Hopkeeper
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

16 Oz can from Kroger in Short Pump, VA The ale poured a hazy amber with a foamy slightly off-white head and ample lacing. The aroma of pineapple, citrus, and honey greets you. The flavors are mellow with pineapple and honey being the easiest to detect—nicely balanced D/IPA. This IPA is easy to drink and I did not notice the high ABV. The ale has a medium body and average carbonation.

 

16 ounce can poured into a tulip.

Hazy, pale orange, topped with two fingers of white foam, good retention, some lace. Moderate nose, honey, tangerine, pineapple, biscuit malt. Smooth, starting sweet and rising to a moderately bitter finish, honey, orange and apparent alcohol. Medium-full body, soft and creamy. Not over the top but solid, easy drinking and enjoyable.

 

 

 

From the bottom of the can: "CANNED ON: 030320"

Appearance: The head is massive, with an off-white cream color and a fluffy texture. It has very good head retention and lacing. The body is very hazy, to the point where shadows are visible through it but not text.

Aroma: The aroma of the beer leaps out as soon as the can is opened, and as the beer pours and sits in the glass it continues to fill the immediate area with hop aromas. There is a big floral scent to the beer with a massive wildflower character. A bit of orange zest character is present and there is a strong lemon aroma.

Taste: Up front there is a note of lemon which carries all the way through. Towards the middle it has a bit of orange flavor mixed with a chamomile tea character. It is very floral. It tastes the way potpourri smells. The aftertaste has a light bit of sweetness, similar to a muffin.

Mouthfeel: It is very smooth and light bodied. There is a pillowy character to the beer which makes it feel light and airy. Bitterness is upward a hair over medium. The can states that this has "ALC 8.5% BY VOL" and it is worth mentioning that there is no alcohol presence which makes the beer highly drinkable.

Overall: The label on the can states that this is a "DOUBLE IPA WITH VIRGINIA HONEY." Any character from the honey is melded very nicely with the rest of the beer. There is a very mild sweetness in the aftertaste that could just as easily be malt as it could be honey. The back label states that this has "a proprietary blend of hops lending lush notes of pineapple, fresh orange zest and citrus fruit." While I didn't pick up pineapple, there was a definite orange zest aroma and orange flavor to the beer. The back does not mention how floral this beer is, and while I would both drink this beer again and recommend it, I would strongly caveat that this has a very floral character and that some might not like it. For those who like floral beers, they will be welcomed by a massive bouquet of floral aromas and similar flavors.

More of a traditional IPA and pretty solid all-round, but nothing really struck me as special or standing out in this beer. There is a bit of honey floral that comes through, which is nice considering the honey added to these beers usually just ferments out totally clean. Some hop bite with classic citrus and pine. Little sharp on mouthfeel. I'd have again if cheap and fresh. If priced at a premium, I'd pass.

 

 

Bottled 3-18-19
L: Copper, almost clear.. except for the suspended floaties. Appears to be resinous as well. Light head and lacing.
S: Yes, honey up front. Very little citrus.
T: Malty at 1st blush, moving on to a very resinous piney flavor. Slight orange flavoring on the finish.
F: Smooth, slick, prickly. Mild bitterness throughout.. no carbonation.
O: Very well put together IPA. A little surprised at the floaties moving upwards during idle times (I'm easily impressed). I'd love to have this 1 week after bottling.

 

 

 

Hazy medium orange with thin white lacing and low carbonation. Pungent citrus aroma. Flavor is vinous and slightly spicy with a nice lingering red grapefruit.

A rock solid D-IPA.

 

 

500mL bottle from Sprayberry Bottle Shop (Marietta, GA). 5.99. No bottling date but they just hit Atlanta yesterday. Served in a goblet. Enjoyed 6/9/18.

Pours a rich amber with a tall, fully three finger pillar of frothy white head.

Smells of pine, citrus zest, caramel and earthy grass.

Tastes more floral and bitter than expected. Grapefruit peel, a little pineapple core, flower petals, caramel, faint mint, toast and a discernible alcohol bite. I don’t really get any honey but perhaps thats the bitter-tinged sweetness that I perceive as caramel.

Slightly resinous, medium body with pronounced carbonation. Lingering bitter finish with citrus peel, fruit skins and a mildly grainy note of caramel malt.

After years of getting some via trades its cool to see Hardywood in Georgia. Hopkeeper is a decent double IPA but fails to set itself apart from a field that is crowded with options I happen to prefer.