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King Sue
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Iowa, United States
- Style:
- New England IPA
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 7.8%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #67 - Avg:
- 4.58 | pDev: 6.99%
- Reviews:
- 649
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Friday at 10:33 PM
- Added:
- Feb 22, 2014
- Wants:
- 1,411
- Gots:
- 590
SCORE
100
World-Class
100
World-Class


Notes:
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 Madmas271
3.86/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
It's a nice pour, it's got a Treehouse feel but a Trillium taste. Very smooth lots of fruit. Would love to taste it on tap.
Friday at 10:33 PMReviewed by EmperorBevis from England
4.41/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.41/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Canned in a big old tallboy crafty craft can and part of a transatlantic beer trade and my first beer from Iowa
Pours a hazy OJ coloured body with foamy white head
Aroma is heavy vitamin effervescence anfd tropical fruit
Flavour is carob, carrot, pineapple
Wednesday at 11:49 PMPours a hazy OJ coloured body with foamy white head
Aroma is heavy vitamin effervescence anfd tropical fruit
Flavour is carob, carrot, pineapple
Rated by alexnblanton from Arkansas
4.42/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Definitely one of my go-tos here locally - especially when it is on tap.
May 17, 2023Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.23/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
473 ml can, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 7.8%. Hazy yellow colour, large white head. Strong and pleasant aroma of various citrus fruits, yellow stonefruits and tropical fruits. Rich and medium sweet flavour with the same elements, but unlike many double NEIPAs there is also a respectable bitterness. Not overdone, though.
May 09, 2023Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina
4.55/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.55/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
16 oz can dated 3/22/23
Murky golden orange with no sediment or floaties. Two fingers fine white head; full lacing curtains and surface cap.
On opening there were strong grapefruit and cat pee aromas. After the glass warmed slightly the cat pee went away replaced by a melon scent.
Grapefruit, pineapple, pepper, melon, mango, orange peel flavors.
Smooth mouthfeel with a slight bitter aftertaste. Good carbonation. No alcohol heat noticeable. Well balanced with no hop burn.
One of the best DIPA's I have had. Fingers crossed that fresh cans continue to appear in Augusta.
Apr 29, 2023Murky golden orange with no sediment or floaties. Two fingers fine white head; full lacing curtains and surface cap.
On opening there were strong grapefruit and cat pee aromas. After the glass warmed slightly the cat pee went away replaced by a melon scent.
Grapefruit, pineapple, pepper, melon, mango, orange peel flavors.
Smooth mouthfeel with a slight bitter aftertaste. Good carbonation. No alcohol heat noticeable. Well balanced with no hop burn.
One of the best DIPA's I have had. Fingers crossed that fresh cans continue to appear in Augusta.
Reviewed by bobv from Vermont
4.5/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16 ounce can packaged on 03/22/23.
One month old.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 5/4 inch slightly off-white head over a hazy golden body with sticky lacing.
Nose of citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet citrus with a hint of pine.
Taste follows nose very closely with flavors almost off the Richter!
Finish is orange peel and slight pine bitterness.
Nice feel with carbonation above average for the style.
Overall, glad to have finally tried this as it just reached distribution status here in Vermont!
Cheers!!
Apr 23, 2023One month old.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 5/4 inch slightly off-white head over a hazy golden body with sticky lacing.
Nose of citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet citrus with a hint of pine.
Taste follows nose very closely with flavors almost off the Richter!
Finish is orange peel and slight pine bitterness.
Nice feel with carbonation above average for the style.
Overall, glad to have finally tried this as it just reached distribution status here in Vermont!
Cheers!!
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
4.74/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4/20/23, At Pig and Fire for a Thursday afternoon date. Super excited to find this here! It's been on my list for awhile!
One inch thick off-white head dissipated quickly, leaving nice lacing on the glass. Very thickly opaque, super "juicy".
Aroma is amazing! Pink grapefruit and pineapple and a creamy orange scent I can't quite place.
Quite sweet, but incredibly drinkable...goes right down. Very smooth in the mouth with just a hint of carbonaed tingle. Apricot, creamy lemon, pineapple, just lucious...and filling! It's like a snack in a glass.
Apr 20, 2023One inch thick off-white head dissipated quickly, leaving nice lacing on the glass. Very thickly opaque, super "juicy".
Aroma is amazing! Pink grapefruit and pineapple and a creamy orange scent I can't quite place.
Quite sweet, but incredibly drinkable...goes right down. Very smooth in the mouth with just a hint of carbonaed tingle. Apricot, creamy lemon, pineapple, just lucious...and filling! It's like a snack in a glass.
Reviewed by AleManDan from California
4.48/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bright, blazing yellow with a haziness to it.
Blam! You can smell citrus, berries, stone fruits (tangerines, apricot, over ripe fruits...), grassiness. This beer's smell will hit you from a few feet away if your nose is clear and ready!
Tastes amazing! Hops for days but not crazy bitter BUT it is 100+ IBUs?! Weird...how'd they do that? Is this just a big hazy West Coast IPA or a NEIPA? Don't know for sure and don't care...I just know they must have used a ton of citra hops to get it to this level of deliciousness and it's well-balanced...well, if well balanced means you like it hoppy with a dry mouth feel.
Indeed, the mouthfeel is lush and big but it still finishes dry. The malts stand up to the hops so it's balanced but it leans hoppy, but never offensive or overly piney.
This is an amazing beer and one of my favorite IPAs! I finally got it here in Southern California at Aldi in Murrieta, CA! :)
*NOTE: This proves a single hop Citra beer can be amazing. I know there are other really good citra only beers, but this is on another level. I think Mosaic is the one hop I might choose if I could have only one single--hopped IPA on a tap, but this proves citra can stand up (it just doesn't get as funky or berry flavored as mosaic, in my opinion).
Apr 12, 2023Blam! You can smell citrus, berries, stone fruits (tangerines, apricot, over ripe fruits...), grassiness. This beer's smell will hit you from a few feet away if your nose is clear and ready!
Tastes amazing! Hops for days but not crazy bitter BUT it is 100+ IBUs?! Weird...how'd they do that? Is this just a big hazy West Coast IPA or a NEIPA? Don't know for sure and don't care...I just know they must have used a ton of citra hops to get it to this level of deliciousness and it's well-balanced...well, if well balanced means you like it hoppy with a dry mouth feel.
Indeed, the mouthfeel is lush and big but it still finishes dry. The malts stand up to the hops so it's balanced but it leans hoppy, but never offensive or overly piney.
This is an amazing beer and one of my favorite IPAs! I finally got it here in Southern California at Aldi in Murrieta, CA! :)
*NOTE: This proves a single hop Citra beer can be amazing. I know there are other really good citra only beers, but this is on another level. I think Mosaic is the one hop I might choose if I could have only one single--hopped IPA on a tap, but this proves citra can stand up (it just doesn't get as funky or berry flavored as mosaic, in my opinion).
Reviewed by brewerburgundy from West Virginia
4.35/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can, tulip, canned 1/19/23.
Glowing golden rod, not the haziest, but very hazy. The head has got some legs on it and laces well.
Peach rings, yellow grapefruit juice, orange pith, and papaya. It’s very juicy and fruity. And wow, no alcohol like so many NEIPAs.
The flavor is mostly grapefruit and orange pith and oil. There’s that little citrus oil tingle on the back of my tongue and roof of my mouth. Juicy, intense, with a reasonable pithy bitterness.
Smooth, light carbonation, and that tingle.
I don’t generally care for NEIPAs and I like this. It’s some good Citra juice.
Apr 06, 2023Glowing golden rod, not the haziest, but very hazy. The head has got some legs on it and laces well.
Peach rings, yellow grapefruit juice, orange pith, and papaya. It’s very juicy and fruity. And wow, no alcohol like so many NEIPAs.
The flavor is mostly grapefruit and orange pith and oil. There’s that little citrus oil tingle on the back of my tongue and roof of my mouth. Juicy, intense, with a reasonable pithy bitterness.
Smooth, light carbonation, and that tingle.
I don’t generally care for NEIPAs and I like this. It’s some good Citra juice.
Reviewed by JackRWatkins from Georgia
4.04/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: pours up a peachy gold with a pillowy three finger white head, good retention.
S: understated but Mango, Orange and Pineapple as promised.
T: Fruity, Cheesy and a bit dank right off, oddly subdued but pleasant, a tad sappy, syrupy, the mango, orange and pineapple are all accounted for.
M: medium body, gentle carbonation.
O: I’m certainly not the target demo for this beer but it delivers what it promises, albeit in a slightly more subdued way than I expected, it’s a thoroughly solid offering, but I could never wax poetic about a beer like this simply because it’s not my style.
Mar 25, 2023S: understated but Mango, Orange and Pineapple as promised.
T: Fruity, Cheesy and a bit dank right off, oddly subdued but pleasant, a tad sappy, syrupy, the mango, orange and pineapple are all accounted for.
M: medium body, gentle carbonation.
O: I’m certainly not the target demo for this beer but it delivers what it promises, albeit in a slightly more subdued way than I expected, it’s a thoroughly solid offering, but I could never wax poetic about a beer like this simply because it’s not my style.
Reviewed by Larryken from Massachusetts
4.91/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.91/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Reminds me of Heady Topper, so smooth and delicious. Everything is well balanced and no alcohol assault on the palate. Hard to improve on this brew for the style. One of my all time favorites.
Mar 15, 2023Reviewed by kflorence from Texas
4.57/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.57/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Date on can: 01/05/2023, only about two months old at the time of drinking. Should be fresh!
Pours a hazy, juicy golden in color with two fingers of frothy foam on top with decent lasting potential. Carbonation is hard to see, though if you swish the beer around you'll see some medium sized bubbles rising up. There's a bit of lacing as you drink, some clings, some slides. Head retention could be better, but otherwise this looks the part.
Very fruity on the nose; mostly pineapple and mango. There's also a piney, "evergreen" aroma to round it out. The malts provide a sweet, bready aroma in the background. Pretty classic.
Taste follows the nose well as this is quite fruity, although I do pick up a lot of orange and some grapefruit in addition to the pineapple and mango. The evergreen/pine comes mostly towards the swallow. The malts stay mostly out of the way, though there is some biscuity flavors in there. I also detect some herbal/tea-like notes. Mostly grapefruit rind on the tongue after the swallow. Alcohol is masked nicely.
This is medium bodied with ample chewiness. The carbonation is pretty average without too much zest. The finish is fairly dry and this is a bit of a palate wrecker. It's very easy to drink, however, especially considering the ABV. Quite smooth.
Full disclosure: I'm getting a bit tired of hazy IPAs. That said, this is definitely near the top in terms of quality, and it's amazing to think that all that flavor comes from just a single hop. It's tasty, complex and drinkable, though I probably wouldn't seek it out unless I was craving a NEIPA. I tried the Psuedo Sue first, and this one is definitely better, especially in terms of mouthfeel, but it obviously also packs more flavor. Happy to check it off the list. Cheers!
Mar 07, 2023Pours a hazy, juicy golden in color with two fingers of frothy foam on top with decent lasting potential. Carbonation is hard to see, though if you swish the beer around you'll see some medium sized bubbles rising up. There's a bit of lacing as you drink, some clings, some slides. Head retention could be better, but otherwise this looks the part.
Very fruity on the nose; mostly pineapple and mango. There's also a piney, "evergreen" aroma to round it out. The malts provide a sweet, bready aroma in the background. Pretty classic.
Taste follows the nose well as this is quite fruity, although I do pick up a lot of orange and some grapefruit in addition to the pineapple and mango. The evergreen/pine comes mostly towards the swallow. The malts stay mostly out of the way, though there is some biscuity flavors in there. I also detect some herbal/tea-like notes. Mostly grapefruit rind on the tongue after the swallow. Alcohol is masked nicely.
This is medium bodied with ample chewiness. The carbonation is pretty average without too much zest. The finish is fairly dry and this is a bit of a palate wrecker. It's very easy to drink, however, especially considering the ABV. Quite smooth.
Full disclosure: I'm getting a bit tired of hazy IPAs. That said, this is definitely near the top in terms of quality, and it's amazing to think that all that flavor comes from just a single hop. It's tasty, complex and drinkable, though I probably wouldn't seek it out unless I was craving a NEIPA. I tried the Psuedo Sue first, and this one is definitely better, especially in terms of mouthfeel, but it obviously also packs more flavor. Happy to check it off the list. Cheers!
Reviewed by LucidoMMA from California
5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours an opaque yellow surprisingly hazy looking with a semi non retentive head.
Smell is of Daaaaanky hops perfectly fused with mango citrus. Smells almost like mango rings infused with THC.
Taste is a fusion of orange, mango, pineapple, and hops. Perfectly fused. Much like a candy taste into the finish. 10 outta 5
Feb 08, 2023Smell is of Daaaaanky hops perfectly fused with mango citrus. Smells almost like mango rings infused with THC.
Taste is a fusion of orange, mango, pineapple, and hops. Perfectly fused. Much like a candy taste into the finish. 10 outta 5
Reviewed by jngls from Germany
4.34/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4 months old. Can to wine glass.
L: Pours a hazy orange with a foamy white head that dissipates rather quickly leaving a bit of lacing. No floaters.
S: Tropical mango and guava as well as hints of sweet tangerine and some grassy notes.
T: Tropical notes of papaya, guava and sweet mango paired with a pronounced grassiness and slightly earthy hints. Medium sweet and quite bitter.
F: Very juicy with a strong carbonation.
O: Perhaps a bit too old, but still very enjoyable. The carbonation is a little too strong for my taste. Even though it's a single hop IPA, the taste is quite complex and surprisingly tropical. Definitely a very good beer and deservedly a classic.
Jan 07, 2023L: Pours a hazy orange with a foamy white head that dissipates rather quickly leaving a bit of lacing. No floaters.
S: Tropical mango and guava as well as hints of sweet tangerine and some grassy notes.
T: Tropical notes of papaya, guava and sweet mango paired with a pronounced grassiness and slightly earthy hints. Medium sweet and quite bitter.
F: Very juicy with a strong carbonation.
O: Perhaps a bit too old, but still very enjoyable. The carbonation is a little too strong for my taste. Even though it's a single hop IPA, the taste is quite complex and surprisingly tropical. Definitely a very good beer and deservedly a classic.
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
4.03/5 rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
can into glass
Very thick and frothy, off-white head, with much lacing. Medium, opaque orange, with a bit of light amber highlights, at the edge off the glass, for the appearance. Bright, mixed citrus peel, with an emphasis on tangerine, for the smell, on a background of medium toasted malt. Medium heavy level of tangerine and a slightly, medium honey toasted malt accompaniment, for the taste. Bright but ample bodied mouthfeel and not too biting, during the finish.
Jan 05, 2023Very thick and frothy, off-white head, with much lacing. Medium, opaque orange, with a bit of light amber highlights, at the edge off the glass, for the appearance. Bright, mixed citrus peel, with an emphasis on tangerine, for the smell, on a background of medium toasted malt. Medium heavy level of tangerine and a slightly, medium honey toasted malt accompaniment, for the taste. Bright but ample bodied mouthfeel and not too biting, during the finish.
Reviewed by Anders91 from California
4.77/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.77/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look: really nice orangish-yellow just right for a NEIPA, nice white head
Smell: tropical fruit notes, citrus, a hint of pine, really nice
Taste: follows the nose, a big burst of tropical fruits: mango and guava, with some nice citrus and just a hint of pine
Feel: smooth with a good amount of small bubbles
Dec 31, 2022Smell: tropical fruit notes, citrus, a hint of pine, really nice
Taste: follows the nose, a big burst of tropical fruits: mango and guava, with some nice citrus and just a hint of pine
Feel: smooth with a good amount of small bubbles
Reviewed by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois
4.56/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
The latest great hazies usually have a more pillowy and creamy body to hide the hop burn. Despite this beer having a distinct hop burn, it's pretty freaking good all things considered. Crazy how a single hop beer can be this flavorful, so much going on with it.
Dec 22, 2022Reviewed by CHickman from New York
4.29/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This was not the freshest can in the world so there will need to be a future review with another can that’s within a month old.
Pours cloudy orange color with a massive 2 finger thick very foamy head that faded very, very slowly and left really good looking lacing as it went down. Smells of tangerine, orange peel, grapefruit, orange juice, biscuit, citrus hops, tropical fruit like mango and trailing earthy notes like peppery spices.
Tastes sweet up front like a mashup of orange juice and caramel, with tangerine, papaya, grapefruit, guava juice, biscuit, graham cracker, a lot of different fruit notes that are hard to distinguish, and herbal flavors like tea leaf, coriander and mint. Really complex and each sip is different, which I like. It’s smooth and bitter at the same time, hiding the ABV so it flows down with ease. Very tasty.
Nov 17, 2022Pours cloudy orange color with a massive 2 finger thick very foamy head that faded very, very slowly and left really good looking lacing as it went down. Smells of tangerine, orange peel, grapefruit, orange juice, biscuit, citrus hops, tropical fruit like mango and trailing earthy notes like peppery spices.
Tastes sweet up front like a mashup of orange juice and caramel, with tangerine, papaya, grapefruit, guava juice, biscuit, graham cracker, a lot of different fruit notes that are hard to distinguish, and herbal flavors like tea leaf, coriander and mint. Really complex and each sip is different, which I like. It’s smooth and bitter at the same time, hiding the ABV so it flows down with ease. Very tasty.
King Sue from Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
3478 ratings
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