Hop Wizard
Odd13 Brewing

12oz can thanks to Toby. Milky pale golden body with small, soft white head. Fruity nose, more tropical than citrus. Taste brings some sweetness in, still leaning on the fruity flavors (Double Dry Hopped Galaxy version), Kind of light for an IPA, but highly drinkable.

 

 

I bought two cans from Tavour.
A better than average APA. Does its job and doesn't try to do too much more.
Background. APAs are my second most reviewed style (that probably makes me common.) But Hop Wizard is only the 5th APA I've had this year. Am I falling off the wagon?
Odd. Particularly since I much prefer APAs to the IPAs. Warning: this is what happens when you become a senior citizen, you also become a malt-head.

Digressions aside,.. Hop Wizard Looks above average, decent foam and lace. Smells quickly take on the piney fruit bowl, but don't offer a lot more. Tastes follow closely and it seems a well-integrated ale until the finish becomes a bit metallic. That and the median mouth make me think I should give the second can to my nephews for Christmas. (It's fun to play Santa... another rite of senior citizenship.)

As for my brewer review of Odd13... I went on their website and they seem very common to Colorado. Guys having fun brewing decent beer and being near some of the world's best skiing. But being in paradise doesn't earn Big OA Hugs from me. Bah-Humbug !

 

A: The beer is very hazy to cloudy whitish yellow in color. It poured with a quarter finger high dense white head that died down but never completely faded away.
S: Light to moderate aromas of grapefruit, lime and mango are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has additional hints of tangerine. Only a slight amount of bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels nearly light- to medium-bodied and a bit juicy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This NE pale ale is especially flavorful and drinks a bit easier than an NE IPA.

Serving type: can

You don't have to be a wizard to make a fantastic New England-styled IPA. The brewers at Odd13 are well aware that its a mix of experimental bittering hops along with Citra, Azacca, and Mosaic create all come together for wizardry effects on the tastebuds.

Matte gold and hazy with a pastel fade to the glass, Hop Wizard crowns with a creamy ivory froth before drawing in the senses with a radiant scent of orchard fruit, citrus, tropical fruit, herb, stone fruit and dark berries. Gentle on the early palate, its actually the cereal malts that make first impression with pastry sweetness, honeysuckle and a creamy vanilla hint.

But when the magical ale hits the middle palate, its all about the hops. The focus quickly turns fruity with a burst of peach, pineapple, passionfruit, apricot, grapefruit, orange, lime and currant in a broad, racy and succulent fruit display. Even the initial taste is wrapped in an herbal green brightness but those flavors eventually turn resinous, piney, bitter and gripping in the throat with a peppery, grassy hit of botanical gin and hemp.

Medium bodied for NEIPA, but a far cry from more traditional IPA dryness, Hop Wizard's plump body finishes with a greater bitterness and hop dryness than expected- a warm welcome for those of us who miss West Coast IPA dominance. A medium long aftertaste of gin spice, spruce and tropical fruit rinds decorate the aftertaste.

good combination of 4 hops and oats , rye honey - slightly sweet but with a hop finish

 

 

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Clear 16-oz. Bruges beer glass
From: Beer Advocate’s ucsbmullet
Price: $2 (I think)
Purchased: N/A; Received July 24, 2017
Consumed: July 31, 2017
Reviewed as: New England Pale Ale
Misc.: Canned on July 6, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. MT

Thanks, Nick!

Huge thanks to Nick for giving Adam some awesome Odd13 to give to Chad and I at recent bottleshare. Can read, “Hop Wizard is a pale ale hopped with experimental variety HS07270 in the kettle and dry hopped at over 3 pounds per barrel with Azacca, Citra and Mosaic. Oats and rye contribute to a thick, soft mouthfeel.” Odd13 kills it almost every time, and I love Citra and Mosaic (and Azacca is OK too). Expecting this one to be a solid NE Style pale ale.

Poured a pale hazy color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy white head. Lots of bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass along the sides. Excellent uneven spiderweb lacing. Very good retention. (Sight - 4.00)

Surprisingly picked out the Azacca right away on the nose. Also lime, grass, lemon zest, spoiled tropical rind, dry Citra, honeydew melon and hints of trashy Mosaic. (Smell - 3.75)

Tasted better than the nose. Got Azacca, honeydew melon, grass, pear, lemon, lime, spoiled tropical fruit, dry Citra and bitter mango rind. Also some stone fruit and light trashy Mosaic. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily texture. Average-to-lively carbonation. Abrupt, dry finish. (Feel - 4.00)

This was a pretty good New England Pale Ale. Would have it again for sure. Outstanding. (Overall - 4.00)

3.94 | 88 | B+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure if there is a regular hop wizard; this is the double dry hopped hop wizard. Love this--might be my fav offering from them thus far. Odd13 has been hitting home runs in Colorado.