Hop Beard
Fonta Flora Brewery

 

 

 

Just one word “FANTASTIC “.

 

I broke out the Strangebird IIPA glass and filled it with this almost clear pail gold beer (SRM 3-4). A 2” white froth gradually settles and transforms to sea foam. Ample clouds of fine carbonation are barely visible as individual bubbles as they slowly migrate upwards. Small archipelagoes of delicate lace decorate the glass. With warmth the beer turns gem clear.

The initial aroma is also delicate with mild papaya and floral notes. Lemon and pine sap follow, joined by grapefruit much later. There is also a weird smell of natural gas and burnt rubber that comes and goes for brief moments.

The flavors are dramatically milder than is typical of this style. It has none of the fruit and floral freshness. The aromas and flavors seem to be divorced. It is earthy and grassy with bitterness reminiscent of an old school West Coast IPA. The finish is long and modest, adding a little sweetness.

A medium body with the texture of slick cotton. The alcohol is as expected. Carbonation is soft and ample. There is a mineral/metallic quality and mild astringency.

This can had no date, and I suspect it may have some age issues. Regardless, it is enjoyable even though it is a bit of a letdown.

 

On draught at Der Nachbar in Durham. Served in a pint glass. It pours a clear, golden yellow with a half finger of fluffy, bright white head and thick, soapy lacing. A rather subdued nose; mostly lemon, grapefruit, and some floral hop notes. It's dry, crisp, and decidedly bitter. The citrus is classic West Coast: lemon peel and grapefruit rind, along with generous amounts of earthy, resinous pine needles. I don't taste any berry or sweet fruit from the Citra and Simcoe hops and I assume the Amarillo and CTZ hops are used for bittering. If so, then they do the job well. This ale is very crisp and drinkable. The 6.9% ABV gives it good substance. Overall, Hop Beard is a very solid West Coast IPA. I'd like to try the DIPA version. It was a great selection on a hot, muggy afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed as pint #2 on our visit to Whippoorwill Farm 4-16-22 for $6.50.

This was a very dank smelling and nicely bittered WCIPA, 7/10 on my bitterness scale. A nice combo of pine, grapefruit, and maybe a touch of tropical hops. Definitely worthy of a shot!

Scored a single can of this from the single cooler impulse buy at that mini mart in Carmichael, CA. I think they were like $2 singles, so why not go for it?

Pours yellowy golden, the most familiar of all beer colors. 1/3" white head. The aroma wasn't aroma hops. There was plenty of bittering hops noticeable and a light wooden caramel malty vibe. Citra and Amarillo hops seem completely lost in the shuffle.

Taste might display even greater bittering hop intensity and caramel drapes. The woody caramel contingent is high, the copper bitterness is even higher. Do not go in here looking for a sweet citrus effect. Even the bittering hop pine like notes get overshadowed in favor of even less desireable hop flavors, bitter intensity and wooden caramel stickiness. The only hop intensity seems to be Simcoe. Columbus (Day today) doesn't really make an impact either. Really lacks dryness to the body. Throwback 100ibu crystal malt days like beer, even tastes like a double ipa heft wise, but lacks much to say in a positive manner.

 

 

 

 

Yellow jello with a light haze, no carbonation, and 6 fingers of white head.

Smells real dank of cumin, bo, onion and leaf stank.

The taste follows the nose more intensely.

Medium resinous body with light carbonation.

I got this in Asheville and am drinking it in Canton, June 24th 2020. Perhaps the freshest and best ipa I’ve had this round in NC!

060520 stamped across bottom of can. Poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint.

A: Slightly hazy lemonade yellow with solid 1-2 finger frothy light beige head with good retention and lacing.

S: Tropical fruit and pine-grapefruit in about a 3:1 ratio with abundant guava, pineapple, and papaya with less prominent traditional WCIPA qualities of pine, grapefruit, and dank herbal. Moderate intensity in the aroma.

T: Flavor brings even more intensity and a clarity of the hop element that really separates this new-gen WCIPA into its own class. Beautiful pineapple, guava, passion fruit, and papaya dominates but lets some grapefruit, pine, and dank qualities come through to create a wonderful, complex hop character. There is a note of grassy hops in the finish and aftertaste. I don’t sense much for esters and alcohol is hidden. Bitterness is moderate - exceptionally well-balanced.

M: Feels like a balanced ale in the WCIPA vein but not quite as dry as the traditional heavyweights of the category (Pliny, Blind Pig, Stone IPA). Medium body and moderate carbonation.

O: I am really impressed with FF Hop Beard — exceptional balance and a great version of WCIPA 2.0. Delicious and I will be buying this again!!