Jolly & Joyful
The Hop Concept Brewing

L: Clear and bright. Looks nice and clean
S: citrus and pine dominate. Undertones of bread and cracker
T: Nice Bitterness upfront followed by a piney bite. Hints of pineapple and citrus.
F: light and crisp
O: Fours across the board. A really nice WC IPA

 

 

 

Pours clear and clean. West coast all the way. Big bracing bitterness hits upfront, piney pith with a pineapple note on the back end. Delivers the goods, hoppily and joyful as the name promised.

 

 

I haven't had a new Hop Concept brew in a while, and finding this quaint looking seasonal offering on the shelf of my local go-to store was a surprise so I figured I'd give it a shot. HC beers have been kind of hit-or-miss to me over the years, but it's really been actual years since I've had one. Hoping this hits the spot and gets me in the spirit. The bottom of the can says best by 1/28/22, so I'm assuming this was probably canned in late October for a three-month date.

Pours really nicely... until I hold it up to the light, which reveals a lot of suspended solids. Reminds me of the first time I poured Heady or something. I don't know, maybe it's just me but I'm sort of over obvious floaties in beers; it used to be cool but it isn't 2012 anymore and I am of the mind that IPAs should either be totally clear and filtered or hazy enough to cover up obvious sediment in suspension. Nice color, though. Solid orange/medium amber with a half-finger of retentive bone-white head that leaves behind soapy lace as it fades away to a thin ring. Really decent legs, too. I'm definitely divided on the appearance here but overall, it's much better than the average IPA pour, just has an element I'm not a fan of.

Excellent nose; I get a lot of pine needle and spruce upfront with some candied orange peel, light spice, and some hints of tropical fruit kicking around. It's kinda old-school and brash, but it fits with the season for sure, kinda reminiscent of Celebration by Sierra Nevada in a way. It's got a very solid smell to it that really pops from the can and from the glass.

Flavor profile is exactly as expected from the nose. Strong piney hoppiness with grassy elements popping in the mid-palate. Light citrus fruitiness toward the finish with a rather-aggressive bitter bite at the end of each sip. Light mango with candied grapefruit and orange melding with a bit of a light caramel maltiness. Good, semi-chewy mouthfeel upfront with a drying finish. I'd definitely drink this again; solid stuff!

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American IPA
Glass: North Park 16.5-oz. Munique glass
Price: $2.63
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Purchased: Dec. 17, 2020
Consumed: Dec. 27, 2020
Misc.: No canned on date

Had Rachel pick me up a can of this. Not sure I’d heard of it prior. Online description called it “A Christmas miracle of a beer! Beginning with notes piney Christmas Tree goodness, leads to a well balance malt character, and finishing with a refreshingly bitter note of orange peel. Just like any good Christmas Party should end.” Mentioned hops were Amarillo, Cascade and Centennial.

Poured a clear medium yellow color with four fingers of rocky off-white head. Could see some bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. World-class layered foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled lemon, pine, spruce, lime, herbal, menthol, orange, tangerine and dish soap. For mentioned hops, nice balance between Centennial and Cascade, with lesser Amarillo. Even better out of the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted about as good as the nose. In order got bitter pine, spruce, lemon, herbal, menthol, lime, bitter orange peel, tangerine, dish soap, grapefruit and melon. For mentioned hops, certainly Centennial and Cascade with just a touch of Amarillo. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily texture. Lively carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.00)

This was an outstanding West Coast IPA overall. Glad I picked up one. (Overall - 4.00)

4.03 | 90 | A-

Good carbonation on pour. Hazy, rusty gold color. Smell is faint and piney. Taste is pine tar with a well balanced malt sweetness. It’s a smooth drinking beer, and hides the ABV like a lot of IPAs do. Overall an average IPA, nothing that stands out, but enjoyable as an easy drinker.

 

The beer is quite beautiful to look at in the IPA glass— clear perfect amber with rings of white foam down the glass. Crisp but malty with a sweet start that fades to a mineral and bitter aftertaste. Aromatic with citrus and fresh hay. It's both flowery and a little dank. Flavors of melon and lime peel tinged by the dark bitterness.

But here's another classic West Coast IPA from true hop fanatics. Overall it's a little unforgiving for clear in the "concept" and gets you wanting yet another sip as the bitterness wears off. From the 16 oz can purchased at Bine & Vine. No date.