Pile Of Face
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #3,852 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #20,267 - Avg:
- 3.84 | pDev: 8.59%
- Reviews:
- 42
- Ratings:
- From:
- Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
- Kentucky, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating
- Wants
- 2
- Gots
- 30
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
What's the first thing you need to do when you start a brewery? Develop your logo, of course. With any potentially decent brewery, your logo must be a skull, it has to be a skull, you'll be laughed out of the room if you don't have a skull. So we went hunting in the area where all the great skulls have come from and were shit out of luck. By those fateful dumpsters all we found was this deformed neanderthal type deal, or maybe it's from an ape, and a big ol' pile of face. To celebrate our lack of success in finding a really cool skull, we are embracing another required cliché by brewing this American IPA. A modicum of simple malts provide the mediocre backbone to the mountain of various hops that are utilized and rotated throughout the brewing process. Look for dank overtones supported by various citrus and heirloom fruits. It's the straight forward fuckin' IPA that you always wanted from us. You lucky bastard.
Reviews: 42
| Ratings: 152
3.11/5 rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
A: A pale yellow brown in color, with a medium sized white head.
S: Melon and lime up front, very funky.Some grassy and herbal notes.
T: Light grapefruit, and resin bitterness. Perhaps a touch bitter too.. Maltiness is in there as well. But something just seems off about this one.
M: Medium body with moderate to low carbonation.
O: Overall this feels very small town brewpub to me.. passable as an IPA, but not extraordinary in any way.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
A: A pale yellow brown in color, with a medium sized white head.
S: Melon and lime up front, very funky.Some grassy and herbal notes.
T: Light grapefruit, and resin bitterness. Perhaps a touch bitter too.. Maltiness is in there as well. But something just seems off about this one.
M: Medium body with moderate to low carbonation.
O: Overall this feels very small town brewpub to me.. passable as an IPA, but not extraordinary in any way.
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4.06/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pour a richly orange amber/gold with a goodly bit of carbonation and a modest head that dissipates actively to a thing white layer.
Smell is rich with a malty sweetness up front and tropical citrus fruitiness on the tail end.
Taste leads with tropical and melon fruitiness, this fruitiness carries through morphing into a more citrus heavy presentation and trailing off into a grassy ness with a light honey note. Pleasant modern IPA flavors.
Feel is excellent, well bodied and nothing near thin but nicely crisp leaving the tongue clean and ready for another sip
Overall this is a surprisingly lovely and straight forward IPA from a brewer who usually has a twist. Nice modern fruity hop flavors with a decent malt body and just enough herbal/citrus rind bite to keep it all together. Very pleasant
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pour a richly orange amber/gold with a goodly bit of carbonation and a modest head that dissipates actively to a thing white layer.
Smell is rich with a malty sweetness up front and tropical citrus fruitiness on the tail end.
Taste leads with tropical and melon fruitiness, this fruitiness carries through morphing into a more citrus heavy presentation and trailing off into a grassy ness with a light honey note. Pleasant modern IPA flavors.
Feel is excellent, well bodied and nothing near thin but nicely crisp leaving the tongue clean and ready for another sip
Overall this is a surprisingly lovely and straight forward IPA from a brewer who usually has a twist. Nice modern fruity hop flavors with a decent malt body and just enough herbal/citrus rind bite to keep it all together. Very pleasant
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3.77/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: tree sap Amber color. Like the sap ball on the end of santa Claus' stick in Jurassic Park.
Smell: pine, a lot of sappy pine, some hop, little bit of citrus - just a little
Taste: pine, hop, hoppy pine, light-medium bitterness initially, medium bitterness after taste that stick around for a little longer
Feel: medium body
Overall: not that into piney-hoppy beers, but if I was I feel like this would be a go to. The overall score
P.s. man does this have a huge head on it ever time I poured it! Half the glass and doesn't subside quickly. Takes FOREVER to get a full glass, jeez haha
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: tree sap Amber color. Like the sap ball on the end of santa Claus' stick in Jurassic Park.
Smell: pine, a lot of sappy pine, some hop, little bit of citrus - just a little
Taste: pine, hop, hoppy pine, light-medium bitterness initially, medium bitterness after taste that stick around for a little longer
Feel: medium body
Overall: not that into piney-hoppy beers, but if I was I feel like this would be a go to. The overall score
P.s. man does this have a huge head on it ever time I poured it! Half the glass and doesn't subside quickly. Takes FOREVER to get a full glass, jeez haha
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4.04/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look - thick untransparent copper color with a slight head
smell - citrus slight grain pine scent
taste - citrus but I cant pick up exactly what kind exactly besides something around an orange like taste
feel - creamy medium body and a light carbonation
Overall - different tasty beer
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look - thick untransparent copper color with a slight head
smell - citrus slight grain pine scent
taste - citrus but I cant pick up exactly what kind exactly besides something around an orange like taste
feel - creamy medium body and a light carbonation
Overall - different tasty beer
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2.77/5 rDev -27.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
CAN:
Floral. A bit yogurty. I don't find the hop profile very inspired or effective.
Balanced but forgettable. Not an IPA that stands out in today's oversaturated market.
Low C (2.77) / AVERAGE
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look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
CAN:
Floral. A bit yogurty. I don't find the hop profile very inspired or effective.
Balanced but forgettable. Not an IPA that stands out in today's oversaturated market.
Low C (2.77) / AVERAGE
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4/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A generous friend gave me a tall boy can and it was quite tasty from a pint glass. Against the Grain experiments with all kinds of hop and flavor combinations, but this was a winner that I have not seen in the brewpub on my visits (which are not all that frequent). I've also had very good beers on tap that I've never seen in cans. This was a relatively standard tasting American IPA, but good quality.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A generous friend gave me a tall boy can and it was quite tasty from a pint glass. Against the Grain experiments with all kinds of hop and flavor combinations, but this was a winner that I have not seen in the brewpub on my visits (which are not all that frequent). I've also had very good beers on tap that I've never seen in cans. This was a relatively standard tasting American IPA, but good quality.
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3.2/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Can says 13/03/19. I assume that means best by march 13th. If your brewery has a can dating machine please just tell us the canned on date. I dont know how long you think your beer is good for, and i just want to know how old it is.
Unfiltered orange color. Not hazy, not quite clear. The smell is faint, sweet and hoppy. Tastes of citrus and stone fruit, but not a very strong flavor. Not bitter, not juicy. Overall its pretty forgettable.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Can says 13/03/19. I assume that means best by march 13th. If your brewery has a can dating machine please just tell us the canned on date. I dont know how long you think your beer is good for, and i just want to know how old it is.
Unfiltered orange color. Not hazy, not quite clear. The smell is faint, sweet and hoppy. Tastes of citrus and stone fruit, but not a very strong flavor. Not bitter, not juicy. Overall its pretty forgettable.
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4.1/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a wonderfully pleasant and very easy to drink IPA.
Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Clear yellow color with good head and lacing. Pleasant floral smell and smooth citrusy taste. Low bitterness make this a beer you want to keep drinking. Enjoyed it and would buy again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a wonderfully pleasant and very easy to drink IPA.
Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Clear yellow color with good head and lacing. Pleasant floral smell and smooth citrusy taste. Low bitterness make this a beer you want to keep drinking. Enjoyed it and would buy again.
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3.88/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can into tulip glass, best before 12/14/2018. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy deep golden amber/light orange color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and slightly resinous mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.5%. Overall this is a very nice IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish, not aggressive. Very Midwest style as expected. Probably classic C's + Amarillo. Very juicy and lightly dank/earthy hops; nice bready malt backbone, with mild lingering sweetness. A very enjoyable and well made offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can into tulip glass, best before 12/14/2018. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy deep golden amber/light orange color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, papaya, mango, melon, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, honey, biscuit, light caramel/nutty/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and slightly resinous mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.5%. Overall this is a very nice IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish, not aggressive. Very Midwest style as expected. Probably classic C's + Amarillo. Very juicy and lightly dank/earthy hops; nice bready malt backbone, with mild lingering sweetness. A very enjoyable and well made offering.
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3.71/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The seCANd half of yesterday's Happy New Against the Saugatuck Grain Beer Sunday (Week 699) left me with several more CANs to be added to The CANQuest (tm). Once I CANplete their reviews & ratings, they will become an entry in the current WBAYDN thread.
From the CAN: "Brewer Owned"; "American India Pale Ale"; "Art & Layout by RobbyDavis.com"; "Rummaged Delight!"; "In a world where all the skulls are being used up, we are left with nothing but piles of face. But fear not, that's where the story is truly told! Pile of Face is the institution of American IPA, with all the character and drink-ability you would expect as we celebrate American indulgence!"
I Crack!ed open this CAN and beCAN a heavy-handed Glug since it was a nice, fresh CAN. I watched in fascination as it quickly puffed up & formed two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head before falling away, leaving modest lacing behind. Color was solid Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was a little light, kind of tropical, lightly citrusy, but not really well defined. I wish that they had CANmitted in terms of the hops being used, at least in the aroma. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was a real mélange of hoppy flavors, ranging from an almost prevalent tropical fruitiness to pine dankness to grapefruit and orange citrusiness to a light biscuit maltiness. It was actually pretty good with a bitterness that was not over the top nor was it a tropical fruit salad, neither of which are very pleasant. Finish was dry, lightly bitter, satisfying, but kind of middle of the road overall.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The seCANd half of yesterday's Happy New Against the Saugatuck Grain Beer Sunday (Week 699) left me with several more CANs to be added to The CANQuest (tm). Once I CANplete their reviews & ratings, they will become an entry in the current WBAYDN thread.
From the CAN: "Brewer Owned"; "American India Pale Ale"; "Art & Layout by RobbyDavis.com"; "Rummaged Delight!"; "In a world where all the skulls are being used up, we are left with nothing but piles of face. But fear not, that's where the story is truly told! Pile of Face is the institution of American IPA, with all the character and drink-ability you would expect as we celebrate American indulgence!"
I Crack!ed open this CAN and beCAN a heavy-handed Glug since it was a nice, fresh CAN. I watched in fascination as it quickly puffed up & formed two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head before falling away, leaving modest lacing behind. Color was solid Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was a little light, kind of tropical, lightly citrusy, but not really well defined. I wish that they had CANmitted in terms of the hops being used, at least in the aroma. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was a real mélange of hoppy flavors, ranging from an almost prevalent tropical fruitiness to pine dankness to grapefruit and orange citrusiness to a light biscuit maltiness. It was actually pretty good with a bitterness that was not over the top nor was it a tropical fruit salad, neither of which are very pleasant. Finish was dry, lightly bitter, satisfying, but kind of middle of the road overall.
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3.93/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: yellowish orange in color with a 1" head that lasts.
Smell: citrus, bread, and some tropical fruit.
Taste: caramel, grainy malt, grapefruit, orange, mild pine, and a bit of tropical fruit. Bitterness level was decent.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp throughout with some dryness late.
Overall: a good beer that was easy to consume.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: yellowish orange in color with a 1" head that lasts.
Smell: citrus, bread, and some tropical fruit.
Taste: caramel, grainy malt, grapefruit, orange, mild pine, and a bit of tropical fruit. Bitterness level was decent.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp throughout with some dryness late.
Overall: a good beer that was easy to consume.
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3.85/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Against The Grain "Pile Face"
1 Pint can; the ink-jet coding is illegible but it might be best before 130319, or not.
$4.49 @ Whole Foods, South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Notes via stream of consciousness: So what is this, just an American IPA? OK. It's poured a very hazy deep gold/amber in color beneath a short head of white foam. The aroma is fruity, mainly orange-like, but also with some apple and soft apricot, maybe some underlying tropical notes. Some grainy malt comes through as well. The flavor follows with a basic pale ale malt base and similar hops (somewhat citrusy, some stone fruits, some very mild pine). It's nicely balanced by a median hop bitterness and it finishes mainly dry with some hoppy fruitiness lingering. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp. Overall not bad, but neither is it anything really exciting... still, it's better than average.
Review# 6,046
3.75/3.75/4/3.75/3.75 = 3.85
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Against The Grain "Pile Face"
1 Pint can; the ink-jet coding is illegible but it might be best before 130319, or not.
$4.49 @ Whole Foods, South Street, Philadelphia, PA
Notes via stream of consciousness: So what is this, just an American IPA? OK. It's poured a very hazy deep gold/amber in color beneath a short head of white foam. The aroma is fruity, mainly orange-like, but also with some apple and soft apricot, maybe some underlying tropical notes. Some grainy malt comes through as well. The flavor follows with a basic pale ale malt base and similar hops (somewhat citrusy, some stone fruits, some very mild pine). It's nicely balanced by a median hop bitterness and it finishes mainly dry with some hoppy fruitiness lingering. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp. Overall not bad, but neither is it anything really exciting... still, it's better than average.
Review# 6,046
3.75/3.75/4/3.75/3.75 = 3.85
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3.65/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A- Pours from the tallboy into a glass with a deep golden hue and a thick frothy white head. The one inch crown has good retention and lacing is somewhat rare and spotty.
S- Similar to other AtG IPAs I have had with some citrus hops coming in strong and some malty sweetness rounding it out to give off a bit of a candied orange peel character. A touch apricot, tangerine, grapefruit and tropical juice but mostly the citrus.
T- Candied citrus and a slight bit of tropical fruits. Orange, grapefruit and tangerine first and foremost with a hint of apricot, mango and pineapple. Becomes a bit aggressive with the grapefruit zest bitterness and a touch of booze towards the end.
MF- Overall the beer is somewhere between light and medium bodied and it has a foamy, slightly thin texture. Ends somewhat warm with a harsh bitterness. Moderately high carbonation.
Candied grapefruits and oranges with some malty sweetness.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A- Pours from the tallboy into a glass with a deep golden hue and a thick frothy white head. The one inch crown has good retention and lacing is somewhat rare and spotty.
S- Similar to other AtG IPAs I have had with some citrus hops coming in strong and some malty sweetness rounding it out to give off a bit of a candied orange peel character. A touch apricot, tangerine, grapefruit and tropical juice but mostly the citrus.
T- Candied citrus and a slight bit of tropical fruits. Orange, grapefruit and tangerine first and foremost with a hint of apricot, mango and pineapple. Becomes a bit aggressive with the grapefruit zest bitterness and a touch of booze towards the end.
MF- Overall the beer is somewhere between light and medium bodied and it has a foamy, slightly thin texture. Ends somewhat warm with a harsh bitterness. Moderately high carbonation.
Candied grapefruits and oranges with some malty sweetness.
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3.72/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm trying this at the brewery. It poured a clear golden with no head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had hints of pine and spice. The taste was bitter leaning with pine and floral spice presence. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's ok.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm trying this at the brewery. It poured a clear golden with no head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had hints of pine and spice. The taste was bitter leaning with pine and floral spice presence. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's ok.
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3.75/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy orange honey color with a thick ivory head that lingers and leaves decent lacing. The aroma is citrus and biscuit. The flavor is malt forward with ripe citrus fruits and just a touch of pine. The feel is great, well carbonated and crisp. An okay beer but with so many options, one that I'll not look for. Put it in my hands and I'll drink it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy orange honey color with a thick ivory head that lingers and leaves decent lacing. The aroma is citrus and biscuit. The flavor is malt forward with ripe citrus fruits and just a touch of pine. The feel is great, well carbonated and crisp. An okay beer but with so many options, one that I'll not look for. Put it in my hands and I'll drink it.
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3.94/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tall can ... nothing on the bottom of the can that makes any sense to me
Pour is typical looking lightly hazed lighter almond amber, moderate spotty lacing left on the glass.
Grassy hop/malt nose
On the palate its some mashed up pineapple, grassy hops and some honey infused malts, with a hint of smoke
Complex, smooth , tasty and well worth a try
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tall can ... nothing on the bottom of the can that makes any sense to me
Pour is typical looking lightly hazed lighter almond amber, moderate spotty lacing left on the glass.
Grassy hop/malt nose
On the palate its some mashed up pineapple, grassy hops and some honey infused malts, with a hint of smoke
Complex, smooth , tasty and well worth a try
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3.92/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pint can, purchased at The Keg Liquors, New Albany IN.
L: Pours a damn large, frothy head. Dark golden, a little cloudy. Lots of carbonation.
S: Medium citrus and resin, some bread/malt. Probably smells better than I rate it but by this time of season my sinuses have been ruined by the Ohio Valley Crud (Google it, this is a real ailment, I swear).
T: Balanced AIPA here. Tropical and piney hops, some apricot, light grapefruit and zest, a little spicy, malt balance on the end then a little zing of zest hits again.
M: Medium body, clean and dry on the finish. Little oil.
O: This is a good overall AIPA. Not great, not average, just damn good beer. Definitely worth drinking, and another solid beer from Against The Grain.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pint can, purchased at The Keg Liquors, New Albany IN.
L: Pours a damn large, frothy head. Dark golden, a little cloudy. Lots of carbonation.
S: Medium citrus and resin, some bread/malt. Probably smells better than I rate it but by this time of season my sinuses have been ruined by the Ohio Valley Crud (Google it, this is a real ailment, I swear).
T: Balanced AIPA here. Tropical and piney hops, some apricot, light grapefruit and zest, a little spicy, malt balance on the end then a little zing of zest hits again.
M: Medium body, clean and dry on the finish. Little oil.
O: This is a good overall AIPA. Not great, not average, just damn good beer. Definitely worth drinking, and another solid beer from Against The Grain.
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3.87/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber with lots of fine sediment in suspension, fluffy white head that sticks around. Smell: biscuit and orange citrus hops dosed with stone fruit sweetness and dank melting-face-shaped green shag carpet. Taste: spicy, mandarin, papaya, and resin; earthy and sugared dried stone fruit. Light-medium bodied, thins out mid-sip and finishes with lingering piney / grapefruit.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber with lots of fine sediment in suspension, fluffy white head that sticks around. Smell: biscuit and orange citrus hops dosed with stone fruit sweetness and dank melting-face-shaped green shag carpet. Taste: spicy, mandarin, papaya, and resin; earthy and sugared dried stone fruit. Light-medium bodied, thins out mid-sip and finishes with lingering piney / grapefruit.
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4.05/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours clear deep Amber with decent head. Beautiful lacing. Aroma is mostly bready malt with some dank tropical fruit. Flavor is nicely balanced with a bit of apricot. Good even mouthfeel. Well balanced from a bitterness perspective. Overall a pretty good if not exceptional beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours clear deep Amber with decent head. Beautiful lacing. Aroma is mostly bready malt with some dank tropical fruit. Flavor is nicely balanced with a bit of apricot. Good even mouthfeel. Well balanced from a bitterness perspective. Overall a pretty good if not exceptional beer.
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3.77/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good AIPA. Pours a hazy honey gold color from a pint can into a pint glass. Good size frothy white head with good retention. Thick bands of lacing on the glass. Aroma and flavor include piney hops and tropical fruit (slightly sweet). There is some malty balance with sweet bready malt. Mouthfeel is crisp with a good bitterness, Malt and hops are nicely balanced. There are lots of IPAs out there, This is pretty representative of the style.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good AIPA. Pours a hazy honey gold color from a pint can into a pint glass. Good size frothy white head with good retention. Thick bands of lacing on the glass. Aroma and flavor include piney hops and tropical fruit (slightly sweet). There is some malty balance with sweet bready malt. Mouthfeel is crisp with a good bitterness, Malt and hops are nicely balanced. There are lots of IPAs out there, This is pretty representative of the style.
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3.74/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Crystal clear amber with a thick white head. Moderate activity. Good lacing.
Smell: Pungent hops. Bready malt that holds its own against the hops. Notes of nectarine, Wild flower honey, fresh baked bread, and grapefruit.
Taste: Tropical hops on the attack. This fades with a prickly bitter pine dryness to a body of orange marmalade on whole wheat biscuits. The finish is a light bitter rose note.
Feel: Medium bodied. Good carbonation. Medium bitterness. Finish is dry. No alcohol.
Overall: A solid American IPA. It has no real flaws to speak of, and yet it isn't anything spectacular either. Good stuff.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Crystal clear amber with a thick white head. Moderate activity. Good lacing.
Smell: Pungent hops. Bready malt that holds its own against the hops. Notes of nectarine, Wild flower honey, fresh baked bread, and grapefruit.
Taste: Tropical hops on the attack. This fades with a prickly bitter pine dryness to a body of orange marmalade on whole wheat biscuits. The finish is a light bitter rose note.
Feel: Medium bodied. Good carbonation. Medium bitterness. Finish is dry. No alcohol.
Overall: A solid American IPA. It has no real flaws to speak of, and yet it isn't anything spectacular either. Good stuff.
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3.75/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Light haze with a darker gold color. Light head but it leaves some good streaks on the glass.
Lightly sweet pale malt aroma with a floral hop background.
Classic pale ale flavors of pale malt base with a sharp, biting hop. The body and carbonation is also pretty traditional. Overall, there are no errors and no interesting oddities. Worth trying to get a sense of the American version of a pale ale.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Light haze with a darker gold color. Light head but it leaves some good streaks on the glass.
Lightly sweet pale malt aroma with a floral hop background.
Classic pale ale flavors of pale malt base with a sharp, biting hop. The body and carbonation is also pretty traditional. Overall, there are no errors and no interesting oddities. Worth trying to get a sense of the American version of a pale ale.
406 characters
3.11/5 rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tasted back in mid-march
L: clear copper color, one finger thick white head. Lots of effervescence.
A: Not much hops but a faint malty smell.
T: Malt-forward with very little hops. Slightly sweet flavor with a moderate bitterness that lingers to the aftertaste along with a little alcohol-y flavor. There is a malt flavor that is a little different from what I'm used to but unsure how to describe it - a nice flavor to it though.
M: A nice clean feel with just a little stickiness on the lips.
O: This is a traditional IPA that measures up well. I would like a little hop flavor to it but that's just my bias.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tasted back in mid-march
L: clear copper color, one finger thick white head. Lots of effervescence.
A: Not much hops but a faint malty smell.
T: Malt-forward with very little hops. Slightly sweet flavor with a moderate bitterness that lingers to the aftertaste along with a little alcohol-y flavor. There is a malt flavor that is a little different from what I'm used to but unsure how to describe it - a nice flavor to it though.
M: A nice clean feel with just a little stickiness on the lips.
O: This is a traditional IPA that measures up well. I would like a little hop flavor to it but that's just my bias.
616 characters
4.12/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a clear amber gold with an average head. The aroma features big floral notes of hibiscus and rose, guaava, passionfruit, pine, and minor caramel malt. The flavor is only mildy bitter and fairly bready, with orange peel, hibiscus, passionfruit, and guava tones. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with vibrant carbonation. Overall this is a nice IPA -balanced at its core, with nice tropical flavors that do not tend towards mango or pineapple (a welcome change), but it was perhaps a touch on the sweet side.
520 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a clear amber gold with an average head. The aroma features big floral notes of hibiscus and rose, guaava, passionfruit, pine, and minor caramel malt. The flavor is only mildy bitter and fairly bready, with orange peel, hibiscus, passionfruit, and guava tones. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with vibrant carbonation. Overall this is a nice IPA -balanced at its core, with nice tropical flavors that do not tend towards mango or pineapple (a welcome change), but it was perhaps a touch on the sweet side.
520 characters
3.5/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 1 pint can on June 10, 2017. Look is medium gold with an off-white head and spotty lacing. Smell is hay. Taste is malt forward. Feel is light to medium in body. Meh.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 1 pint can on June 10, 2017. Look is medium gold with an off-white head and spotty lacing. Smell is hay. Taste is malt forward. Feel is light to medium in body. Meh.
209 characters
Pile Of Face from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
152 ratings
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