Animal Balloon Sour IPA
Hudson Valley Brewery
- From:
- Hudson Valley Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Sour IPA
Ranked #30 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #6,643 - Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 7.42%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 25, 2026
- Added:
- Feb 10, 2017
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Sour IPA with wheat and malted oat, milk sugar, passionfruit, lemon balm, vanilla and orange peel and hopped with Simcoe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
4.04/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Rock star sour. Vanilla great aroma, good mouthfeel, Taste is amazing. I heard there were hops, but its in the finish a bit. Not too sour, still there.
May 29, 2019
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts
4.23/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Drank from a 16 fl. oz. can purchased at Hudson Valley Brewery, Beacon, NY
Served in a teku
The hazy, glowing tangerine colored body was topped by a small, finely beaded white cap that quickly dissolved. No lacing or head retention whatsoever.
The nose was pleasant but rather tame compared to most offerings from this brewery. Moderately tart. Bit of toasted oatiness. A sweet vanilla note was also detectable and it intensified as the beer warmed. Bit of lactose-like creaminess too.
The flavor profile was more tart and acidic than I anticipated. Citrus notes dominated. Loads of juicy tangerine and lemon. Pomelo also came to mind. Moderate amount of sweetness. Crisp and wheaty in the center. More lemon and lemon peel on the back end and the finish. A touch of vanilla was also detectable. Some pithy, bitter lemon rind lingered after the swallow.
Excellent creamy, fluffy mouthfeel. Medium bodied for the style. The liquid contained a fine, zippy effervescence that frothed up really nicely on the palate. After a few sips, the sugars in the beer left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Despite the fact that this beer contains passionfruit and I picked up absolutely none, it was still really enjoyable. Of all the Hudson Valley sour IPAs I have sampled to date, this might be one of their more balanced and approachable.
May 22, 2019Served in a teku
The hazy, glowing tangerine colored body was topped by a small, finely beaded white cap that quickly dissolved. No lacing or head retention whatsoever.
The nose was pleasant but rather tame compared to most offerings from this brewery. Moderately tart. Bit of toasted oatiness. A sweet vanilla note was also detectable and it intensified as the beer warmed. Bit of lactose-like creaminess too.
The flavor profile was more tart and acidic than I anticipated. Citrus notes dominated. Loads of juicy tangerine and lemon. Pomelo also came to mind. Moderate amount of sweetness. Crisp and wheaty in the center. More lemon and lemon peel on the back end and the finish. A touch of vanilla was also detectable. Some pithy, bitter lemon rind lingered after the swallow.
Excellent creamy, fluffy mouthfeel. Medium bodied for the style. The liquid contained a fine, zippy effervescence that frothed up really nicely on the palate. After a few sips, the sugars in the beer left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Despite the fact that this beer contains passionfruit and I picked up absolutely none, it was still really enjoyable. Of all the Hudson Valley sour IPAs I have sampled to date, this might be one of their more balanced and approachable.
Reviewed by VoxRationis from New York
4.24/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from a 16 oz (473 ml) can into a Broken Bow Brewery nonic pint glass; purchased two days ago at the Hudson Valley Brewery.
A: Pours a cloudy, orange (think orange or orange-mango juice) color with a less than one finger, orange chiffon head, no more than brief retention and a very thin rim at that, and little or no lacing.
S: Aromas of orange juice, unripened peach, and papaya, but with a clear preponderance of citrus. I thought I detected a cherry note up front, but it faded quickly.
T: Semisweet, but nicely tart. Flavors follow the nose. Grainier than malty underneath, but also a distinct cracker and/or toffee flavor. Little or no bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with low. Almost pulpy like fruit juice (from concentrated -- I know I date myself).
O: Interesting, enjoyable, very mild sour. Enjoyable and could see this as an entry level type.
Apr 16, 2019A: Pours a cloudy, orange (think orange or orange-mango juice) color with a less than one finger, orange chiffon head, no more than brief retention and a very thin rim at that, and little or no lacing.
S: Aromas of orange juice, unripened peach, and papaya, but with a clear preponderance of citrus. I thought I detected a cherry note up front, but it faded quickly.
T: Semisweet, but nicely tart. Flavors follow the nose. Grainier than malty underneath, but also a distinct cracker and/or toffee flavor. Little or no bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with low. Almost pulpy like fruit juice (from concentrated -- I know I date myself).
O: Interesting, enjoyable, very mild sour. Enjoyable and could see this as an entry level type.
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