Howling Gale IPA
Fair Winds Brewing Company

Howling Gale IPAHowling Gale IPA
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From:
Fair Winds Brewing Company
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #2,025
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,356
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 12.37%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
89
Status:
Active
Rated:
Friday at 08:14 PM
Added:
Mar 10, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  16
West Coast-style IPA. Massive kettle additions and a double dry-hop process with Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra hops bring this brew to an explosion of tropical and citrus aromas and flavors.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BrianK1916:
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Rated by BrianK1916 from Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Jan 05, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by bigred89 from Maryland

Friday at 08:14 PM
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received a 12 oz single from a friend that was back in DC last year. Canned 5-23-23; received 5-31-23; consumed 2-10-24. Cold stored since purchase.

Beer poured golden orange with an okay white head.

Nose is nice, getting some citrus and a touch of the tropics.

Taste is spot on WCIPA, the pale malt base lies low as a generous amount of hopping assaults the palate. Getting grapefruit, orange, and a touch of mango. Getting a resiny finish; 8/10 on my bitterness scale.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall, always a treat to have a bitter westie!
Feb 10, 2024
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

3.79/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Relatively clear gold with nice white head, good retention, splotchy lace
Orange and grapefruit hop aroma
Grapefruit hop flavor with a slightly toasty cereal malt flavor
Medium bodied with appropriate retention
Good, but not great
Nov 21, 2023
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Reviewed by Bottlecap_Bison from Delaware

4.36/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Howling Gale might be an acquired taste, but once acquired... oh yes! I get a "toasty" palate off this brew, which has hooked me. Strong nose, and what you smell is what you'll taste. Fairwinds is a "must" stop when I'm in the DC area and this beer is a big reason why.
Apr 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.86 by Budlum from Maryland

Feb 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.05 by Big_V from Maryland

Feb 23, 2023
Photo of BlakeT49ers
Reviewed by BlakeT49ers from Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pored from a can into chilled glass. Nice color and good head. Nice pour. Lovely citrus aroma and smooth taste. Citrus is upfront without being overly bitter. Great beer.
Aug 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.76 by harsley from Massachusetts

Aug 04, 2022
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Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am trying this beer off the tapper at the United Airlines Polaris Lounge at Dulles Airport. It poured a clear copper with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had faint bitter citrus hops. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with floral and hemp hop presence coupled with bitter citrus hops. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a great beer.
Feb 22, 2022
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Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange yellow with a small white head. Smells of citrus hops, nice and inviting. Tastes of citrus hops with a nice grain backbone. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Feb 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.38 by AAG from New York

Jan 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by Mack2012 from New Jersey

Jan 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.98 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Jan 01, 2021
 
Rated: 3.94 by Scurvycure from Maryland

Dec 21, 2020
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Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice hazy golden color with a nice head and slight lacing
Aroma has generous tropical and citrus hints
The taste follows the nose with a nicely balanced tropical and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A well done and nicely balanced IPA
Aug 29, 2020
Photo of hopphead31415
Reviewed by hopphead31415 from Virginia

4.09/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I took my 64 oz growler down to the Fair Winds Brewery and got a super fresh pour! It is a 7.2% ABV American IPA with 80 IBUs. It is brewed with finesse and is double dry hopped with Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra hops.

Look-It has an SRM of about 7 and a color of light-yellow honey with mild clarity and effervescent carbonation trails feeding a thin silky white head. The lacing is wet and drooping.

Smell-The aroma is pleasant with a caramel malt base and plentiful pine and citrus. A touch of floral hops adds to the aroma of honeysuckle and grain.

Taste-I taste pine hop resin, grapefruit, navel orange pith, a distant hint of mint, and then green tea leaves. The Mosaic hops add depth to the flavor with its rich complexity from the dry hopping. An earthy bitterness lingers through the sip and is accompanied by a note of honey and toasted grain malts. The mid-palette senses juicy citrus fruits from the Citra and Simcoe and dank hops throughout but tempered with a clean malt bill. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied yet not overly rich.

Overall-This is a delicious and well-balanced brew with a clean finish and a well-executed American IPA style. This is one of the few beers I would use the word ‘quaffable’ to describe. This one is a must-try but buy fresh and pour chilled into a Nonic glass or goblet. Cheers!
May 09, 2020
 
Rated: 3.54 by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

Mar 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 26, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mississippi from Virginia

Dec 05, 2019
Howling Gale IPA from Fair Winds Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 89 ratings