Scratchin' Hippo
Adelbert's Brewery

Scratchin' HippoScratchin' Hippo
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From:
Adelbert's Brewery
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Bière de Garde
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 14.33%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
149
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 29, 2018
Added:
Jan 04, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  24
Named to commemorate a night when the Naivasha House in Kenya was shaking so strongly Del thought it was an earthquake. It turned out to be a hippo from lake Naivasha scratching itself against the house. Scratchin’ Hippo is a complex malty beer low bitterness, with an earthy character approximately 6.8% ABV. Goes well with hearty rich foods like steak, roasts or beef stew.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SmellsofMahagony:
Photo of SmellsofMahagony
Rated by SmellsofMahagony from Texas

2.5/5  rDev -31.1%

Mar 28, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.31 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Nov 29, 2018
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Rated by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can from a beer store in Austin, TX.

B- / WORTHY
Feb 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Shawnspl from Rhode Island

Nov 05, 2017
Photo of HipCzech
Reviewed by HipCzech from California

3.83/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Serving: 1 pint 9.4 fl oz bottle ("batch no. 029, bottled in: 6/21/2016") poured into Spiegelau beer tulip.

Appearance: Cloudy, ruddy brown with a billowing head of beige foam.

Smell: Fresh glazed donuts, cocoa powder and subtle spice.

Taste: Bready, nutty malt body with mild fruit, spice and earthy yeast. Finishes clean and dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: Pleasant and very drinkable with just enough complexity to round out the malty body.
Jun 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.28 by Honeybourne from Scotland

Mar 30, 2017
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Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York

3.61/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Served in a flute glass from a 750ml bomber.

Appearance: Dark Amber with a full hazy body. Medium bubbles, which creates an off white head rising just over a finger's length. Drops to nada after a sip.

Smell: Light yeast scent which dissipates quickly after first sniff.

Taste: Sweet bread with a light hit of sour. Think of raisin rye bread if such a thing exists.

Mouth: medium stickiness. Light malts at the end.

Overall: Good brew, been a while since I had this genre of beer. Worth grabbing especially factoring in price. Salud
Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by Mebuzzard from Colorado

Oct 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Gkruszewski from New York

Sep 05, 2016
 
Rated: 2.91 by dasotelo50 from Texas

Jul 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Feb 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by valkyre65 from Texas

Jan 24, 2016
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.64/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
After having a bunch of Jester King in Hill Country outside of Austin, having this at a relatively fancy restaurant in town just isn't the same. Mild phenols and faint funk, but nothing special.
Dec 24, 2015
Photo of AndrewMichael
Reviewed by AndrewMichael from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
750 mL corked bottle poured in a stemmed glass.
Dark amberish brown color, with a nice white foamy head on the beer. This is part of the Rare Beer of the Month club that my sister got me for my birthday, so excited to try, assuming if it's part of a club, it can't disappoint. It certainly did not. If I have other biere de garde styles, I want it to be similar to this. Incredibly smooth maltiness, and a touch of sweetness on the end.
Dec 20, 2015
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.79/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: The beer is very hazy reddish amber in color. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that died down, leaving a large patch of bubbles on the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of earthy yeast are present in the nose along with notes of Belgian yeast and hints of fruit.
T: The taste follows the smell, but is more complex with additional hints of spices. There is a light amount bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer isn't ate difficult to drink and seems a lot lie like a cross between a Belgian PBA and a Saison/Farmhouse Ale.

Serving type: bottle
Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by afsdan from Colorado

Dec 02, 2015
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

3.65/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Almost clear, orange amber (SRM 8-10). A big, dense white foam fills the PBGC Sauvin Glass before slowly dissipating to leave thick patches of lace. A mix of random carbonation and columns of carbonation enliven the glass.

The aroma opens with ripe orchard fruit. Specifically, one notes apricots, apple pie, and pecans. Earthiness brings out a light, faint, funky yeast, however, the profile lacks complexity.

The flavors are a big muddy but one can pick out the components revealed in the nose. Sweetness and bitterness are fairly well balanced and a slight sourness is perceptible. The caramel is a little overplayed in a faint lingering finish.

This one has a medium to light body with a silky texture and moderate carbonation. Alcohol is as expected.

Scratchin’ Hippo was enjoyable on a cool Autumn afternoon and could hold pace with a Marzen this time of year. However, it lacks the warm, home-comfort typically expected from this style.
Nov 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.82 by cgrunin from Texas

Nov 22, 2015
Photo of Dope
Reviewed by Dope from Massachusetts

3.87/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Batch 025. Bottled 7/31/15.

A: Pours a ruddy sort of red/brown. Mid-sized frothy light brown head. Head fizzes out fast, leaving no lacing and only a tiny bit of head retention.

S: Sweet. Caramel and burnt sugar abound. Light toastiness. Mild earthiness and a hint of dark fruits when it's fully warmed up.

T: Not quite as sweet as the aroma would lead you to believe but still plenty malty. Loads of caramel and toasted grains everywhere. Hints of chocolate and dark fruit. Swear I even get honey on the back end. All malty flavors from beginning to end. A touch of earthy spiciness and black pepper in the aftertaste - belgian yeast I assume.

M: Medium bodied, smooth and sweet.

O: Not bad. A little sweeter than I was expecting. Nothing to really balance it either. Still plenty smooth and drinkable, just more unbalanced than a typical biere de garde. Still a nice brew and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Nov 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Oct 22, 2015
Scratchin' Hippo from Adelbert's Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 149 ratings