Ninja Vs. Unicorn
Pipeworks Brewing Co.
- From:
- Pipeworks Brewing Co.
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #261 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,799 - Avg:
- 4.27 | pDev: 7.73%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 507
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 21, 2026
- Added:
- Jan 23, 2012
- Wants:
- 373
- Gots:
- 651
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
Ninja vs. Unicorn celebrates the epic battle between two of the biggest hop-heads of lore. Brewed with over five pounds of hops per barrel, this unfiltered double IPA is sure to please the most discerning hop lover. Whether you’re rooting for the mythical horned horse or the deadly assassin of the east, we hope you’ll enjoy Ninja vs. Unicorn.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jakecattleco:
Reviewed by jakecattleco from California
4.55/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.55/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Can dated 4/25/18 into a tumbler.
Light golden with just the faintest bit of haze, less than a finger of white head but it had decent retention and left limited spotted lacing.
Nose is a bit mute, lots of citrus (grapefruit, lemon zest, and orange/tangerines). Perhaps some very subtle floral undertones.
Follows the nose but packing a MUCH bigger punch. Citrus attack to the palate, so West Coast profile and so good.! Finishes with plenty of bitterness and astringency, very drying finish with both lingering awhile.
Low-medium bodied with medium carbonation, lively and tingly on the tongue, lips even tingle a bit from the astringency, slick on the finish. Feels like the enamel is being dissolved from my teeth, love it!
LOVE this beer! Reminds me very much of a lower ABV version of some of the best batches of Boneyard's Hop Venom that I've tasted. This would be a recurring regular purchase when found fresh. So good!
May 07, 2018Light golden with just the faintest bit of haze, less than a finger of white head but it had decent retention and left limited spotted lacing.
Nose is a bit mute, lots of citrus (grapefruit, lemon zest, and orange/tangerines). Perhaps some very subtle floral undertones.
Follows the nose but packing a MUCH bigger punch. Citrus attack to the palate, so West Coast profile and so good.! Finishes with plenty of bitterness and astringency, very drying finish with both lingering awhile.
Low-medium bodied with medium carbonation, lively and tingly on the tongue, lips even tingle a bit from the astringency, slick on the finish. Feels like the enamel is being dissolved from my teeth, love it!
LOVE this beer! Reminds me very much of a lower ABV version of some of the best batches of Boneyard's Hop Venom that I've tasted. This would be a recurring regular purchase when found fresh. So good!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois
4.19/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Likely at home (Chicago, IL) soon after the canning date. Pipeworks Ninja vs Unicorn 16 ounce canned 5/23/18.
Appearance: Poured into pint glass slightly foggy clear golden a yellow pour, rich creamy head leaves generous lacing. 4.25.
Aroma: Citrus and grapefruit lead, pine takes a back seat. 4.0.
Taste : Mirrors aroma, sweet citrus and grapefruit base, pine backs well. 4.25.
Mouthfeel: Creamy sweet body, rich and full, nominal carbonation, easy clean finish. Slight dryness, sweet leads slightly over bitterness. 4.25
Overall: Very good Midwest IPA offering. 4.25
No rating date found. Pre WBAYDN or NBW participation.
May 11, 2026Appearance: Poured into pint glass slightly foggy clear golden a yellow pour, rich creamy head leaves generous lacing. 4.25.
Aroma: Citrus and grapefruit lead, pine takes a back seat. 4.0.
Taste : Mirrors aroma, sweet citrus and grapefruit base, pine backs well. 4.25.
Mouthfeel: Creamy sweet body, rich and full, nominal carbonation, easy clean finish. Slight dryness, sweet leads slightly over bitterness. 4.25
Overall: Very good Midwest IPA offering. 4.25
No rating date found. Pre WBAYDN or NBW participation.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.59/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 3/6 202. 47,3 cl can from DrikBeer web-shop. Colorful, cartoonish can with a Ninja taking on a rabid Unicorn.
Pours slightly unclear yellow with mid-sized white head. Stable. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer. Crawling up the sides of the glass. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is fairly intense with sweet, fermented odor of exotic fruit mingling with a more subtle citric scent. Mango and overripe peach. Grapefruit and lemon. Resin.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, oily soft, almost flat texture.
Flavor is rather intense with a strong sweetness followed by a medium strong bitterness.Aftertaste is bitter but with a strong sweet presence just below. Lingers for a while. Finish is rather dry.
Well balanced and not to too bitter DIPA.
Dec 29, 2024Pours slightly unclear yellow with mid-sized white head. Stable. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer. Crawling up the sides of the glass. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is fairly intense with sweet, fermented odor of exotic fruit mingling with a more subtle citric scent. Mango and overripe peach. Grapefruit and lemon. Resin.
Light carbonation. Medium thick, oily soft, almost flat texture.
Flavor is rather intense with a strong sweetness followed by a medium strong bitterness.Aftertaste is bitter but with a strong sweet presence just below. Lingers for a while. Finish is rather dry.
Well balanced and not to too bitter DIPA.
Reviewed by beerdedking from Pennsylvania
4.13/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Decent orangey straw colored pour, cloudy not hazy, with some lacing and reasonably good scents of lightly sweet citrus.
Flavors are deceptive but nicely nuanced with equal parts citrus (orange/lemon), piney bitterness, with a mid section in which a juicy yeasty element kicks in before it dries with a bit of resin. This does everything asked of an IPA to do but subtly and smoothly. Instabuy if seen fresh out of the gates. This can is 2.5 months out and still holding its own
Dec 14, 2024Flavors are deceptive but nicely nuanced with equal parts citrus (orange/lemon), piney bitterness, with a mid section in which a juicy yeasty element kicks in before it dries with a bit of resin. This does everything asked of an IPA to do but subtly and smoothly. Instabuy if seen fresh out of the gates. This can is 2.5 months out and still holding its own
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.61/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.61/5 rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap.
A - Hazy medium gold color with thick lacing and light carbonation.
S - Big malt aroma with light citrus...pretty obvious this is an old keg.
T - A strong malt backbone up front w/faded grapefruit, citrus, and a some spiciness with light lingering bitterness.
M - Medium body w/prickly carbonation.
O - I'll re-visit and change this review when I find it in a fresher state.
Nov 02, 2024A - Hazy medium gold color with thick lacing and light carbonation.
S - Big malt aroma with light citrus...pretty obvious this is an old keg.
T - A strong malt backbone up front w/faded grapefruit, citrus, and a some spiciness with light lingering bitterness.
M - Medium body w/prickly carbonation.
O - I'll re-visit and change this review when I find it in a fresher state.
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