Aboriginal Gangster
Burley Oak Brewing Co.


- From:
- Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Maryland, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #1,491 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #15,737 - Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 7.29%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 13
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 18, 2025
- Added:
- Jun 10, 2012
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 11
This is not your typical IPA...We used New Zealand Motueka hops, which present nice lemon-lime citrus notes, followed by a tropical fruit finish. The use of these hops creates a softer bitterness while retaining the bite of an IPA. This batch also features New Zealand Pacific Jade hops, which impart herbal spicy aromas and flavors.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RickyBfromCT:
Rated by RickyBfromCT from Connecticut
4.09/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sep 16, 2018
4.09/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sep 16, 2018
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
4.06/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Burley Oak Brewing Co. "Aboriginal Gangster"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$4.99 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE
Notes via stream of consciousness: Haha! I had no idea this was a Burley Oak beer I just bought it for the name! I'm also reminded that I haven't been there in years, and that I've never posted a review of anything that I've had on tap there so I should probably get get back soon. It's poured a cloudy yellow-gold body beneath a thumb's width of bright white foam. There's nothing on the label except for the ABV which is listed at 6.6%. The aroma is citrusy and a little bit floral and herbal. On to the taste, the citrus is quite bright with lime. There's some passion fruit, a touch of white grape, apple, some floral character, and a bit of herbs that remind me of sage and rosemary. It's interesting, and certainly not what I was expecting. The malt is basic and oaty, and sweetish as there's not a lot of bitterness going on. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp but then smooth once warmed on the tongue. The head held well and it's left some very nice lacing about the glass, and I still have a very thin but almost complete surface covering. That takes it from a 4 to a 4.25 for appearance. To my mind this is a tropical/juicy NEIPA that makes a great summer beer.
Review #9,241
Jun 18, 202516 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$4.99 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE
Notes via stream of consciousness: Haha! I had no idea this was a Burley Oak beer I just bought it for the name! I'm also reminded that I haven't been there in years, and that I've never posted a review of anything that I've had on tap there so I should probably get get back soon. It's poured a cloudy yellow-gold body beneath a thumb's width of bright white foam. There's nothing on the label except for the ABV which is listed at 6.6%. The aroma is citrusy and a little bit floral and herbal. On to the taste, the citrus is quite bright with lime. There's some passion fruit, a touch of white grape, apple, some floral character, and a bit of herbs that remind me of sage and rosemary. It's interesting, and certainly not what I was expecting. The malt is basic and oaty, and sweetish as there's not a lot of bitterness going on. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp but then smooth once warmed on the tongue. The head held well and it's left some very nice lacing about the glass, and I still have a very thin but almost complete surface covering. That takes it from a 4 to a 4.25 for appearance. To my mind this is a tropical/juicy NEIPA that makes a great summer beer.
Review #9,241
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.17/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice hazy golden color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has tropical and citrus hints
Taste has a pleasant tropical and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good IPA
May 27, 2023Aroma has tropical and citrus hints
Taste has a pleasant tropical and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good IPA
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.65/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
16 ounce can poured into a Willi Becher.
A less than fresh can pours drab gold, a little darker than the typical yellow, and is topped with a three finger rocky head that persists for quite a while.
The hoppy nose, probably somewhat diminished is tropical with notes of pineapple, stone fruit and citrus. Flavor is the same with the addition of garden hose flavor. The soft medium-light body has moderate carbonation and is a bit chalky.
Just OK, but this can is a little long in the tooth. It’s not oxidized but does seem to have lost its magic. Hoping to revisit a fresh can or draft pour at the brewery.
May 21, 2023A less than fresh can pours drab gold, a little darker than the typical yellow, and is topped with a three finger rocky head that persists for quite a while.
The hoppy nose, probably somewhat diminished is tropical with notes of pineapple, stone fruit and citrus. Flavor is the same with the addition of garden hose flavor. The soft medium-light body has moderate carbonation and is a bit chalky.
Just OK, but this can is a little long in the tooth. It’s not oxidized but does seem to have lost its magic. Hoping to revisit a fresh can or draft pour at the brewery.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.67/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Just cranking out the mail order reviews from the Spring of '21 up in here this week.
Yet another yellow pour that is hazy and 1/3" white head. The aroma checks I think the down under Riwaka/Moteuka notch? Nope, Pacific Jade. Smells as such, a danky tropical fruit hop that isn't Mosaic or Nelson strength. Its the same hops as in the EQ pilsner I had, but there are way more Pacific Jades here which is appropriate given the style differences.
Taste is pineapple, guava sensations with some hybrid strain dispensary feels. Flaked body gives way to lesser bitterness in a non hazy ipa. The haze level is in the moderate range. Doesn't feel trubby. Citrus presence grows as the beer warms. Not really getting the lemon lime aspect they're referencing, oh shit there is Motueka in here. I think the spiciness they are referring to is there, its a weird spicy herbal bitter carb combo that you can't pin down the source. Its an enjoyable beer to drink, but I doubt I'll be paying shipping on this again.
Dec 09, 2021Yet another yellow pour that is hazy and 1/3" white head. The aroma checks I think the down under Riwaka/Moteuka notch? Nope, Pacific Jade. Smells as such, a danky tropical fruit hop that isn't Mosaic or Nelson strength. Its the same hops as in the EQ pilsner I had, but there are way more Pacific Jades here which is appropriate given the style differences.
Taste is pineapple, guava sensations with some hybrid strain dispensary feels. Flaked body gives way to lesser bitterness in a non hazy ipa. The haze level is in the moderate range. Doesn't feel trubby. Citrus presence grows as the beer warms. Not really getting the lemon lime aspect they're referencing, oh shit there is Motueka in here. I think the spiciness they are referring to is there, its a weird spicy herbal bitter carb combo that you can't pin down the source. Its an enjoyable beer to drink, but I doubt I'll be paying shipping on this again.
Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana
4.05/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance is a hazy light peach color with some lacing that settles into a thin white rim.
Smell is a pleasant pineapple citrus.
Taste is aggressive, almost spicy pine, with pineapple and orange.
Overall the beer assaulted my taste buds at first but grew on me. Interesting and complex.
Jul 29, 2019Smell is a pleasant pineapple citrus.
Taste is aggressive, almost spicy pine, with pineapple and orange.
Overall the beer assaulted my taste buds at first but grew on me. Interesting and complex.
Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania
4.18/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Growler from the brewery into pint glass. Pours a hazy light amber with a very nice off-white head. Initial impression is a tonof pine resin, with grapefruit and orange making significant contributions. Mouthfeel is medium, as is carbonation. Finish is resinous and dry. Excellent!
Jun 17, 2018
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