Operation Vacation
Hop Valley Brewing Company

Operation Vacation pours a copper-amber color, with a small, lacing head. The aroma is reminiscent of bitter earth and moldy bread. The flavor is bitter, crisp, and has notes of bread, but the strange bitterness takes over. Good feel. Overall, lots of flavor, sweet bread notes clash with a bitter earth.

 

i like this, but like, its clean and tight and i dont totally get it. the name implies tropical, but its simcoe hops that hit perhaps only a little more vibrant than they usually do, but there is grapefruit pith and pine sap and weed to it, which i guess could be vacation, but like, vacation in the woods in the northwest, not vacation like on a beach, which kind of seems to be how its marketed, a tad confusing, like is this supposed to be a tropical juice bomb or something? its not. also drinks like a pale to me, as malt balance is in tact and hop bitterness is moderate at best, not complaining, not at all, just saying, it walks the line even though the can says ipa. 6% abv is listed too, must have evolved over time, and this has some grainy meat to it, which i think the hop oiliness clings to, and ill concede a mango and stone fruit thing, but its pine and weed ahead of that in flavor for sure, especially as it warms. its kind of muted overall though, tight and simple, not as exotic as i think i was hoping for, but also good, like most hop valley hoppy stuff, just maybe more safe than anticipated. medium body, soft, some sweetness lingering which is becoming a theme with their hoppy beers. no matter what they call it and what the ingredients are, they have a formula and they stick to it, like early beatles songs, the pattern works so why deviate, and they definitely dont here. the carbonation falls out a little and the last half feels a touch flat and watery. not a vacation beer or profile, but a good one nevertheless. warms up poorly, less good later, well, warms up nice for a bit, but like, half an hour later is basically useless. a slightly different side of simcoe i will concede, the cryo obviously showing up, drinkable and solid, dont let me undersell it...

Listed as a pale ale in some places and a NE IPA in others - pours light gold with minor haze and a creamy white head. Fairly fruity, citrusy and tropical, with notes of pear and peach. Decent crusher at 5.5% abv.

 

 

It is difficult to review a Pale Ale following an IPA but let's give a go.
Lightly hazed gold with three fingers of white craggy head. Rings of lace as the head drops.
Smell is fruity hops some orange zest. Good amount of bready malt.
Taste is fruity orange hops with a good bready malt backbone. Mouthfeel is light to medium with good carbonation.
The finish is lightly dry and balanced.
Overall a tasty session Pale Ale. Easy drinking and tasty.

 

 

 

Pours a golden colour with a fast disappearing white head. Aromas of caramel, fruit & malt. Tastes of some spice mixed with caramel & fruit. A very moderate bitterness leading to a dry aftertaste. Overall a enjoyable beer without setting the world alight.

 

Almost clear golden color with white head. Aroma is malty with some kind of herbal, earthy hops. Taste starts bitter up-front, with some earthy, resiny hops. Aftertaste lingers with a pretty intense bitterness. Body is quite heavy for a pale ale. Overall it's a good beer but nothing really special.

 

12 fl.oz. bottle. Bottled on 12/2014. Poured into tulip.

A: Hazy orange. The foam sank soon.
S: Earthy and grassy. Somewhat citrus.
T: Earthy and grassy. Moderate bitterness. Dry.
M: Light bodied. Medium- carbonation.
O: This bottle disappointed me. Perhaps I drank it too later.

Powerful note. Suite long bitterness

 

 

 

Pours a lightly hazy, golden orange with a foamy white head.

Lightly spicy, fruity, floral hop character in the aroma and taste.

A well done pale ale, a pleasant, some what unique flavor profile.