Special Hops IPA
Seawolf Brewery

 

 

 

 

Found at a Publix supermarket, looked interesting – only to find no reviews or pics. I guess this is a new brewery. Here we go. From a 12 oz. can into a Perfect Pint glass, nice hazy orange color with a solid head of white foam with good retention. Sweet malty and piney hops nose. In the mouth it’s pleasantly balanced and drinkable. Mouth is correct for style. Overall, a solid IPA but nothing really special.

A-A darker shade of gold, with some orange. Good head.

S-muted notes of citrus, cleaning product , golden barley

T-Tastes more like a hoppy pale ale than an IPA. Malt forward, with piney hops and some decent bitterness in the end

M- pleasant on the tongue

O- I had an unpleasant hunch this was an underwhelming product concealed in the garb of military packaging (I was an infantryman for six years). Fortunately, I don’t think that’s the case as the beer behind it isn’t bad by any means, it just is a ho hum IPA that doesn’t do anything to distinguish itself in a crowded market.

Would I buy it again? Probably not. Would I complain if someone gave it to me to drink? No, I sure wouldn’t.

In the name of national defense, Armed Forces Brewing company is out to protect and serve bitter beer to true hop heads. Brewed in the bitter but balanced American IPA style, these types of beer are truly special.

Pouring a near bright golden and chrome appearance, Special Hops builds a frothy ivory white froth white rounding the nose with a fruity perfume of citrus, tropical and stone fruits with a soft herbal backdrop. Sweeter with the first sip, a malty sweet introduction carries tones of caramel, honey and graham cracker early on the palate.

As the ale rolls along the middle palate, the sweetness slowly recedes and the hoppy favors leap right out. The brightness of tangerine is met with light grapefruit before a more tropical taste of mango and pineapple carry a more savory tone. With hints of apricot and biscuit following, the late taste transitions into an herbal and grassy bitterness equipped with peppery resins and citrus peel.

Medium bodied, easy drinking and a throwback to IPA of the pre-hazy era, Armed forces are leading the charge in keeping these classic flavors alive and well.

10/12/23 - Hazy light amber, foamy white head settles into a persistent cap, lacy. flavor not bad but unremarkable. Mouth feel the same. This is my second can of this. the first one yesterday had a much bigger head and was much lacier. this one also seems not as flavorful and with not quite as good a mouth feel. Yesterday, I would have given the Look a 4.0.

I bought a 6pak from a local chain supermarket. On the can it says: Brewed and packaged by Armed Forces Brewing Company. Lakeland Florida. Above that it has a Seawolf logo. The can is slightly different with Armed forces Brewing company printed where it says Seawolf Brewery in the picture here on BA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picked up a six pack this afternoon at Shoppers in Germantown. The can says it is brewed in Virginia Beach and is 6.7% abv. Solid color and head with herbal and citrus hopping in the nose. Hops are a little more medicinal in flavor and also partially balanced by a light cracker malt note. This is fine, just a little boring.