile To The Border IPA
O'Connor Brewing Co.
- From:
- O'Connor Brewing Co.
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 4.01 | pDev: 6.48%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 24, 2019
- Added:
- Jun 05, 2015
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
This collaboration was born in a meeting between the brewers here at O’Connor Brewing Company discussing who they thought made some of the best beer in Virginia. The first place that came to my mind was Three Notch’d Brewing Company in Charlottesville... I was always impressed with Three Notch’d as a whole, good atmosphere, good people, and great beer. When Kevin said to reach out to them, I literally ran to my desk eager at the chance to work with such a solid brewer, Dave Warwick. Being a self-proclaimed collaboration junkie, Dave seemed to be as excited about working together as I was. He came down for a visit to Norfolk and we bounced around a few ideas, nothing seemed to jump out right away. He then mentioned an idea that was stewing in his mind for a while, “What if we took two existing beers and made them into one new beer?” Maybe it was the fact that he had wanted to do it for some time, or maybe he was waiting for the right handsome fellow to come around. Thus “40 Mile to the Border” was created, a melding of their flagship IPA “40 Mile” and ours “El Guapo.” The result is a tasty brew showcasing the fruity character of the El Dorado hop and the sweet, slightly spicy character of agave. We hope you enjoy this creation as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you.
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Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia
4.18/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
A: This poured a hazy gold with thick white head.
S: It smelled like fresh nectarines and pineapple, with some guava and wild honey. Maybe some prickly pear?
T: It tasted like grapefruit and nectarines, with some pineapple and wild honey. Maybe some kiwi. It had a clean bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was wetter with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This was a great unique IPA with tropical scent and taste that was well balanced. The body was ok, and the finish was smooth, so it was really easy to drink. I haven't tried either of the beers that this collaboration is based on, but the results are a clear success where so many other collaborations have failed. Fantastic.
Oct 06, 2015S: It smelled like fresh nectarines and pineapple, with some guava and wild honey. Maybe some prickly pear?
T: It tasted like grapefruit and nectarines, with some pineapple and wild honey. Maybe some kiwi. It had a clean bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was wetter with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This was a great unique IPA with tropical scent and taste that was well balanced. The body was ok, and the finish was smooth, so it was really easy to drink. I haven't tried either of the beers that this collaboration is based on, but the results are a clear success where so many other collaborations have failed. Fantastic.
Rated by msvitak from Colorado
4.42/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Interesting mix of Agave and IPA.
Aug 22, 2015
Reviewed by BobbyBill from Virginia
3.81/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pretty good. I like both of the breweries and I thought this would be a good chance for them to show what they got. Approachable beer like most things they do. I'd recommend it.
Aug 20, 2015
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida
3.83/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a clear golden orange body with two finger head that left lace patches down glass. The aroma is mostly citric hops and there is this dry, grainy, cracker like malt base that I pick up. Light bodied IPA that is sharp/crisp with a blend of citric (orange), earthy hops that have some tropical fruit flavors and give off a little sweetness. Finishes dry and overall the beer is mostly a dry, citrusy IPA with hints of other flavors/sweetness.
Aug 10, 2015
Reviewed by HattedClassic from Virginia
4.05/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The beer pours a nice white head and leaves some very nice lacing. The beer itself is a clear deep amber. The appearance is pretty nice and worth looking.
The beer smell is actually pretty good and the ingredients really make it interesting. The beer smell is pretty flora, tropical, and fruity (hop notes) and the malts are nowhere to be found. The best part of the beer is the agave, which gives it a really sweet smell that is almost honey like but not as strong. Rather, the smell is a bit melony. While it isn't the strongest note, it definitely holds its own.
The beer taste is actually not as impressive as the smell but still pretty good. The hops give a very nice tropical taste while the malt backbone is a bit too caramel. The agave is sweet but seems to be overwhelmed by the hops. The beer has a lingering taste that just does not sit quiet right.
The mouthfeel is a bit light and almost no carbonation is felt on the tongue even though you can see quite a bit from the head. The body feel very smooth and slick.
Overall, a pretty decent and interesting IPA worth checking out.
Jun 29, 2015The beer smell is actually pretty good and the ingredients really make it interesting. The beer smell is pretty flora, tropical, and fruity (hop notes) and the malts are nowhere to be found. The best part of the beer is the agave, which gives it a really sweet smell that is almost honey like but not as strong. Rather, the smell is a bit melony. While it isn't the strongest note, it definitely holds its own.
The beer taste is actually not as impressive as the smell but still pretty good. The hops give a very nice tropical taste while the malt backbone is a bit too caramel. The agave is sweet but seems to be overwhelmed by the hops. The beer has a lingering taste that just does not sit quiet right.
The mouthfeel is a bit light and almost no carbonation is felt on the tongue even though you can see quite a bit from the head. The body feel very smooth and slick.
Overall, a pretty decent and interesting IPA worth checking out.
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia
3.78/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Can(ned 6/17/2015):
Pours a nice, clear orange/copper, with an ok amount of head. The white bubbles do lats, however, film half-covering the surface and a thin ring around the edge.
Nose is floral, with a citrus and tart tropical fruit bite on the side. Tangerine, tangelo, mango, some grapefruit make up the fruit side. I mention those first because they are more recognizeable. They are equally balanced by a flower/nectar-like scent I can't place, but which I assume is the agave, along with a honey-like sweetness. Very interesting nose, at least.
The taste doesn't quite live up to me. The beer is fairly heavy on the malt side, with a honey biscuit like opening to the beer. The floral note (agave?) makes a fleeting appearance before the beer starts to balance out with some lightly pithy cirtus notes. Feel is medium body, but the carbonation could show up a bit more.
This beer had some potential. I think a little more bitterness is necessary and a bit more of the notes from the nose coming through in the taste would have this closer to outstanding that good.
Jun 28, 2015Pours a nice, clear orange/copper, with an ok amount of head. The white bubbles do lats, however, film half-covering the surface and a thin ring around the edge.
Nose is floral, with a citrus and tart tropical fruit bite on the side. Tangerine, tangelo, mango, some grapefruit make up the fruit side. I mention those first because they are more recognizeable. They are equally balanced by a flower/nectar-like scent I can't place, but which I assume is the agave, along with a honey-like sweetness. Very interesting nose, at least.
The taste doesn't quite live up to me. The beer is fairly heavy on the malt side, with a honey biscuit like opening to the beer. The floral note (agave?) makes a fleeting appearance before the beer starts to balance out with some lightly pithy cirtus notes. Feel is medium body, but the carbonation could show up a bit more.
This beer had some potential. I think a little more bitterness is necessary and a bit more of the notes from the nose coming through in the taste would have this closer to outstanding that good.
Reviewed by rockaroo from Virginia
4.37/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Agave IPA. Does not taste like a forced style or an IPA that could turn into just a beer.
Grapefruit citrus profile and great malt backbone. I don't know how to brew beer but this could be a masterpiece as far as balancing grapefruit/summertime flavor and just the right amount of kind malt.
Somebody got something right with this one.
Jun 25, 2015Grapefruit citrus profile and great malt backbone. I don't know how to brew beer but this could be a masterpiece as far as balancing grapefruit/summertime flavor and just the right amount of kind malt.
Somebody got something right with this one.
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