The Pupil
Societe Brewing Co.

2beerdogs from California

4.09/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fluffy white cap rises nearly 2 inches before lazily settling in to a smooth velvety blanket. Light gold in color, slightly hazy. Spotty lacing. Aromas of grass, mango, and citrus. Also, a mellow dankness sneaks in. Flavor follows pretty faithfully with the fruit and grass and dank, but a silky grain note brings just a hint of sweetness and really carries this along gracefully. The finish goes toward a drying bitterness. Mouthfeel is just shy of medium, carbonation is active enough to keep it alive.
Overall, a totally solid IPA.

Jan 09, 2021

frankdatank1337 from California

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of my go to beers. It's super smooth and drinkable. It's fruity but in a muted way. It doesn't taste liKe you're drinking a glass of OJ and is far from a west coast IPA. It's smooth, tasty, and enjoyable. It won't blow your mind but it won't leave you disappointed. Give it a try, it goes good with anything.

Nov 07, 2020

tomsbrook from California

4.89/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This IPA is very delicious and more smooth than i had predicted. I must admit i was pretty scared of the 7.5 going in, but now im more scared by how easy it's going down.. Though, i'm amongst friends - so no need worry i must remind myself.
Hats off to these folks, I normally cower when faced with a San Diego IPA thanks to all my friends at Stone

Oct 06, 2020

bret27 from California

3.76/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Can from lupulo Santa Cruz.
Unfortunately realized later it’s 4 months old.
Light chill hazy yellow. Fluffy white head.
Simcoe, fruity, a little catty.
Stonefruit, pear, resiny bitterness. No booziness for fairly high abv.
Medium mouthfeel.
I won’t analyze too much further as I usually won’t drink ipa’s this old. And I won’t judge it too harshly either.

Sep 27, 2020

Georgiabeer from Georgia

4.34/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very SoCal sorta IPA- very, very dry and extra crisp, but with loads of tightly wound hops. Nice grassy, herbal flavors with a smooth mouthfeel and a dry and crisp finish. Not my everyday style sort of IPA, but when I want a dry sipper, this fits the bill.

Jul 08, 2020

silverblaze540 from Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Murky amber color with minimal creamy white head.

S - Lots of sweetness, with hints of passion fruit and grapefruit.

T - Sweet up front and bitter on the back-end. A bitter grapefruit/piney aftertaste.

M - Crisp and light.

O - Very tasty IPA. Flavor profile is balanced and not overly bitter. Very refreshing.

Mar 31, 2020

REVZEB from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap. Cloudy golden body with a white head and lacing. This ipa meets the hype, even in a post hazy world. Tropical fruits, especially guava, papaya, mango, and pineapple aromas, with plenty of dank and resinous hops, and flowers. Taste adds some peach, melon, and grapefruit, with the hops being not as floral as smell, but has some brightness and juiciness while staying dank. Feel is hoppy, bright, floral, crushable and refreshing.

Mar 11, 2020

TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.34/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz can from recent release, acquired at Bine and Vine in San Diego.
Pours a near clear (slight chill haze) golden yellow with finger of white creamy head.
Hoppy on the nose - mango, ripe pineapple, and ever so slightly dank.
Tastes of ripe mango, bit of grapefruit, some bready malt, pine, with decent crisp bitterness.
Well balanced medium bodied beer with a crisp clean finish yet somehow leaving a slightly sticky lingering bitterness.
Great.

Feb 19, 2020

Thankin_Hank from Texas

4.54/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

An excellent IPA at Mitch’s Seafood, San Diego on draft. Great creamy head, righteous hop aroma and delicious beer. I think this is one of the best I ever had. Wifey approved. Outstanding.

Dec 06, 2019

Tucquan from Pennsylvania

4.39/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had this on 2019-08-08 in Florence, CA at O'Henrys on tap.

A - Partially hazy gold with short white head and good lace

S - Pineapple, apricot, mild dank. Nice

T - Pineapple, peach nectar, pine, herbal, orange, light bread. Moderately bitter.

M - Medium body and Light-medium carbonation. Smooth

O - Excellent balance. Excellent.

Aug 08, 2019

patre_tim from Thailand

4.13/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Slighthazy yellow with no carbonation and a half finger of head.

Smells of pineapple, canned peaches, and peach syrup.

Less sweet than expected but still with the peaches, a hint of pineapple, and then it turns to pine, a slight dankness, and a punch of dull bitterness. Grapefruit pith on the end as well.

Medium mouth feel with moderate I low
afterthought carbonation that cleanses the palate.

I am drinking this at the brewery in San Diego on tap. Really decent brew.

Jun 02, 2019

WunderLlama from Massachusetts

4.44/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft st Toronado San Diego

Pint glass , clear golden yelllow, lazy streams of carbonation, one finger white foam cap, good lacings

Aroma of citrus

Taste of Citrus , grapefruit, pine

Smooth, hop taste , hops nibble but do not bite, lingers on the roof of the mouth

Good beer

Mar 21, 2019

beer_truth from Massachusetts

4.27/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I was surprised at how much I loved this beer. Typically in an IPA, even more so one from San Diego, I expect a bitter, citrusy, grapefruit zest explosion of flavor. The Pupil has citrus, but it's not overly bitter, but more of a mango fruitiness that is a bit on the sweeter side, without being syrupy. At 7.5% abv, this beer should have a warning sticker on it as I could drink this beer all day long. I do like the aroma, but the taste is fantastic as it is so smooth and easy. With just the faintest hint of alcohol, I would spend all day at Societe if I lived nearby the brewery. Well done.

Feb 06, 2019

GarrettB from Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3

July 16th, 2015 - The Pupil is a classic of Societe's line up, and like many of the other non-dark entries it is a little neon in its colors. There's some fresh melon on the nose and a bit of cracker, but a tad bland on the tongue. It enjoys a soft and cloudy palate, and gets a little more extroverted in the aftertaste where I catch notes of marijuana and a touch of lemonade. Even a little salty, like a nose. And each sip helps to clarify the flavor significantly, and bettering it too. It is almost like a cross between a pale ale and a cream ale by the end, which is, at the very least, curious.

Dec 11, 2018

Beers-es from Virginia

4.35/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap, pours a clear light gold. A finger of white foam leaves spotty lacing. A very well-made West Coast IPA. Great combination of citrus and pine, with a pleasant bitterness in the finish. Super stuff.

Jun 08, 2018

brentk56 from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Arrives with a slightly hazy golden color and a frothy head; decent lacing action

Smell: Berries, melon and white wine grape tones with a slightly floral aspect

Taste: Berry and melon tones forward, with the white wine grape building; pithy with moderate bitterness, through the middle and a dry finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not knowing the hop bill before I ordered the draft I was initially surprised but then I remembered my old friend Nelson

Mar 01, 2018

EMV from Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had on-tap at Cross Street Chicken and Beer in San Diego. Poured into a pint glass.

L: Clear light golden pour. 1.5 fingers of fluffy white head. Nice sticky lacing.

S: Floral and tropical hops. Light pine.

T/F: Crackery malts.... light bodied brew with a nice complex and bitter hop profile. Floral... light tropical fruits and grapefruit. Well balanced.

O: A delicious West Coast IPA... great flavor and super drinkable. 1st day in San Diego and already feel like I'm drinking like a local.

Feb 11, 2018

Franziskaner from Missouri

4.21/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Straw yellow in color with a half inch of tightly knit bright white. Heavy lacing. The aroma is predominantly of fragrant floral, some tropical hops, and light malt. I'm tasting tropical hops and light sour dough malt. The mouth is lightly sticky and chewy, but overall fairly smooth.

May 07, 2017

captaincoffee from Virginia

4.33/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at the brewery. Pours a slightly hazy pale gold with a medium head that leaves a creamy lace over most of the glass. Nose is not massive, but very pleasant with peach and some citrus. Flavor is really delicious. Not much hop bite, but lots of light stone fruits and a very well rounded flavor. Overall, a great beer that stands out a bit even in San Diego.

Apr 10, 2017

arizcards from Arizona

4.51/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 64 oz growler at the brewery on 2-21-17 for $16.71. Shared at the Coyotes-Sabres tailgate on 2-26-17.

Beer poured pale gold with a nice white head that left lacing behind.

Nose was exquisite, mango and grapefruit prevailed nicely.

Taste was just as good, mango grapefruit juice like with a touch of pine meshing so very nicely with the malt backbone.

Mouthfeel is terrific, one of the softest brews i have had. Light in body it dances so beautifully with each sip.

Overall an awesome brew. My buddy was just as impressed. Seek this out if you are in San Diego!

Feb 27, 2017

GreesyFizeek from New York

4.14/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Growler purchased from Societe Brewing Company in San Diego, CA.

This one pours a light orange-ish, slightly hazy, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

Smells like soft peach, grapefruit, orange zest, and a little bit of pine.

This feels a tiny bit muddled, but it's still very taste. For comparison purposes, I liked the Apprentice better for sure. There's definitely some nice Nelson character here, with huge citrus and slight grape. There's a bit of bitter orange zest and lots of grapefruit, too. The flavors don't pop as much as I'd want, but it's still nice.

This is light bodied, pretty soft, not quite as crisp as expected. There's a normal level of carbonation.

This is not the best of the small sample of beers I've had from this brewery. It's still very enjoyable, though.

Jan 24, 2017

pmarlowe from Virginia

4.3/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at the brewery. Flashback to Tired Hands as they'll only pour me two tasters.

A: Straw colored with some bright white persistent head.

S: Dank with a bit of floral/piney fresh hops

T: Hop character follows the nose but is supported by a nice grainy pale malt with a firm moderate bitterness that melds well with the rest. Moderately long finish.

O: Solid thought unexceptional WC IPA.

Nov 18, 2016

Bshaw22 from Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nelson hop showcase. Super classic for the hop style- a little tropical fruit with a nice Nelson zip. A little bit spicy.
Cloudy in look but not dense. On tap at the Toronado in San Diego.

Oct 13, 2016

SinjaminBentek from Nebraska

4.34/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Taster at GABF 2016.

Look - Classic golden yellow.

Nose - Citrus.

Taste - Nice west coast style IPA.

Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation. Light to medium body.

Overall - Nice beer.

Grade (B+)

Oct 10, 2016

brianmandell from California

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Taster: Fresh floral, honey and citrus notes. Light on the malt, which suits my preference. The finish ends a little short with some bitter citrus. Great carb and mouthfeel. Overall very enjoyable beer.

Oct 10, 2016