Life & Death
Vocation Brewery
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #2,387 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #15,728 - Avg:
- 3.94 | pDev: 9.39%
- Reviews:
- 16
- Ratings:
- From:
- Vocation Brewery
- England, United Kingdom
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 2
- Gots
- 12
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good
Notes:
Reviews: 16
| Ratings: 48
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4.09/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Light gold, almost yellow colour, almost a three-finger head, lasting lacing
S: Pineapple, grapefruit, mango, orange, lemon, lime, peach
T: Bitter citrus, zestiness, some slightly lighter fruit notes, nutiness
F: The alcohol is there, but only as a vague background, good feeling on the palate
O: 4.25
306 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Light gold, almost yellow colour, almost a three-finger head, lasting lacing
S: Pineapple, grapefruit, mango, orange, lemon, lime, peach
T: Bitter citrus, zestiness, some slightly lighter fruit notes, nutiness
F: The alcohol is there, but only as a vague background, good feeling on the palate
O: 4.25
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3.73/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
330ml Can from Morrison's (£1.75):
Quite a light amber coloured beer with a clear body & a centimetre tall head that's foamy & white, with good retention too. The nose is slightly fresh with some pine & a hint of hop oil in the background as well as some subtle citrus notes. Towards the middle some hints of mango & a light, almost earthy starts to come through as well before touches of lemon & grapefruit see things out. It's quite a fresh tasting beer too though with the fruits coming more to the front in the form of some mango & a little apricot too. It's a tangy one with nice citrus flavours & a pine/grapefruit bitterness in there as well. The beer is well carbonated & quite dry nearer the end with some hop bitterness throughout but it was a balanced & easy going beer, exactly what I'd expect from Vocation.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
330ml Can from Morrison's (£1.75):
Quite a light amber coloured beer with a clear body & a centimetre tall head that's foamy & white, with good retention too. The nose is slightly fresh with some pine & a hint of hop oil in the background as well as some subtle citrus notes. Towards the middle some hints of mango & a light, almost earthy starts to come through as well before touches of lemon & grapefruit see things out. It's quite a fresh tasting beer too though with the fruits coming more to the front in the form of some mango & a little apricot too. It's a tangy one with nice citrus flavours & a pine/grapefruit bitterness in there as well. The beer is well carbonated & quite dry nearer the end with some hop bitterness throughout but it was a balanced & easy going beer, exactly what I'd expect from Vocation.
821 characters
3.84/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 330ml can with a BB of July 2018. Picked up a while back from Tesco. Described on the label as an American IPA with tropical and citrus fruit flavours supported by a malty backbone.
A: Poured into an IPA glass. Can-conditioned. A deep orange-amber hue with intense carbonation and tons of floating sediment. Produces a vast head of fluffy white foam with decent retention; this slowly reduces to a persistent surface layer. Slight lacing.
S: Aroma of fruity hops with hints of lemon rind, citrus, tropical fruit, mild white grape, subtle grass, caramel malt and ale yeast. A tad sharp but pretty good.
T: Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with notes of lemon, citrus zest, peel, tropical fruit, white grape, grass/hay, caramel malt, ale yeast and a vague leafiness. Pretty dry, followed by a substantial hoppy bitterness upon swallowing.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with lively carbonation and great body. Slightly astringent; hop oils stimulate the palate. Aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops, citrus, tropical fruit, caramel malt and ale yeast.
O: Rather nice - lots of hop character on offer. Looks good, while the aroma and flavour are stuffed with fruity hops underpinned by caramel malt and yeast. Great body. Drinkable and delicious; goes down a treat. Well worth sampling.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 330ml can with a BB of July 2018. Picked up a while back from Tesco. Described on the label as an American IPA with tropical and citrus fruit flavours supported by a malty backbone.
A: Poured into an IPA glass. Can-conditioned. A deep orange-amber hue with intense carbonation and tons of floating sediment. Produces a vast head of fluffy white foam with decent retention; this slowly reduces to a persistent surface layer. Slight lacing.
S: Aroma of fruity hops with hints of lemon rind, citrus, tropical fruit, mild white grape, subtle grass, caramel malt and ale yeast. A tad sharp but pretty good.
T: Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with notes of lemon, citrus zest, peel, tropical fruit, white grape, grass/hay, caramel malt, ale yeast and a vague leafiness. Pretty dry, followed by a substantial hoppy bitterness upon swallowing.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with lively carbonation and great body. Slightly astringent; hop oils stimulate the palate. Aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops, citrus, tropical fruit, caramel malt and ale yeast.
O: Rather nice - lots of hop character on offer. Looks good, while the aroma and flavour are stuffed with fruity hops underpinned by caramel malt and yeast. Great body. Drinkable and delicious; goes down a treat. Well worth sampling.
1,295 characters
3.46/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a light amber coloration with a small, frothy head. Smells of sweet, biscuity malt, marmalade and a hint of citrus and pine. Taste is a dominated by a slightly chemical marmalade taste, with notes of sweet, biscuity malt and dank hops. Some citrus notes: orange and grapefruit and a hint of pine, with a light bitterness. This seems poorly balanced to me. It's a tad too sweet and malty, with not enough bitterness. The dominating orange marmalade flavor has that slightly odd chemical taste to it. It's ok, but I wouldn't be keen on having it again.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a light amber coloration with a small, frothy head. Smells of sweet, biscuity malt, marmalade and a hint of citrus and pine. Taste is a dominated by a slightly chemical marmalade taste, with notes of sweet, biscuity malt and dank hops. Some citrus notes: orange and grapefruit and a hint of pine, with a light bitterness. This seems poorly balanced to me. It's a tad too sweet and malty, with not enough bitterness. The dominating orange marmalade flavor has that slightly odd chemical taste to it. It's ok, but I wouldn't be keen on having it again.
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4.5/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330 ml can, Tesco's, Bristol - Pours cloudy gold with a medium white foamy head. Nice lacing. Medium carbonation. Aroma - Juicy fruit to the fore - citrus/grapefruit, tropical/mango, light pine resin notes. Taste - Sweet fruity forefront - citrus/grapefruit, tropical/mango, light resin middle, crisp light bitter finish. Great juicy IPA.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330 ml can, Tesco's, Bristol - Pours cloudy gold with a medium white foamy head. Nice lacing. Medium carbonation. Aroma - Juicy fruit to the fore - citrus/grapefruit, tropical/mango, light pine resin notes. Taste - Sweet fruity forefront - citrus/grapefruit, tropical/mango, light resin middle, crisp light bitter finish. Great juicy IPA.
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3.22/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Foam comes out of the can when i crack it. The beer keeps on foaming whew poured, it builds a three finger head that slowly sinks down leaving some lacing. The somewhat hazy liquid is pale gold.
The smell is dry and hoppy with distinct notes of grapefruit and lime. Some pine needles and sweet perfumed flavours.
The taste is at first bitter with grapefruit and bitter oranges. The flavours fades quickly leaving room for dusty malt and lemon acid. Light to medium body. The aftertaste is dusty, too with growing alcohol, chemical bitterness, orange juice and bitter herbs. Alcohol and sweet tropic fruit candy in the finish.
The carbonation is medium strong, the small bubbles fresh and short-lived. The liquid is sticky.
A bit thin, otherwise an OK AIPA.
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look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Foam comes out of the can when i crack it. The beer keeps on foaming whew poured, it builds a three finger head that slowly sinks down leaving some lacing. The somewhat hazy liquid is pale gold.
The smell is dry and hoppy with distinct notes of grapefruit and lime. Some pine needles and sweet perfumed flavours.
The taste is at first bitter with grapefruit and bitter oranges. The flavours fades quickly leaving room for dusty malt and lemon acid. Light to medium body. The aftertaste is dusty, too with growing alcohol, chemical bitterness, orange juice and bitter herbs. Alcohol and sweet tropic fruit candy in the finish.
The carbonation is medium strong, the small bubbles fresh and short-lived. The liquid is sticky.
A bit thin, otherwise an OK AIPA.
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4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Medium head with large bubbles, a touch frothy. Haziness giving a soft glow when held to the light. Significant citrus aromas at first with grapefruit, tangerine and a touch of mango. Fairly crisp taste initially with maltiness underneath. Bitterness to the back of the mouth but carrying some of the fruitiness, giving an impression of marmalade with a degree of sweetness to balance. Relatively vigorous carbonation but not too much. A crispness that might be mistaken for thinness, especially towards the front of the mouth, where it feels cooler and cleaner, but this is balanced by a little bit of warmth and body from the alcohol. A very enjoyable ale. Growing on me as I drink it.
687 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Medium head with large bubbles, a touch frothy. Haziness giving a soft glow when held to the light. Significant citrus aromas at first with grapefruit, tangerine and a touch of mango. Fairly crisp taste initially with maltiness underneath. Bitterness to the back of the mouth but carrying some of the fruitiness, giving an impression of marmalade with a degree of sweetness to balance. Relatively vigorous carbonation but not too much. A crispness that might be mistaken for thinness, especially towards the front of the mouth, where it feels cooler and cleaner, but this is balanced by a little bit of warmth and body from the alcohol. A very enjoyable ale. Growing on me as I drink it.
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4/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A great whiff of piney marmaladey hops hits the nose. Bitter, very sharp tasting, very refresing. Like the nose it's full of piney, earthy orange marmalade with citrus in the finish.
For a beer from my local Tesco Extra this has far exceeded expectations.
256 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A great whiff of piney marmaladey hops hits the nose. Bitter, very sharp tasting, very refresing. Like the nose it's full of piney, earthy orange marmalade with citrus in the finish.
For a beer from my local Tesco Extra this has far exceeded expectations.
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4.11/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Tarnished gold with a mist of haze and off white crust. 4
Juicy nose - pineapple rind, pink grapefruit chunks and dank resin. 4.25
Simple cracker, then a blast of tangelo, white melon rind, lychee, and grass. 4
Slick, oily, and almost medium. 4
So now. Maybe a bit bolder on the nose - there’s some deep kronik + citrus peel trying to fight it out - but otherwise pretty straight, aroma forward fruit bomb that all the kids love these days. A bit more melon/tropical than average, maybe - I suspect NZ/AU hops. Very yummy, but man, are there a lot of beers like this around. 4.25
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Tarnished gold with a mist of haze and off white crust. 4
Juicy nose - pineapple rind, pink grapefruit chunks and dank resin. 4.25
Simple cracker, then a blast of tangelo, white melon rind, lychee, and grass. 4
Slick, oily, and almost medium. 4
So now. Maybe a bit bolder on the nose - there’s some deep kronik + citrus peel trying to fight it out - but otherwise pretty straight, aroma forward fruit bomb that all the kids love these days. A bit more melon/tropical than average, maybe - I suspect NZ/AU hops. Very yummy, but man, are there a lot of beers like this around. 4.25
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3.64/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy copper, small head
ripe tropical fruits on the nose, sweet
Sweet again in flavour, juicyness and mild bitterness. Soft in mouthfeel, and there is a bit of a carbonic bite. Slight dryness
It's pretty tasty
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy copper, small head
ripe tropical fruits on the nose, sweet
Sweet again in flavour, juicyness and mild bitterness. Soft in mouthfeel, and there is a bit of a carbonic bite. Slight dryness
It's pretty tasty
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4.05/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Burnished gold appearance. Thin but tight head. Slight haziness.
Rich aroma of tropical and citrus fruit. Mango, lime and lychee.
Taste is not as full as the aroma. Some rubber and malt detected. Dry bitter finish.
Decent body with good carbonation. Very refreshing.
I hope Tesco continue to sell this one.
306 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Burnished gold appearance. Thin but tight head. Slight haziness.
Rich aroma of tropical and citrus fruit. Mango, lime and lychee.
Taste is not as full as the aroma. Some rubber and malt detected. Dry bitter finish.
Decent body with good carbonation. Very refreshing.
I hope Tesco continue to sell this one.
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4.08/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours an orangish copper with medium head and bits of lace. Nose s on the soft fruity side somewhat dank. Taste is rounded with residual sweetness and mild bitterness. Soft all the way through. Overall, a very nice well rounded east coast IPA .
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours an orangish copper with medium head and bits of lace. Nose s on the soft fruity side somewhat dank. Taste is rounded with residual sweetness and mild bitterness. Soft all the way through. Overall, a very nice well rounded east coast IPA .
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4.04/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours clear straw-amber into a tulip from a can. The offwhite, two finger high head is creamy, with good retention. The bubbles are close and silky leaving good lacing on the glass.
The aroma is all sweet mangoes, papaya, and ripe grapefruit on the swallow, which moves to some palm sugar, floral grass, and some piney hops on the finish. The flavour concentrates more on the hops with some nice unripened tropical citrus fruit, dank mango, pine resin, and floral bitterness.
In the mouth it feels medium bodied, slightly oily yet wet simultaneously. There's not a lot of drying quality on the back end, the carbonation is minimal.
Nice ale, pretty standard West coast style IPA. Quite refreshing and thirst quenching, yet also very sippable.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours clear straw-amber into a tulip from a can. The offwhite, two finger high head is creamy, with good retention. The bubbles are close and silky leaving good lacing on the glass.
The aroma is all sweet mangoes, papaya, and ripe grapefruit on the swallow, which moves to some palm sugar, floral grass, and some piney hops on the finish. The flavour concentrates more on the hops with some nice unripened tropical citrus fruit, dank mango, pine resin, and floral bitterness.
In the mouth it feels medium bodied, slightly oily yet wet simultaneously. There's not a lot of drying quality on the back end, the carbonation is minimal.
Nice ale, pretty standard West coast style IPA. Quite refreshing and thirst quenching, yet also very sippable.
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3.9/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
33cl can. Clear amber pour with a tall and lively white head that gives way to a thin lacing. Smells of resinous, citrus and also tropical fruit hops. The taste follows the same notes. Crisp and refreshing with a herbal bitter aftertaste.
238 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
33cl can. Clear amber pour with a tall and lively white head that gives way to a thin lacing. Smells of resinous, citrus and also tropical fruit hops. The taste follows the same notes. Crisp and refreshing with a herbal bitter aftertaste.
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4.21/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330ml can bought from The Vineyard, Belfast
Poured a nice golden yellow colour with a slight haze. Off white head poured big thick and foamy. Lots of carbonation rushes to the surface maintaining a thick rocky covering throughout... lots of sticky lacing...
Aroma - Juicy and maybe slightly tropical fruits (mangoes, lemons, limes, grapefruit), light pine, light palm sugar / caramel sweetness, sea salt, light toasted malt, some hints of rubber, fresh cut wet grass, light herbal notes, talcum powder, quite floral, white pepper...
Taste - Nice juicy floral hop bitterness perfectly balanced by some light caramel maltiness, light floral honey sweetness, good fruitiness (oranges, grapefruit, light pineapple, apricot), herbal notes, quite perfumed, faint soapy hints...
M&D - Smooth and creamy with a little sharpness underneath. Light / medium bodied... supremely quaffable..
Overall - An excellent brew and one of the best UK IPAs i've had... highly recommended...
973 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330ml can bought from The Vineyard, Belfast
Poured a nice golden yellow colour with a slight haze. Off white head poured big thick and foamy. Lots of carbonation rushes to the surface maintaining a thick rocky covering throughout... lots of sticky lacing...
Aroma - Juicy and maybe slightly tropical fruits (mangoes, lemons, limes, grapefruit), light pine, light palm sugar / caramel sweetness, sea salt, light toasted malt, some hints of rubber, fresh cut wet grass, light herbal notes, talcum powder, quite floral, white pepper...
Taste - Nice juicy floral hop bitterness perfectly balanced by some light caramel maltiness, light floral honey sweetness, good fruitiness (oranges, grapefruit, light pineapple, apricot), herbal notes, quite perfumed, faint soapy hints...
M&D - Smooth and creamy with a little sharpness underneath. Light / medium bodied... supremely quaffable..
Overall - An excellent brew and one of the best UK IPAs i've had... highly recommended...
973 characters
4.06/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(Craft) Can
Slightly Hazy yellow body, it starts as a huge white foamy block then reduces to 2mm on edge but pretty much flat total surface coverage inside
Full on mango & lime surely theres citra in this
You get that aroma in flavour, with some spiky lemon, follows the US IPA with not so big bitterness
This really treads perfectly that fine line between solid mouthfeel & easy drinking
Big flavour but you know what it doesn't so burn your taste buds as many IPAs do
470 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(Craft) Can
Slightly Hazy yellow body, it starts as a huge white foamy block then reduces to 2mm on edge but pretty much flat total surface coverage inside
Full on mango & lime surely theres citra in this
You get that aroma in flavour, with some spiky lemon, follows the US IPA with not so big bitterness
This really treads perfectly that fine line between solid mouthfeel & easy drinking
Big flavour but you know what it doesn't so burn your taste buds as many IPAs do
470 characters
Life & Death from Vocation Brewery
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
48 ratings
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