-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
The Shape Of Hops To Come
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
- From:
- Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #387 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 94
Ranked #2,140 - Avg:
- 4.24 | pDev: 8.96%
- Reviews:
- 190
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 19, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 15, 2014
- Wants:
- 121
- Gots:
- 234
“Can I scream….” for more hops? You sure can. Two row American barley jammed packed with as much Apollo, Newport, Simcoe, Topaz, and Citra hops we could get our hands on, The Shape of Hops to Come is an 8.5% ABV American-styled imperial IPA hopped with Apollo, Newport, Simcoe, Topaz, and Citra hops that’s got a ton of bitterness, along with juicy, dank resiny pine-like, and citrus forward hop character that is worthy of it’s name. Dry hopped for two weeks this hop bomb has as much hop power we can muster!"
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MacMalt:
Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Updated review: Poured from undated but fresh can into a Spiegelau IPA glass. It pours a honey-amber color with a thin, fluffy, bright white cap and extensive lacing. On the nose there is abundant, bitter pine needles, grapefruit rind, sweet malt, and fragrant hops. The taste opens with a sweet malt base that is quickly overwhelmed by resinous pine and a bitter, biting bill of Apollo, Newport, Simcoe, Topaz, and Citra hops. It's fairly dank and finishes decidedly bitter but there is still a great balance of malt and hops. It's medium-bodied with a pleasant level of carbonation, and its 8.5% ABV gives it a nice pop. Overall, this has become one of my go-to DIPAs. It's a true "comfort beer," equally appropriate paired with pizza, a burger or a hero sandwich, or for casual drinking. I'll drink The Shape of Hops to Come as long as Neshaminy brews it. I only wish the cans were dated.
Apr 22, 2017More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Caoimhin from Pennsylvania
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very clear gold color with a frothy head that stays and laces. Smells like citrus and pine. Considering the amount of malt and alcohol in this beer, there is no appreciable sweetness or alcohol bite; mouth feel is pleasant (maybe it could use a little more carbonation); taste is hops forward, but with a good base of malt standing behind it. Overall I would say that it earned its outstanding rating and approaches being world class.
Jun 26, 2023Rated by JohnnyjayXL90 from Pennsylvania
4.28/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.28/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great beer. Lucky to live directly next to the brewery. Had it first a week ago and am Impressed. Could kill 4 easy money dude
Mar 21, 2023Rated by Jbutlerjr from Pennsylvania
4.67/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.67/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Excellent West Coaster with full flavor, great look and perfect ALC!
Jan 14, 2023Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can purchased from the fridge as a single for $2.99. No canned on date, however there were 4-packs of this in the fridge with stickers on the 4-pack holders that said 33522. That Julian date corresponds to December 1, so this beer is being consumed at 16 days old.
Look: Pours a beautiful copper color with a quickly dissipating khaki-colored head. There is a bit of particulate floating in the bottom of the glass.
Smell: It smells amazing - tons of grapefruit and orange zest, pine resin, spicy pepperiness. Green bell pepper notes on the finish after swirling the glass.
Taste: The drinkability on this beer is pretty unreal - considering that this is an 8.5% ABV West Coast-style Imperial IPA, it is highly drinkable. There's an interesting fruitiness up front that is hard to place, probably because there's just so much hoppiness. It reminds me a bit of peach flavored iced tea. The finish is definitely bitter but not overbearing, with really nice pine resin and citrus rind/pith notes. You really get those essential citrus oils lingering on the palate. There's an underlying maltiness underneath all of these hops that really works here.
Feel: It has an oily, slicky, chewy kind of mouthfeel. It's medium bodied. Appropriately carbonated.
Overall: This is a really solid Imperial IPA. I had this beer a few years ago, before I was reviewing beers and I wasn't the biggest fan of it then. I think that they have changed the recipe since then, and my palate has also evolved to embrace bitterness and really appreciate the West Coast-style IPAs and Imperial IPAs. It's pretty remarkable that this is a locally-brewed beer, it's available year-round and you can always find it in stores, and it is really well-made. Impressive work from Neshaminy Creek - keep up the good work!
From the can/website:
Loud and Proud
Imperial India Pale Ale
Brewed with 2-Row American Barley and jam-packed with as much Citra, Ekuanot, and Simcoe hops we could get our hands on. The Shape of Hops to Come is an 8.5% ABV West Coast-style Imperial IPA that's got a firm bitterness along with juicy, dank, resiny pine-like, and citrus forward hop character that is worthy of its name.
93 IBUs
Dec 18, 2022Look: Pours a beautiful copper color with a quickly dissipating khaki-colored head. There is a bit of particulate floating in the bottom of the glass.
Smell: It smells amazing - tons of grapefruit and orange zest, pine resin, spicy pepperiness. Green bell pepper notes on the finish after swirling the glass.
Taste: The drinkability on this beer is pretty unreal - considering that this is an 8.5% ABV West Coast-style Imperial IPA, it is highly drinkable. There's an interesting fruitiness up front that is hard to place, probably because there's just so much hoppiness. It reminds me a bit of peach flavored iced tea. The finish is definitely bitter but not overbearing, with really nice pine resin and citrus rind/pith notes. You really get those essential citrus oils lingering on the palate. There's an underlying maltiness underneath all of these hops that really works here.
Feel: It has an oily, slicky, chewy kind of mouthfeel. It's medium bodied. Appropriately carbonated.
Overall: This is a really solid Imperial IPA. I had this beer a few years ago, before I was reviewing beers and I wasn't the biggest fan of it then. I think that they have changed the recipe since then, and my palate has also evolved to embrace bitterness and really appreciate the West Coast-style IPAs and Imperial IPAs. It's pretty remarkable that this is a locally-brewed beer, it's available year-round and you can always find it in stores, and it is really well-made. Impressive work from Neshaminy Creek - keep up the good work!
From the can/website:
Loud and Proud
Imperial India Pale Ale
Brewed with 2-Row American Barley and jam-packed with as much Citra, Ekuanot, and Simcoe hops we could get our hands on. The Shape of Hops to Come is an 8.5% ABV West Coast-style Imperial IPA that's got a firm bitterness along with juicy, dank, resiny pine-like, and citrus forward hop character that is worthy of its name.
93 IBUs
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey
4.4/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured a dull copper color from a 16 oz. tall boy into a pint glass. Finger high head with good retention, visible carbonation and plenty of lacing. Aroma is dank with notable malt presence. Taste is well balanced, not overpowering in any respect, with bitterness throughout and a nice bite that lingers. Mouth is medium to full bodied and is definitely in the West Coast tradition of IPA's event though using Citra which gives it some juicy characteristics. A very well crafted brew that rates among the highest with the things I've had from Neshaminy. Packs a punch @ 8.5% ABV.
Sep 22, 2022Rated by Terrysbmw from Pennsylvania
4.94/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.94/5 rDev +16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Absolute best IPA.
Jul 31, 2022Reviewed by philbe311 from Pennsylvania
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Slightly more than a finger's worth of cushiony light khaki colored froth... Light bronze color with brisk carbonation streaks throughout... Nose is dank and slightly piney but not overpowering... Delicous... Good balance to start with a strong caramel malt backbone and then the hops intensify and linger on the finish... Still dank and piney but there are some tropical fruit notes as well... Medium bodied and lush with a slightly dry finish.., Robust and enjoyable... Will certainly revisit in the future...
Apr 17, 2022Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
4.29/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured copper in color, nearly but not quite transparent and capped with a two finger yellow-brown head. This ain't no NEIPA!
Aroma agrees; citrus and piney, resinous hops and malts are featured, all surrounded in stuff I cannot define but smell good.
Taste follows - definitely picking up a WC vibe, the pine is prominent and the citrus plays a comfortably supporting role. Can't really say balanced but I can say it all works very well together.
Feel is very good, too quaffable for my own good. Just enough viscosity to remind me it has a kick.
Really enjoyed this, it seems to me a good version of a WCDIPA.
Thank you Jay for sending it my way!
Mar 24, 2022Aroma agrees; citrus and piney, resinous hops and malts are featured, all surrounded in stuff I cannot define but smell good.
Taste follows - definitely picking up a WC vibe, the pine is prominent and the citrus plays a comfortably supporting role. Can't really say balanced but I can say it all works very well together.
Feel is very good, too quaffable for my own good. Just enough viscosity to remind me it has a kick.
Really enjoyed this, it seems to me a good version of a WCDIPA.
Thank you Jay for sending it my way!
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had a single can recently, no canned on date that I could decipher. My first brew from these guys, who I have never heard of before. This was very good.
Oct 01, 2021Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana
4.69/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
The Shape of Hops to Come has a thick, soapy, white head and a translucent, orange appearance, with some lazy bubbles and heavy lacing. The aroma is of faint hop oils and white bread crust. The flavor is of intense bitterness, slight fruit, white bread crust, and some sweetness. The Shape of Hops to Come has a heavy body and a drying finish.
RJT
Aug 21, 2021RJT
The Shape Of Hops To Come from Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company
Beer rating:
94 out of
100 with
890 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!