Strata Fresh Hop
Hellbent Brewing Company

16oz can (dated 9/14/20) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a mostly clear dark yellow color with 2 inches of white head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was hop forward, as expected, with a slight touch of mustiness, and some bright citrus aspects.

Pretty similar on the tongue, with the hops being brighter and citrusier.

The body was on the light side of medium, crisp, smooth, and had a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability was pretty nice, I could see knocking back a few more.

Overall, a pretty nice brew, certainly worth trying if you see it.

 

32oz crowler (canned a few days ago, not at the brewery FWIW) into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a nice fluffy head.

Aroma is pretty subtle and muted. Some citrus, tropical fruits, and something a little more dank and sticky lurking beneath. Maybe some mint. But not the big burst of aroma I tend to associate with fresh hop beers.

Taste is really unique, a little bit all over the place. It's going to take some time to pick this one apart. Definitely some melon, probably canteloupe. Probably honeydew too. A little grapefruit. Mandarin orange. Marijuana. Something else that eludes me. Dandelion greens? Kale smoothy? A sharply bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, about right for the style. Not as crisp as it might be.

Overall, a unique beer. It's all interesting, but am I enjoying it? I guess I am enjoying trying to figure it out, but I can't say this is one I would come back to. Worth trying though. It isn't bad.

Canned 9/14, rated 9/23. Good looking pour into a imperial pint nonic. Nice aroma, grassy with the background of a fresh leafy garden. Good first taste, not heavy or sharp. We pick up more earthy flavors, more a fresh fruit off the tree type of taste. Well-balanced, solid base of malt. We like this one a lot. The hops are given front and center position, but don't try to dominate and steal the show. Refreshing and worth seeking out.

2020-09-23
16oz can served in a snulip. Dated 09/14/20. Bought it at Bottleworks yesterday. Reviewing side-by-side with Hellbent's Amarillo Fresh Hop Hazy IPA.

Pours clear light amber, medium head. A little bit bigger head than the Amarillo. Smell is brighter, juicier, fruitier, has some resin. Not as much pot smell as the Amarillo.

Taste is bubble gum and fruit juice, makes me think of guava nectar and coconut.

Mouthfeel is medium to light. It's a pretty decent fresh hop IPA.

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2021-09-18
Dated 09/13/21. Aside from the notes above, I get maybe a little banana.

Not completley crisp, but a nice clear golden colour with an initial swell of wet white foam that dissipates to just a light fuzz.

Nose gives an initial impression of bright tropical fruits, like guava. That too dissipates pretty quickly leaving a much grainier malt-forward impression.

Woah, holy passion fruit. I think I understand strata a little better as a hop now. First sip is just overwhelmingly sweet and fruity. Passion fruit and guava again come through to dominate. Grains again on the bridge as the finish is relatively mild with just a residual bruised-fruit sweetness from the hops and some faint faint bitterness.

Body is medium with little swells of carbonation and the finish is mild but pleasant.

I don't get a ton of FH on the nose, but it definitely comes through in the flavour. It's not my favourite profile for an IPA, but it's interesting and enjoyable, and I think there will be a chunk of folks who really dig it.