King Sue
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company


- From:
- Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Iowa, United States
- Style:
- New England IPA
Ranked #16 - ABV:
- 7.8%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #72 - Avg:
- 4.57 | pDev: 7%
- Reviews:
- 680
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 07, 2025
- Added:
- Feb 22, 2014
- Wants:
- 1,421
- Gots:
- 596
Long live the King. King Sue that is. Her ferocious bite will make sure all newcomers learn to toe the line. And what better way to exude her influence than with this Citra-hopped double IPA. Followers will cheer. Enemies will crumble. But don’t take her lightly, because when this double IPA is on a rampage, nothing will stand in her way…
100+ IBU
ABV varies with each batch
100+ IBU
ABV varies with each batch
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by LukeWillman from Ohio
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
All Hail the King
Mar 07, 2025Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.89/5 rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
3.89/5 rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 22/4 2024. 47,3 cl can from Kihoskh, Sønder Boulevard, Kbh. V. A grumpy Dinosaur growling on the can.
Pours opaque hazy, golden yellow with a mid-sized white head. A bit bubbly. Settles as thin patches of foam floating about. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is intense with a sweet fruity odor with a touch of petroleum mingling with tart citrus frit. Overripe mango and passion fruit. Whiff of fermentation. Lemon and grapefruit.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a stronger yet pleasant bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter. Lingers for a while. Finish is dry.
A fine Dinosaur of a DIPA.
Feb 27, 2025Pours opaque hazy, golden yellow with a mid-sized white head. A bit bubbly. Settles as thin patches of foam floating about. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is intense with a sweet fruity odor with a touch of petroleum mingling with tart citrus frit. Overripe mango and passion fruit. Whiff of fermentation. Lemon and grapefruit.
Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a stronger yet pleasant bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter. Lingers for a while. Finish is dry.
A fine Dinosaur of a DIPA.
Reviewed by maltbeard01 from Pennsylvania
4.54/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured chilled from a can into a 16oz pint glass. Appearance is hazy straw color. Two-finger off white head with plenty of lacing along the glass.
Aroma is citrus, floral hops, grapefruit.
Taste follows the nose with a punch of citrus fruit juice. Grapefruit, mango, sweet malt, pine hops.
Mouthfeel is medium full with plenty of pillowy carbonation. Creamy smooth in the mouth, slightly dry on the back. Nice and fresh, nice and balanced. Sweet citrus up front followed by some subtle dank hop bitterness rounds this one out. Hops and citrus linger making this one a rather refreshing brew.
Overall, I like this one alot. Toss up between this and Pseudo Sue for my favorite Toppling Goliath DIPA. Enjoyably smooth, refreshing, and nicely balanced. Will be getting this one again.
Jan 20, 2025Aroma is citrus, floral hops, grapefruit.
Taste follows the nose with a punch of citrus fruit juice. Grapefruit, mango, sweet malt, pine hops.
Mouthfeel is medium full with plenty of pillowy carbonation. Creamy smooth in the mouth, slightly dry on the back. Nice and fresh, nice and balanced. Sweet citrus up front followed by some subtle dank hop bitterness rounds this one out. Hops and citrus linger making this one a rather refreshing brew.
Overall, I like this one alot. Toss up between this and Pseudo Sue for my favorite Toppling Goliath DIPA. Enjoyably smooth, refreshing, and nicely balanced. Will be getting this one again.
Reviewed by Premo88 from Texas
4.31/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
pint can poured into tall mug
(6/26/24 packaged date printed on bottom of can)
L: murky mix of orange/pineapple juice, just a hint darker than yellow, 100% opaque, topped by a huge fluffy head of white foam, at least 2 inches tall that sticks a little; keeps a full skin of white foam
S: grapefruit ... glorious, luscious grapefruit
T: super sweet grapefruit/mango juice ... cloyingly sweet up front, and it takes awhile for some hop bitterness to start balancing it; the more I get into the glass and it warms up, the more that balancing bitterness tastes like orange peel and grapefruit peel and works like a nice drying agent — nice and necessary to calm down that opening sweetness
F: fantastic midweight with plenty of carbonation to keep it crisp and lively
O: hard to knock this beer in terms of style — seems like exactly what a New England IPA is meant to be; it's hard for me to enjoy at times b/c it's so sweet, almost sickly sweet, but the balancing bitterness in the finish saves it for me; as a grapefruit bomb fix, it's fantastic on the sweet side
(bonus points for being 6 months old and still kicking all kinds of IPA ass)
Jan 04, 2025(6/26/24 packaged date printed on bottom of can)
L: murky mix of orange/pineapple juice, just a hint darker than yellow, 100% opaque, topped by a huge fluffy head of white foam, at least 2 inches tall that sticks a little; keeps a full skin of white foam
S: grapefruit ... glorious, luscious grapefruit
T: super sweet grapefruit/mango juice ... cloyingly sweet up front, and it takes awhile for some hop bitterness to start balancing it; the more I get into the glass and it warms up, the more that balancing bitterness tastes like orange peel and grapefruit peel and works like a nice drying agent — nice and necessary to calm down that opening sweetness
F: fantastic midweight with plenty of carbonation to keep it crisp and lively
O: hard to knock this beer in terms of style — seems like exactly what a New England IPA is meant to be; it's hard for me to enjoy at times b/c it's so sweet, almost sickly sweet, but the balancing bitterness in the finish saves it for me; as a grapefruit bomb fix, it's fantastic on the sweet side
(bonus points for being 6 months old and still kicking all kinds of IPA ass)
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana
4.08/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can purchased online from Halftime Beverage; first experience with Toppling Goliath
Poured into a Big Head's Belgian-style tulip
O my expectations were pretty high for this one, and while it was undoubtedly good, I was a bit underwhelmed; full review to come
Review date: 12.19.22
Can date: 10.07.22
Jan 04, 2025Poured into a Big Head's Belgian-style tulip
O my expectations were pretty high for this one, and while it was undoubtedly good, I was a bit underwhelmed; full review to come
Review date: 12.19.22
Can date: 10.07.22
Rated by antimasone from Massachusetts
4.33/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2 month old can not as good
Jan 02, 2025Reviewed by Falcon91Wolvrn03 from California
3.9/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Look - Pours an opaque amber/orange color with a thick fluffy head.
Smell - A powerful citrus hops scent - easy to smell on pouring it into a glass. A little too citrusy for my liking.
Taste - A strong citrus taste. Probably too much citrus, and maybe a bit too sweet. OK at first, but not as good to me by the end of the can.
Feel - The citra-hops is too much for my liking. I just don't care for it as much as others.
Overall - Not as good to me as the rating implies. However, I am MUCH more impressed with their Pseudo Sue!
Dec 12, 2024Smell - A powerful citrus hops scent - easy to smell on pouring it into a glass. A little too citrusy for my liking.
Taste - A strong citrus taste. Probably too much citrus, and maybe a bit too sweet. OK at first, but not as good to me by the end of the can.
Feel - The citra-hops is too much for my liking. I just don't care for it as much as others.
Overall - Not as good to me as the rating implies. However, I am MUCH more impressed with their Pseudo Sue!
Reviewed by Viaduck from California
4.43/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Massive fluffy white head sits atop a very hazy amber body. Very fragrant/ lots of citrus & pine resin. Surprisingly more salty than sweet, somewhat tart. Flavors: a nicely integrated mix of tropical fruit that blends together into nicely blended amalgam, pine resin & some hops. Excellent mouthfeel, warms the mouth of stomach. The lack of sweetness highlights the carbonation & similarlies to a seltzer. Different & delicious.
Nov 08, 2024Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia
4.13/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
You looking for the perfect head? This is it. Tall , white and fluffy. Very Cloudy orange liquid. Notes of grapefruit of which I’m not much of a fan.
Nov 01, 2024Reviewed by Beer-A-Lot from Virginia
4.46/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
When this is fresh, it’s as good as any DIPA around. Lots of different citrusy flavors going on. Drinks very smooth and kind of belies its abv. Happy days when I can find it.
Oct 16, 2024Reviewed by Jaccident
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had many times over the years its incredible. This 1 im drinking is only 1 week old i cant believe it i live in Massachusetts. Im so happy to enjoy so fresh! This new england double ipa definitely stands the test of time. Im still thoroughly impressed!
Oct 01, 2024Reviewed by HardTarget from Texas
4.84/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.84/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4 pack of tallboys from Spec's main store in Austin.
Appearance: Opaque straw blonde glass holds a half finger of white rocky foam that lasts forever leaving laced tide marks.
Aroma: Hop juice. Some tropical mango, a little crystal malt, tangerine nectar.
Taste: For all the hops, really pretty balanced. Loads of fruity flavors, grapefruit rind, hints of bubblegum, esters, with a very faint grainy, almost wheat cracker base.
Mouthfeel: Gritty texture, low carbonation, late chew as it leaves an oily coating behind despite drinking like water.
Overall: Big o'flavors deserve big o'scores. Dangerously drinkable, bold flavors but easy drinking, on the edge of orange juice, very refreshing. Taking a half point on personal preference, this is a top tier IPA, but I would reach for some darker things before this. Strongly recommended.
Jul 27, 2024Appearance: Opaque straw blonde glass holds a half finger of white rocky foam that lasts forever leaving laced tide marks.
Aroma: Hop juice. Some tropical mango, a little crystal malt, tangerine nectar.
Taste: For all the hops, really pretty balanced. Loads of fruity flavors, grapefruit rind, hints of bubblegum, esters, with a very faint grainy, almost wheat cracker base.
Mouthfeel: Gritty texture, low carbonation, late chew as it leaves an oily coating behind despite drinking like water.
Overall: Big o'flavors deserve big o'scores. Dangerously drinkable, bold flavors but easy drinking, on the edge of orange juice, very refreshing. Taking a half point on personal preference, this is a top tier IPA, but I would reach for some darker things before this. Strongly recommended.
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