Citrus & Piney IPA (The Hop Freshener Series)
The Hop Concept Brewing

Citrus & Piney IPA (The Hop Freshener Series)Citrus & Piney IPA (The Hop Freshener Series)
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From:
The Hop Concept Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,580
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,750
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 7.96%
Reviews:
68
Ratings:
364
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 19, 2022
Added:
Feb 13, 2015
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  81
Released in May 2015. Citrus & Piney, India Pale Ale brewed with Orange Peel

Bold orange peel and honey aromas with a faint hint of bready malt define this IPA. The citrus and piney are both on full display, with tangerine and grapefruit notes that lead to a crisp spicy finish.

Hop Freshener Series centers around aromatic and flavorful IPAs, with each designed to showcase specific characteristics. Honest hoppy beers, from the same team of lifelong brewers behind The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing Co.

Hops: Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook, Citra, CTZ, Simcoe.
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Ratings by BucannonXC5:
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Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Type: 22-oz. bottle
Glass: Beer Nerd tulip
From: Trader Joe’s in Mira Mesa Calif.
Price: $6.99
Purchased: June 5, 2017
Consumed: June 8, 2017
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Misc.: Released in April 2017

Picked this up on a recent trip to the Mira Mesa Trader Joe’s. Was surprised I hadn’t had this one yet. Had previously given Lemon & Grassy a 4.26 on Aug. 8, 2015, Tropical & Juicy a 4.01 on Oct. 18, 2015 and Dank & Sticky a 4.08 on Feb. 5, 2016. Looked it up to see when it was released and saw the hops were Chinook, Centennial, Azacca, Amarillo, Simcoe, Citra and two experimental hops. Expecting this one to be just under a 4.00, maybe in the 3.90-to-4.00 range.

Poured a golden clear color with 2-to-3 fingers of rocky white head. Lots of slow moving bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Excellent spiderweb foamy lacing. World-class foamy retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled pine, Citra, Simcoe, orange peel, coriander, honey, dank resin, lemon zest, Centennial and sugary caramel. Smelling right up my alley. (Smell - 4.00)

First thought on the taste was how smooth it was for 8.5 pct. Got pine, bitter blood orange peel, coriander, honey, lemon zest, lime, spicy Simcoe, woody Chinook, dank resin, dry Centennial, Citra, caramel malts, grapefruit and pine needles. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.00)

I actually liked this one overall. I probably overrated it at spots, but it was good. (Overall - 4.00)

4.03 | 90 | A-
Jun 15, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.1 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Sep 19, 2022
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Reviewed by koberlin1 from California

5/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
LOVE the Hop Concept Hop Freshener series of beers including this Citrus and Piney tall boy. Contrary to the brewery name for those averse to overly hoppy/danky beers it is actually not too hoppy. It also doesn't knock you out with too much citrus and pine with a subtle nose and taste...the citrus and pine are THERE for sure...just not overpowering. A bit on the stronger side so most will feel a tall boy of this to the head a bit. Pairs well with just about anything. Drink it as cold as possible. I prefer the cans (dropped into my Yeti tall boy cooler), outta the tap is a bit less tasty....I can contest to this as we have a Lost Abbey/Hop Concept tasting room right down the street! Lucky me! Buy the Hop Freshener case at your local Costco for all 3 beers in the series. You won't be sorry!
Aug 26, 2022
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Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California

3.99/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bonus points overall for a drinking experience that is almost exactly like the can description. beautiful, nearly clear, bight gold color, upon initial pour but no lacing and the head is short lived. Very clean finish, moderate body, Nice mix of citrus and malt, plus some overtones of honey, but a tad less pine than the name suggests.
Aug 23, 2022
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Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

2.94/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
16oz can (no date) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a very hazy dark orange color with an inch of white head that had decent retention and very light lacing.

Citrusy hops, orange and lemon mostly, dominate the nose. No malt aspect.

Same on the tongue, but with a definite cardboard taste.

The body was decent, good carb, crisp, and smooth, with a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability was OK, but the cardboard cost it some.

Overall, not fully terrible, but not overly enjoyable either. Cannot recommend.
Dec 12, 2020
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a one finger head that leaves gobs of splashy lacing

Smell: Like the label says, there is a orange aroma that is pronouced but piney tones peek in; a layer of caramel malt rounds it out

Taste: A hint of caramel forward with the orange tones emerging; through the middle, dank pine tones emerge and dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: No trips to the west coast in the near future for me, so this beer brings the west coast to my home
Sep 27, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by TallGuyCM from California

Jun 23, 2020
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Reviewed by dbl_delta from Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can into pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a coarse white head. Initial impression is bitter citrus rind and pine, as advertised. Mouthfeel is medium, but dry and refreshing. Alcohol is well hidden. Finish is clean and bitter.
Definitely a West Coast DIPA, and quite well done. My first from Hop Concept, and I'm impressed.
Mar 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.27 by pfhanlon from Massachusetts

Dec 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by Peteshabam from Pennsylvania

Nov 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by deereless from Colorado

Sep 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by markhobbs1 from California

Sep 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.79 by DB28 from California

Sep 05, 2019
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Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Stamped on the bottom of the can "freshest by 10/23/2019."
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance had a semi-bright golden yellow color with a small degree of carbonation rising throughout. Capped by a thin sheet of white foamy head. Some messy sticky lace glossed the sides of the glass nicely.
The aroma had some bitter pine needles up front with some citrus rind and floral perfumey character balancing in the background.
The flavor tasted more like orange peel bitterness with floral hop particles playing with the citrus rind/pith-like character. Aftertaste of bitter citrus rind and floral sweetness.
The mouthfeel was between medium and full. Some good sipping quality about it. Definitely some dryness that felt nice. Good level of carbonation and finishes crisp and dry, light bitter grassiness.
Overall, an absolutely amazing West coast styled DIPA worthy of coming back to.
Aug 31, 2019
Photo of brureview
Reviewed by brureview from Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Light semi-cloudy golden color with a 2F head in a Spielgelau IPA glass.
Excellent aroma: molasses, toffee, piney, citrus.
Resinous and carbonated MF.
The flavors really come out in the taste: resinous,pine, citrus, molasses-toffee followed by a spicy finish.
Great beer.
Aug 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.37 by ajpsurf from California

Aug 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Aug 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.81 by michiganmatt from California

Jul 22, 2019
Photo of brewme
Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked-up a four-pack of cans at Kappy's in Norwell for about fourteen dollars. Have had a few brews from these guys before. Very solid, nice change of pace from NEIPA.
Jul 21, 2019
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.94/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
1 Pint can:

Pours golden. A fluffy white head has good retention. Lacing sticks.

The smell is of citrus, grapefruit, orange, lemon, herbal/floral notes and pine.

The taste is of pine, grapefruit, herbs, apricot, orange, tangerine. Warming alcohol. Black pepper and earthy/catty spice bite. Bitter finish.

It is medium-bodied. Slightly raw.

A nice hop profile. A hop-forward, refreshingly bitter and spicy strong IPA.
Feb 28, 2019
Citrus & Piney IPA (The Hop Freshener Series) from The Hop Concept Brewing
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 364 ratings