The Substance | Bissell Brothers Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Bissell Brothers Brewing Co.
Maine, United States
bissellbrothers.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our flagship; a brightly dank ale that threads many needles.
vailability: weekly production
ABV: 6.6% OG: 1.060
Hops: Falconer's Flight, Centennial, Apollo, Summit, Chinook
Malts: 2-row, flaked Wheat, Flaked oats, Flaked Barley
Added by Bowdoinbeerboy on 12-11-2013
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,630 | Reviews: 212
4.03/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.37/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pint can dated 10/26/18 poured into a tulip at 46F
Pours a hazy, but not murky or creamy looking honey orange. Two finger creamy white head sits atop the body, receding slowly, and leaving some lacing.
Nose is piney and citrus hops, with notes of grapefruit and oranges, with lesser notes of pineapple and mango.
Palate: The hops have a real west coast flavor style to them, but the bitterness is dialed WAY back, in true New English fashion. A little bit of dank earthiness as it warms. This is shockingly refreshing and crisp. A thin malt backbone and a good balance of hops for both flavor, and supreme drinkability. Finishes quick and dry with zero bitterness hanging around, and a slow fade of pine and grapefruit once again.
Mouthfeel is on the heaviest side of light. Just getting into medium territory. It's not thin and splashy, but it's also not a can of Julius. This is really somewhere in the middle. A creamy West Coast feel, or a thin New England feel. Carbonation is solid, on the slightly higher side compared to most NEIPAs. Dry and crisp.
Overall, this one is interesting. I was hoping for a thick NE juice bomb. That it is not. However, this is almost like the greatest West Coast style IPA that never was. It's juicy and and hoppy and utterly UN-bitter like a NEIPA, but it's crisp, refreshing, and uber drinkable, like a West Coast style. I don't know. If we're just calling this an IPA, it's absolutely fantastic. A wonderful (sjfkshfjk)IPA.
1,470 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pint can dated 10/26/18 poured into a tulip at 46F
Pours a hazy, but not murky or creamy looking honey orange. Two finger creamy white head sits atop the body, receding slowly, and leaving some lacing.
Nose is piney and citrus hops, with notes of grapefruit and oranges, with lesser notes of pineapple and mango.
Palate: The hops have a real west coast flavor style to them, but the bitterness is dialed WAY back, in true New English fashion. A little bit of dank earthiness as it warms. This is shockingly refreshing and crisp. A thin malt backbone and a good balance of hops for both flavor, and supreme drinkability. Finishes quick and dry with zero bitterness hanging around, and a slow fade of pine and grapefruit once again.
Mouthfeel is on the heaviest side of light. Just getting into medium territory. It's not thin and splashy, but it's also not a can of Julius. This is really somewhere in the middle. A creamy West Coast feel, or a thin New England feel. Carbonation is solid, on the slightly higher side compared to most NEIPAs. Dry and crisp.
Overall, this one is interesting. I was hoping for a thick NE juice bomb. That it is not. However, this is almost like the greatest West Coast style IPA that never was. It's juicy and and hoppy and utterly UN-bitter like a NEIPA, but it's crisp, refreshing, and uber drinkable, like a West Coast style. I don't know. If we're just calling this an IPA, it's absolutely fantastic. A wonderful (sjfkshfjk)IPA.
1,470 characters
4.59/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.69/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.27/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can into IPA glass. Dated 10/4/18.
Look is great golden orange cloud. Smell is dank with citrus/fruit on top. Taste follows nose and ends with nice bitter grapefruit end. Feel is smooth and creamy. Overall an excellent NE IPA that has everything required for the style.
275 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can into IPA glass. Dated 10/4/18.
Look is great golden orange cloud. Smell is dank with citrus/fruit on top. Taste follows nose and ends with nice bitter grapefruit end. Feel is smooth and creamy. Overall an excellent NE IPA that has everything required for the style.
275 characters
4.25/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One of the best NEIPAs I’ve yet to have. Hazy orange with a dank smell and taste of papaya mango grapefruit guava. Great beer.
128 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
One of the best NEIPAs I’ve yet to have. Hazy orange with a dank smell and taste of papaya mango grapefruit guava. Great beer.
128 characters
4.36/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.99/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice beer, had it at the same session I was having a Treehouse Julius and preferred it to that. Smoother and more complex. That said, I wouldn't drive an hour to get it and stand in line for another 30 minutes, like the Julius experience. But if it was available with reasonable effort I'd definitely be keeping it in the rotation.
336 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very nice beer, had it at the same session I was having a Treehouse Julius and preferred it to that. Smoother and more complex. That said, I wouldn't drive an hour to get it and stand in line for another 30 minutes, like the Julius experience. But if it was available with reasonable effort I'd definitely be keeping it in the rotation.
336 characters
4.15/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice bright, hazy orange color, good head and retention.
Dank and citrus on the nose.
Taste is of stone fruit, citrus, and pine.
Medium body and carbonation.
I've had this a number of times, and it always strikes me as a good balance between bitter pine and some of the hazy citrus character. Plus, I can appreciate the dankness as another layer of complexity. Easy drinking beer for me despite the complexity.
415 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Nice bright, hazy orange color, good head and retention.
Dank and citrus on the nose.
Taste is of stone fruit, citrus, and pine.
Medium body and carbonation.
I've had this a number of times, and it always strikes me as a good balance between bitter pine and some of the hazy citrus character. Plus, I can appreciate the dankness as another layer of complexity. Easy drinking beer for me despite the complexity.
415 characters
4.51/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.31/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect beer. Can’t say I’ve had a better one. The price is awesome too!!! NEIPA at its best.
97 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect beer. Can’t say I’ve had a better one. The price is awesome too!!! NEIPA at its best.
97 characters
4.02/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The Substance from Bissell Brothers Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.32 out of
5 with
1,630 ratings
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