Chaos
Backlash Beer Company
- From:
- Backlash Beer Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 94
- Avg:
- 4.31 | pDev: 6.03%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 20, 2021
- Added:
- Apr 08, 2014
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
94
Outstanding
94
Outstanding
Double India pale ale brewed with Citra, Simcoe,mosaic, and Simcoe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Rideguy64:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts
4.41/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured a dark golden color with a 4F head in a Spielgelau IPA glass.
Sweet, citrus, diverse fruit in the aroma.
Cloying, syrupy, piney aroma. Less common in DIPAs which often have lackluster MFs.
Great taste. The fruit flavors are diverse: pine, citrus, tropical and more.
Not too hoppy. Moderate.
Excellent NEIPA.This brewery has evolved and is mastering the DIPA style.
Jun 20, 2021Sweet, citrus, diverse fruit in the aroma.
Cloying, syrupy, piney aroma. Less common in DIPAs which often have lackluster MFs.
Great taste. The fruit flavors are diverse: pine, citrus, tropical and more.
Not too hoppy. Moderate.
Excellent NEIPA.This brewery has evolved and is mastering the DIPA style.
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.26/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Wow, I totally forgot this was a beer Backlash made before. It's been 7 long-ass years since this was released, but it's recently been released once again by the brewery and brewed at Riverwalk Brewing in Newburyport, MA. I had thought these guys finally got their new location set up, but maybe COVID screwed it all up. Anyway, let's give this a shot. I think I had it before but, in all honesty, I don't remember, so we'll see what's up with it.
Pours a hazy (but not opaque!) orange-tinged golden color with a soapy, dense head of white foam that leaves behind some streaky lacing and decent legs as it fades to a half-finger and retains there for the entirety of my experience. Not a bad appearance, and I do like that it's actually not a haze-bomb; reminds me of, ya know, IPAs back in 2014 when this was first made!
Chaos features Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. This was probably one of the first commercially-available beers that I know of that featured Mosaic back in 2014, which is pretty cool. I can't think of many others in my neck of the woods anyway. The nose is pineapple, papaya, melon, and tangelo with a hint of ethanol heat and some semi-sweet caramel-like malty undertones. Actually reminds me, again, of IPAs back in those days, which is wild. I would've thought they'd update this for "modern times" but I appreciate that it seems like they kinda left it untouched. It's a little sticky and dank as well, with some hints of passion fruit and spice combining with resin and hints of tropical citrus at times.
This is super smooth and drinkable for an 8.5% IPA, and I think a lot of that has to do with how laid-back it is on the tongue. It's not overly-hoppy, but it's definitely a bold IPA in a more "West Coast"-ish tradition. In a sense, it sort of reminds me of something like 3 Floyds' Alpha King or something. The flavor is more bitter than expected from the nose, but flavors of soft mango, peach, papaya, and passion fruit build up around a nice malty core that is bolstered by fine carbonation and notes of pineapple, grassiness, and a hint of herbs. Some sticky/dank resin-like undertones in the finish that give the beer a good bit of balance, playing well with the maltiness in the mid-palate. I kinda miss beer like this. I appreciate Backlash for bringing this back. Hope they can eventually get that space they've been wanting to operate out of.
Feb 11, 2021Pours a hazy (but not opaque!) orange-tinged golden color with a soapy, dense head of white foam that leaves behind some streaky lacing and decent legs as it fades to a half-finger and retains there for the entirety of my experience. Not a bad appearance, and I do like that it's actually not a haze-bomb; reminds me of, ya know, IPAs back in 2014 when this was first made!
Chaos features Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. This was probably one of the first commercially-available beers that I know of that featured Mosaic back in 2014, which is pretty cool. I can't think of many others in my neck of the woods anyway. The nose is pineapple, papaya, melon, and tangelo with a hint of ethanol heat and some semi-sweet caramel-like malty undertones. Actually reminds me, again, of IPAs back in those days, which is wild. I would've thought they'd update this for "modern times" but I appreciate that it seems like they kinda left it untouched. It's a little sticky and dank as well, with some hints of passion fruit and spice combining with resin and hints of tropical citrus at times.
This is super smooth and drinkable for an 8.5% IPA, and I think a lot of that has to do with how laid-back it is on the tongue. It's not overly-hoppy, but it's definitely a bold IPA in a more "West Coast"-ish tradition. In a sense, it sort of reminds me of something like 3 Floyds' Alpha King or something. The flavor is more bitter than expected from the nose, but flavors of soft mango, peach, papaya, and passion fruit build up around a nice malty core that is bolstered by fine carbonation and notes of pineapple, grassiness, and a hint of herbs. Some sticky/dank resin-like undertones in the finish that give the beer a good bit of balance, playing well with the maltiness in the mid-palate. I kinda miss beer like this. I appreciate Backlash for bringing this back. Hope they can eventually get that space they've been wanting to operate out of.
Reviewed by RichKent from California
4.19/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had 3 pints of Chaos on tap (back to back) at the Blind Pig in Athol MA. Not exactly a 'session' beer, but it's tasty and easy enough to drink to qualify in my book.
Appearance - probably the weakest part of the beer. It's light gold in color with minimal head (less than a finger) - although it does leave nice lacing on the glass as you drink it.
Smell - Fruity, particularly grapefruit and citrus, but there's some pine and caramel there too.
Taste - The best part of this beer. Very grapefruit forward taste, although not what I'd call a grapefruit bomb. Also strong citrus, and then caramel malt body and what I consider the right amount of bitterness, then it finishes clean which makes me want another sip (gulp!). This is a delicious beer that's nicely balanced and completely masks the ABV.
Mouth - The right amount of carbonation, but a little thin (vs. syrupy). I like this as it leaves me wanting another sip.
Overall I was very impressed. Makes me want to visit Backlash to see what else they're making. I consider Chaos a nice midpoint between a bitter West Coast IPA and the fruitier East Coast IPAs.
Jul 17, 2014Appearance - probably the weakest part of the beer. It's light gold in color with minimal head (less than a finger) - although it does leave nice lacing on the glass as you drink it.
Smell - Fruity, particularly grapefruit and citrus, but there's some pine and caramel there too.
Taste - The best part of this beer. Very grapefruit forward taste, although not what I'd call a grapefruit bomb. Also strong citrus, and then caramel malt body and what I consider the right amount of bitterness, then it finishes clean which makes me want another sip (gulp!). This is a delicious beer that's nicely balanced and completely masks the ABV.
Mouth - The right amount of carbonation, but a little thin (vs. syrupy). I like this as it leaves me wanting another sip.
Overall I was very impressed. Makes me want to visit Backlash to see what else they're making. I consider Chaos a nice midpoint between a bitter West Coast IPA and the fruitier East Coast IPAs.
Reviewed by RonfromJersey from New Jersey
3.83/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hazy dull orange body, three level fingers of white foam, stretchy lace.
Inviting, assertive citrus aroma. Grapefruit, orange.
Big, firm sweet malt upfront. Fruitiness. Huge bitter bite, with a lot of linger. Could use more fruit and maybe a little less bitter.
Mouthfeel is full and nicely prickly.
Not great, but pretty good and promising.
Jun 01, 2014Inviting, assertive citrus aroma. Grapefruit, orange.
Big, firm sweet malt upfront. Fruitiness. Huge bitter bite, with a lot of linger. Could use more fruit and maybe a little less bitter.
Mouthfeel is full and nicely prickly.
Not great, but pretty good and promising.
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!