Hop Alloy
Axemann Brewery

DATE: August 16, 2020... OCCASION: wrapping up a good weekend with one of six Axemann offerings Jer brought to sample... GLASSWARE: Otto's pint... sizzles and fizzles as its golden orange body explodes with bubbles... its white head is a combination of cream and clumpy bubble clusters, leaving small pills of cloud smudges on the glass... bright, rich grapefruit, tangerine, and stone fruits.. the balance is achieved by toasted malts that evoke rye bread... a citric promise is made in its aroma, for sure, with traces of lemon... its initial impression wrinkles the teeth, buzzing enough to catch attention... a bit chewy, worth mulling over... its presence matches its ABV, as this is pleasantly sessionable at 6.2%.... the drip and juice causes salivation with each sip, the grapefruit and tangerine is bold but pleasing... some garden herbs, apricot and resin build a worthwhile profile... some noble hops in this too, giving it that resinous, floral quality... this is a working man's IPA, refreshing and rewarding without overpowering... you can have more than a few of these and maintain your evening... Axemann got this right, and for a newer brewery, they nailed what I hope will be a flagship for them--solid and flirting with stellar...

Axemann Brewery "Hop Alloy"
12 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$2.33 @ Wegmans, State College, PA

Notes via stream of consciousness: A grandiose head of slightly yellowed off-white foam has risen up and I'm pretty sure that I'm going to have to wait for it to settle. The body is a hazy deep gold with an orange sheen. There are plenty of very tiny bubbles rising steadily within and it doesn't appear to be overcarbonated; I was just too rough with the pour. I'm getting resinous, piney, and citrusy hop notes in the nose atop a lightly bready malt base. Interestingly it also seems a little minty. The head has now settled to about a half of an inch of creamy foam. On to the taste then... tangerine! It's a nice bright note to break through its "dank" side. Everything works well together and a solid bitterness ties it together. It finishes dry, bitter, earthy, herbal, and piney. In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp. All in all it's a solid IPA although nothing about it will turn your head.
Review #8,218

Very solid offering. Bought a single at brewery December 31st. Can't wait to visit again after restaurant can reopen post covid Governor Wolfe shut down.

This offering reminds me of dogfish head 60 minute IPA.

Nicely dry and resin filled.

(Boring review because the DW didn't right it... :)

Poured from a 12 oz can into a Shy Bear pint glass

L: Clear golden amber pour with big fluffy white head. Outstanding lacing.

S: Sweet grains/malts and herbal/pine hops.

T.F: Semi-sweet to start... lightly toasted malts giving way to modest hop bitterness. Pine, floral notes, and medicinal. Very light on the citrus... more old-school hops. Earthy... balanced. Medium to light bodied. Pine at the finish.

O: A well done classic west coast style IPA. Easy drinking... nothing new here but well made.