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Drop City I.P.A.
Trinidad Brewing Company
- From:
- Trinidad Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.27 | pDev: 18.65%
- Reviews:
- 12
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 05, 2008
- Added:
- Jan 21, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:
None found.
Reviewed by Crosling from Colorado
3.18/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.18/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bronze colored brew with a full sized creamy white foam. Fairly nice nose with some lemony and brightly fruity notes from the hops along with some well extracted dessert-like malts. Sweet malts with notes of spruce from the hops. Tea-like. Different.
Nov 05, 2008More User Ratings:
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois
3.05/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.05/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22oz Bomber
Bottled 4/08
Another brew in a recent trade with russpowell, thanks again Russ. Drop City pours surprisingly dark for an IPA. The appearance is more along the lines of an amber with dark ruby hues. A ruddy two finger off white head formed on the pour and as the larger bubbles burst the head began falling leaving sticky chunky lacing on its way down that eventually fell back into the body. Very few large carbonation bubbles rise to the surface. Half way through the glass the head is now a tiny ring and that's it.
The nose on this IPA is VERY non-IPA like. As a matter of fact it's unlike any beer I've encountered in the past. Are you ready for this? As soon as I stick my nose in the glass I'm greeted by a huge amount of moist, freshly cut cedar. I actually really enjoy the smell but not in an IPA and not so much in something I'd like to drink. Let's see where this goes.
There's a little of the wet fresh cut cedar right off the bat but it morphs into an earthiness rather quickly. There's a bit of sweet maltiness along the lines of crystal and a slight caramel quality. The swallow brings a lazy bitterness and a mouthful of cedar. I don't even think this is what the brewer was going for. It does grow on me but not what I want in an IPA.
The carbonation is on the lower end of the spectrum and lets the medium body work through on its own. Drop City finishes a bit dry with a growing bitterness on the tongue.
I'm going to finish this bomber but that's all I could or would want to drink in a sitting. The flavors are just too...out there for me to enjoy anymore then a bomber.
This beer isn't all that bad but it's not an IPA in any way, shape, or form. The bottle describes this as "Deep golden color, full flower hop aroma and bitterness...". I haven't come across one of those things. This is my second offering from Trinidad and most likely my last. Both samples came no where near the styles listed on the bottles and both fell pretty flat.
May 18, 2008Bottled 4/08
Another brew in a recent trade with russpowell, thanks again Russ. Drop City pours surprisingly dark for an IPA. The appearance is more along the lines of an amber with dark ruby hues. A ruddy two finger off white head formed on the pour and as the larger bubbles burst the head began falling leaving sticky chunky lacing on its way down that eventually fell back into the body. Very few large carbonation bubbles rise to the surface. Half way through the glass the head is now a tiny ring and that's it.
The nose on this IPA is VERY non-IPA like. As a matter of fact it's unlike any beer I've encountered in the past. Are you ready for this? As soon as I stick my nose in the glass I'm greeted by a huge amount of moist, freshly cut cedar. I actually really enjoy the smell but not in an IPA and not so much in something I'd like to drink. Let's see where this goes.
There's a little of the wet fresh cut cedar right off the bat but it morphs into an earthiness rather quickly. There's a bit of sweet maltiness along the lines of crystal and a slight caramel quality. The swallow brings a lazy bitterness and a mouthful of cedar. I don't even think this is what the brewer was going for. It does grow on me but not what I want in an IPA.
The carbonation is on the lower end of the spectrum and lets the medium body work through on its own. Drop City finishes a bit dry with a growing bitterness on the tongue.
I'm going to finish this bomber but that's all I could or would want to drink in a sitting. The flavors are just too...out there for me to enjoy anymore then a bomber.
This beer isn't all that bad but it's not an IPA in any way, shape, or form. The bottle describes this as "Deep golden color, full flower hop aroma and bitterness...". I haven't come across one of those things. This is my second offering from Trinidad and most likely my last. Both samples came no where near the styles listed on the bottles and both fell pretty flat.
Reviewed by gmcfarre from Colorado
2.71/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.71/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
22 oz bottle poured into traditional pint glass
Batch 46 - dated 3rd week of April 08 (or so I think from the dating system on the label), making this a really fresh beer
A - Pours a light brown and ruby color with a smallish tan head. Hazy and translucent. Head fades quickly, but leaves small traces of lacing. Darker than most IPAs.
S - Scent is big on flavorful pine and grapefruit hops. A bit nutty with some grassy flavor and almost a hint of bitter chocolate. Some orange citrus flavor.
T - Starts with a touch of sweetness and some dark fruit flavors. Hops kick in with some resiny pine and grapefruit flavors. Finishes with a sour and sharp black licorice bite that really spoils the beer for me. All that is left after a swig is that bad licorice flavor. Very strange for an IPA.
M - Well carbonated with a medium body and a bitter, cloying finish.
D - Unpleasant taste gives this a low drinkability. Alcohol is not much of a factor, but its still hard to finish the bomber due to the finish.
Tries to do something different with the IPA by perhaps using darker malts, but it doesn't really equate to good flavor. Not very drinkable to my palate, as the harsh finishing flavors really detracted from the hops. Would only try again to make sure I didn't get a bad batch.
Note: User "SeanLassiter" who gave this beer (and many other Trinidad brews) a perfect 5.0 is the sales manager for Trinidad brewing. Take his review with a grain of salt.
May 06, 2008Batch 46 - dated 3rd week of April 08 (or so I think from the dating system on the label), making this a really fresh beer
A - Pours a light brown and ruby color with a smallish tan head. Hazy and translucent. Head fades quickly, but leaves small traces of lacing. Darker than most IPAs.
S - Scent is big on flavorful pine and grapefruit hops. A bit nutty with some grassy flavor and almost a hint of bitter chocolate. Some orange citrus flavor.
T - Starts with a touch of sweetness and some dark fruit flavors. Hops kick in with some resiny pine and grapefruit flavors. Finishes with a sour and sharp black licorice bite that really spoils the beer for me. All that is left after a swig is that bad licorice flavor. Very strange for an IPA.
M - Well carbonated with a medium body and a bitter, cloying finish.
D - Unpleasant taste gives this a low drinkability. Alcohol is not much of a factor, but its still hard to finish the bomber due to the finish.
Tries to do something different with the IPA by perhaps using darker malts, but it doesn't really equate to good flavor. Not very drinkable to my palate, as the harsh finishing flavors really detracted from the hops. Would only try again to make sure I didn't get a bad batch.
Note: User "SeanLassiter" who gave this beer (and many other Trinidad brews) a perfect 5.0 is the sales manager for Trinidad brewing. Take his review with a grain of salt.
Reviewed by mentor from Colorado
3.34/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.34/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Not sure if I've had a beer from this Colorado brewery and I'm craving some hops...so, let's give it a whirl. Batch #41, brewed March 2008. Pours a two finger tan clingy head over a murky dark apricot liquid. Smells pithy, oranges, and woody hop flavored. Tangerine and mango. All about the hops with little malt or esters present.
Tastes gorgeous floral and rounded hop flavor. Potent sugary sweet malt holds the hop flavor on the tongue initially. Tastes like roses smell, red fruit, with modest grassiness. Hop bitter is low, considering the intensity of the hop flavor. A little bit of iron or copper flavor, which I think is from the hops. Some might claim piney in the hops, but it's just too red fruity for me to call it resiny pine. Almost like sucking on the seed of a plum after nearly all the flesh is gone.
Finish dries out from attenuated malt. Mouthfeel is just medium and the md carbonation contributes to perceived driness in the finish. Honestly, it tastes like a very intense version of an IPA I once had that I think was made by Shipyard Brewing. That was many years ago, but the flavor of that IPA was quite distinct. If you can envision of the flavor of most American IPAs as a watercolor of flavor, this IPA comes across as a Crayola Crayon portait of flavor. Playdough-like? Intense, robust, and flavors that remind me of childhood. Not something I need to repeat, but interest and I'm glad I tried it once. A bit disjointed. I like to see more connection/blending of the hops, malt, and esters.
May 02, 2008Tastes gorgeous floral and rounded hop flavor. Potent sugary sweet malt holds the hop flavor on the tongue initially. Tastes like roses smell, red fruit, with modest grassiness. Hop bitter is low, considering the intensity of the hop flavor. A little bit of iron or copper flavor, which I think is from the hops. Some might claim piney in the hops, but it's just too red fruity for me to call it resiny pine. Almost like sucking on the seed of a plum after nearly all the flesh is gone.
Finish dries out from attenuated malt. Mouthfeel is just medium and the md carbonation contributes to perceived driness in the finish. Honestly, it tastes like a very intense version of an IPA I once had that I think was made by Shipyard Brewing. That was many years ago, but the flavor of that IPA was quite distinct. If you can envision of the flavor of most American IPAs as a watercolor of flavor, this IPA comes across as a Crayola Crayon portait of flavor. Playdough-like? Intense, robust, and flavors that remind me of childhood. Not something I need to repeat, but interest and I'm glad I tried it once. A bit disjointed. I like to see more connection/blending of the hops, malt, and esters.
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
3.16/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.16/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
This pours from 22oz bottle(brew batch #41 on week 2 of March 08) a slightly hazy orange gold with a good 2 finger head of foam. Pretty good head rentention and there's a bit of lacing.
The smell is really hoppy with a big piney profile and a small but definitely there note of malt sweetness. You just have to take some deep whiffs to get to it. ;^)
Taste wise again, the piney hops are in control, along with a melon sweetness and some bready tones trying to give this IPA some balance but I fear it falls way short. This thing is like sucking on a pine cone, it's *that* piney and while I do like a bit of that flavour in some of the IPAs I've tasted before, this one takes to a level that I don't really care for.
It has a nice medium mouthfeel and the carbonation is light so...appearance & mouthfeel are certainly the best points of this brew. Drinkabilit? For me, it'll be kind of tough to finish off the bomber but in no way is it a drain pour.
Cost: US$4.99
Apr 24, 2008The smell is really hoppy with a big piney profile and a small but definitely there note of malt sweetness. You just have to take some deep whiffs to get to it. ;^)
Taste wise again, the piney hops are in control, along with a melon sweetness and some bready tones trying to give this IPA some balance but I fear it falls way short. This thing is like sucking on a pine cone, it's *that* piney and while I do like a bit of that flavour in some of the IPAs I've tasted before, this one takes to a level that I don't really care for.
It has a nice medium mouthfeel and the carbonation is light so...appearance & mouthfeel are certainly the best points of this brew. Drinkabilit? For me, it'll be kind of tough to finish off the bomber but in no way is it a drain pour.
Cost: US$4.99
Reviewed by ERASE21 from Colorado
4.87/5 rDev +48.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.87/5 rDev +48.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Trinidad Brewing Company is a new one for me. I thought I'd experiment with this IPA after seeing a few times at Chambers Liquor in Aurora, CO. Label said it was brewed last month. Nice. Popped the bomber top and gave it a sniff. Damn, that's some complex hop goodness. SUPER STICKY POTENCY! Poured darker than most IPA's with a reddish twist. THIS IS COMPLEX! Not your typical IPA, that's for sure. Strong, too. This page is wrong in it's alcohol content. Bottle says 7.6% but it feels more like 9%. Man, this is hard to describe. Everything about it I love. Tastes slightly buttery when colder, but as it sits and gets harmer it starts to taste even more amazing. Nothing I can say will give it justice. Just try one for yourself if you like line crosser beers. It's the best beer I've had this year. Can't wait to try some others by Trinidad. I hope they get big.
Apr 21, 2008Reviewed by Beaver13 from Colorado
2.52/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
2.52/5 rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
22 oz bottle, batch 41(?), bottled on March 2008. Pours a reddish caramel color. It has almost no head even after a vigorous pour.
The aroma is caramel malts, melony fruits, and some sugary cola and spicy wood.
The flavor is a kind of strange and off for an IPA. It has good bitterness but it tastes like sweet fruity cola and band-aids. The mouthfeel is medium to full with very little carbonation.
Overall, it's kind of strange for an IPA. I wonder if this batch might have been a bit off.
Apr 20, 2008The aroma is caramel malts, melony fruits, and some sugary cola and spicy wood.
The flavor is a kind of strange and off for an IPA. It has good bitterness but it tastes like sweet fruity cola and band-aids. The mouthfeel is medium to full with very little carbonation.
Overall, it's kind of strange for an IPA. I wonder if this batch might have been a bit off.
Reviewed by ArrogantB from Colorado
2.76/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 1
2.76/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 1
22oz bottle bought for $4.99 at Lukas with no freshness date. The color is a solid orange-amber with a healthy off-white head. The first smell makes me think of butterscotch but then becomes flowery hops as indicated on the label. The flavor has a vegetal hop flavor and then the butterscotch shows up on the finish. I'm no expert beer-taster but I think this one has too much diacetyl. As I made my way through the bomber my stomach got really upset and I had to pour the rest of the beer out so the drinkability gets the lowest score possible . I'm scared to try the Imperial Red next.
Mar 29, 2008Reviewed by BadRockBeer from Colorado
3.73/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.73/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Picked up this beer today on a trip through Alamosa, Colorado.
22oz. Crown top poured into a standard pint glass. Copper in color with a very nice rocky head that faded rather quick. Brilliant in clarity.
Piney in the nose with a slight alcohol and 2-row note.
Hoppy bitterness right up front. Curtis, grapefruit and lemon. A decent malt backbone but it is still over powered by a somewhat has bitterness. After taste is that of grapefruit pith.
Fairly drinkable but a little out of balance.
Mar 19, 200822oz. Crown top poured into a standard pint glass. Copper in color with a very nice rocky head that faded rather quick. Brilliant in clarity.
Piney in the nose with a slight alcohol and 2-row note.
Hoppy bitterness right up front. Curtis, grapefruit and lemon. A decent malt backbone but it is still over powered by a somewhat has bitterness. After taste is that of grapefruit pith.
Fairly drinkable but a little out of balance.
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas
3.84/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This bomber pours an effervescent orangey copper with one finger of sand colored head. Average lacing & below average head retention
S: Nice pineyness, then some breadyness
T: Piney & herbal hops, caramel & toffee sweetness up front. Breadyness, a bit of grapefruit hops as this warms. Finishes with orangey hops a bit flintyness, some more caramel & a bit of warming booze. Almost gave this a 4.5
MF: Medium bodied, chewy, a bit of stickyness as this warms, with low carbonation
Drinks pretty good for the ABV, not a mind blowing IPA, but pretty good & great bang for the buck. This IPA makes me think a road trip to Trinidad is in order!
Mar 11, 2008S: Nice pineyness, then some breadyness
T: Piney & herbal hops, caramel & toffee sweetness up front. Breadyness, a bit of grapefruit hops as this warms. Finishes with orangey hops a bit flintyness, some more caramel & a bit of warming booze. Almost gave this a 4.5
MF: Medium bodied, chewy, a bit of stickyness as this warms, with low carbonation
Drinks pretty good for the ABV, not a mind blowing IPA, but pretty good & great bang for the buck. This IPA makes me think a road trip to Trinidad is in order!
Reviewed by benito from Oregon
2.82/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
2.82/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
Fuggles, fuggles, fuggles. After tasting this at this year's Big Beers Fest in Vail, I knew that I was in for an oddball IPA--brewed entirely with British hops and a defiantly anti-American IPA flavor for an American IPA. The concept is excellent; the mouthfeel and bruising bitterness in this brew need work.
Nice amber with good head and carbonation; a malty bouquet with floral overtones--the hops complement the malt aromas as opposed to standing apart from them. The flavor starts with a nice mix of malt and hop flavors--earth, pepper, and flowers, but the finish is too dry and bitingly bitter. The hop aftertaste is long lasting and overpowering, detracting dramatically from any balance in the beer. Not surprisingly, drinkability suffes due to this as well.
Overall, this is a conceptually adventurous IPA that shows exactly why Fuggles shouldn't be used as a bittering hop. The aromas and (some of the) flavors mesh very well with the malts, helping to showcase the power of crystal malts, but the bitterness is too imbalanced and overpowering for this to be a recommendable brew.
Stick to Trinidad's Golden Ale if you're at Bobbie's in Leadvegas.
Feb 04, 2008Nice amber with good head and carbonation; a malty bouquet with floral overtones--the hops complement the malt aromas as opposed to standing apart from them. The flavor starts with a nice mix of malt and hop flavors--earth, pepper, and flowers, but the finish is too dry and bitingly bitter. The hop aftertaste is long lasting and overpowering, detracting dramatically from any balance in the beer. Not surprisingly, drinkability suffes due to this as well.
Overall, this is a conceptually adventurous IPA that shows exactly why Fuggles shouldn't be used as a bittering hop. The aromas and (some of the) flavors mesh very well with the malts, helping to showcase the power of crystal malts, but the bitterness is too imbalanced and overpowering for this to be a recommendable brew.
Stick to Trinidad's Golden Ale if you're at Bobbie's in Leadvegas.
Reviewed by MYJELLOMISFIT from Colorado
3.26/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.26/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I love new stuff.
Poured a good clear amber with a strong two fingers thick head. Smell was a little weak with pine and slight citrus notes. Flavor was high on pine and acidity with some flowery earthiness to it. Mouthfeel was awesome. Smooth and mouth coating with slight pop from the carbonation. With the little alcohol and good all around taste this is definitely a session I.P.A.
Jan 21, 2008Poured a good clear amber with a strong two fingers thick head. Smell was a little weak with pine and slight citrus notes. Flavor was high on pine and acidity with some flowery earthiness to it. Mouthfeel was awesome. Smooth and mouth coating with slight pop from the carbonation. With the little alcohol and good all around taste this is definitely a session I.P.A.
Drop City I.P.A. from Trinidad Brewing Company
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
12 ratings
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