Hopsurd DDH
Hubbard's Cave Brewery

 

 

 

December 2023. Des Plaines. Not being a huge fan of New England IPAs I am reading this one a little lower than a normal beer however for its type it’s quite good good frothy head slightly sweet. Thick feeling in mouth good for what it is.

 

A - Pours out as a hazy body, a dingy pale orange color, with a white head that fades to a thin cap. Curtain of small bubble lacing.

S - Subtle nose of stone fruit, peach and plum, with a pine and mint hop note, and just a hint of dankness.

T - Follows the nose, with a powerful open of fruit and pine, peach foremost with a bit of orange, malt comes in through the middle, honey and nectar, and a pith note lending a bit of bitterness in the finish.

M - Brisk open, mild carbonation, moderate weight on the tongue, a lingering presence, and a dry snap in the close.

O - A tasty, fun big hop NEIPA. Well-built but not subtle, it delivers great flavor and a pleasing drinking experience. Quite good.

16 oz. Can
PK 071822

Poured into a Trillium glass a pretty nice cloudy dark yellow color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger plus white head, which also leaves some pretty nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a pretty nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, mango, melon, peach, guava, papaya), pretty nice diesel like. The taste is very nice hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, mango, melon, peach, guava, papaya), very nice diesel like. Medium body, ABV hidden very nicely, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, this is a very nice beer. Orange Julius! Addictive! MilkShake! Nice to see HCB around here again.

Look: Super tight head, heavy lacing. Literally the colour of orange juice.
Smell: Slightly tropical hoppy nose.
Taste: Big orange flavour upfront, more citrus and a hint of oniony hops.
Finishes with a touch of bitterness.
Feel: a bit thicker than a clear IPA

Overall: I'm not a hazy fan yet this is excellent

Appearance: Pours a nearly completely hazy (20% clarity), deep and dusky, pale orange color with a strong white head. SRM of 8-9. (4.25)

Aroma: Moderate aromas of tropical berry and peach, papaya, with some smooth soft pale malt aromas underneath. (4.25)

Flavor: Follows the nose with stronger flavors and more tropical peach and papaya. Some tropical berry too. Peach O rings and tropical papaya notes. A soft and smooth malt backbone. No bitterness. (4.25)

Feel: Medium-bodied. Lower carbonation. Somewhat flat. (3.75)

Compared to Revolution DDH Revolution Hero 5/26/22: Pours a darker, hazier color, similar aromas. Stronger peach and papaya. Less citrus, pine, dank berry. More smooth and soft. Overall, somewhat similar. Winner: Hubbard's Cave

Compared to Humble Forager Misty Mirage 9/12/22: Pours a slightly darker, hazier color with more sediment. Similar aromas. Milder flavors. More peach, citronella, tea. Less nectarine, tangerine, tropical notes. Dryer and cleaner.

Overall: Top notch haze as always from this brewery. This one has fantastic flavors of tropical peach, papaya, berry with a smooth and creamy malt body. Mild on the aromas, but has the fruit cream note so you know its going to make up for it on the flavor. Sure enough, strong flavors here with a creamy and smooth body to back it up. Drops off on the body with age though. This brewery does not disappoint.
(Rating: 4.15)