Lupulin River
Knee Deep Brewing Company

Bottle from On The Fly. Mellow but rich citrus hop aroma. Medium weight body with light silky head, slightly dry on the tail end. Hard to believe this is an IIPA. Smooth, nice hop/malt balance

What stands out is the feel. Very rare that you get a chewiness type of feel in an imperial west coast style IPA at this ABV and with this clarity. This is up there with Pliny the Elder IMO, in it's own way. Very underrated for the style. A bonus is how well it holds up even at warmer temperatures.

Very fruity on the nose along with a minerality and pine. Very enticing. Palate is more of the same; exceptional. Slightly bitter on the aftertaste is its only fault, but it's exceedingly minor. A benchmark West Coast IPA.

 

 

 

 

 

I was sure I'd reviewed this before, as I've had it multiple times and am a big fan of this beer. Today I'm enjoying a fresh bottle of Pliny the Elder, which reminded me to see where Lupulin River stacked up in rankings. Both are fantastic as many have attested. There is not much to separate them if the freshness is equal. As with any IPA, I've not been as impressed with LR if I got an older bottle, which is reality and not a reflection on the outstanding DIPA this is when it's young.

The pour into a pint glass a thing to behold - yellow/gold with 90% clarity, a fat finger of off-white foam that settles to a thin layer that stays...with a good amount of soapy lacing.

Smell and taste are bursting with pine and tropical fruits that are delightful.

Feel is crisp with a bit of hop oily goodness.

Overall this is superior to most beers anywhere, and for me belongs in the top 25 in the class - it's better in my view than at least 10 of the DIPA's that are higher in the rankings. Don't pass a chance to get this one!

~1 month old bottle, refrigerated.
Great look, kind of dark full amber, dense head that sticks around for days with lacing.
West coast ipa flavors. Citrus, bitter, dry, also some apple/pear I’m picking up. Definite malt presence, but not overpowering. Fairly full mouthfeel.
The only complaint is initially the head/foam has a copper smell. It dissipates and not really in the taste so doesn’t spoil it.
Poor mans pte?

From a 12oz. can from Piggly Wiggly in Myrtle Beach SC. Came with Boe and Beth. Not as much smell as I would have expected. Taste is strong floral (Leah), pine (Dave).

 

 

Took a chance on a 5 month old 12 oz can while back in the PNW, and i’m glad I did. This is quite good, though of course i’d love to try it when it was fresher. Pour into a tulip is fine, kind of a dull gold with a little haze and a 1 finger head that subsides. Nose is dank and piney, with a solid malty breadiness. Taste is more piney, though there’s also some bright citrus and a little spice, too. Lively mouthful, chewy, not very heavy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. can:

Pours deep golden. A white head lasts. Lacing sticks down the glass.

The smell is of hop goodness - Citrus, pine, black pepper, with a touch of grainy bread.'

The taste is of huge floral notes, grapefruit, pine, caramel. Alcohol well-integrated. Long, hop-forward finish.

Super smooth and chewy, this is an awesome Imperial IPA! Hop-forward - bitter but smooth. Very enjoyable!

The perfect beer. Exceptional in every way.

EDIT: Three years, and countless cloyingly sweet hazy and NE IPAs later, and this tastes as amazing as ever. Lip-smackingly crisp, bone dry, with a whole football field of fresh cut grass, a tube or two of toothpaste, and a face punch of fruity flavours -- I get passionfruit first, a bit of mango, pineapple, some banana. The slightest hint of malty chewiness to hold it all up.

Is it really inferior to Pliny?

 

 

 

 

Unremarkable appearance. Poured from a bottle dated 7.31.2018

The Aroma is unmistakable. Dank green from the moment the cap was off and remarkable because of the age since bottling. Very drinkable. Not oxidized and not overly harsh hop bites.

Great mouthfeel, oily hops coat the tongue.

Overall, I'm not disappointed to have purchased 3 bottles, later noting the bottle date.
Gelson's needs to get their act together and weed out their older stock on hand.
This comes highly recommended if you enjoy a very drinkable lush hop DIPA.

 

 

 

 

Poured from 12oz can into glass. Stamped on can bottom is canning date of '01/22/2018'.
Slightly cloudy, pale gold colored body. Two finger white head, settles to bubbly cap and ring. Leaves behind partial sheets of lacing.
Big smells of heavy tropical fruit and pine hops.
Taste is bitter biting, with the pine hops, along with sweet touches of the tropical fruit hops. Produces some hop burn on the tongue and throat.
Medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
This beer is a hop presentation, with heavy doses of hops that result in bitter pine and sweeter tropical fruit aromas and flavors. This can has a bit of age on it, but the hops still present with vigor and potency. Would definitely like to try a more fresh can.

 

Golden appearance with a small head. Smells of strong pine, grass and citrus rind. Balanced to the bitter, decent malt body to support. Nice hop flavor of citrus and pine. Great clean malt profiles that lets the hops shine. This is assertive, clean, bursting with hop profile, and very drinkable.

Copper filtered with a half finger of white head and moderate carbonation.

Smells of dank, garlic and onion, green leaf, cat pee, caramel and orange.

The taste is extremely dank and fresh, of cat pee and green leaf.

Medium body with medium carbonation.

Got this at Liquor Barn, drinking in Redding Sept 25th, 2018. Excellent brew.

 

 

I got to give it to these guys its quite smooth and well hidden ABV but with an intense bittering hop flavor which I do not enjoy so much these days. Looking toward more mango fruit sweetness in my DIPA but I can nod to what they are doing and they seem to appease many of hop heads. Not bad!

 

22oz bottle. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with small, tan head of foam. It smelled of pine, citrus and toasted caramel. Fairly malty with pine notes and a citrusy bite.