Hopsurd
Une Année

 

 

 

 

This beer pours a murky golden color. The head was white, frothy, 2 finger. Retention was moderate. Minimal lacing on the glass.
The nose has a pleasing hop aroma. I get grapefruit, and other citrus aromas on the nose.
Taste is interesting. Citrus is mellow, but there, and is more on the backside. Up front I get something that is hard to describe, though I do like the flavor.
Feel is quite full bodied, and the hops do linger in my throat.
This beer has been sitting in my fridge for quite a while. I've never had it fresh, but I would say that it's held up quite well.

 

 

 

 

Something about a hopheads dream with five pounds of hops and no caramel malt and I'm not impressed...yet. Hopefully Une Annee isn't trying too hard here.

Pours a bright yellow-orange with a fluffy white froth.

Smells of citrus, earth and grain.

A fruit forward sweetness is quickly overtaken by waves of citrus hops and contrasted with a background of vanilla, spice and a thin swath of fusel alcohol.

Lighter in body than many of its peers allows this beer to float along easy for the most part, but a few rough spots in the finish serve to keep it grounded.

I could do this one again a few times over.

 

 

Dirty blonde with white film and trailers. 3.75
Funky, resiny, mashed apricot nose. 4
Caramel backbone with mango, tangerine, stewed peaches, and pine hops. 4
5 Alive finish and salty linger.
Medium, chewy, tinny. 4

Big fruit! Lots of cutting IBUs, too. But a bit sour, stewy and cloying, too salty, and none too bright. Won't rush back. 3.5

Smelled of sulphur. Terrible IPA.

Tastes old school-- like an Imperial IPA from the IBU/arms race days, when making the best IPA was as much about how bitter it could be made as about full and complex flavors. I really like Hopsurd, but if I were experiencing this back in those days, I might rate it even higher. Contemporary IPA tastes (and my expectations) have, however, evolved.