Off The Leash
High Park Brewery
- From:
- High Park Brewery
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.31 | pDev: 14.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Oct 09, 2020
- Added:
- Nov 04, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
Off the Leash is a 2018 Gold Medal Winner in both the Canadian and Ontario Brewing Awards and features a combination of English and more intense American west coast hops. While this projects a noticeable citrus-hop aroma and taste, specialty malts are used to balance overall flavour. The beer is unfiltered which provides a more subtle taste and a smooth medium-light mouth-feel.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.53/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.53/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
473 mL can picked up at Metro; served barely chilled. I don't see a packaging date/code anywhere.
Pours relatively clear, with a copper amber-coloured body that is capped off by one finger of frothy, foamy, off white-coloured head. It lasts for the better part of five minutes, soon reduced to a modest collar and filmy cap, with an arcing band of lace imprinted onto the glass; looks good to me. The aroma is surprisingly malt forward - caramelized sugars, toasted bread, doughiness and some nuttiness come through, with hints of earthy, resiny, vaguely herbal hops and bubble gum. I swear I'm also getting a touch of something I can't quite put my finger on - chicory?
The flavours follow the nose - bready malts, toasted grains and nutty, lightly caramelized sweetness form the bulk of the profile, with the hops being more prominent on the back end. They impart a leafy, earthy, slightly resiny bitterness that combines effectively with the caramelized/doughy malt flavours, resulting in a bittersweet finish that lingers into the aftertaste. Medium in body, with moderately low carbonation that gently nudges the surface of the palate; feels smooth and a little slick on the tongue. Fairly easy to toss back for 6.5%.
Final Grade: 3.53, a passable B grade. Off the Leash would probably be better served if High Park advertised it as an English-style IPA, or even an amber - I just don't think that beer geeks (who are likely expecting something a little more along the lines of a modern IPA) will be enthralled with this product. To wit, the malts are rather dominant, and while the hops do provide a meaningful contribution, it's mostly of the resiny, leafy, earthy stripe, with very little in the way of fruity/citrusy notes to be had. Don't misunderstand me - this is not a poorly-brewed beer, it's just a mediocre IPA.
Aug 07, 2020Pours relatively clear, with a copper amber-coloured body that is capped off by one finger of frothy, foamy, off white-coloured head. It lasts for the better part of five minutes, soon reduced to a modest collar and filmy cap, with an arcing band of lace imprinted onto the glass; looks good to me. The aroma is surprisingly malt forward - caramelized sugars, toasted bread, doughiness and some nuttiness come through, with hints of earthy, resiny, vaguely herbal hops and bubble gum. I swear I'm also getting a touch of something I can't quite put my finger on - chicory?
The flavours follow the nose - bready malts, toasted grains and nutty, lightly caramelized sweetness form the bulk of the profile, with the hops being more prominent on the back end. They impart a leafy, earthy, slightly resiny bitterness that combines effectively with the caramelized/doughy malt flavours, resulting in a bittersweet finish that lingers into the aftertaste. Medium in body, with moderately low carbonation that gently nudges the surface of the palate; feels smooth and a little slick on the tongue. Fairly easy to toss back for 6.5%.
Final Grade: 3.53, a passable B grade. Off the Leash would probably be better served if High Park advertised it as an English-style IPA, or even an amber - I just don't think that beer geeks (who are likely expecting something a little more along the lines of a modern IPA) will be enthralled with this product. To wit, the malts are rather dominant, and while the hops do provide a meaningful contribution, it's mostly of the resiny, leafy, earthy stripe, with very little in the way of fruity/citrusy notes to be had. Don't misunderstand me - this is not a poorly-brewed beer, it's just a mediocre IPA.
Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)
3.11/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer does not really match with what passes for an IPA these days, but I tried to enjoy it for what it was instead; an English Ale. Colour was a nearly transparent copper. Head was fluffy off white with an orange tint. Aroma & taste were led by caramel malt with graininess, some light banana laced sour breadiness, and an almost stale bitterness to finish each sip. I had a feeling going in it wasn't going to be great; I would say it pretty much met my expectations. As an IPA I would lower these scores; scoring it as though it were an English Ale.
Dec 17, 2019
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
1.91/5 rDev -42.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
1.91/5 rDev -42.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Got this one from the LCBO this past summer
From a 16oz can into a snifter
IBU: 57
Best by 04 July 2018
APPEARANCE: Pours a 1+ finger, medium, slightly foamy off-white head with great retention. Opaque rust in color with a touch of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a foamy cap and coats the glass. A splotchy wisp remains until the end leaving some lacing down the glass.
SMELL: Piney aromas, caramel, bubble gum and some grainy malts. Milder and not much character.
TASTE: Caramel, grainy malts and bubble gum up front. A grainy finish with a bit of metallic burn at the swallow. Bold finish of grainy malts, bubble gum, metallic flavors and some bitter piney flavors.
PALATE: Medium body with medium carbonation. A bit foamy on the palate, goes down okay with a metallic pinch at the swallow and finishes a bit mouth-coating. Bitterness lingers.
OVERALL: This was bad. It’s overly grainy with very little character left, while the metallic flavors are simply off-putting. This can might be a week over date, but that’s certainly not the issue here. Flavor doesn’t fall off a cliff the day after the best before. A fresh can right off the line might be interesting but I doubt this one was that much better fresh.
Oct 24, 2018From a 16oz can into a snifter
IBU: 57
Best by 04 July 2018
APPEARANCE: Pours a 1+ finger, medium, slightly foamy off-white head with great retention. Opaque rust in color with a touch of carbonation evident. Head slowly fades to a foamy cap and coats the glass. A splotchy wisp remains until the end leaving some lacing down the glass.
SMELL: Piney aromas, caramel, bubble gum and some grainy malts. Milder and not much character.
TASTE: Caramel, grainy malts and bubble gum up front. A grainy finish with a bit of metallic burn at the swallow. Bold finish of grainy malts, bubble gum, metallic flavors and some bitter piney flavors.
PALATE: Medium body with medium carbonation. A bit foamy on the palate, goes down okay with a metallic pinch at the swallow and finishes a bit mouth-coating. Bitterness lingers.
OVERALL: This was bad. It’s overly grainy with very little character left, while the metallic flavors are simply off-putting. This can might be a week over date, but that’s certainly not the issue here. Flavor doesn’t fall off a cliff the day after the best before. A fresh can right off the line might be interesting but I doubt this one was that much better fresh.
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
4/5 rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Copper with no carbonation, and 4 fingers of light beige head.
Smells fruity, and of banana and toffee.
Toffee, hard water and bananas. Light red tea.
Medium body with a highly tannic finish.
Got at LCBO, drinking in New Hamburg, July 7th, 2018. Really digging this IPA.
Jul 07, 2018Smells fruity, and of banana and toffee.
Toffee, hard water and bananas. Light red tea.
Medium body with a highly tannic finish.
Got at LCBO, drinking in New Hamburg, July 7th, 2018. Really digging this IPA.
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.53/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Review from notes. 473 ml can served fairly cold into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for $3.25 CDN.
Appearance - Mildly hazy, dark bronze colored beer. Two fingers of soft white foam sit on top with great retention. Some sticky lacing clings to the glass for a long time.
Smell - Some mango and other overripe fruit initially, loads of caramel malt and some earthy hops. Certainly rather English in character.
Taste - Caramel up front with earthy hops primarily. Leafy with hints of mango and citrus but more leafy than anything else. Middling bitterness and white pepper at the end.
Mouthfeel - Medium dry, well carbonated, some astringency to close on the tongue.
Overall - A serviceable IPA that bridges American and English traditions. Not bad at all, but just not something I particularly enjoy or am likely to purchase again, not with a plethora of other local, similarly priced IPA's that are more akin to my taste preferences.
Mar 31, 2018Appearance - Mildly hazy, dark bronze colored beer. Two fingers of soft white foam sit on top with great retention. Some sticky lacing clings to the glass for a long time.
Smell - Some mango and other overripe fruit initially, loads of caramel malt and some earthy hops. Certainly rather English in character.
Taste - Caramel up front with earthy hops primarily. Leafy with hints of mango and citrus but more leafy than anything else. Middling bitterness and white pepper at the end.
Mouthfeel - Medium dry, well carbonated, some astringency to close on the tongue.
Overall - A serviceable IPA that bridges American and English traditions. Not bad at all, but just not something I particularly enjoy or am likely to purchase again, not with a plethora of other local, similarly priced IPA's that are more akin to my taste preferences.
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