Traitor IPA
Badger Hill Brewing Company

Traitor IPATraitor IPA
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From:
Badger Hill Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #1,232
ABV:
7%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,266
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 9.82%
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
121
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 09, 2023
Added:
Apr 13, 2014
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  41
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JamesMN:
Photo of JamesMN
Reviewed by JamesMN from Minnesota

3.89/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked out as part of a mix-a-six. Chose for two reasons, one a clear packaging date 5/27/14 and two because the ingredient list states "lots of american and aussie hops." Gotta love a beer description that gets straight to the point.

Appearance: Somewhat hazy caramel color with a thin off-white head consisting of some rather large carbonation bubbles.

Aroma: The type of sweet mango that I associate with citra dry-hopping. Sort of has a 'home-brew' aroma as well, a bit green.

Taste: Real interesting mix of hop flavors. I think of American hops as delivering anything from earthy to piney to citrusy flavors, with assertive bitterness. There are definitely notes of citrus and a bit of pine but the flavor seems more heavily dominated by the Australian hops, which deliver tropical fruit flavors. In this case, mango is the dominant hop flavor. The bitterness, on the other hand comes in during the finish and feels like the dry/earthy bitterness that comes from American hops. The result is a great blending of some of the most sought after hop flavors. Due to the sweetness of the more tropical hop juice, the 70 IBUs claimed on the label are highly quaffable. The fact that I'm nearly done with this section of the review and have not mentioned malt yet is enough of an indication that it is basically a non-factor in this beer. Apart from being the basis for the hops to stand on and allowing for a moderate 7% ABV, there really isn't much malt flavor to speak of and that's just fine in this situation. The only thing I can think of as a slight negative is the 'home-brew' taste, which probably corresponds to something else in the brewing process such as a rushed primary fermentation. However, it does not distract much from the flavor as a whole. As I mentioned before the finish is the high point of the hop bitterness, but manageable none-the-less. This results in an aftertaste of ebbing earthy/piney bitterness. Not dry, not juicy, but very good.

Mouthfeel: About medium in body with super smooth carbonation and just a velvety smooth feel all around. It can't be overstated how much a smooth mouthfeel can impact the quality of a beer. Great drinkability for an IPA of this size. Out of sessionable range but to each his own.

Final Thoughts: While it may not be the best IPA out there, it's one of the most enjoyable beer drinking experiences I've had this year. I don't believe I've tried any other offerings from Badger Hill but their Traitor IPA has made a strong case for me to seek out their entire line-up. Would I drink it again? Yeah, I hope to see it on-tap since it's a local brew.
Aug 05, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

3.92/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours clear orange body, white head, extensive lacing.

S - Pine and resin, predominantly, slight hint of citrus and floral honey.

T - Follows the nose, with a bit more citrus with strong pine, a solid malt middle, and a dry bitter finish with tannic tea notes.

M - Brisk carbonation, moderate weight, clean close.

O - Solid, traditional American IPA. Nothing unique, but quite serviceable.
Sep 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.01 by EdFed from Illinois

Apr 01, 2022
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz can into a 12oz Becher glass.
L: Pours a lightly clouded honey gold with a 2.5 inch solid and creamy eggshell white head with a creamy cap. Good carbonation, very good head retention down to a creamy skin with carbonated edge foam. Semi-thick sticky lacing and banding.
S: Zesty hops, sweet malts, lightly bready, ripe citrus fruits, lemon zest, orange & tangerine.
T: Well balanced hops and malts essentially in the order of the smell. It is moderately fruity with a lightly bittersweet pine/lemon zest hop zing that lingers and it is gently tangy. No alcohol detected.
F: It has a smooth, soft semi-creamy med-bodied fluid and clear-cut mouthfeel with a medium length finish that is slightly drying along with the linger.
O: A very easy drinking American IPA that is in the British style. No flavors mask any others and it has a brilliant overall taste and feel. It is excellent in it's style.
Oct 22, 2021
Photo of MNAle
Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aroma level is decent. Pine, floral, and citrus, grapefruit. Hops dominate, little detected from malts.

Clear golden amber body with ample carbonation rising to a 1 inch slightly off-white head. The head leaves thick loops of lacing as it recedes. It is down to islands and a very tall, thick ring within a few minutes. Very good-looking lacing with each sip.

Taste is a bit muddled initially, citrus, some white bread backing.

In the middle, the bitterness asserts, but never becomes too strong.

The malts finally come through in the finish. There is grapefruit, a touch of pine, and mild (by WC standards) bitterness, while also being semi-sweet. An interesting finish, indeed.

The body is moderate for the style.

Overall, an easy-to-drink IPA, that is pushing toward West Coast style in the flavors and level of bitterness, but doesn't quite challenge the icons of the West Coast. I like the way the beer finishes, with the interplay of the hops and malts. It has no brewing flaws, is good-tasting, and enjoyable. As a local beer, I would not hesitate to buy it again.
Aug 25, 2020
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a clear, deep orange color with a soft and spotty white head. SRM of 11. (3.75)

Aroma: Aromas of lemon citrus with a strong amount of lemon flower underneath. Very reminiscent of Sierra Nevada aromas.

Flavor: Flavor is deep and earthy orange with a strong pine component. A hint of mango flavor. Not too intense though as others have said. Pretty smooth with a mild candied sweetness and restrained bitterness.

Feel: Medium-bodied. Mild carbonation. Finishes smooth and slightly sweetness linger on the palate. (3.50)

Compared to Kennebunkport Brewery's Mighty Cascade Brut IPA 6/6/20: Pours a darker color. Stronger resinous orange aromas. Less berry and black tea. It's heavier and sweeter.

Compared to Bent Paddle's Bent Hops IPA 7/5/20: Pours a similar color. More crisp grapefruit. Less dense lemon, pineapple, and mango. Much crisper, lighter, and cleaner overall. Winner: Traitor IPA

Compared to Summit True Brit IPA 1/24/22: Pours a slightly lighter color. Stronger aromas. More lemon citrus and flower. More earthy malts.

Compared to Big Doinks IPA 4/6/22: Pours a darker color. More spiced pine, caramel, tangerine. Less lemon, herbs, flower. Darker and sweeter.

to Sierra Nevada's Powder Day 4/27/22: Pours a similar color, milder head. Stronger aromas. More tangerine, pine, resinous berry. Less earthy malt and resinous orange pine soap. (hard to compare due to PD age)

Overall: A nice and resinous IPA. It's not really weak, but it's not too strong either. The bitterness is mild. Has mild, but resinous orange flavors. Hints of mango. Maybe similar to SN 40th Anniversary ale with a stronger and sweeter malt body.
Edit: Very different on my second review. Very lemon and flowery. Would compare next to Mount Standard or Stone Deliciousness.
*Compare next to Anti Hero*
Jun 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.27 by oldred1492 from Minnesota

Apr 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.65 by LostHighway from Minnesota

Feb 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.17 by Karac from Minnesota

Dec 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Wildforager from Minnesota

Dec 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by kevindp9 from Arizona

Oct 11, 2018
Photo of omahawk
Rated by omahawk from Nebraska

3.96/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Well made. Not my favorite hop profile
Jul 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.67 by ParnellJoseph1138 from Minnesota

Jun 16, 2018
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

3.64/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Traitor pours a darker copper color with a long lasting head. Big earthy aroma, hints of good. Flavor is big, big malts big earth earthy good. Good body and feel. Overall strong and malt forwars.
May 20, 2018
Photo of DrummerJake57
Reviewed by DrummerJake57 from Wisconsin

4.99/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This was at costco for $8.99/case! Didn't have high expectations for how cheap I got them. To my surprise it was phenomenal. Perfect hop malt balance, lots of citrus and grapefruit on the nose too. Goes down so smooth and refreshing. Will buy again.
Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.01 by tylerstravis from Colorado

Nov 09, 2017
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.37/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
12 FL. OZ. can
Served in a tulip glass

This beer pours amber in color with golden highlights. It has a slight haze. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves a little lacing. The smell is awfully malty. I check bottom of can. Uh oh, this beer is old as hell. I guess my trade partner was trying to unload old ass beer as extras. It tastes like an old IPA. I am pretty disappointed. Maybe I can try a fresh one in 2020 when I go to Minnesota.
Oct 10, 2017
Photo of pernerj
Rated by pernerj from Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Had on tap. Taste was clean with a lot of flavor and little alcohol which is impressive for a beer with 7.0 ABV. Would drink again.
Sep 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stengelfoot from California

Sep 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by Vidblain from Minnesota

Sep 05, 2017
Traitor IPA from Badger Hill Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 121 ratings