Cigar City / Kyle Hollingsworth / Rock Brothers - Happening Now Session IPA | Rock Brothers Brewing
Brewed by:
Rock Brothers Brewing
Florida, United States
rockbrothersbrewing.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by jhartley on 07-23-2014
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 89 | Reviews: 11
Reviews by macrosmatic:
3.54/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. can into a Cigar City pint glass.
A: Hazy gold, with a couple fingers worth of white fluffy head and a good amount of visible carbonation.
S: Light cracker malt that is somewhat husky, some resin and grapefruit rind hop character. Nothing particularly outstanding here.
T: Follows the nose – bitterness from the hops up front, the cracker malt body, then the hop flavors (resin primarily with some light citrus) but still I get mostly the alpha bitterness. The husk character comes through in the end. Hop bitter in the hang.
M: Light body, good carbonation sensation, and low alcohol presence.
O: This was a decent APA/session IPA/whatever. But I felt like it needed more hop flavors to accompany the bitterness. The graininess in the malt bill is borderline obnoxious too. Not a bad beer, but there are many better IPA options available in cans these days.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. can into a Cigar City pint glass.
A: Hazy gold, with a couple fingers worth of white fluffy head and a good amount of visible carbonation.
S: Light cracker malt that is somewhat husky, some resin and grapefruit rind hop character. Nothing particularly outstanding here.
T: Follows the nose – bitterness from the hops up front, the cracker malt body, then the hop flavors (resin primarily with some light citrus) but still I get mostly the alpha bitterness. The husk character comes through in the end. Hop bitter in the hang.
M: Light body, good carbonation sensation, and low alcohol presence.
O: This was a decent APA/session IPA/whatever. But I felt like it needed more hop flavors to accompany the bitterness. The graininess in the malt bill is borderline obnoxious too. Not a bad beer, but there are many better IPA options available in cans these days.
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More User Reviews:
3.75/5 rDev +5%
Went into this hoping for more hops but ended up with a very drinkable session ipa that didn't overpower the food I was eating. Solid entry from a proven group.
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Went into this hoping for more hops but ended up with a very drinkable session ipa that didn't overpower the food I was eating. Solid entry from a proven group.
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3.69/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev +12%
Canned 8/26 and served cold into a shaker pint glass.
Happening Now is a hazy pale yellow color. The head is thick after a vigorous pour with good retention and lacing.
Aroma is hoppy and fresh with pleasant grapefruit and mango character.
Flavor is full of great citrus juice and zest. It is well balanced with just the right amount of sweetness to balance the hoppy bitterness. Orange candy comes though.
Mouthfeel is light in body and appropriately carbonated.
Overall probably the best session IPA I've had. It's not a style I'm generally found of but this one could change that.
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Canned 8/26 and served cold into a shaker pint glass.
Happening Now is a hazy pale yellow color. The head is thick after a vigorous pour with good retention and lacing.
Aroma is hoppy and fresh with pleasant grapefruit and mango character.
Flavor is full of great citrus juice and zest. It is well balanced with just the right amount of sweetness to balance the hoppy bitterness. Orange candy comes though.
Mouthfeel is light in body and appropriately carbonated.
Overall probably the best session IPA I've had. It's not a style I'm generally found of but this one could change that.
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3.19/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.4/5 rDev -4.8%
12 oz. can poured into a pint glass.
Appearance - A little haze. Orange body. Nice white head and some excellent lacing.
Smell - Pine and grassy hops. A bit of grapefruit.
Taste - The hops are more citrusy. Grapefruit, orange. Less grassy. A touch of sweetness, too, which is surprising. Cracker and a bit of toasted malt.
Mouthfeel - Medium light, moderate bitterness. Well carbonated. Actually, the bitterness is a bit harsh as it lingers.
Overall - I rather enjoyed it, although I'd probably take some other "session" IPAs over this one.
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12 oz. can poured into a pint glass.
Appearance - A little haze. Orange body. Nice white head and some excellent lacing.
Smell - Pine and grassy hops. A bit of grapefruit.
Taste - The hops are more citrusy. Grapefruit, orange. Less grassy. A touch of sweetness, too, which is surprising. Cracker and a bit of toasted malt.
Mouthfeel - Medium light, moderate bitterness. Well carbonated. Actually, the bitterness is a bit harsh as it lingers.
Overall - I rather enjoyed it, although I'd probably take some other "session" IPAs over this one.
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3.83/5 rDev +7.3%
Straight pour from a 12oz can to a teku; a canning date of August 6, 2014 is printed in black ink on the underside of the can (“CANNED 08/06/14 DRINK LOCAL 18659”), making this beer just over three weeks old. Bought it yesterday, and straight into the fridge it went.
Appearance (4.25): A good finger and a half of fluffy, custard-colored foam rises from the pour, capping a nearly clear, honey-orange body. The head dies down slowly, leaving a chunky film on the surface and a thick, creamy collar at the edges. As the beer recedes, it leaves a few suds on the near side and a couple of lacy, droopy curtains and legs on the far side.
Smell (3.75): A nice whiff of guava, a long and aromatic grass aroma with a light dank undertone, some macerated strawberry flesh, and a light, funky bit of garlic makes up most of the aroma. There’s a very light, crackery, country bread malt body underneath the hops, which fits the size and brassiness of this beer.
Taste (3.75): As the “session IPA” goes, this is really pretty damn tasty. Light, sweet grapefruit leads the palate, quietly, followed up quickly by moderately sour, solidly bitter lemon zest, a little spicy garlic, and a floral undertone lead up to a grassy, lemony finish that hangs on before washing out to a resinous aftertaste. Common crackers and a little bite of floury biscuit offer a very lean, dry malt body that fits the style.
Mouthfeel (4.25): Lean, dry, bready, resinous, a little oily, and soft all at the same time. The body comes in smooth and a little oily, followed by carbonation that feels soft and bubbly with a smooth, easy effervescence that offers nice volume, tingles a little, and washes out easily. The finish is dry but not parching, and given its light, weight this beer is nice and quenching.
Overall (3.75): As session IPAs go, this is a pretty solid representation of the (sub-) style. It starts out a little brash, but smoothes out as it warms up, and generally offers a refreshing, hoppy drink. I’m still not 100% sold on the “session IPA” thing, but if you’re looking for that, then this is a very good bet. Buy some if you see it, because it won’t be around forever and if you’re into the trend, you’re going to like it.
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Straight pour from a 12oz can to a teku; a canning date of August 6, 2014 is printed in black ink on the underside of the can (“CANNED 08/06/14 DRINK LOCAL 18659”), making this beer just over three weeks old. Bought it yesterday, and straight into the fridge it went.
Appearance (4.25): A good finger and a half of fluffy, custard-colored foam rises from the pour, capping a nearly clear, honey-orange body. The head dies down slowly, leaving a chunky film on the surface and a thick, creamy collar at the edges. As the beer recedes, it leaves a few suds on the near side and a couple of lacy, droopy curtains and legs on the far side.
Smell (3.75): A nice whiff of guava, a long and aromatic grass aroma with a light dank undertone, some macerated strawberry flesh, and a light, funky bit of garlic makes up most of the aroma. There’s a very light, crackery, country bread malt body underneath the hops, which fits the size and brassiness of this beer.
Taste (3.75): As the “session IPA” goes, this is really pretty damn tasty. Light, sweet grapefruit leads the palate, quietly, followed up quickly by moderately sour, solidly bitter lemon zest, a little spicy garlic, and a floral undertone lead up to a grassy, lemony finish that hangs on before washing out to a resinous aftertaste. Common crackers and a little bite of floury biscuit offer a very lean, dry malt body that fits the style.
Mouthfeel (4.25): Lean, dry, bready, resinous, a little oily, and soft all at the same time. The body comes in smooth and a little oily, followed by carbonation that feels soft and bubbly with a smooth, easy effervescence that offers nice volume, tingles a little, and washes out easily. The finish is dry but not parching, and given its light, weight this beer is nice and quenching.
Overall (3.75): As session IPAs go, this is a pretty solid representation of the (sub-) style. It starts out a little brash, but smoothes out as it warms up, and generally offers a refreshing, hoppy drink. I’m still not 100% sold on the “session IPA” thing, but if you’re looking for that, then this is a very good bet. Buy some if you see it, because it won’t be around forever and if you’re into the trend, you’re going to like it.
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Cigar City / Kyle Hollingsworth / Rock Brothers - Happening Now Session IPA from Rock Brothers Brewing
Beer rating:
3.57 out of
5 with
89 ratings
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