Howler
Topa Topa Brewing

On tap at the Camarillo taproom. (With DART coffee)
Looks as one would expect for an IPA or DIPA.
Nose is where things take off in a surprising way. Yes, there is coffee here. Mild medium roast coffee starts things off, but then you get some pay with some of the hops. They really come together well.
Flavor is much like the nose. A gently woven mesh of coffee and hops. The bitterness really waltzes between the coffee and pine, resin, and orange rind. But almost gracefully so.
Mouthfeel is medium with active carbonation and a smooth, mildly bitter finish.

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. snifter glass
Price: $3.29
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Dec. 16, 2020
Consumed: Dec. 22, 2020
Misc.: Canned on Oct. 28, 2020

Was happy to see this one in stores. Gave Howler a 4 on Untappd back on July 19, 2018 at the Topa Topa location in Santa Barbara. Wrote “Feat. Green Star organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe / Colombian blend. Had me at Yirgacheffe. Outstanding.” Apparently this one was a different roast. Back of the can read “The Harvest Moon has given way, October’s come to its final day. Orange orb’s on the horizon, the Hunter’s Moon is full and risin’! This night dawns dark on a special brew: coffee & beer - one drink from the two! Dune Coffee Roasters has joined the fight. Their coffee, our beer - a ritual rite! Citrusy hops and a cold brew vibe. Drink this with friends, and howl at the sky… This is Howlerween!”

Poured a light amber semi-clear color with two fingers of frothy off-white head. Just a few bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Excellent spotty lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled dark roasted coffee malts, bitter coffee beans, vanilla, nuts, semi-char wood, citrus, grapefruit and some floral. Even a little better out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted just as good as the nose. Got roasted coffee malts, bitter coffee beans, toasted nuts, semi-char wood, vanilla, citrus, hints of grapefruit and floral. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Liked this one a lot. Excellent overall for me. (Overall - 4.25)

4.29 | 95 | A

 

 

 

 

 

adding coffee into hoppy beer is becoming increasingly common. heck, a lot of these coffee roasters are dry hopping their cold brews and things like that, the fusion between the two elements is very natural, so it only makes sense that this is coming into vogue with craft beer. whats a little less common is blending coffee into pale beer like this, and whats rarer still is for it to taste anywhere near this good. this is my first beer from these guys, and its an absolute gem, with the coffee not changing the color of the beer at all, its golden in color. aroma and flavor of cold brew coffee, low acidity, lighter roast, more earthy and cleaner in the end. a beautiful compliment to the hops, which are citrusy and bright, pulls some fruitiness forward in the coffee, and both sources of bitterness are nice together in the finish. amazing complexity to this, the coffee is dosed perfectly. surprised to see its as strong as it is, it drinks like a normal pint of ipa, very well hidden strength. i think the flavor of the coffee with the hops is awesome, it makes me taste different elements of each than i am normally asked to do while drinking a beer. challenging and delicious, these guys are setting the standard with this one...