Locust Reign | New England Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
New England Brewing Co.
Connecticut, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by bccrosley on 07-09-2014
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 33 | Ratings: 274
3.86/5 rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Growler was a low fill and over 2 weeks old by the time I got it. diacetyl on the initial taste but not so much on the nose. Nose has nice earthy hops, pine and grapefruit. It's growing on me slowly, alcohol is a bit aggressive. Overall a pretty nice DIPA.
★ 256 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Growler was a low fill and over 2 weeks old by the time I got it. diacetyl on the initial taste but not so much on the nose. Nose has nice earthy hops, pine and grapefruit. It's growing on me slowly, alcohol is a bit aggressive. Overall a pretty nice DIPA.
★ 256 characters
4.75/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very thankful to a loyal and reliable trade partner for keeping me up to my eyeballs in NEBCO offerings! This one was a long time coming as it's not done very often...it didn't disappoint! Super super smooth for an 8% DIPA! Loved it!!!
★ 238 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very thankful to a loyal and reliable trade partner for keeping me up to my eyeballs in NEBCO offerings! This one was a long time coming as it's not done very often...it didn't disappoint! Super super smooth for an 8% DIPA! Loved it!!!
★ 238 characters
4.42/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a foggy golden straw color with a 1-finger creamy white head. The head dissipates into a nice film that rests gently on top of the beer. Leaves some splotchy lacing.
The aroma is very tropical with loads of bitter pine. Peaches, mangoes, and pineapple all permeate from the glass. There's a touch of grapefruit pith followed by a strong resinous pine note on the back end.
The mosaic really shines through on the first sip. Lots of fresh mangoes and peaches. However there's far more citrus here than the aroma led on. Loads of grapefruit, tangerine, and orange rind add a wonderful citrus juice blast to the flavor. Then comes the galaxy hops to remind you that this isn't just a juicy fruit bomb. The finish is very piney and resinous and gives you a nice bitter kick in the teeth. As the beer warms there's a very subtle caramel sweetness.
The feel is medium bodied with decent carbonation. Slightly sticky with a touch of alcohol warmth. Goes down relatively smooth. Finishes slightly dry with just a faint, lingering bitterness.
Overall, and excellent DIPA that really does an excellent job balancing tropical sweetness with piney bitterness. There's not much malt to be accounted for but there are plenty of hops to make you forget about that. Great beer. Hope to try this again someday.
★ 1,304 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a foggy golden straw color with a 1-finger creamy white head. The head dissipates into a nice film that rests gently on top of the beer. Leaves some splotchy lacing.
The aroma is very tropical with loads of bitter pine. Peaches, mangoes, and pineapple all permeate from the glass. There's a touch of grapefruit pith followed by a strong resinous pine note on the back end.
The mosaic really shines through on the first sip. Lots of fresh mangoes and peaches. However there's far more citrus here than the aroma led on. Loads of grapefruit, tangerine, and orange rind add a wonderful citrus juice blast to the flavor. Then comes the galaxy hops to remind you that this isn't just a juicy fruit bomb. The finish is very piney and resinous and gives you a nice bitter kick in the teeth. As the beer warms there's a very subtle caramel sweetness.
The feel is medium bodied with decent carbonation. Slightly sticky with a touch of alcohol warmth. Goes down relatively smooth. Finishes slightly dry with just a faint, lingering bitterness.
Overall, and excellent DIPA that really does an excellent job balancing tropical sweetness with piney bitterness. There's not much malt to be accounted for but there are plenty of hops to make you forget about that. Great beer. Hope to try this again someday.
★ 1,304 characters
4.09/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: cloudy; deep gold in color; 1 finger ivory head that receded to a thin collar; very nice lacing;
S: all grapefruit;
T: grapefruit with a little toffee mixed in; finish is exactly like fresh grapefruit, including a slight pithy bitterness;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation lightly dry finish;
O: a galaxy/grapefruit lover's dream;
★ 342 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: cloudy; deep gold in color; 1 finger ivory head that receded to a thin collar; very nice lacing;
S: all grapefruit;
T: grapefruit with a little toffee mixed in; finish is exactly like fresh grapefruit, including a slight pithy bitterness;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation lightly dry finish;
O: a galaxy/grapefruit lover's dream;
★ 342 characters
4.66/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Fresh growler fill from NEBCO and poured into a Gandhi-Bot snifter (felt it was appropriate haha). Pours a dark orange/caramel color with slight amount of head and lacing. The smell is somewhat of a mixture of peach, mango, oranges and maybe some other citrus rinds. The taste follows suit with the blend of many tropical fruits. Carbonation is on point and the mouthfeel is medium. It is very drinkable for it being a IIPA. This one is definitely a "sleeper" beer from NEBCO; quite possibly my favorite offering from them. Overall, try to get some fresh from the brewery... you will not be disappointed! Cheers!
★ 612 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Fresh growler fill from NEBCO and poured into a Gandhi-Bot snifter (felt it was appropriate haha). Pours a dark orange/caramel color with slight amount of head and lacing. The smell is somewhat of a mixture of peach, mango, oranges and maybe some other citrus rinds. The taste follows suit with the blend of many tropical fruits. Carbonation is on point and the mouthfeel is medium. It is very drinkable for it being a IIPA. This one is definitely a "sleeper" beer from NEBCO; quite possibly my favorite offering from them. Overall, try to get some fresh from the brewery... you will not be disappointed! Cheers!
★ 612 characters
4.61/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
On tap and it tastes pretty fresh. Good looking copper and slightly hazy with a thick white head that quickly disappeared. Smells of tropical fruits and peach and a bit of piney resin. Taste follows that with a burst of sticky, prickly piney bitterness. Very solid beer and leaves a nice slick feeling and lingering bitterness. Overall just fantastic!
A bit more on the sticky/juicy side than NEB's other top IPAs. Definitely a good one.
★ 439 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
On tap and it tastes pretty fresh. Good looking copper and slightly hazy with a thick white head that quickly disappeared. Smells of tropical fruits and peach and a bit of piney resin. Taste follows that with a burst of sticky, prickly piney bitterness. Very solid beer and leaves a nice slick feeling and lingering bitterness. Overall just fantastic!
A bit more on the sticky/juicy side than NEB's other top IPAs. Definitely a good one.
★ 439 characters
4.63/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L: Deep copper, almost amber, hues; slight haze and a generous white head
S: Mangoes, pineapple, and a bit of dankness
T: The marriage between the mosaic and galaxy hops here is very well done. Two distinctive hop flavors expertly blended to produce a juicy, but very hoppy flavor profile
F: Evenly carbonated and slightly dry with a soft mouthfeel
O: I really enjoyed this beer - another awesome offering from NEBCO. To me this represented a bridge from the 'old guard' hop-forward IPAs of the past 5 years and the juicy Tree House/Trillium fare that is all the rage these days. I thoroughly enjoyed it - great reminder of why I fell in love with the IPA style in the first place.
★ 682 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
L: Deep copper, almost amber, hues; slight haze and a generous white head
S: Mangoes, pineapple, and a bit of dankness
T: The marriage between the mosaic and galaxy hops here is very well done. Two distinctive hop flavors expertly blended to produce a juicy, but very hoppy flavor profile
F: Evenly carbonated and slightly dry with a soft mouthfeel
O: I really enjoyed this beer - another awesome offering from NEBCO. To me this represented a bridge from the 'old guard' hop-forward IPAs of the past 5 years and the juicy Tree House/Trillium fare that is all the rage these days. I thoroughly enjoyed it - great reminder of why I fell in love with the IPA style in the first place.
★ 682 characters
4.27/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A: Tangerine to caramel in color. Very clear with creamline head. Consistent carb leaves a session lasting film with some droopy lacing on the side.
S: Juicy tropical fruit. Mango and passionfruit. Papaya, rose, light peach, bubble gum. Light earthiness. Very tutti frutti in your nose melange.
M: I think this is one of the beers strongest aspects. Slight dryness from carbonation pairs well with slick malt sweetness. Soft, pillowy feel with medium body. Some warming alcohol on back.
T: Very juicy beginning with slight, slight resin quality. Papaya and passionfruit lead way. Biting citrus crusade as I forcefully swill it towards my esophagus. I really want bitterness, and it delivers with some orange but it's tempered with apricot and nectarine.
O: I've come to realize that I will not find most single hopped galaxy beers extraordinary on their own, but when paired properly the flavor really sings to m; its not bright. For this, I went with a 3S dish, meaning spicy, savory, and sweet, a tangerine-habanero glazed piece of salmon with lemon smashed sunchoke.
So, pretty much a Doritos sweet thai chili chip would do.
★ 1,148 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A: Tangerine to caramel in color. Very clear with creamline head. Consistent carb leaves a session lasting film with some droopy lacing on the side.
S: Juicy tropical fruit. Mango and passionfruit. Papaya, rose, light peach, bubble gum. Light earthiness. Very tutti frutti in your nose melange.
M: I think this is one of the beers strongest aspects. Slight dryness from carbonation pairs well with slick malt sweetness. Soft, pillowy feel with medium body. Some warming alcohol on back.
T: Very juicy beginning with slight, slight resin quality. Papaya and passionfruit lead way. Biting citrus crusade as I forcefully swill it towards my esophagus. I really want bitterness, and it delivers with some orange but it's tempered with apricot and nectarine.
O: I've come to realize that I will not find most single hopped galaxy beers extraordinary on their own, but when paired properly the flavor really sings to m; its not bright. For this, I went with a 3S dish, meaning spicy, savory, and sweet, a tangerine-habanero glazed piece of salmon with lemon smashed sunchoke.
So, pretty much a Doritos sweet thai chili chip would do.
★ 1,148 characters
4.62/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Probably my favorite nebco ipa. Has tons of citrus flavors. Kind of a mix of peach, orange, and grapefruit. Very tasty but not a big fan of the bitter aftertaste.
★ 162 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Probably my favorite nebco ipa. Has tons of citrus flavors. Kind of a mix of peach, orange, and grapefruit. Very tasty but not a big fan of the bitter aftertaste.
★ 162 characters
4.24/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
32oz. pill bottle growler into a Heady Topper stemless snifter.
Looks pretty typical. Nice head, good color, spotty, messy lace. The aroma is of pineapple, citrus, mango, starfruit and other tropical fruit flavors. Sweet with a pungent hop background. Flavor is of pineapple, grapefruit, citrus and starfruit. Juicy with a slightly astringent and coarse, piney hop bitterness in the back that's overwhelmed by the fruit flavor. Sweet, tropical aftertaste. Super drinkable. Just the right amount of carbonation makes this one quenching and smooth at the same time. Delicious!
Given the pedigree, I'm not sure why I was surprised that this is really good. Worthy of its high score here.
★ 688 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
32oz. pill bottle growler into a Heady Topper stemless snifter.
Looks pretty typical. Nice head, good color, spotty, messy lace. The aroma is of pineapple, citrus, mango, starfruit and other tropical fruit flavors. Sweet with a pungent hop background. Flavor is of pineapple, grapefruit, citrus and starfruit. Juicy with a slightly astringent and coarse, piney hop bitterness in the back that's overwhelmed by the fruit flavor. Sweet, tropical aftertaste. Super drinkable. Just the right amount of carbonation makes this one quenching and smooth at the same time. Delicious!
Given the pedigree, I'm not sure why I was surprised that this is really good. Worthy of its high score here.
★ 688 characters
4.5/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
appearance- Golden amber and a little cloudy. Pours a soapy one finger head.
aroma- Grapefruit, floral, and malt sweetness.
taste- Grapefruit and floral flavors with a nice hit of bitterness upfront. Back end sees orange hop flavor and a cracker malt lending to a bone dry finish with a little residual bitterness.
feel- Medium bodied, snap of carbonation up front, and a dry yet oily finish.
overall- Another really great DIPA from nebco. Great hop flavors, a nice dry malt, great balance, and very easy to put down at 8%. Hard to ask for more in a DIPA.
★ 568 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
appearance- Golden amber and a little cloudy. Pours a soapy one finger head.
aroma- Grapefruit, floral, and malt sweetness.
taste- Grapefruit and floral flavors with a nice hit of bitterness upfront. Back end sees orange hop flavor and a cracker malt lending to a bone dry finish with a little residual bitterness.
feel- Medium bodied, snap of carbonation up front, and a dry yet oily finish.
overall- Another really great DIPA from nebco. Great hop flavors, a nice dry malt, great balance, and very easy to put down at 8%. Hard to ask for more in a DIPA.
★ 568 characters
4.29/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Giddyup! Beautiful orangey-brownish color that is expected of an IIPA that's not of the recent NE-variety..
Smell is a nice citrus/grapefruit, with the taste matching much of the same but finishing with a bitter aftertaste.
This is not a brew that hides its abv, as it packs a kick in its feel, but that is also welcomed when you know what you're going into.
A pleasure to try and would love to use this as a kickstart to try other NEBCO IPA's/IIPA's.
★ 456 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Giddyup! Beautiful orangey-brownish color that is expected of an IIPA that's not of the recent NE-variety..
Smell is a nice citrus/grapefruit, with the taste matching much of the same but finishing with a bitter aftertaste.
This is not a brew that hides its abv, as it packs a kick in its feel, but that is also welcomed when you know what you're going into.
A pleasure to try and would love to use this as a kickstart to try other NEBCO IPA's/IIPA's.
★ 456 characters
4.85/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Grabbed two growlers of this yesterday and I was very happy I picked up two.
A: Pours a dark orange caramel with a frothy top. Some slight haze in the beer but not a lot.
S: Aroma is freshly squeezed orange juice, mango and peach along with some apricot and citrus rinds.
T: Tons of peach up front, mixing in with oranges, grapefruit rinds and a blending of many tropical fruits. This tasted so amazingly fresh that I was very surprised that this had not been hyped as much or I had not heard as much about this beer after Gandi has gone full country viral and as Fuzzy Baby Ducks has been known to create large lines that I recently waited about an hour to get. I honestly think this is the best of the bunch and is so good that I will be getting this any time that it is released. The hops are spot on just fresh with peaches and other tropical fruit flavors that are mouthwatering and right up there even with any other world class Double IPA I have had.
M: Mouthfeel is medium and with a good level of carbonation. Not too much or too little. Locust Reign goes down extremely smoothly.
O: Overall , this is my favorite Double IPA that I have ever had from New England Brewing and I would say this is better than many of the very recent IIPA's that I have recently tried that are also very good such as Treehouse Julius (too much rind) and Sip of Sunshine which this is slightly more flavorful than but is also an amazing IIPA. I would get this by the caseload if it was canned and I could keep it fresh longer, but I will gladly settle with driving to the brewery any day that this is available if I can get it as easily as I did yesterday. Well done NEBco!
★ 1,679 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Grabbed two growlers of this yesterday and I was very happy I picked up two.
A: Pours a dark orange caramel with a frothy top. Some slight haze in the beer but not a lot.
S: Aroma is freshly squeezed orange juice, mango and peach along with some apricot and citrus rinds.
T: Tons of peach up front, mixing in with oranges, grapefruit rinds and a blending of many tropical fruits. This tasted so amazingly fresh that I was very surprised that this had not been hyped as much or I had not heard as much about this beer after Gandi has gone full country viral and as Fuzzy Baby Ducks has been known to create large lines that I recently waited about an hour to get. I honestly think this is the best of the bunch and is so good that I will be getting this any time that it is released. The hops are spot on just fresh with peaches and other tropical fruit flavors that are mouthwatering and right up there even with any other world class Double IPA I have had.
M: Mouthfeel is medium and with a good level of carbonation. Not too much or too little. Locust Reign goes down extremely smoothly.
O: Overall , this is my favorite Double IPA that I have ever had from New England Brewing and I would say this is better than many of the very recent IIPA's that I have recently tried that are also very good such as Treehouse Julius (too much rind) and Sip of Sunshine which this is slightly more flavorful than but is also an amazing IIPA. I would get this by the caseload if it was canned and I could keep it fresh longer, but I will gladly settle with driving to the brewery any day that this is available if I can get it as easily as I did yesterday. Well done NEBco!
★ 1,679 characters
4.66/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My first IIPA from NEBCO, and it did not disappoint. Pours a orange gold color, a bit cloudy with a nice white head. Lots of tropic fruit in the nose, oranges, pineapple. Taste follows the nose, loaded with tropic fruit but has a slight bitter taste in the finish. A great beer!
★ 282 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My first IIPA from NEBCO, and it did not disappoint. Pours a orange gold color, a bit cloudy with a nice white head. Lots of tropic fruit in the nose, oranges, pineapple. Taste follows the nose, loaded with tropic fruit but has a slight bitter taste in the finish. A great beer!
★ 282 characters
4.69/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Look = Hazy with a darker orange tint
Smell = Tropical with great hoppy aroma
Taste = Very citrusy
Feel = Smooth
Overall = Considering a lack of hype, I was very surprised with the overall strength of this brew and found it to be very delightful.
★ 246 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Look = Hazy with a darker orange tint
Smell = Tropical with great hoppy aroma
Taste = Very citrusy
Feel = Smooth
Overall = Considering a lack of hype, I was very surprised with the overall strength of this brew and found it to be very delightful.
★ 246 characters
4.72/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Drank on tap at J. Timothy's Taverne, Plainville, CT
Served in a tulip
The hazy, orangey-amber liquid was topped by a small, creamy white crown that fell to a thin cap. A few drippy streaks of lacing trickled along the glass.
The aroma was outstanding. Super hoppy and fragrant. Really juicy and fruity. Loads of sugary sweet overripe fruits. Stewed peaches and apricots dominated. Really intense. Exotic tropical fruits also came through strong. Tons of mango. Hint of guava. Citrusy notes were also apparent. Good dose of candied orange peel. There was a dank, marijuana-like quality as well.
Like the nose, the flavor profile was also spectacular. Really hoppy. Juicy, fruity and intense. Equal parts stone fruits, tropical fruits and citrus, and just enough of a pale malt backbone to keep the hops in check. Loads of peach and apricot. Good amount of mango and pineapple. Candied orange peel also came through strong. White grapefruit appeared on the back end. Grapefruit rind-like notes were detectible in the finish. Just a touch of bitterness.
The mouthfeel was super creamy and plush. Nearly full bodied for the style. A super fine, frothy, tongue blanketing effervescence gave the liquid a silky smoothness.
I used to think that Coriolis was the best hoppy offering by New England Brewing, but Locust Reign is definitely a notch or two better. With its amazing topical fruit forward aroma and flavor profile and pillowy soft body, this beer falls into the upper echelons of East Coast stye double IPAs.
★ 1,517 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Drank on tap at J. Timothy's Taverne, Plainville, CT
Served in a tulip
The hazy, orangey-amber liquid was topped by a small, creamy white crown that fell to a thin cap. A few drippy streaks of lacing trickled along the glass.
The aroma was outstanding. Super hoppy and fragrant. Really juicy and fruity. Loads of sugary sweet overripe fruits. Stewed peaches and apricots dominated. Really intense. Exotic tropical fruits also came through strong. Tons of mango. Hint of guava. Citrusy notes were also apparent. Good dose of candied orange peel. There was a dank, marijuana-like quality as well.
Like the nose, the flavor profile was also spectacular. Really hoppy. Juicy, fruity and intense. Equal parts stone fruits, tropical fruits and citrus, and just enough of a pale malt backbone to keep the hops in check. Loads of peach and apricot. Good amount of mango and pineapple. Candied orange peel also came through strong. White grapefruit appeared on the back end. Grapefruit rind-like notes were detectible in the finish. Just a touch of bitterness.
The mouthfeel was super creamy and plush. Nearly full bodied for the style. A super fine, frothy, tongue blanketing effervescence gave the liquid a silky smoothness.
I used to think that Coriolis was the best hoppy offering by New England Brewing, but Locust Reign is definitely a notch or two better. With its amazing topical fruit forward aroma and flavor profile and pillowy soft body, this beer falls into the upper echelons of East Coast stye double IPAs.
★ 1,517 characters
4.63/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Edit (02/20/2016): Had again last night at Prime 16 and this batch was remarkably better and hoppier. Upticks in the aroma and taste by 0.25 each, other variables unchanged.
Original: Had tonight at Prime 16 in New Haven, they had it on cask but I don't believe it was dry hopped or casked on anything. Just straight hand-pull at room temperature. Poured a hazy amber with a thick two finger head that receded slowly and left good lacing. Smell was a little weak once the head died down, but what came out was pure hop juice and a malt backbone. Tastes much better than the aroma, good sweetness upfront and then hop bomb. Nice juicy notes abound with honey and melon and dank hop leaf. Finishes a tad bitter with a hoppy aftertaste that lingers. Super smooth and creamy mouthfeel that is insanely light for the ABV. I drank a full 12oz over the course of about 5 minutes and had to order another. Overall a smooth and balanced New England DIPA that never gets malty. Excellence in a glass.
★ 991 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Edit (02/20/2016): Had again last night at Prime 16 and this batch was remarkably better and hoppier. Upticks in the aroma and taste by 0.25 each, other variables unchanged.
Original: Had tonight at Prime 16 in New Haven, they had it on cask but I don't believe it was dry hopped or casked on anything. Just straight hand-pull at room temperature. Poured a hazy amber with a thick two finger head that receded slowly and left good lacing. Smell was a little weak once the head died down, but what came out was pure hop juice and a malt backbone. Tastes much better than the aroma, good sweetness upfront and then hop bomb. Nice juicy notes abound with honey and melon and dank hop leaf. Finishes a tad bitter with a hoppy aftertaste that lingers. Super smooth and creamy mouthfeel that is insanely light for the ABV. I drank a full 12oz over the course of about 5 minutes and had to order another. Overall a smooth and balanced New England DIPA that never gets malty. Excellence in a glass.
★ 991 characters
4.71/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L - a crisp, clear, amber. Leaves a lovely glow on my hands as the light glimmers through the orange ball of NEBCO deliciousness.
S - fresh buoyant hops. Crisp and clean pine with mild juice to tie it all together. Some lemon water.
T - wintry piney hops up front. So clean and with such purpose. Slight sweetness due to the mosaic. While some beers slip into dank territory, this one harnesses the tangy zesty flavor and filters out the cloying sugary candy.
F - as with all NEBCO brews, this feels like it cuts right through my cheeks and gums. So sharp and pointed.
O - fantastic beer. Better on tap! Seems like it has more of a fullness to it. Like a smoother Gandhi Bot.
★ 683 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L - a crisp, clear, amber. Leaves a lovely glow on my hands as the light glimmers through the orange ball of NEBCO deliciousness.
S - fresh buoyant hops. Crisp and clean pine with mild juice to tie it all together. Some lemon water.
T - wintry piney hops up front. So clean and with such purpose. Slight sweetness due to the mosaic. While some beers slip into dank territory, this one harnesses the tangy zesty flavor and filters out the cloying sugary candy.
F - as with all NEBCO brews, this feels like it cuts right through my cheeks and gums. So sharp and pointed.
O - fantastic beer. Better on tap! Seems like it has more of a fullness to it. Like a smoother Gandhi Bot.
★ 683 characters
4.67/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a hazy dark orange, head dissipates quickly into a thin layer and ring, beautiful lacing. smell is pungent as hell: grapefruit, oranges, soft tropical notes, and a pretty decent pine scent, almost no malt on the nose. taste is even more pungent than the smell, but follows the same general notes: grapefuit, oranges, peach, mango, slight pineapple, big pine, and almost "mosaic-like" earthiness at the end. great DIPA from the CT craft masters.
★ 450 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a hazy dark orange, head dissipates quickly into a thin layer and ring, beautiful lacing. smell is pungent as hell: grapefruit, oranges, soft tropical notes, and a pretty decent pine scent, almost no malt on the nose. taste is even more pungent than the smell, but follows the same general notes: grapefuit, oranges, peach, mango, slight pineapple, big pine, and almost "mosaic-like" earthiness at the end. great DIPA from the CT craft masters.
★ 450 characters
4.29/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Color is a somewhat cloudy orange, but nearly as cloudy of the now stereotypically NE IPA. Smell has a nice, enjoyable floral scent to it. The taste is all earthy hops with a slight bitterness to balance. The finish is a little too bitter for me, but still enjoyable. Another solid/good IPA from nebco.
★ 306 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Color is a somewhat cloudy orange, but nearly as cloudy of the now stereotypically NE IPA. Smell has a nice, enjoyable floral scent to it. The taste is all earthy hops with a slight bitterness to balance. The finish is a little too bitter for me, but still enjoyable. Another solid/good IPA from nebco.
★ 306 characters
4.49/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Golden w/ light haze. Thick, creamy head. Splotchy lacing.
S: Classic pine and citrus. A bit of papaya and melon.
T: Mildly sweet, papaya nectar, finishes with a bit of pine and modest bitterness.
M: Well-carbonated (especially given this is a growler). Very drinkable for a DIPA. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
O: My favorite from NEBCO by a substantial margin. Very good.
★ 377 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Golden w/ light haze. Thick, creamy head. Splotchy lacing.
S: Classic pine and citrus. A bit of papaya and melon.
T: Mildly sweet, papaya nectar, finishes with a bit of pine and modest bitterness.
M: Well-carbonated (especially given this is a growler). Very drinkable for a DIPA. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
O: My favorite from NEBCO by a substantial margin. Very good.
★ 377 characters
4.71/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L: Hazy gold straw color with a thick, pillowy off-white head. Speckled lacing follows the beer down the glass.
S: Big tropical and citrus nose with just a hint of malt sugars.
T: Flavors follow the nose. Nice pineapple notes with some grapefruit and orange. Rich and delicious, but not at all muddy or overbearing. It's just delicious.
F: This beer has one of NEBCO's best feels. Given the ABV and hop bill this thing shouldn't be so smooth and easy to drink.
O: This beer is amazing.
★ 485 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
L: Hazy gold straw color with a thick, pillowy off-white head. Speckled lacing follows the beer down the glass.
S: Big tropical and citrus nose with just a hint of malt sugars.
T: Flavors follow the nose. Nice pineapple notes with some grapefruit and orange. Rich and delicious, but not at all muddy or overbearing. It's just delicious.
F: This beer has one of NEBCO's best feels. Given the ABV and hop bill this thing shouldn't be so smooth and easy to drink.
O: This beer is amazing.
★ 485 characters
4.75/5 rDev +4.9%
mini review:
Another perfect DIPA from NEBCO. Cereal grains, eartty pungent hops, 5.0 mouthfeel. Exceptional. I could drink this all night and be stopped only by sleep.
★ 172 characters
mini review:
Another perfect DIPA from NEBCO. Cereal grains, eartty pungent hops, 5.0 mouthfeel. Exceptional. I could drink this all night and be stopped only by sleep.
★ 172 characters
4.44/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at New York Pizza. Pours a a hazy burnt amber color with a half inch of head. Some lacing. The aroma is uber fruity. Tropical and citrus fruits. Orange, mango, pineapple papaya, grapefruit and a hint of lime. The taste is more of those tropical and citrus fruits. Lots of mango at first followed by guava and grapefruit. Light toasted malts towards the finish. Bitter grapefruit at the finish along with some more tropical notes. Pretty dry mouthfeel and lightly carbonated. A bit boozey. Overall, amazing.
★ 513 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at New York Pizza. Pours a a hazy burnt amber color with a half inch of head. Some lacing. The aroma is uber fruity. Tropical and citrus fruits. Orange, mango, pineapple papaya, grapefruit and a hint of lime. The taste is more of those tropical and citrus fruits. Lots of mango at first followed by guava and grapefruit. Light toasted malts towards the finish. Bitter grapefruit at the finish along with some more tropical notes. Pretty dry mouthfeel and lightly carbonated. A bit boozey. Overall, amazing.
★ 513 characters
Locust Reign from New England Brewing Co.
4.53
out of 5
based on 274 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Not a bad DIPA by any means, but it's hard to stand out when your brewery also makes Fuzzy Baby Ducks and Coriolis. It is beautiful to look at though, and hopefully it tastes better fresh on tap over what I got from the growler pour.
★ 234 characters