Smooth Hoperator
Stoudts Brewing Co.

Smooth HoperatorSmooth Hoperator
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From:
Stoudts Brewing Co.
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Lager
ABV:
6%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.77%
Reviews:
266
Ratings:
476
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 27, 2022
Added:
May 05, 2007
Wants:
  31
Gots:
  25
This medium bodied, copper colored strong lager is in a class all by itself. it has a delicate malty palate up front, which is abruptly overshadowed by the dominating hop presence which is attributed to the 1.5#/bbl. of hops added for aroma and flavor. Available twice a year in October and April.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sleazo:
Photo of sleazo
Reviewed by sleazo from New York

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A_Pours a dark brown with a twinge of red in there. Huge three and a half fingered head dwindles down to a nice one finger crown. Cirrius clouds of lace cling to the sides of the glass.

S_Clean smelling with a huge ammount of piney hops. Very nice.

T_Much maltier than the smell. A nice roasted honey covered biscuit malt sets the stage for a mid range dose of pine cone hops. Aftertaste manages to be both sweet and bitter at the same time. All throughout it is very clean tasting. As it warms a little breadiness comes through.

M_Medium bodied with a perfect light carbonation to cut through it.

D_Top notch, I really like this one and will look out for it. Definitely one smooth beer though my only complaint is it could have a little more hop wallop. However if the name wasn't hoperator I would not complain.
Aug 13, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of crazyspicychef
Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Not my favorite offering from Stoudt's.
Aug 27, 2022
Photo of maddogruss
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey

3.46/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours amber body with a white head with pretty solid retention and lacing
S: smells grapefruit notes; subtle toffee undertones
T: subtle, grapefruit tasting beer with a decent, subtle toffee and malty notes
M: medium bodied and pretty smooth; decent overall
D: pretty solid mouthfeel and taste overall; interesting lager; pretty smooth
Nov 19, 2020
 
Rated: 3.9 by SouthCrescent from Pennsylvania

Jan 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.95 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Dec 02, 2018
Photo of IronLover
Reviewed by IronLover from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep, dark orange in color with very good clarity. Poured with a moderate, dense, creamy, tan foam with very good retention. Dark caramel malt, bread crust, light boozy notes and light earthy hop aromas. On the heavier side of medium bodied with medium carbonation. Brief, creamy smooth feel up front and pleasant warmth near the finish. Caramel malt, bready and toasty malt flavors with a hint of dark fruit sweetness up front. Medium light, earthy, spicy hop bitterness through the middle followed by light, spicy, herbal hops and caramel notes to the end. Finished cleanly with a mellow boozy bite and toasty bread notes followed by light spicy hop bitterness. Great malt character, not too sweet, with subdued hop character to provide an excellent balance. Great feel and finish. Very tasty and drinkable.
Mar 14, 2018
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle into a pint glass. best by 6/21/17, so couple days past.

looks good. clear dark amber body. thick creamy cream colored head, leaving gobs of lacing. light carbonation.

aroma is all about sweet malts.

well its a hoppy doppelbock, and at just 2 days past its best by, the malt wins out quite easily. there is a hop presence though, especially in the finish.

close to full on the mouth, sweet on the tongue, slightly hoppy on the finish.

overall, an interesting enough brew. not unpleasant tasting in any way, just cant imagine having more than one in a night.
Jun 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.83 by madelf66 from Pennsylvania

May 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.82 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Mar 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by Wizzle32 from Pennsylvania

Mar 25, 2017
Photo of PA-hunter
Reviewed by PA-hunter from Pennsylvania

2.69/5  rDev -31%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Poured 12oz bottle into glass. 7% abv

Appearance- Pours a deep garnet color with a tall foamy off white head. Translucent in clarity.

Smell- Citrus, caramel, mango

Taste- Earthy floral hop flavor. Hints of grapefruit. Bitter, dry grainy finish,

Mouthfeel- Medium heavy in body.

Overall- Far from a true doppelbock. Inaccurate for the style. More like a lackluster ipa.
Dec 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.78 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Apr 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.63 by chicagoish from Pennsylvania

Mar 23, 2016
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
$ 12.99/six pack ($ 0.180/oz) at Giant Eagle, Meadville, PA
Bottle marked BB 7/14/15 too faint to see with beer in the bottle at 42 degrees into a JK snifter
Aroma of hops and malt
Head average (3.7 cm, aggressive pour), light brown, creamy, diminishing to an eight – nine mm ring and heaped layer
Lacing good – partial rings of tiny to medium bubbles
Body dark brown, hazy
Flavor malty, slightly sweet, some hop bitterness perceived but no hop flavor; no caramel, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate medium, slightly creamy, soft carbonation

Appearance 3.5, Aroma 4, Flavor 3.25, Palate 3.25, Overall 3.5
Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.15 by curtisjoseph from North Carolina

Jan 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.35 by renwickm from Pennsylvania

Oct 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by bluehende from Delaware

Aug 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by therubicon from Delaware

Aug 13, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by FranMoff from Rhode Island

Jul 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by Lambdon from Pennsylvania

Jul 09, 2015
Smooth Hoperator from Stoudts Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 476 ratings