Sun Drenched Exploratory Ale
Denver Beer Co.
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- From:
- Denver Beer Co.
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- IPA - American
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.69 | pDev: 10.84%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 25, 2019
- Added:
- Nov 27, 2014
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 10
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Notes:
Brewed for Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine, this is our twist on a refreshing American ale. Part IPA, part American wheat, she is a perfect thirst-quenching reward after a long day of adventure. Sun Drenched is a straw-colored ale loaded full of hops with a crisp, dry finish. Dry hopped with generous amounts of Simcoe, Cascade, and Mosaic hops, she is highlighted by a bright floral and citrus aroma. Remember your sunscreen while enjoying this beauty in our sun-drenched state!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
3.44 by Kolb from Montana on Apr 25, 2019
2.89 by AllOfTheCats from Wisconsin on Sep 16, 2018
3.25 by jtnord from Colorado on Sep 11, 2018
3.87 by Needmorebeer312 from Washington on Jun 18, 2017
3.85/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by WoodBrew from Ohio
I bought a can of this at a Denver Airport kiosk. It poured a clear yellow with white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had hints of lemon citrus. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. Hints of lemon and clean slight bitter finish. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it was a solid beer.
Jun 17, 2017
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by WoodBrew from Ohio
I bought a can of this at a Denver Airport kiosk. It poured a clear yellow with white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had hints of lemon citrus. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. Hints of lemon and clean slight bitter finish. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it was a solid beer.
Jun 17, 2017
3.45 by Timtac from New Jersey on Apr 22, 2017
4 by jewellrunner from Missouri on Apr 13, 2017
4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Wasatch from Colorado
12 oz. Can
Pours a pretty nice yellow color, nice carbonation, with a pretty nice one-finger off-white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with some citrus. The taste is hoppy, malty, citrusy. Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
Apr 03, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Wasatch from Colorado
12 oz. Can
Pours a pretty nice yellow color, nice carbonation, with a pretty nice one-finger off-white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with some citrus. The taste is hoppy, malty, citrusy. Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
Apr 03, 2017
3.73/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by DenverHopHead from Colorado
Poured from a can with a canned on date of 9/26/16; into a pint glass.
Appearance- very light, straw colored gold, similar to a cider; a touch hazy, with a lot of bubbles building a medium thick, white head. Lacing is
Smell - passion fruit, pineapple and grapefruit; I love a tropical and citrus nose!
Taste - watered down version of what you get from the aroma; this is supposed to teter on IPA or session, but it definitely weighs more on the session IPA side.
Feel - very light, even watered down with enough hop bitterness to help keep this from being lame. Easy drinker for a hot day though.
Overall - love the aroma and the fact this is sessionable, but it lacks substance.
Oct 22, 2016
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by DenverHopHead from Colorado
Poured from a can with a canned on date of 9/26/16; into a pint glass.
Appearance- very light, straw colored gold, similar to a cider; a touch hazy, with a lot of bubbles building a medium thick, white head. Lacing is
Smell - passion fruit, pineapple and grapefruit; I love a tropical and citrus nose!
Taste - watered down version of what you get from the aroma; this is supposed to teter on IPA or session, but it definitely weighs more on the session IPA side.
Feel - very light, even watered down with enough hop bitterness to help keep this from being lame. Easy drinker for a hot day though.
Overall - love the aroma and the fact this is sessionable, but it lacks substance.
Oct 22, 2016
4.63/5 rDev +25.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
by gherfkens from California
Really nice light refreshing beer with a clean feeling and reasonable ABV. Very drinkable with solid flavor.
Oct 14, 2016
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
by gherfkens from California
Really nice light refreshing beer with a clean feeling and reasonable ABV. Very drinkable with solid flavor.
Oct 14, 2016
3.06/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
by Beaver13 from Colorado
12 oz can. Pours slightly hazy light yellow with a medium fluffy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is subdued - some fruity piney hops.
The flavor is crisp malt with some sweet fruity resiny hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, an OK hoppy wheat.
Oct 12, 2016
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
by Beaver13 from Colorado
12 oz can. Pours slightly hazy light yellow with a medium fluffy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is subdued - some fruity piney hops.
The flavor is crisp malt with some sweet fruity resiny hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, an OK hoppy wheat.
Oct 12, 2016
3.65 by BigRed10 from Illinois on Oct 08, 2016
4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by ControlVolume from Colorado
More APA, on par with SNPA, how is denver beer co doing this this year
Sep 23, 2016
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by ControlVolume from Colorado
More APA, on par with SNPA, how is denver beer co doing this this year
Sep 23, 2016
3.69/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by akolb from Colorado
Aroma: crackers and hops. Taste: a pilsner-like crackeriness with a bit of citrus. Some pineapple and mango. Very dry and biscuity. A refreshingly bitter aftertaste. Light bodied and effervescent. A session IPA that tastes like a pilsner. Highly refreshing if not particularly exciting.
Jul 30, 2016
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by akolb from Colorado
Aroma: crackers and hops. Taste: a pilsner-like crackeriness with a bit of citrus. Some pineapple and mango. Very dry and biscuity. A refreshingly bitter aftertaste. Light bodied and effervescent. A session IPA that tastes like a pilsner. Highly refreshing if not particularly exciting.
Jul 30, 2016
3.69/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by zeff80 from Missouri
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden-yellow color with little to no head. It smelled fruity with notes of orange. Sweet caramel and malt taste up front and a light citrus kick.
Jul 27, 2016
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by zeff80 from Missouri
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden-yellow color with little to no head. It smelled fruity with notes of orange. Sweet caramel and malt taste up front and a light citrus kick.
Jul 27, 2016
3.9 by Gerred from Missouri on Jul 17, 2016
4 by brauseboof from South Carolina on Jul 06, 2016
3.71 by spacebear09 from Colorado on Jun 04, 2016
3.75 by kjkinsey from Texas on May 28, 2016
3.21 by COR8RFAN from Colorado on May 12, 2016
4.07/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by LXIXME from New Mexico
Wow, I wasn't expecting such a good taste coming from a light American lager looking beer. A light pale straw colored beer that has a nice light but full citrus hoppy aroma that is relayed quite nicely to the taste. With a lasting lacing and a small biscuity mound of froth remaining in the middle of the glass as the beer below it disappears. Finishes off with a lasting light drying aftertaste that carries with it the citrus taste. I'm pretty happy I picked this up when I was in Colorado last week.
Mar 11, 2016
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by LXIXME from New Mexico
Wow, I wasn't expecting such a good taste coming from a light American lager looking beer. A light pale straw colored beer that has a nice light but full citrus hoppy aroma that is relayed quite nicely to the taste. With a lasting lacing and a small biscuity mound of froth remaining in the middle of the glass as the beer below it disappears. Finishes off with a lasting light drying aftertaste that carries with it the citrus taste. I'm pretty happy I picked this up when I was in Colorado last week.
Mar 11, 2016
3.69 by crobinso from Colorado on Mar 11, 2016
3.81 by Haybeerman from Colorado on Feb 28, 2016
3.91/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Todd from California
Hoppy, Fruity, Refreshing, Moreish
Pours straw with a huge, foamy white head. Fruity, hoppy and crackery in the nose. Light on the palate, but not in flavor. It's floral and fruity, a bit tropical with a mild sweetness, a smack of citrus, bready malts, a wheat edge and an underlying dryness and crispness that greatly increases the beer's drinkability. Sun Drenched is pitched as an American IPA-wheat ale hybrid, this brew was made as an easy drinking ale for the 300 days of Colorado sunshine. I dig it, and I’m glad they didn't call it a "Session IPA."
As reviewed in BeerAdvocate magazine #107 (December 2015).
Jan 17, 2016
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Todd from California
Hoppy, Fruity, Refreshing, Moreish
Pours straw with a huge, foamy white head. Fruity, hoppy and crackery in the nose. Light on the palate, but not in flavor. It's floral and fruity, a bit tropical with a mild sweetness, a smack of citrus, bready malts, a wheat edge and an underlying dryness and crispness that greatly increases the beer's drinkability. Sun Drenched is pitched as an American IPA-wheat ale hybrid, this brew was made as an easy drinking ale for the 300 days of Colorado sunshine. I dig it, and I’m glad they didn't call it a "Session IPA."
As reviewed in BeerAdvocate magazine #107 (December 2015).
Jan 17, 2016
3.51 by R3ason from Colorado on Nov 06, 2015
3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from New Hampshire on Sep 28, 2015
4.1 by sporklift87 from Colorado on Aug 28, 2015
4.07/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Chavito1977 from New Mexico
Great to quench your thirst and relax after mowing the lawn or working out in the sun. Nice citrus flavor fills your mouth and leaves a clean feel afterward.
Aug 13, 2015
look: 3.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Chavito1977 from New Mexico
Great to quench your thirst and relax after mowing the lawn or working out in the sun. Nice citrus flavor fills your mouth and leaves a clean feel afterward.
Aug 13, 2015
3.52 by habaceeba from Colorado on Aug 13, 2015
3.72 by Tlloyd417 from Colorado on Jul 23, 2015
3.63 by Ike_Potter from Louisiana on Jul 02, 2015
3.97 by Greels from Colorado on Jun 20, 2015
4.14/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by Panda_Brew from Connecticut
No clue what exploratory ale is, but that’s what they went with so cheers and f**k it at the same time.
A: Pours and insanely light pilsner color, very delicate one finger head. Not clear but visible through, no carbonation moving in there.
S: Smells pilsner/ wheaty with fermented pineapple and just a hint of passion fruit and tangerine.
T: Lines up with the scent, very light taste and very crisp while having slight pineapple, passion fruit, and tangerine refreshing taste; there’s an almost coconut ending too. The taste is so light that you immediately want another sip to get it again; a taste so fine while being wispy and elusive. The malt is clean and clear while not intruding on the delicate hop flavors.
M: Great mouth feel, light as a bud light while still having lots of character.
O: This is a great day/session/ adventure/ lazy beach beer. It’s light and as drinkable as water while still having interest and layers. Not clear if there is fruit juice added to the fermenter or if it’s done through hopping, but the fruit taste in here is insanely refreshing. Great beer, 86
Jun 15, 2015
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by Panda_Brew from Connecticut
No clue what exploratory ale is, but that’s what they went with so cheers and f**k it at the same time.
A: Pours and insanely light pilsner color, very delicate one finger head. Not clear but visible through, no carbonation moving in there.
S: Smells pilsner/ wheaty with fermented pineapple and just a hint of passion fruit and tangerine.
T: Lines up with the scent, very light taste and very crisp while having slight pineapple, passion fruit, and tangerine refreshing taste; there’s an almost coconut ending too. The taste is so light that you immediately want another sip to get it again; a taste so fine while being wispy and elusive. The malt is clean and clear while not intruding on the delicate hop flavors.
M: Great mouth feel, light as a bud light while still having lots of character.
O: This is a great day/session/ adventure/ lazy beach beer. It’s light and as drinkable as water while still having interest and layers. Not clear if there is fruit juice added to the fermenter or if it’s done through hopping, but the fruit taste in here is insanely refreshing. Great beer, 86
Jun 15, 2015
3.5 by deac83 from Texas on Jun 11, 2015
4.4 by Bustafluff from Colorado on Jun 01, 2015
3.35/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
by dcscientist from Colorado
This is my second taste of Denver Beer Co, and I have to say I'm not really feeling it. This seems like a pale-IPA hybrid, a bit too hoppy to be a straight pale but right in line with the new hop-forward trend. I suppose if you like this style it's a good version of it, but I have other styles I like a lot more. It's a nice session beer but that's about it for me.
May 02, 2015
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
by dcscientist from Colorado
This is my second taste of Denver Beer Co, and I have to say I'm not really feeling it. This seems like a pale-IPA hybrid, a bit too hoppy to be a straight pale but right in line with the new hop-forward trend. I suppose if you like this style it's a good version of it, but I have other styles I like a lot more. It's a nice session beer but that's about it for me.
May 02, 2015
3.83 by condorsim from Iowa on Apr 09, 2015
3.91/5 rDev +6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by deleted_user_357747
Nice straw yellow pour, mild haze, half finger of eggshell white, soapy foam. Looks more like a pale lager than an IPA. Nose of very ripe fruits; pears, grapefruit, pineapple. Sweet smelling aromas, lots of lightly toasted pale malts in this one. Taste is is similairly sweet, crisp apples, honey, grass. Lingering bitter touch. Medium-light body, low ABV.
Another tasty Colorado IPA. Recommended!
Feb 13, 2015
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by deleted_user_357747
Nice straw yellow pour, mild haze, half finger of eggshell white, soapy foam. Looks more like a pale lager than an IPA. Nose of very ripe fruits; pears, grapefruit, pineapple. Sweet smelling aromas, lots of lightly toasted pale malts in this one. Taste is is similairly sweet, crisp apples, honey, grass. Lingering bitter touch. Medium-light body, low ABV.
Another tasty Colorado IPA. Recommended!
Feb 13, 2015
3.52 by Texasfan549 from Texas on Feb 13, 2015
3.96 by tylerstravis from Colorado on Feb 11, 2015
Sun Drenched Exploratory Ale from Denver Beer Co.
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
44 ratings