Overly Friendly IPA
Holy City Brewing
- From:
- Holy City Brewing
- South Carolina, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #2,349 - ABV:
- 7.6%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #20,501 - Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 8.7%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 35
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 30, 2025
- Added:
- Dec 31, 2013
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 45
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Charleston's got a rep as a friendly city. We're probably on some dumb list for it. All we know is word has spread further south to Florida, because our friends from Boca Raton's Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery told us "people in Charleston so so damn friendly" at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.
Sure, we smile. We wave. We say hello, "hey y'all," and other cute stuff. But that friendliness can be a little overwhelming to folks that aren't used to it. Same goes for this IPA, whose name came from our intern, Brynn. A double dose of Citra and Sorachi Ace in the boil and the dry hop impart a massive, citrusy nose to the beer, which is backed up by pale and wheat malts.
We love hops, but if you're not used to them, this might be too much. Don't worry, we'll keep smiling at you.
Sure, we smile. We wave. We say hello, "hey y'all," and other cute stuff. But that friendliness can be a little overwhelming to folks that aren't used to it. Same goes for this IPA, whose name came from our intern, Brynn. A double dose of Citra and Sorachi Ace in the boil and the dry hop impart a massive, citrusy nose to the beer, which is backed up by pale and wheat malts.
We love hops, but if you're not used to them, this might be too much. Don't worry, we'll keep smiling at you.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours an opaque golden color. Nice off white to slight golden tinted head. Nose is full on hop pineness with citrus, somwhat herbal and floral. Taste is all pine with a malty backend. Nice bitterness.
Dec 30, 2025
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
It comes with your standard citrus and grass clippings smell/taste, and has a medium hazy color. It is refreshing to the tongue, with a slight aftertaste bite. The can is kind of annoying to look at, but it’s a solid IPA.
Style: IPA | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 6.9% | Rating: 3.5
May 24, 2023Style: IPA | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 6.9% | Rating: 3.5
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
3.6/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Gold in color with excellent clarity. There's a fingernail of dishwater white on top and covering three quarters of the top. Heavy soapy lacing is present. There's some pine hop aroma. I'm tasting piney hops with some light malt and bitter piney hop finish. The mouth is lightly sticky and dry.
Feb 28, 2023
Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi
3.99/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.99/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had Overly Friendly at Rita's Seaside Grille, Folly Beach, SC, on draft into tumbler.
Pours a bit orange-gold with clarity and 1-finger creamy off-white head, with good retention, leaving rings of lace etched down the glass. A little grassy hop, some floral, more sweet fruit and finally a bit of spice aromas off pour, soon joined by big citrus, a little resiny pine and earthy barley malt aromas. On tasting, begins sweet melon-fruity over a bit of malt, immediately followed by a moderate piney hop bite and a little bitter grapefruit, soon smoothed a bit by some nice caramel malt, which together carry into a solidly bitter but still fruity finish.
Big, diverse and complementary aromas deliver a contemporary take on the classic American IPA. Not bad, not bad at all.
Feb 15, 2023Pours a bit orange-gold with clarity and 1-finger creamy off-white head, with good retention, leaving rings of lace etched down the glass. A little grassy hop, some floral, more sweet fruit and finally a bit of spice aromas off pour, soon joined by big citrus, a little resiny pine and earthy barley malt aromas. On tasting, begins sweet melon-fruity over a bit of malt, immediately followed by a moderate piney hop bite and a little bitter grapefruit, soon smoothed a bit by some nice caramel malt, which together carry into a solidly bitter but still fruity finish.
Big, diverse and complementary aromas deliver a contemporary take on the classic American IPA. Not bad, not bad at all.
Reviewed by BFCarr from New Jersey
3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours hazy amber with a thin white head. Aroma is mild dank hops. Taste follows with a mild oily hop flavor and decent malt sweetness. Feel is good, nice heft and reasonable clean finish. Overall a good IPA.
Sep 15, 2022
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Light amber with a 3/4" white head, which lasts. Light lacing.
Aroma of pine, toffee, citrus.
Tastes of pine, grapefruit zest, resin.
Medium body, light carbonation, dry, resinous finish.
A very good IPA. Tasty.
Jul 24, 2022Aroma of pine, toffee, citrus.
Tastes of pine, grapefruit zest, resin.
Medium body, light carbonation, dry, resinous finish.
A very good IPA. Tasty.
Reviewed by rjal from New Jersey
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured dark gold from can dates 5/17 on 6/18. No head some citrus notes in aroma but not as strong as anticipated or sold on the can. Great feel with lasting bitter notes on pallet.
Jun 18, 2021
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!