Hop Beard
Fonta Flora Brewery

Hop BeardHop Beard
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From:
Fonta Flora Brewery
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #1,312
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,649
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 10.33%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
102
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 15, 2023
Added:
Nov 04, 2013
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  5
IPA intensely hopped with simcoe, citra, amarillo and CTZ.

70 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.56 by RoyalKaiju

Nov 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.35 by MutuelsMark from Kentucky

Nov 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Jun 02, 2023
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Rated by Khocolate from Tennessee

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Just one word “FANTASTIC “.
May 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 17, 2023
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Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

3.81/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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.
Dec 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.98 by walkinginplace from North Carolina

Nov 23, 2022
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Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Aug 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2022
 
Rated: 3.65 by StrangerTides from New York

Jul 28, 2022
 
Rated: 3.95 by abrodsky from Massachusetts

Jul 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Jun 29, 2022
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Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.21/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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!
Apr 16, 2022
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Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.88/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
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.
Oct 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by cryptichead from Illinois

Sep 12, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Skabiski from Maryland

Mar 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.9 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Aug 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by rangerred from Tennessee

Aug 15, 2020
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Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4.99/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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!
Jun 25, 2020
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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!!
Jun 18, 2020
Hop Beard from Fonta Flora Brewery
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 102 ratings