Hair Raiser
Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company

Hair RaiserHair Raiser
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From:
Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
New England IPA
Ranked #1,251
ABV:
8%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,590
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 8.61%
Reviews:
86
Ratings:
302
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 22, 2024
Added:
Sep 13, 2016
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  83
A New England Style DIPA, featuring a boatload of Galaxy hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ichorNet:
Photo of ichorNet
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Olde Magoun’s in Somerville, MA. Have had multiple times from can and at brewery but this is probably my last straw with Exhibit ‘A’s hoppy beers. They’re just not as good at them as they want you to think they are, and I’m surprised at the stellar ratings for this one. It’s a bit of a mess, in my opinion.

The pour is a turbid, insanely cloudy and pallid yellow color with a tiny ring of foam even when freshly poured from a newly-tapped keg. Just as a note, this replaced Grimm DDH Lumen on tap here, so maybe my annoyance with it stems from my aggravation from being unable to get that beer. Anyway, the lace here is drippy and fairly consistent but it just doesn’t impress overall. The ugly, “Hefeweizen” esque color just seems like it’s trying and failing to be trendy and cloudy like other NEIPAs.

The nose here is alright but mostly just seems like a homogeneous melange of tropical and citrus fruit without much popping out to me overall. Combined with the overwhelming yeastiness, I’m just nonplussed with this. I can pick out some guava, tart lychee and orange with a bit of grapefruit peel as well but there’s nothing particular about this that makes me excited to keep sipping it.

On the tongue, this is super chalky and yeasty, just as the nose foretold. I get powdered aspirin flavors and raw grapefruit peel, light candied orange and nectarine with an obtrusive malt chew. Light papaya and guava toward the finish before more aspirin and B-vitamin yeastiness closes things out.

The feel here is just way too heavy, even for a bigger NEIPA. Now, granted, the best thing about this beer is that it tastes and drinks more like a single IPA than a DIPA, though there is some light ethanol toward the finish that shocks the palate a bit.

Overall, I think I’m really just done giving EA the benefit of the doubt with their hoppy beer (other than, I guess, maybe their Danko Rye cuz that’s good). This just doesn’t feel like a finished product a brewery should be proud of. The NEIPA is a dangerous product to mess around with because there’s a nearly infinitesimally-small line between “wow this is amazing” and “holy shit this is horrible and raw-tasting” and this beer certainly sits closer to the latter side than is comfortable for me.
Jan 13, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Mar 22, 2024
Photo of Griffon305
Reviewed by Griffon305 from New Jersey

1.76/5  rDev -57.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
What a disappointment. The beer was not packaged properly and was extremely oxidized. Completely devoid of hop flavor and aroma. Malt bomb with sherry notes. At this point I am just drinking it to get a buzz on. You all need to take a lesson in sampling for off flavors.
Oct 21, 2023
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.31/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: A bubble show builds to a three finger head perched above cloudy golden liquid; solid retention and clumps of lacing

Smell: Dank and bright with pineapple, peach and Ruby Red grapefruit aromatics

Taste: Opens with juicy fruit flavors with strong pineapple and peach tones; through the middle, the Ruby Red grapefruit emerges; a bit green in the back with an herbal tingling on the rear of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Though it is a bit green, I am pleased with this beer overall
Jul 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.05 by beatonian from Massachusetts

Apr 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by tpauer from New Hampshire

Jul 10, 2022
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
04/20/22 on bottom of can. Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint.

A: mildly hazy light amber with two finger frothy white head with good retention and copious lacing.

S: Strong aroma of overripe fruit mostly melon with tangerine, guava, grapefruit, and orange. Esther's are moderate. No malt presents to speak of.

T: Flavor is a bit muted with peach, melon, grapefruit, lava, and tangerine flavors with candied peach ring in the late palette. Definitely on the sweet end of the spectrum. Bitterness is low. Alcohol is well hidden. Esters are moderate and similar to fruit stripe gum.

M: body is medium, carbonation is moderate, finishes soft with a tinge of bitterness versus astringency that leaves a mild mineral feel.

O: a decent version of the double New England IPA style but surpassed by quite a few options.
May 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

Apr 06, 2022
Photo of haqattaq
Reviewed by haqattaq from Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -45%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.25
Canned 11/3/21, consumed 1/22/22. Too sweet for my taste, like sugary mango that overwhelms all else. Based on other reviews, surprised how much I dislike this. Could be the time elapsed between canning and consuming or other factors.
Jan 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.17 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Dec 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.62 by pantz9 from Massachusetts

Oct 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.47 by lowlyone from Massachusetts

Sep 06, 2021
Photo of starstar11
Reviewed by starstar11 from Thailand

4.71/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Canned 08/03/21
Consumed 08/29/21

Fresh outta Framingham?
Oh Yes.
An amazing DIPA.
Really.
A gorgeous golden gold.

Can’t remember this much complexity from a Galaxy single hop. Super Smooth but not really sweet. More diverse than many of the mythical top rated NES Imperial hall of Famers that I’ve had the pleasure of sipping. With each can, I look forward to the closing crescendo - a mystical celebration as the hops depart for heaven.

starstar11 only reviews the stars.
Hair Raiser rocks with the best.
Aug 31, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Aug 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by dt_gbpackersfan from Missouri

Aug 09, 2021
Photo of Twig54
Reviewed by Twig54 from Massachusetts

4.46/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This is yet another hazy NE IPA. I'm becoming a bit tired of the style but I have to admit that this one is very well done. It is nicely balanced and the relatively high 8% ABV is well masked. It has a somewhat premium price ($15/4 x 16 oz @ Costco) but I'll buy it again when I find it.
Aug 05, 2021
Photo of jbolger
Rated by jbolger from Connecticut

4.29/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A nice surprise. Bought 4 pack in RI. Very smooth, silky. Fruity, not at all bitter. Chewy. Compares well to Trillium / TH products. Hazy NEIPA.
Aug 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.41 by Griffin901 from Massachusetts

Feb 22, 2021
 
Rated: 4.24 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Dec 16, 2020
Photo of RR_BeerMan
Reviewed by RR_BeerMan from Massachusetts

4.31/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
If you like the style I would highly recommend it. It’s the typical hazy NE IPA look, definitely a fruity side to taste, maybe peach or mango you’d expect. Even at a high ABV, it’s very drinkable, not too boozy. I’m biased as I love NE IPA, especially a double like this one, so can’t say anything bad about it. It’s right up there with any other in this style that I’ve tried.
Dec 13, 2020
Hair Raiser from Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 302 ratings